OUR STORY

Adventure calls

Adventure and healing have always been a thread woven through the lives of Jason, Kimberly and their children. So it is no surprise that the family has chosen to uproot their lives and move to Costa Rica to follow exactly that.

From a young age, Jason has had a passion for adventure and being in nature. Equally, Kimberly began her exploration into the world of healing arts prior to having a driver’s license, finding herself drawn to plants and ancient healing rituals.

The need for healing

As their lives merged and children came into the picture, healing took on an even bigger role with their son (Sage) being diagnosed with Type I diabetes at the age of 4, and their daughter (Harper) being diagnosed with celiac at the age of 3.

As a family, Jason, Kimberly, Sage, Harper, and their therapy dog Irie, felt called to follow a mission to be of service to others. This family decision comes from a deep listening to source, soul, and spirit calling them to create a healing center designed with intimacy, safety, and community in mind.

Challenging times

The genesis of Ananda Lodge Costa Rica was a response to significant personal challenges faced by Jason and Kimberly. Their journey toward creating this healing center began when they encountered a pivotal moment in their lives.

THE TURNING POINT

In 2022, their family faced the devastating loss of their home to Hurricane Ian, a life-altering event that left them standing at a crossroads. Kimberly, who had spent nearly 17 years in corporate leadership, found herself burnt out and grappling with declining health. The demands of her corporate career had taken a toll on her well-being.

Meanwhile, Jason, with 12 years of experience as a Paramedic/Firefighter, was also at a crossroads. While he deeply valued his role in serving the community, the challenges of his profession had intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an extreme emotional toll on his overall well-being.

A NEW PATH FORWARD

Jason and Kimberly’s journey of self-discovery and transformation ultimately led them to a profound and deeply personal calling: the decision to open a healing center in Costa Rica. In the wake of significant losses and the questioning of the paths that had defined their lives thus far, their family chose to embark on a new chapter together.

THE CALLING

Their passion for healing and their innate desire to be of service to others became the driving force behind this decision. This calling, born from their own experiences and soul-purpose, drives their compassion and commitment to making a positive impact in the world.

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE SOUL

Kimberly’s journey from a corporate leader to her soul’s purpose of facilitating healing transformations is a profound story of personal growth and resilience. With over 15 years of experience climbing the corporate ladder and driving significant change and transformation initiatives, she had “achieved personal success.”

However, she had lost connection with self and soul, finding her soul was deeply sick. Kimberly found herself living and metaphorically dying the untold story of her soul.

Her two-year struggle with intense personal challenges, including physical and mental burnout, led her to a breaking point. For nine months, she battled chronic sickness, anxiety, and depression, seeking solace in numbing her pain. This period of darkness was a turning point in her life.

Healing in the jungle

It was during this challenging time that Kimberly embarked on a transformative journey to heal her own wounds and reconnect with her life force vitality.

Her path led her to the jungles of Peru, where she found healing and reawakening through the wisdom of the maestros and maestras, and their medicinal practices. The mucus that had plagued her body for months had disappeared.

She began to feel a renewed sense of aliveness and purpose. She began the process of remembering.

A return to wholeness

Inspired by this profound experience and the universe’s persistent calling, Kimberly made courageous life changes. She left her long-time corporate career, and following losing their home to Hurricane Ian, Jason and Kimbery purchased land in Costa Rica to open a healing center.

Kimberly’s transformation continued as she embraced ancient healing modalities and embarked on an apprenticeship in ayahuasca shamanism within the Shipibo-Konibo lineage. She became a trauma-informed plant medicine guide, sound healing therapist, and somatic trauma coach. Kimberly continues her deep study of shamanism and yerberismo, and is dedicated to creating safe and supportive healing containers.

Her participation as a founding member of the Plant Medicine Tribe underscores her commitment to the safe and inclusive use of plant medicine as a means of healing not only individuals but also the planet itself. Kimberly feels deeply honored to have had the experiences that awakened the profound remembering within her.

THE BREAKING POINT

Like many first responders, Jason found himself profoundly affected by the challenges and emotional toll of the pandemic. As a Firefighter/Paramedic on the frontlines, he has dedicated his life to being of service.

As with many healthcare workers and those on the front lines, the profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the increasing intensity of these roles, began taking an immense emotional toll on Jason.

The total exhaustion, on all levels, is a struggle well-known by those in these roles, and something that can only be out-ran for so long.

THE CONVERSATION

A pivotal moment occurred during a conversation with Kimberly, two weeks after the loss of their home to Hurricane Ian. In the midst of personal turmoil and upheaval, Kimberly asked Jason a simple but profound question:

“What can we do to make you happy?”

His response, “to move to Costa Rica,” was a moment of clarity that revealed the deep internal struggle he had been grappling with as a Firefighter.

This conversation laid bare the emotional and mental burdens that Jason carried every day in his role.

A NEW BEGINNING

Jason’s move to Costa Rica has been a profound return to a place that feels like home. His love for the ocean, nature, and the embodiment of the Pura Vida essence has deeply resonated with him. This new chapter in his life has ignited a sense of purpose, and he is wholeheartedly dedicated to supporting those in need.

Jason is particularly drawn to providing support for first-responders, veterans, healthcare workers, and others who have dedicated their lives to serving others. He understands the challenges and sacrifices that come with these roles and is committed to making a positive impact on their well-being.

Grateful for this renewed opportunity, Jason is on a mission to reclaim his birthright of joy and happiness. He aspires to be a role model for their children, embodying the values of happiness, resilience, and service. His journey in Costa Rica reflects a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

A SHARED MISSION

Jason and Kimberly’s shared experiences and profound personal growth underscore the resilience and compassion that define their mission at Ananda Lodge – to help others find healing and meaning in their own lives.

Both Kimberly and Jason understand the difficulties that life can bring, and the fight to reclaim your soul essence. They also intimately know the value of healing within a safe setting and community.

Together they have made it their life’s work to support others on their healing journeys. They honor those who have come before them that have walked this path many times, and those who are just beginning their journey in search of wholeness.

It is their honor and gift to offer humanity a sanctuary to heal and become whole.