Scott Graham

Costa Rica & Azores for your 2026 Travel!

Join us for the 7th Annual Nosara, Costa Rica Retreat February 14 - 21, 2026. Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort never disappoints and why so many return every year. It’s the perfect recharge for winter post-holiday and before spring arrives. This retreat always sells out and has a waiting list.

More information https://www.bethgrahamwellness.com/2026-costa-rica-retreat

After a few delays, weddings and birth of our first grandchild we are heading for THE AZORES! Join us October 1-8, 2026. If you have been with us in Costa Rica, this will be a different experience. Along with yoga we will be hiking to take in the natural treasures of these volcanic islands. Dinners will be both “on campus” and off. There’s been a lot of interest in this retreat and I’m thrilled the time has come to Experience the Azores. This will be a one time retreat destination only in 2026.

More information https://www.bethgrahamwellness.com/azores-retreat



Ditch the Box, Bag, & Window

I heard this “nutrition” tip recently and wish I could remember who said it to give credit! What a great mantra, “Ditch the Box, Bag & Window”. It’s been 30+ years since I’ve eaten food from a window (fast food) and we’ve not had much from a box or bag in our cupboard for years, but now I’m even more aware!

In purchasing food I’ve slowly moved from the grocery store with the occasional farmers market to my January 2024 Goal of buying most of our food from local farmers. This might sound like a dramatic shift, but looking back it was baby steps that began 35 years ago.

In the late 80s our food came from the local chain market Giant Foods. By the early 90s I began hearing buzz about organic food and moved to Fresh Fields that later became Whole Foods. I wish I could see my cart back then because it was probably loaded with plenty of boxes & bags But!!! ORGANIC!!! I had fallen prey to the marketing and didn’t connect the dots that most of these foods were processed (can be made in your kitchen like cookies) or highly processed (like puffed cheese curls that cannot be made in your kitchen) with the same amounts of sugar, fat & salt as conventional products to make them addictive.

Around 2014 I began coaching nutrition at a medical wellness center and on my 40 minute commute listened to health podcasts. When I heard an interview with Dan Buettner on The Blue Zones www.BlueZones.com I got excited. The concept of eating locally, connection to family & community, a spiritual practice and daily movement resonated with what I felt was the foundation of a healthy life.

I’m now 8 months into my “goal” and I’ll report that I’m not going back! I love the connection of supporting farmers & seeing where our food comes from. Meat has been easy to purchase with 3 local, grass fed, sustainable farmers (& one sells produce in it’s farm shop) that are convenient & also deliver, dairy (butter, kefir, milk, cheese, eggs etc.) is an easy weekly pick up in my neighborhood and produce in the summer is a no brainer. I know it won’t be as easy in the winter, but I have a solution for that - 3 weeks in the sunny Blue Zone, Nosara, Costa Rica! Two weeks in town and the third at Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort.

Many times in life what’s meant to be just shows up! In 2018 Scott & I were in Nosara, Costa Rica looking for a yoga retreat location https://bodhitreeyogaresort.com/event/simplify-connect-enjoy/ and Nosara just happens to be a Blue Zone! Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort & the Nosara community are the opportunity to re-boot food and lifestyle goals in the February when we all need a sunshine immune system boost as well.

Scott & I always travel to Nosara the week prior to the retreat to make final plans and scout out “what’s new” before the retreat group arrives. We enjoy beach sunsets followed by lovely restaurant dinners, so it’s a blend of vacation & preparation.

I’ve wanted is to live our Baltimore life in the Nosara Blue Zone and I’ve convinced Scott two weeks in town is necessary for this. With the additional time to enjoy I’ll walk to the farmers market on Tuesdays to buy the food for the week. There’s also a super mini with local meat, eggs, coffee and any other items to fill in the gaps. What I imagine is after enjoying the ocean sunset and a glass of wine we will walk back to our Air BnB and Scott will close out the day’s work remotely & I’ll make dinner with farm fresh ingredients. It will be much like our life in Baltimore. We will still have plenty of time to visit our favorite restaurants like La Brasa www.labrasaguiones.com, Olivia’s Guiones, and explore new options.

Then the gift of our third week when the retreat group arrives and we all experience the bounty of Bodhi Tree. Three meals a day that are beautifully prepared for all dietary needs with locally sourced food. Everything is made fresh with whole food ingredients. My years returning to Bodhi Tree have been a part of the inspiration of my 2024 goal. In so many ways the return to Nosara & Bodhi is always like a home coming.

Dig into the Blue Zones. And I’d also recommend The Weston A. Price Foundation www.westonaprice.org If you need tips on how to incorporate more real food into your day or need farmer resources (in Maryland) just ask! Send me an email (bethgraham1206@gmail.com) and I’m happy to share.

It’s always about how to simplify•connect•enjoy!






















What Judy had to say about our 2024 Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort Retreat

I attended Beth's Bodhi Tree Yoga retreat in 2024. I took a leap of faith, and reached out to her for a spot. I was so fortunate that a spot became available at the last minute. I did not know Beth or anyone else on the trip and went alone, which was a bit of a reach for me.

Evening Beach swim

Sunset Yoga

The people were all welcoming, positive - and came from different places with varied perspectives. I was a hot yoga addict who believed that yoga had to be challenging and strenuous to be worthwhile. Beth took the time to show me what my body was telling me. I learned to work towards alignment at all times, and let go of the "big" poses that I wanted to do until my body is ready. My hips are so much happier!

morning yoga

I have managed to keep the spirit of Bodhi alive - as conversations with Beth and her family encouraged me to start a morning journaling ritual. It has helped me to focus on what is important, and let go of what is not! See you in 2025!

- Judy

Reserve now ($500 deposit) for your February spot & book your flights! Balance isn’t due until fall.

Costa Rica Retreat 2025 Details here: bethgrahamwellness.com


RESERVE Costa Rica Retreat February 2025

Reserve your spot now! Put your deposit ($500) down for February 15-22, 2025.

The best time to book flights is July/August 2024 and retreat balance is billed in October.

Find all the details here: https://www.bethgrahamwellness.com/retreat

Memories of our 2024 retreat. We will always remember it as the Sunsets & Smiles Retreat (and the night Scott took over the band with the song original “Yoga Two Times” sung to The Doors “Love me two times”!)

Active Morning Yoga

A dip in the pool between classes

Downward dog to get the body moving

Setting up for bridge pose to strengthen the back

Sunset beach time and swim

Restorative Sunset Yoga

Exploring shops and surprises in town

I’ll toast to that…Cheers!

Hip Mobility Clinic - Saturday (3/2/24) at 11:30-1:00 Coppermine in Timonium, MD

Hip Mobility Clinic

This Saturday (3/2/24) at 11:30-1:00 Coppermine in Timonium, MD

Hip mobility is important as we age to protect other joints like knees & shoulders. Activities like running, swimming & pickleball can make us “tight” and others like sitting or driving can make us “weak”. We will work on both sides of this! Movement & Strength.

Register with Maria at Coppermine

Myanson@gocoppermine.com


Taking Control

I was asked last week “Do you Tweet?”. And later I thought, “what’s the question behind the question?”.

The answer is YES. I am on the platform because I like to “meet” or be exposed to people who I’d never connect with face to face otherwise. Twitter, now “X”, has become a way to sit in on many conversations! I follow several medical doctors who publish their research or protocols and repost other medical doctors. It’s like being in a doctors’ lounge as an observer listening to their clinical experiences. I feel we are responsible for our health and the more we learn, the more we can question..

Today I met heart surgeon, Dr. Philip Ovadia. He has a heart quiz on his website ifixhearts.com and writes a weekly blog much like my orthopedic brother www.therealhousemd.com/monthly-blog

Sometimes exposure to a new idea can make us change on a dime! Other times it takes years or decades. Or even 32 years for me to change from a vegetarian/vegan to a grass fed & Baltimore farmed carnivore. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!?!

Healthcare vs. Sickcare

Healthcare versus Sickcare

I often am asked questions after a class that are ABOVE MY PAY GRADE. My response when asked might be something like, “That’s a question for my brother, Ti, the orthopedic surgeon!”. Well now you can get his answers on his new website https://www.therealhousemd.com/

Hugh "Ti" House, MD

Ti is now sharing wellness advice and how it relates to orthopedics. He is seeing an increase in his practice of chronic rather than acute issues with inflammation being a cause. His hope is this blog will inspire those who want to make changes and get back to health.

Check out the weekly or sometimes bi-monthly blog and subscribe for updates. The most recent is “Willpower & Habits”Another is “Why You Don’t Need an MRI”.

Ti also reviews under Lifestyle the 5 “Baskets” of Chronic Inflammation. Can you guess what they are before looking? Clue - what causes or what do you lack that contributes to chronic inflammation?

Enjoy reading. I’m excited for Ti and what he is doing to help make the world more healthy & well in a system of “sickcare”.


Raining in Baltimore and Sunny at Bodhi Feb '24

I guess we are in the rainy season here in Baltimore. Which reminds me - I can’t wait to get back to Bodhi Tree where it is sunshine and blue skies every day, all day. And during winter!

If you want sunny skies and wrap around warmth next February when it is icy in Baltimore, come join us in Costa Rica at the Bodhi Tree Resort.

To see more, please check out the Bodhi Tree website: https://bodhitreeyogaresort.com/event/simplifyconnectenjoy-2/

Email me if you have questions or would like more information: bethgraham1206@gmail.com

Movement & Exercise and the Benefits

We all know movement & exercise are good for us especially as we age, but what does it specifically do to help us?

When we understand the “why” & “how”, it helps with motivation and staying consistent.

If you do not know Jordan Peterson, he’s been through quite a health journey! You can dig deeper and learn about his carnivore diet. He’s a good interviewer on a variety of subjects and this one is fact- & science-packed!

Concerned about dementia? Exercise! The brain weighs a tiny percentage of the body total and uses 25% oxygen intake. Concerned about inflammation, cancer, weight? Yep, all the same! Exercise!

I keep my movement safe and easy on my joints and past injuries. I enjoy walks including hills, yoga and reformer Pilates. Adding the resistance training with the reformer has greatly helped me to stay strong at 60!


If you’d like to connect to learn what will work for you, email me at BethGraham1206@gmail.com

Here’s the podcast with Dr Attia. Watch here.

Obesity, Diabetes, Cancer and You | Dr. Peter Attia | EP 360

Beth Graham

www.bethgrahamwellness.com