Wellness

What is wellness?

When people think of wellness, they typically think of getting a massage or doing yoga. And while these can include elements of wellness, those activities constitute a small portion of what wellness is. We define wellness as "the actions and choices that contribute to a lifestyle of dynamic balance on all dimensions of healthy living." More than getting away from life's challenges and relaxing, it's about engaging life in a way that leads to thriving in all its facets. We use research on young adult development to define 9 dimensions of healthy living, and guide participants in developing a lifestyle of balance in all those dimensions, which is what ultimately leads to true wellness.

How do I know if a wellness gap experience is right for me?

People that seek this kind of experience tend to share a number of characteristics and situations. If one or more of the following statements sound like you, then Si!Gap Wellness Gap Experience might be exactly what you are looking for:

You are fairly to highly functional in your work &/or studies but you are feeling exhausted and burned out.
You are on a path in life that you are not sure is truly fits you, so you are seeking to explore the world and yourself to find more clarity.
Life seems to be going fine, but it's missing a sense of meaning, purpose, and adventure.
Your lifestyle feels out of balance, where some areas are going well but other essential are not or just feel disconnected from one another.
Your efforts are not having the impact you would like on your own wellbeing and the world around you, and you would like to find a way to make a stronger contribution to wellbeing within and around you.
You're making as much of life as you'd like, you want to thrive but have not figured out the lifestyle that best suits you.

What Si!Gap Is Not:

While the Si!Gap team and the organization it belongs to (the Supportive Immersion Institute) have almost two decades of expertise in treating mental health, Si!Gap is not a therapeutic program. Because of that, if you struggle with the following issues or similar ones, we recommend you seek an environment that can appropriately address your needs:

Substance Abuse
Mood Disorders
Personality Disorders
Suicidal ideation

Because of our expertise in mental health, we can help you assess whether our approach may be appropriate for you.

What Si!Gap Is:

Si!Gap provides you with everything you would want in a gap or study abroad journey, with the significant addition of the wellness element, which guides you recalibrate your optimal level of functioning through:

Assessment tools to better understand your level of functioning and how you are improving week by week
Weekly check-ins with peers and staff
Dozens of internship opportunities, service learning and classes from which to choose
Cultural and language immersion - from Spanish classes to incredible connections with your homestay family and local mentor
Guidance throughout your time in Costa Rica, and even after you have left, on how to reach and maintain a Healthy Lifestyle that truly works for you.