la familia
MEET THE TEAM
At Flō Retreat Center, family is at the heart of everything we do.
Our team is made up of family members and close friends who live and work side by side in the Costa Rican jungle.
We are builders, teachers, healers, and artists. Most of all, we are people who believe in creating spaces where others feel welcomed, cared for, and connected.
When you arrive at Flō, you are not just a guest. You are part of our extended family, and we are honored to share our home, our land, and our way of life with you.
Learn more about the heart, history, and vision that shaped our retreat center — and the values we carry into everything we do.
Owner + Manager
Dr. Gabe Lazzaro
Gabe was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the suburbs of New Jersey. From a young age, he was always active—playing multiple sports and developing a strong interest in how the human body functions. That natural curiosity led him to study Exercise Science during his undergraduate years, eventually earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Over the course of his career, Gabe has worked with a wide range of people—from older adults looking to stay mobile and independent, to professional athletes striving for peak performance. No matter the client, his approach is always rooted in a genuine desire to help others move, feel, and live better. His work is driven by a deep passion for human performance, healing, and personal growth.
Today, Gabe runs Flo Retreat Center a space dedicated to wellness, movement, and connection with his wife, Erin and their dog Georgia. Through FLO, he combines his expertise in physical therapy with his commitment to creating transformative experiences that support both body and mind.
Outside of work, Gabe enjoys lifting weights, practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu, and surfing. He’s also happiest when he’s outside—whether it’s hiking through the mountains, catching waves, or simply relaxing on the beach. Nature is where he finds inspiration, balance, and a sense of peace.
Owner + Manager
Erin Lazzaro
Erin was born and raised in Sarasota, FL. After graduating high school she moved to New York City to pursue musical theater and dance. Her passion for the stage lead her to have a thriving professional career over the next 10+ years touring nationally and regionally and appearing on TV as a performer. During this time she went to massage therapy school and became a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist, creating a business (Massage by Erin) that supported dancers and performers, helping them heal and move better. Today, Erin is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher dedicated to making movement creative, accessible, and joyful for all. She believes in movement as a powerful tool for healing, self-expression, and community.
Alongside her husband and their dog Georgia and her parents, Erin co-owns and operates Flo Retreat Center—a space rooted in community, healing, and self-discovery. She now splits her time between Costa Rica, where she and her husband run wellness retreats, and NYC, where she continues to reinvent herself in the worlds of theater and wellness.
When she’s not obsessing over creativity and movement she’s either surfing, thrift shopping, coffee hopping, or being as loud and ridiculous as possible on the streets on NYC.
Owner
Steve and Amy Weinberger
Amy is not a traditionalist except for the love of her family and the celebration or acknowledgement of Shabbat (an intentional pause from sundown on Fridays to sundowns on Saturdays) characterized by her Jewish upbringing.
Her life has been marked by creativity, entrepreneurship, tzedakah (giving), long standing friendships and her 36 year marriage to Steve. She is driven by the desire to create opportunities for entrepreneurs and for small organizations that make a big difference in education, mental health, creative arts, and the environment. In addition to her many accolades in education over her 35 year career, Amy now co-owns Flo Retreat Center in Costa Rica with her husband, Steve, Erin, their daughter, and her husband, Gabe.
Steve is the yin to Amy’s yang. He spent the first 30 years of his life on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands where he was born. He loved anything to do with water. He met his soulmate, Amy, 38 years ago while captaining the sailboat Coconut in the islands. They moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1990 after enduring the after effects of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Steve had a varied career that included Home Depot sales and management to a home remodeling and inspection business, and finally, the business manager of The Thinking Center, Amy’s educational company founded in 1991 and sold in 2018. Steve and Amy are blessed with two wonderfully creative and talented children (adult). Besides his family, he is passionate about three things: the water, tropical fruit trees, and fixing things anyway he can. After spending over 30 years in Sarasota, it was onto the next adventure and Costa Rica checks off all of the boxes. Pura Vida.
Property Manager
Jhonder Padilla
Jhonder Padilla was born in Pérez Zeledón and grew up in a small town called Puerto Nuevo in Costa Rica. After finishing school there, he went to college in Uvita. He's really passionate about soccer (he wins every game!), but he also loves surfing and trying out other sports. Jhonder loves learning about different cultures and is very active in his community. He’s been living and working at Flo for eight years (he is one of the original builders!) and really enjoys helping people and making a difference.
Head Chef + Director of Hospitality
Karen Flores
Karen Flores Gamboa was born and raised here in Costa Rica! She owns her jewelry business which exists online and at Flo! Karen is passionate about the gym and anything that involves movement. She loves learning from others and sharing what she’s learned along the way. As a young mother, she enjoys growing alongside her teenage child and walking hand in hand with her wonderful family, embracing life’s journey with love and joy.
