It happens to all of us at some point as we travel. You’ve been dreaming about your upcoming yoga retreat, family holiday or exotic vacation destination for weeks. Your suitcase is packed, you woke up at an hour you didn’t know existed and made it through the inevitable airport lines at check in and security only to find your flight delayed or cancelled. Frustration automatically sets in.

Or maybe not? Our lives are so busy these days, particularly when preparing to leave for a big trip, that we rarely get an extra hour or two to ourselves without extra family, life or work commitments. So, next time you’re stranded in the airport, take a big, deep yogic inhale (fill it up…) and exhale (sigh it out…) and choose to make the delay part of your adventure. Here are a few of our favorite ways to pass extra time in the airport.

Yoga on the Fly…

If you’re lucky enough to spend a little extra time exploring in San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Burlington (BTV) or Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) you’ve hit the yoga travel jackpot. Each of these airports features an area dedicated to yoga – SFO has a yoga room in Terminal 2, the BTV yoga room is on the second floor on the west side of the airport (there’s a sign that will point the way) and DFW has a dedicated yoga space in Terminal D/Gate 40. 

Be sure to pack some yoga pants in your carry on, though the versatility of yoga pants makes them the perfect choice for the entire travel process, and maybe your yoga towel if you aren’t traveling with your yoga mat. 

If the idea of leading yourself through a practice is a little intimidating, remember the basics – a handful of sun salutations to warm your body, some core work if you’d like, hip openers, forward folds and a twist or two. Your hamstrings, hips and low back tighten during long periods of sitting, so try to focus on those areas to prepare your body for the more sedentary part of your trip. If a physical asana practice is more than you want to take on in an airport, find an unused gate or a quiet corner and spend a few minutes meditating or writing in your journal if it is traveling with you. 

There’s An App for That…

There’s an app for basically everything these days and when you find yourself stranded in the airport, your phone or other handheld electronic device can provide hours of entertainment. If you’re traveling to a new country and are unfamiliar with the language, you can begin your immersion with Duolingo or Busuu (these are our favorites, but there are many more out there…). If you’re an avid camera phone photographer, find a new photo app to use to document your trip with fresh filters or new frames. Check out Filter Mania for hours of photo editing fun. App opportunities are endless and a great way to add value to travel time (just don’t forget to pack your phone charger and some headphones!). 

Make A Friend or Two…

Yoga is all about building community and stepping in to relationship with the people around you, so why not take the concept of community with you to the airport? Strike up a conversation with at least one new person while you’re at the airport. It could be the person behind you in the long security line, the person sitting next to you as you wait at the gate or your the people seated around you on the plane. Connecting with new people is fun for many reasons but one of our favorites is learning tips from people who live in the location we’re traveling to. Recommendations from locals are better than what books and websites could ever offer and add excitement in preparing for your trip. Besides, who knows, maybe you’ll make some new life long friends? Social media has made global connection a breeze.! We’re still in touch with new friends made during a layover on our way home from a visit to our Galapagos retreat location, and can’t wait for our next trip to see who we meet next!

Leave a comment and let us know your favorite way to pass the time on your airport delays …and ask away if you have any travel related questions before you embark on your next big trip.

Katie Devine traveled from LA on her own for Jen Pastiloff’s Thanksgiving retreat in Bali last November and came back connected, inspired and with a new group of life long friends. We asked her to share her adventure so that you can have a sneak peek of what happens on and after a yoga retreat (and so that you can know that there is such a thing as a bacon-filled Bloody Mary…). 

I just got home from brunch with seven of my favorite girlfriends. We caught up, shared stories and mimosas, marveled at a bacon-filled Bloody Mary (bacon! In a drink!). It was one of those easy afternoons you have with the people who really “get” you. The ones who know you best, and often have known you the longest.

Except I have known these girls less than six months. We didn’t grow up together, our parents were not friends. We didn’t meet at school or go through sorority rush together. We didn’t even slave together at our first jobs, bonding over the long hours and cheap pay.

We met in Bali, at Thanksgiving, at a yoga retreat. 

I made the decision to go to Bali on a whim. An LA-based yoga teacher, Jen Pastiloff, whose class I had taken once or twice, mentioned she would be leading a weeklong trip there in November. I knew virtually nothing about Bali, except for the magical feeling evoked whenever I heard the word. She had probably announced it in those previous two classes as well, but this time I heard it. I took a flyer, exchanged a few “what can I expect” emails with The Travel Yogi, and was booked on my first yoga retreat one week later.

How do you prepare for a life-changing experience? You can’t, I guess. You can simply take the leap, open your heart, and allow it all in.

I flew the 10,000+ miles alone, from Los Angeles to Denpassar by way of Tokyo and Bangkok. I had met a few of the girls coming from LA; we had all become Facebook friends, and shared Coronas and margaritas at a Mexican restaurant prior to the trip. They were still nearly strangers, and I gulped back one last pang of anxiety, one last “am I really doing this by myself?” as we pulled into the driveway of the gorgeous and serene Soulshine.

It was the last time I would feel alone in Bali.

From the first introductions, to the opening circle, to the first dinner…these women felt like family. Yes, ALL women, from all over the country, who came together to become a tribe. 

We explored Ubud together, buying the same yoga shirts and feeding (or in some cases running from) the monkeys. We told inside jokes about men washing their roosters in the river, and whether the “chicken” we were eating was really cat. We laughed about throwing our iPhones into the rice paddies to get them to work (doesn’t rice absorb water?!). We bonded over warm bottles of Bintang and danced and swam in the rain. We shared our stories and our tears and our awe, our hopes and fears and everything in between. 

It was seven days but it felt like an eternity, a dream that you never want to end, until it was time to say goodbye. Instead we said “see you later” and as we had heard in Bali, “thank you very big”.                        

Months later I can still hear the chorus of roosters and ducks waking in the morning.

Months later I can still smell the tuberose that lightly scented the warm, muggy air.

Months later I can still taste the fresh mango slices, the sweetest I’ve ever savored.

Months later I can still picture the sunrise over the rice paddies, a spectrum of colors unlike any I had ever imagined. 

Months later I can still FEEL what it felt like to be in Bali.

And with my 19 new lifelong friends, I can continue to reminisce about our time in Bali, to keep it alive. Barely a day has gone by that I haven’t been in direct contact with at least one person from our little Soulshine family. We’ve done reunions in LA and San Fran, in New York and New Jersey. Some of us are traveling together this summer, and next Thanksgiving to a yoga retreat in Galapagos as well. We truly are family now.

Retreats now mean to me: falling in love with the world, discovering beauty and magic, releasing fear, and connecting with strangers who became soulmates.

Jen Pastiloff, The Travel Yogi, Soulshine tribe, Bali…thank you very big.

Katie Devine has worked in the publishing industry, both in New York and Los Angeles, for over 10 years. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Miami and is a diehard Canes fan! Katie is an aspiring yogi, avid traveler, musical theater geek, beauty junkie and enthusiastic beach-goer.

Katie is passionately working towards living a more authentic life, and journals her experiences on her popular new blog “Confessions of An Imperfect Life”. She is based in Santa Monica, CA but you can connect with her via her blog, Facebook or Twitter.

We asked our newest Travel Yogi, Elizabeth Rowan, to share a little about herself and why she’s excited to “Rock Om in Aruba” October 5 – 10th. Her answer left us ready to pack our mats and bathing suits and head to Aruba to Rock Om with her! Check it out to learn more about Elizabeth, and don’t forget – early bird pricing ends on April 30th, so grab your spot now to save. 

Retreat Details: Rock Om in Aruba with Elizabeth Rowan

So The Travel Yogi team asked me to pen some prose about why I’m so freaking pumped about my Rock Om retreat to Aruba this October. Seriously?! Best assignment ever.

Let’s start here: You’ve just finished a yoga class, and before you’re even upright again after a crazy-good savasana, you feel it creeping in. You know, the yoga high. The all natural, no sugar added, barefoot, blissful I-don’t-even-care-that-I-faceplanted-in-crow-pose-cause-the-world’s-so-beautiful, seemingly substance-induced “I loooooove you” yoga high. That.

And then you remember that your bathing suit is nearby and the catamaran awaits, ready to depart after a mid-morning piña colada. (I know! Total yoga fantasy, right?!) You cruise around, hang out with amazing people from all around the world that are also high on yoga, travel, life, Coppertone fumes. The only “tasks” on your to-do list for the day are deciding when to swim, nap, and climb aboard a paddleboard. You know, before it’s time to replenish your high in your evening yoga class. This cycle continues for days! You feel inspired, rejuvenated, relaxed, reconnected to yourself, to others, to the world, to your practice. And no, this isn’t your third eye deceiving you!

I love how I feel after taking a yoga class, and even more how I feel after I teach one. When students either spring up with newfound energy, ready to leap into their day, or can barely peel themselves off their mat due to such a deep, thorough relaxation. Sharing the endless benefits of yoga that we feel physically, energetically, emotionally with a circle of new friends with equal lust for life in one of the most beautiful locales on the planet? Sounds like a dream. And yet.

I’ve had friends ask with skepticism, “But, can I drink?”, “Do I have to pre-train?”, “What if I like yoga but don’t sleep in mala beads?” For the love, come with me! In brief, heck yes, absolutely not and me either!

 Whether or not you’re new to yoga or a lifelong practitioner, are breaking in your first passport or live to explore, consider lifting a beachside cocktail workout enough or are wild for yoga two-a-days, yoga retreats are yours. I provide the yoga and guide you toward inspiration, breakthroughs, the shopping district and the pool bar; Rachel Brathen delivers the how-to of yoga on water; the destination provides an unforgettable setting; The Travel Yogi covers all the details. The best part is that you don’t have to know Sanskrit, bust out a handstand on command or have a guru in India to attend. I hope you’ll join me in Aruba. Five days of seaside yoga, spa, beaching, boating, umbrella drinks and overall Om? All yours. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Why does Jennifer Jarrett love leading yoga retreats? Super-sized yoga and deepening connections… Read on to learn more and check out her Baja Bhakti Bliss Retreat this October in Mexico.  

I often can’t believe how lucky I am that I get to do what I do. Embracing this practice has literally been like turning on a light switch within my heart that shines out into the rest of my life. I am profoundly grateful and feel so blessed to be able to share this practice with others via classes, workshops and retreats.

Yoga retreats are like super-sized yoga classes. Not super-sized in the toxic McDonald’s kind of way, but super-sized in a deeply life-giving and life-supporting way. If you can imagine: pack up all of the amazingness that exists within a yoga class and deliver it to a beautiful location with lots of sunshine and warm ocean air that kisses your skin and fills your breath. Now, multiply all of that goodness times every person that is there with you and then multiply THAT times the number of times you practice throughout the week and you end up with the best kind of super-sizing imaginable. The best yoga retreats combine all of the perfect ingredients to make for a truly memorable and often transformational experience.

I always leave a yoga class (whether practicing or teaching) feeling more alive and more awakened into my life. More than my own awakening, I love witnessing other people leave a class with the same sense of freedom and knowing. What I love about retreats is that they allow for the opportunity to go deeper into all of the goodness that comes from the practice. We move deeper into the exploration of the asanas themselves, but also deeper into the sense of connection.  Deeper into the expansion. Deeper into the relaxation. Deeper into the joy. Deeper into the freedom. Deeper into yourself and deeper into the community around you, making better friends with yourself and creating new and lasting relationships with others. You can really just allow all else: all responsibility, obligation, worry, preoccupation, etc to just fade back into the background. You can let the chatter that circles around you in the rest of your life just get quieter and smaller so that it doesn’t distract you as much from being fully present and fully alive.

We can get so busy in our lives and our problems can start to feel so big and oppressive, almost to the point where they take the air away from us making it hard to breathe. Retreats pluck you right out of that and place you in a supportive and loving environment, allowing you space to give a whole lot of love to yourself. Not in a way that is indulgent or gratuitous, but in a way that allows you to find stillness, clarity, joy and gratitude so that you can return to your life even more willing and more receptive and more alive than you were before.

I really can’t wait for October to get here! I can’t wait for a wonderful week of empowering yoga, relaxing meditation, delicious organic food, beach-walking, star-gazing, margarita-sipping and limitless luxuriating amongst the soaring mountains, the healing ocean and the desert tranquility. I also can’t wait to connect a group of awesome people in this setting. Our time together will be a week to relax, renew, restore, rejuvenate and just have a really good time. 

Keep up with our Travel Yogi Jennifer Jarrett as she heads to Baja for her Baja Bhakti Bliss Retreat October 12 – 19, 2013.

Kathryn sharing the “Aim True” love in Prague.

We asked Kathryn Budig to share with you why she loves what she does, what it’s like to go on retreat with her and why she’s excited to share her Aim True motto on retreat in Stowe, VT this fall – complete with archery, horseback riding, yoga and more.

Here’s Kathryn’s response:

I love what I do. 

I often wake up in an unknown bed (not nearly as racy as it sounds…) and take a few minutes to register where I am. Then I remember I’m leading a retreat with a group of fantastic yogis in an amazing location off the grid. I take a deep breath, sigh it out and immediately go into my place of gratitude because as I said before—I love what I do.

My ‘duty’ is to take people out of their comfort zone and into a place where they can learn what triggers them and how to become less reactive. Sometimes it’s scary and often times it’s just downright fun. I use different approaches—asana practice, lecture and group dynamic – to inspire and empower. While I do this everyday of my life, my favorite setting to tackle empowerment is on retreat.

Kathryn + Crew post bungee jump jumping on retreat in New Zealand!

Retreats have always been my favorite part of the job. I pick a location that I’ve always wanted to visit and collect an awesome group of people who without a doubt have made friends for life by the end of the week. We practice twice daily allowing us to flow, restore and dig deep into the poses that we typically don’t have enough time to cover in a normal class setting. We eat delicious local food, drink good wine and beer, adventure out into local excursions and find ourselves able to unplug and leave our phones behind. It’s the perfect way to recharge your battery both spiritually and physically while having the time of your life.

My adventures have ranged from adrenaline inspired New Zealand (pictured above) to the mystical shores of Santorini. We’ve cracked coconuts in Mexico and watched the whales play in Hawaii. This year, I wanted to offer a location that was magically but accessible so I chose Stowe, VT. An easy plane ride for most Americans and a stunning backdrop set in a New England autumn.

My motto of life is ‘Aim True’ and it’s the lesson that I infuse into all of my teaching. The motto originally came from my love of the Greek goddess, Artemis who is the goddess of the hunt and an archer. The second I laid my eyes on Stowe I knew this was a place where we could not only aim true on our mats but we could actually get outside and learn how to aim true like Artemis would—with an actual bow and arrow! We worked out all the logistics and daily archery will be available for anyone who wants to practice their breath, aim and meditation outside in the crisp air.

Honestly…I can’t wait! These retreats feed my soul and I am beyond thrilled to meet my new people while discovering new places.

Keep up with our Travel Yogi Kathryn Budig this fall as she heads to Stowe, VT October 6 – 13th and Prana del Mar in Baja for New Year’s. 

Plantation View from the Balcony at Semilla Verde

Our Galapagos retreat spot at Semilla Verde is up and running and Travel Yogi Elise Joan and her Blissful Evolution Retreat crew were the first to sun salute, down dog and savasana in the brand new yoga studio on property. The beautiful Galapagos islands are 97% protected national park, so the beauty of untouched land and endemic species are found around every corner. We asked Elise to share some of her experience from her retreat – along with her beautiful photos – so that you can get in on the magic. And don’t worry, if you missed out on Elise’s retreat, there are still a few spots available on our retreat calendar in 2013, and plenty more in store for 2014. 

Here’s our chat with Elise:

The Travel Yogi: Why do you love leading yoga retreats?

Elise: My love of yoga was founded on the internal connection I achieve through my asana practice on the mat.  Ultimately for me, the benefits of practice transcend the studio and extend into a joyful and adventurous journey through life.  I think of it as an awakening to all the beauty and divinity that exists within us and all around us. Yoga has given me more than flat abs and toned legs.  It has taught me to see with my heart, even more than with my eyes. 

On Bartolomé Island

Leading retreats is an incredible opportunity to open people’s eyes and hearts to the yoga that happens AFTER we roll up our mats and re-enter the world.  I always incorporate a sense of adventure & exploration in my retreat choices, because expanding our horizons and pushing our boundaries is an important part of our internal and external practice.  My theme for this retreat was “Blissful Evolution”, which I thought was a fitting connection to the land made famous by Darwin’s research.  Our focus would be on evolving our mental and emotional connections along with our asana practice.  We would learn to grow and adapt to change so that we can emerge from challenges even stronger and better equipped than before.  It was with that intention that we embarked on our journey.

The Travel Yogi: What made the Galapagos different than other retreat locations?

Elise: The Galapagos was unique in many ways. Of course it’s beauty and history are unparalleled but one of the most outstanding elements was the ability to experience so many kinds of indigenous wildlife in their natural habitat. The opportunity to observe interaction and evolution at work was pretty incredible.  Additionally, the many islands of the Archipelago are dramatic in their landscape, and unique in their energy.  From desert cactuses to blindingly white sand beaches with cerulean surf… the Galapagos has it all.  Unlike many of the other destinations I’ve planned, the Galapagos is nearly void of tourists.  We saw so few that it truly felt like we had entered a different world.  A pardise from a different era almost.  It was a full escape from society to a true oasis where clarity, joy, and inner peace come a little more easily than in the bustling cities where we live.

The Travel Yogi: What was your favorite spot on the islands? 

Elise: I’d have to say my favorite was the beach at Tortuga Bay. The warm turquoise water and soft white sand beaches were exquisite.  We went open ocean kayaking & saw white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles, marine iguanas, pelicans, frigates & numerous other species.  We basked in some sunrise yoga and practiced our ujai breath WITH the ocean.  Inhaling and exhaling  as the tides rolled gently in. It was really magical. 

The Travel Yogi: Favorite animal encounter?

Elise: I loved interacting with the lively sea lions. They are so friendly and oddly human-like in their expression of affection.  We played with them on the rocky cliffs of their colony and swam with them in the ocean.   They would come right up & interact with us without any fear!  It was really fun and very interesting to experience.  It almost felt as if we were one of them…  as if, we weren’t such different species after all.  Within this microcosm, we witnessed territorialism, gender differences, and adaptability to the environment.  We could see in this species a respect for one anothers’ role in the community.  We witnessed protectiveness and defense of one another and a deference to the elderly.  If you look closely enough…. there are lessons to be learned everywhere in these thriving animal communities.  And these lessons are as valuable to our yoga practice as any asana series.

The Travel Yogi: Favorite Galapagos cuisine? 

Elise: I enjoyed the traditional Equadorian meals the best.  At Semilla Verde, all the food was freshly prepared and well balanced.  You could almost taste the colorful dynamics of the islands in the spices and flavors of the meals. I was particularly partial to the fried plantains with homemade chili sauce.

(We agree…the fried plantains were DELICIOUS!) 

The Travel Yogi: What did you take away from your experience? 

Elise: My nephew Parker, our youngest yogi (who knew every species of animal we would encounter), taught us so much.  We got to experience the wonder of nature through the innocent eyes of a child.  I was inspired by his fearlessness as he jumped into the ocean, despite being a little afraid, to swim with sharks and stingrays.  That is a BIG leap for a LITTLE guy, and THAT… is the kind of “yoga” that I love to witness…  overcoming fears and emerging stronger, wiser and more joyful.   

The Travel Yogi: Best yoga pose spot?

Elise: We practiced on beaches and decks, in the studio and (some of us) even on the boats!   But my favorite was practicing in the lush highlands at Semilla Verde.  During one special practice near a quiet pond, I led my retreaters through a sequence leading up to kurmasana (tortoise pose). As we focused our drishti outward, we saw that we were being studied by a GIANT 200 year old tortoise…right in front of us!! It was EPIC and probably like nothing I’d ever be able to replicate. To view and study the very animal we were basing our posture on was pretty thrilling (I know I’m kind of a nerdy yoga teacher…). 

The Travel Yogi: What advice do you have for anyone headed on a Galapagos retreat?

Elise: Breathe. Take it all in. Be open to the profound impact of the magic of the islands.

Keep up with our Travel Yogi Elise Joan on her website: Elise Joan Bliss and on her Facebook page. Also, keep an eye on our calendar as we hear rumors that she might be planning a return to the Galapagos in 2014…

To check out other upcoming Galapagos retreat availability, click here.

Our Travel Yogi Jen Pastiloff shares the magic of yoga retreats and why she loves to lead them:

I fell in love last week.

I was surrounded by palm trees and magnificent ocean views and hammocks. Part jungle, part fantasy, my heart burst open and cracked in half with wild love. I was giddy with it.

Yes, I have been married for two years and no, it was not with my husband.

I love my husband deeply,

Although it may not be him I am speaking of directly, he is, in fact, directly affected by this falling in love of mine, as it were.

How can he not be?

When you embody love, anyone you come in contact with gets a little of it, whether they want to or not. You will walk out of a room and they will stand there in awe, replaying your face in their mind, trying to memorize what it was that made them feel so good.

My husband reaps the benefits, you can be sure. I am more inspired, more full of life, happier, funnier (debatable), more patient, and more awake than I have felt in a long time.

One of the girls on my Mexico retreat last week just added a comment to Facebook, under a photograph of us which read Just told my friends all about our magical trip: “you sound like you are in love.” It’s almost the same feeling. How strange to be home and not surrounded by you.

Although I jokingly said this in Mexico: I fall in love daily! It didn’t hit me until I read that comment that I had indeed actually fallen in love.

I had fallen hard.

Britta, the girl who wrote said comment was one of the people on my retreat who I didn’t know a lick about. Except that she was coming from Amsterdam.

I too thought WTF?

All the way to Mexico from Amsterdam? Hmm.

I have experienced some interesting moments with people on my retreat who I hadn’t known prior, or very well, and, as much as I hate to admit it, it had tainted me. For the worse.

Naturally, I was a bit scared of Britta, as well as the couple from NJ and the girl from San Francisco.

And yes I am from New Jersey. 

It seems out of character for me, I know this. Me who always says Expect to be delighted! and other such quips more often than not.

So, imagine my delight upon returning home at the realization that the people on my retreat were hand picked by the Universe just for me!

The people from New Jersey? Possibly my two favorite people on the planet.
It’s sinking in, as I sit here feeling a bit melancholy about the Mexico retreat, missing it so dearly today, how I am getting closer to the person I always dreamed I’d be. How else can I explain how the people on my retreat showed up? It was like a divine hand was at play. I am truly attracting the people into my life that are on my vision board, and in my dreams. The law of Attraction is fierce and unyielding.

I thought the couple from New Jersey were newlyweds. They had been married 32 years it turns out. That should say just enough about them.

You see, I fell in love with everyone there. I fell in love with what we created together, there on the beach and in the palapas. And with the feeling I had when I was in their presence. I am pretty sure they all felt the same.

My sister came.

I brought her for her birthday. There were many times throughout the week where I would ask Who is that? in reference to her. What an amazing thing: for someone to break so far out of their predictability that they become unrecognizable. Her smile was what got me the most. I truly do not know if i have ever seen someone smile so much, let alone her. I have known her 34 years.

Here is her post about the trip.

I have never felt so safe in my life, so free, so unjudged. So full of belly aching laughter and inspiration and familiarity. How could it be that some of these folks just “showed up” as it were?

Because there are no accidents.

So yes, my husband feels the effects because I came home fully recharged and emanating love. Falling in love does not have to be romantic or sexual, and, furthermore, when you are in love, you are love.

Love is transferrable and like the ocean, it doesn’t lessen if you remove a few drops and share it with someone else. In fact, it doesn’t even notice.

Much like being in love and leaving your beloved, my return home was bittersweet. The day after I got back I was still high but by Monday I was missing everyone and there was an ache and a resistance to going back to my “real life.”

What I realized today is that I can be in love, I can be love, full of all of it’s cracks and holes and laughter and quirks and inside jokes and not necessarily have to own it. I do not have to have each and every person who was with me last week here in my apartment every day (as much as I would like that) to allow myself to feel what I felt last week.

What a wake-up this last retreat was. I have led 10 retreats in 2 years ( and I have been teaching yoga only 3 years) so I have been a busy girl. This retreat reminded me that I do not indeed know everything, that I can still be surprised, that there are no strangers, that mad love is possible even after and especially after 32 years of marriage, that just because you have known someone 34 years does not mean anything. That, in order to truly be happy, we must let go of our personal history, which, I do believe, we all did in Mexico.

I was just Jen. Britta was just Britta. Steve was Steve and so on. We were, in no way, identified by our pasts or our stories and thus we were able to fall in love with each other, deeply in love, based on exactly what we got there in Mexico.

There was also no jealousy or fear amongst the group. It was as love wished it were all the time, pure unadulterated bliss. It was as love wished it were without our old patterns and beliefs getting in the way to mess it up for us.

I don’t know if I will ever have an experience like this again. Maybe. Maybe not. It most certainly will not be the same, but I am open to experiencing life in this way as long as I am alive. I will keep on attracting these people into my world and inviting them to stay.

As I have gotten older, I have come to realize how powerful I am (and you are too) and that I did this. I attracted these people to Mexico. It wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t a random act of awesomeness. It was exactly what I needed and exactly what they needed.

Just like falling in love.

I am allowing myself to feel a little sad with want for them. It’s ok. I am a human being and I rather enjoy that fact.

I am alive.

I will leave you with a little note from Greg, one half of the couple from NJ. He is someone I will know for the rest of my life.

Dear Friends,

(How different and wonderful to write that from the heart, and not as a meaningless salutation!)

I just sat down at my desk at work, about to dive in to all of the busy-ness and problems of the day.  Before I do that, though, I wanted to write a note of thanks to all of you.  “Gratitude” is fading on my arm, but not in my heart.

I have had many good experiences with groups over the years – scientific workshops, management retreats, vacations with friends, etc.  None them even comes close to this past week with all of you.  It’s not just that we harmonized so well as a group;  it’s that I feel a connection to each one of you, and I suspect that that is true for all of us.   What a gift!

Thank you all so much for bringing your unique light and sharing it with such openness.   This is and will continue to be a great source of joy for me.   May it continue to light the path forward for each of you.  Thanks also for so much fun and laughter, which brings a smile to my face as I write this.

And, as has been said several times already, thank you Jen not only for creating the space for the light to shine, but for joining us in it.

So here’s my secret plan:  Part 1:  When the world gets heavy, I’m going to stand up, close my eyes, and breathe with all of you in the jungle facing the sea.  Part 2:  I’m setting the intention to do this again next year, and hope to see you there!

Finally, if any of you are ever on the East Coast, come visit us!  We have plenty of room and would love to see you again.

Thanks again, with all my heart.

PS, Yes it is true that they all played a practical joke on me and mooned me the last night of the retreat. Now, if that does not say that I have indeed attracted my tribe, what does? Those that recall my father, who died when I was young, will remember that my dad made it a practice to moon at every party. Horrifying for an 8 year old. Well, let’s just say when my retreat pulled the prank on me, I got a little warm and fuzzy. And yes, I have a video.

Another Letter:

Jen,

 

Ashley Turner on retreat in Peru last spring. Join her for her Oceans of Love Yoga Retreat in Galapagos this July!

While teaching at the NYC Yoga Journal Conference in 2009, I had an experience that changed my life. Donna Karan had just launched her Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program to revolutionize healthcare by bringing five holistic modalities (yoga, mindfulness, essential oils, reiki, and nutrition) into hospitals and palliative care facilities. 

 An essential oil team from Young Living was on hand to educate attendees about the medicinal and therapeutic use of oils. Their booth became a hub, lighting up the marketplace. You could almost see the iridescent wafts of enticing scents rising like plumes, saturating the stale, piped-in hotel air.

I had always been curious about essential oils, but never studied them. For 10 years, the inside of my medicine cabinet has been lined with laminated, color-coordinated charts of plants, their medicinal properties, origins and uses …but I had only haphazardly bought oils, splashed them on, or randomly added them to my bath.

Now I utilize therapeutic grade essential oils for their medicinal qualities all the time, but particularly when I’m on the road to teach or to visit friends and family. Here are some essential oil tips to keep you happy and healthy for your next The Travel Yogi adventure – or wherever your travels may take you!

TRAVEL SAFELY

Keep a bottle of Lemon or Thieves essential oil close at hand. Lemon and Thieves (which contains lemon oil) are both antimicrobial and antibacterial, so you can use a drop or two on your hands when soap and a sink may be difficult to find.

Add a few drops of lemon oil to water to create a handy on the go cleaning solution (tray tables on the airplane) wherever you are.

I always carry Lavender in my purse for minor cuts, burns, rashes, scrapes or just to shift my mood immediately. It’s like a whole first-aid kit in one little bottle.

HYDRATE + ALKALIZE

Stay hydrated – especially when sunbathing, flying or traveling to a place where clean water is not as easily accessible. Add 1-2 drops of Lemon to a glass bottle or cup (lemon dissolves items made from petrochemicals and styrofoam) to enhance flavor and alkalize water, which can make some tap water safe to drink.

NAUSEA + MOTION SICKNESS

A helpful blend for anyone affected by motion sickness while traveling – or if an amusement park is your final destination – is Di-Gize. This blend is made up of Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, Lemongrass, Anise and Patchouli. 

Many of these oils are known for aiding with digestion and Patchouli is helpful to prevent nausea. To prevent motion sickness or aid in digestion, apply a few drops directly to your stomach (may be diluted with a carrier oil…check carry-on restrictions before traveling with oils). You can also inhale directly from the bottle for quick relief from motion sickness.

INSECT REPELLENT + SUNSCREEN

If you are headed outdoors, you can make your own natural insect repellent and sunscreen with essential oils!

Make insect repellent blend by combining 6 drops of Peppermint, 6 drops of Tea Tree and 9 drops of Citronella essential oils. Combine the essential oil blend with a carrier oil (like coconut or sesame oil) and apply topically. Eucalyptus is also known to be a particularly strong insect repellent, especially against mosquitoes.

To make your own natural sunscreen, combine a carrier oil with Lavender, Helichrysum, Myrrh or Roman Chamomile. Mix 5-10 drops of essential oils per ounce of carrier oil and you’ll have your own sunscreen mix! Be sure to store the mixture out of direct sunlight and to test on small areas of body to be sure you don’t have allergies before applying to larger areas of skin.

Travel safe to wherever your adventures take you and be sure to pack a few of these essential oils before you leave home!

Join our Travel Yogi Ashley Turner for her Oceans of Love Retreat in Galapagos this summer.  

Like most of the enthusiastic souls that make up the Travel Yogi community, I love to travel any way that I can. Car, boat, train, bus, plane…I’ll take ‘em all! I’ve explored somewhat luxuriously and I’ve backpacked and embraced minimalism. Having just returned from Haiti, I have learned and changed so much, and have a whole new mindset as I plan more trips for the near future. I find the information below essential to keeping warm, sane, full and comfortable, no matter what type of world I’ll be discovering. My hope is these will help you prepare for your next adventure too. Happy traveling!

Danielle sharing her personality and the language of yoga in Haiti.

Warmth: No matter your destination, airports and planes are freezing! Pack a sweatshirt or jacket, a cozy scarf and/or a small blanket that will keep you warm, and will also provide a pillow option should you need to sleep on the plane or somewhere in the airport. If you’re packing for yoga on your trip, your mat length towel doubles perfectly as a blanket or pillow.

Entertainment: I bring at least two books and one or two magazines for some variety in tone. Naturally, I have some new playlists made on my iPod, some downloaded podcasts, and even some movies I’ve uploaded. With long flights and/or layovers, there’s only so much time sleeping, eating, and people watching will kill. I relish this opportunity with no internet access (usually) or cell phone chiming at me to read for hours, fall asleep listening to great music, laughing at a podcast or having interesting conversations with strangers.

Perishables: I bring my YogaEarth water bottle and refill it once out of security at an airport water fountain. Along with staying hydrated (imperative to staying healthy and sane!), I bring multiple Keen-Wah bars and a bag of YogaEarth trail mix. These fit easily into a small purse or backpack and they keep me from getting hangry (hungry + angry = hangry! no one wants to be hangry) in-between meals. Even better than that, they provide an opportunity for me to put something natural and healthy into my body, and while traveling to foreign countries, you can’t quite predict when the next opportunity to eat well will arise. Be prepared!

Protection: I keep a couple travel sunscreen tubes in my bag, along with non-toxic bugspray and hand sanitizer. The third is a must, especially when traveling to second andthird world countries. In Haiti, clean water and the ability to wash your hands is notreadily available. I left not only feeling grateful for the simple gift of clean running water, but with a staunch reminder not to travel without my hand sanitizer again.

Personality: Bring your smile, your open heart and your humility. Americans especially are perceived in any number of ways, going into a new country without assumption, with an open mind and an eagerness to explore will draw positive locals and experiences to you. It is amazing what positive body language can communicate and regardless if you know the local language or not, laughter is universal.

Yoga: Breathing, stretching and balancing will not only keep you energized, focused,and calm during the unpredictable adventures traveling to foreign countries brings, it will provide an unbelievable ice-breaker when connecting to locals. When attempting to communicate in two broken languages, beyond laughter and kindness, Yoga is also universal and well loved by those all around the world, whether they’ve heard of the practice or not. It’s free, you don’t even need shoes, everyone can attempt a tree pose, so when you meet someone new, see if they’ll pop into some poses with you! Yoga provides unlimited joy, spread the love!

All About Danielle: Danielle Robinson is Never Not Hungry. A Yoga, travel, food, laughter and life enthusiast, Danielle lived, studied and traveled in Italy for 3 years, and then embarked on her teacher training in New York City with Sonic Yoga. Since, she’s lived and taught in Chicago, stretched, folded and chewed throughout the U.S., and now is thrilled to lend her passion as a writer and teacher to the Travel Yogi. She is stupefied to be alive and grateful to share the gift of Yoga to the world.

You can find Danielle at You, Me and Yoga Makes 3 on Facebook, @mastic8onthis on Twitter, and at danieatslife.com!

JL sharing her heart at Yoga for Hope in Seattle, WA

I have the best job in the world! I get to watch people transform right before my eyes.  Yoga has the power to change you; to change your perspective, to change the way you live, to change the way you LOVE.  Travel expands your horizons, your knowledge, and the way you experience life.  Together, Yoga and Travel make you a new person.  It really IS all you could want or dream it to be.

Honestly, I am amazed every time I lead a retreat. Life-long friendships are made, breakthroughs happen, retreaters even LOOK different!  Yoga opens your heart and your mind – so the travel experience is BIGGER, more vibrant, and more impactful. Each retreat group is unique. Sometimes retreats are healing. Sometimes they are a celebration. Sometimes they are about growth. But no matter what they are transforming. Okay I’ll say it – They change your life. They change YOU.

When you go on yoga retreat, you can experience your yoga without having to rush in from work or rush off to make dinner. You get to really be present. Because of this, the growth in the physical practice on a weeklong retreat blows my mind!  Retreaters can do things with their bodies, they never dreamed of.  A week of concentrated practice, with no distractions – plus someone else taking care of meals, excursion planning, etc – frees students up to transform MORE.

Then you consider the travel part – You get to see things and do things in parts of the world you might not have otherwise gone.  When you go on retreat, you don’t have to worry about what you are going to eat, where you will sleep, how you get to see special locations – that is all done for you!  You just practice yoga, rest, and show up.   

When you have no outside distractions, other magic happens: You connect with others on the trip deeply, you laugh louder, you smile bigger, you might even cry harder.  You are in your own Kula (community of the heart).  That Kula might begin on a trip – but you stay connected, forever. 

You have the opportunity to be YOU: totally you. 

Travel Yogi: Jenniferlyn (JL) Chiemengo

Upcoming Retreat: Great Galapagos Getaway

To energize, renew and free are words that describe Jenniferlyn’s (known to her 100s of students as “JL”) method of yoga practice. When you step away from JL’s Vinyasa class, you will always feel that you are entering into a better world. You will find her classes both challenging and spiritual.

In 2002, overcome by the power and benefits of yoga, JL decided to move her career from the newsroom to the yoga mat. After completing more than 200 hours of training, JL started her career guiding new moms through pre and postnatal yoga and helping cancer patients heal through yoga, meditation and pranayama.

Continuing her training with Shiva Rea in 2005 and 2007, JL embraced Vinyasa yoga. Through Vinyasa, she learned linking the breath with movement is powerful, energizing and cleansing. JL’s own Vinyasa style has evolved from amazing teachers like Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Ana Forrest and Dharma Mittra.

With more than 10 years of teaching JL has a devoted following in Seattle and through her writing. Connect with JL on Facebook, Twitter or via her website.