Become a yoga teacher under the Scandinavian Skies!

Together with resident instructors at Shambala Gatherings Retreat Center, the School of Sacred Arts offers a comprehensive education and a transformational experience.  Shambala masterfully combines a Yoga Alliance accredited 200-hour yoga teacher training with a rejuvenating yoga retreat.  Visiting students become more fully blossomed yogis and skilled, professional yoga teachers on a beautiful lakeside in the Swedish forest, complete with delicious, organic, vegetarian cuisine and comfortable accommodation.

This training is led by four internationally renowned yoga teachers sharing wisdom from different angles:

• Simone MacKay (RYT 500) offers her knowledge of asanas with her gentle and graceful approach.
• Troy McFadden (E-RYT 200) shares both the practical and spiritual aspects of Yoga in his playful and inspiring manner.
• Biff Mithoefer (E-RYT 500) creates a sacred space for us to let go into the Yin dimension of Yoga.
• Sky (E-RYT 500) shares his acquired wisdom of the yogic journey in his kind and loving way.

´Spreading Your Wings’ – Module 1 (ten days): July 17th-27th, 2011

The first period of study and practice will focuses on the more practical, accessible aspects of Yoga, providing you with the tools you need to refine your approach to self-practice and teaching

‘Taking Flight’ – Module 2 (ten days): Summer 2012 (exact dates TBA)

This section will see us journeying deeper into the philosophical, energetic, and spiritual aspects of Yoga.

To know more about the teachers, visit http://www.schoolofsacredarts.net/team/

The curriculum includes Hatha/Vinyasa Flow and Yin Yoga as the primary asana practices, honoring both the classical and the tantric approach to this ancient art and science.

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The new year brings fresh and exciting opportunities for rest, reflection and physical and spiritual awakening at the many yoga travel retreats throughout the calendar months. This year’s yoga retreat lineup is filled with everything from warm getaways with scintillating and exotic programs to the breathtaking, pure and frosty views that give a sense of clarity and immersion.  This year, be prepared to liven your senses and detoxify your body to give yourself a new-found sense of well-being. 2011 Yoga travel retreats will give you everything you’re looking for and help you return to the balance state of being that is innately you.

Return of the Goddess Retreat

Where:: Umbria, Italy
When: May 14th – 21st, 2011
Price: ¢1,795,00 – ¢2,595.00
URL: http://www.locandadelgallo.it/
WOMEN’S ONLY RETREAT

Located in the heart of Italy, the private castle and rolling hills is beyond words with their invitation to embody the goddess within you through 5Rhythms Dance, Yoga and Meditation. These practices will weave an offering that grounds and centers you in the feminine and the masculine. Lucia Horan, who investigates the dances of the feminine through 3 phases; flowing, chaos and stillness, will teach 5Rhythms ecstatic dance.   This is a 7-night retreat at the Locanda Del Gallo. There are delicious and healthy daily meals, daily 5Rhythms Dance, daily Yoga and meditation and a day trip to the medieval town of Assisi or Siena.

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There’s something about the open air of a cruise ship filled with both fast paced and peaceful activities. On a yoga cruise, you can get the best of both worlds with tasty organic meals, tranquil asana sessions and the camaraderie of being with like-minded yoga enthusiasts. Yoga cruises offer the experience of seeing exotic and mind blowing destinations with over-the-top professional Yoga lessons and instructors.

These luxurious cruise liners are packed with top of the line amenities and features, including wonderful and relaxing spa treatments and wave running. Your days will be filled with practical instruction, good food and incredible fellowship. Here are a few yoga cruises that are available in this calendar year.

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For those seeking a new yoga travel destination, we’ve found a wonderful option at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.  Prana del Mar, is a deluxe, oceanfront resort and wellness center that places special emphasis on yoga retreats, yoga vacations, spa holidays, and yoga teacher trainings.  This new center, which just opened last winter, is located on a beautiful beach on the Pacific coast. It’s only twenty minutes from the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, but you feel as if you are a world away.

With a full calendar of upcoming yoga retreats taught by a wide range of acclaimed international teachers, Prana del Mar offers quite a selection of options, depending upon what you’re seeking. There are yoga travel retreats whose primary focus is on deepening your yoga practice via concentration on asana, meditation, and pranayama. There are others that are more of an adventurous vacation, mixing twice-daily yoga classes with opportunities to take surf lessons, go whale-watching, or head out horseback-riding on the beach. Still others integrate additional components that will broaden your experience – say, kirtan, philosophical and mythological discussions, or classes on Ayurveda – with dedicated yoga practice. For those interested in exploring even more deeply, there are also yoga teacher training courses offered a couple times per year.

The accommodations are much more luxurious than what one pictures from a standard retreat center. All of the15 guest rooms and suites feature travertine-tiled floors, custom-made teak furniture, pillow-top mattresses, organic sheets and bath towels, large terraces and balconies with ocean views, organic personal care products, and more. Their two-room suites even feature complete stainless steel/granite kitchens and spacious living room areas.

Beyond the guest accommodations, the center features a central community building with full restaurant, swimming pool, hot tub, spa treatment rooms, lounges, a rooftop deck, and a meditation room. They offer a variety of spa services – including massage, body wraps and scrubs, and more.  There is also a large, airy yoga studio that overlooks the ocean, five acres of desert gardens, a stone labyrinth for walking introspection, and a nearly-empty, golden-sand beach at the front of the property.

All of the above remain in harmony with the natural environment due to Prana del Mar’s commitment to environmental stewardship. All electricity is solar-powered, the vegetable and herb garden is organic, the pool is solar-heated, wastewater is treated on site and reused for the xeriscaped gardens, sheets and bath towels are all organic, and more.

Combine all of this with delicious, healthful cuisine and a warm, welcoming staff, and you have an inviting place to spend a holiday – getting healthy, deepening your yoga practice, and exploring a bit of Baja.

With the Sierra de la Laguna mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the desert all around, Prana del Mar is the perfect place to escape for a true retreat setting – a tranquil yoga travel getaway where one can relax, refresh, and rejuvenate.

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Recently I’ve had the privilege of visiting Wild Rose Yoga, found in the magical yoga travel locale of Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Wild Rose Yoga serves as a haven for traveling yogis that make their pilgrimages to this Southeast Asian paradise.  While not a yoga travel resort in the semantic sense, the studio offers many special trainings and events in addition to its regular class schedule.  If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, be sure to visit.  Wild Rose will make you feel at home, making it easy to fall in love with Chiang Mai and extremely hard to leave.

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As refreshing as it is going from the scorching hot days of summer to the crisp autumn air of fall, it’s equally refreshing to enjoy a yoga travel retreat from a new and exciting destination.  And so fortunate for us yoga and travel lovers, for the fall of 2010 invites us to a myriad of destinations and locales.  Whether your preferences are relaxation, mediation or physical exercise in an entirely new environment, there are a number of yoga travel retreats available to you this fall. Lucky for us, there are a number of styles also represented in some highly exotic parts of the world, so make sure you find the resort and type suitable for your desires.

Ya Retreats

Location: Suffolk, England
When: October 8^th-10^th, 2010
Cost: £275
URL:  http://www.ya-retreats.co.uk/

Located in a hamlet outside of Suffolk, England, Ya Retreats offers a yoga travel getaway filled with breathtaking scenes of nature and rustic charm. With classes held in converted period barns, Ya boasts feelings of rejuvenation and relaxation amongst its participants. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be home cooked and vegetarian, and cakes, fruit and tea are available throughout the day during your stay.  Therapies are plenty, including massage and beauty treatments.  Classes are limited to 14 people and accommodations are 4 star.

Late Summer Yoga Retreat

Location: Huzur Vadisi, Turkey
When: September 13^th-20^th, 2010
Cost: £570
URL: http://www.relaxandrelease.co.uk/HuzurVadisi.htm

Snuggled in the peaceful setting of Huzur Vadisi, Turkey this retreat offers scenic views, from pine forest, mountain ranges and coast and islands to immerse you in the perfect yoga setting.  The relaxing atmosphere is enhanced by a natural stone swimming pool and an exotic tree house, that’s highly favored for siestas and gathering.  Housing is provided by nomadic yurts or domed tents on a wooden frame.  The apex of the roof opens to the sky.  It’s equipped with electricity, and solar heated water.

Yoga Thailand

Location: Koh Samui, Thailand
When: September 25^th – October 2^nd, 2010
Cost: Î690
URL: http://www.yoga-thailand.com/meditation-retreats.html

An intensive study that is one week long (40hrs) aimed at increasing one’s knowledge in the practice of yoga.  It includes asana, cleansing and meditation.  Each day is filled with a regimented list of activities that dives deep into each yoga-themed category starting at 6:45 am with morning herbal tea and ends with an evening program that includes video, chanting, and meditation.    Accommodations include an herbal steam room, salt-water swimming pool and full brunch and dinner buffets.

Rolling Meadows

Location: Coastal Maine
When: September 3^rd -6^th, 2010
Cost: $450
URL: http://www.rollingmeadowsretreat.com/newretreat_2.html

On 100 acres of land located in coastal Maine, this retreat offers an experience entrenched in simplicity that focuses on six main elements: Restorative Poses and Pranayama, Self Inquiry, Meditation, Unstructured Time, Silence and Wholesome meals.   This retreat emphasizes one’s ability to take time away from life’s daily stressors such as cell phones and computers in order to enhance the retreat experience.  There are paths for walking, a wood-fired sauna, and a spring fed crystal clear pond.   All meals prepared are vegetarian that includes dairy and eggs. Special accommodations can be made in advance.

Pure Renewal

Location: Haramara, Mexico
When: October 23^rd-30^th, 2010
Cost: $1869
URL: http://www.haramararetreat.com/

Voted by Forbes Traveler as one of their “Top 10 Life-Changing Yoga Retreats” Dr. Lynn Von Schneidau, a naturopathic physician takes you on a journey towards renewal and self-discovery.  The natural and pristine settings in Haramara, Mexico will automatically invite your body to breath and renew itself.  This yoga travel getaway aims to empower, educate, uplift and calm your soul.  Dr. Lynn teaches on whole foods, juices, and ways to increase energy and control hormonal imbalances and meditation for mental and spiritual clarity.

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If you have always dreamt of a yoga travel retreat to India and experiencing the teachings of yoga closer to their source then this is the trip for you. This 19-day retreat takes you on an authentic journey to the spiritual home of yoga, Rishikesh, known as the “Abode of Sages”. Set in the lap of the lush Himalayas along the holy banks of the River Ganges, you will have an opportunity to broaden and deepen your yoga practice while immersed in the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of India.

You can choose from over 60 hours of workshops and classes with world-class yoga teachers at the 10^th Annual International Yoga Festival, attend discussions and performances with some of India’s leading spiritual leaders, and visit historic pilgrimage sites along the foothills of the Himalayas. You will be able to experience full immersion in authentic ashram living while enjoying optional activities, including; trekking, white-water rafting, and Ayurvedic cooking classes. The retreat includes opportunities to contribute to local humanitarian efforts by participating in the Yoga Aid India Challenge and volunteering at a nearby orphanage and school for children with mobility challenges.

This ‘once in a lifetime’ yoga travel adventure is a tour and a retreat – but also a genuine pilgrimage towards the center of your true self.  Not only will you be able to deepen and broaden your knowledge of yoga in this amazing international context and but you will also have an opportunity to visit many of India’s must-see cultural, spiritual, and historic landmarks.

In addition to leading asana classes and offering consistent support, your tour leaders will help you understand Indian customs, rituals, and beliefs. Parvati (Angela Lytle) and Joh Banwait are yoga instructors who both hold degrees in Religious Studies and Education and have traveled, lived, and studied yoga extensively abroad.  Parvati received her spiritual name from her teacher at the completion of her yoga teacher training in Rishikesh and Joh is a Kripalu Yoga teacher whose ethnic roots trace back to the northern regions of India.

For more information about this spectacular experience visit www.lilayoga.com/indiaretreat

The next yoga travel retreat is from February 26 – March 16, 2011.

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Yoga travel towels changed my life.  Seriously.  A yoga towel is a mat-sized sheet of cloth or microfiber that is used to drape over your yoga mat.

As soon as I started using a yoga towel, my yoga practice had improved.  I no longer had to worry about slipping in postures, and I could then focus on the important stuff: alignment, breath, and focus.  They helped improve my practice so much that I now refuse to do yoga without one.  Yoga travel towels are considered to be a must-have prop as they will significantly change the way you practice yoga.

Prevent Slippage

The yoga travel towel benefits me the most by helping with slippage.  My hands and feet tend to sweat, especially during a vigorous yoga class.  I would enter a downward-facing dog and would immediately need to struggle with drawing my hands back so that they don’t slip forward and fly out in front of me.  Ouch, faceplant.  This action is counter-intuitive for the posture.  In downdog, we’re supposed to be pushing into the ground to elongate the spine.

Once I purchased a yoga travel towel, that all changed.  The grip of a good towel (like the Yogitoes skidless, see below) allowed me to focus on alignment.  I finally realized what everyone was talking about when they said that downdog is a resting pose.

Cushion

Yoga travel towels provide an extra layer of cushion on top of your mat.  If you’re knees get sensitive in lunges then a yoga towel will certainly help.  I find that the extra cushion adds a level of comfort to any of the Hatha yoga poses, whether it be to protect your cranium in a headstand, or just to feel nice underneath your feet in mountain pose.

Hygienic

A good yoga travel towel also functions as a sanitary absorbent towel for sweaty sessions of hot or Bikram yoga.  Yoga mats are made of materials that tend to deteriorate from contact with sweat.  Your yoga towel will serve as a protection for your mat.  The best part is that they’re machine washable, unlike your mat, so they can be easily cleaned.

Convenience

Yoga travel towels are a travel-friendly alternative to a yoga mat.  You can fold it up nicely and fit them in just about any piece of luggage.  I travel a lot and a yoga mat is simply too inconvenient to bring with me.  A yoga towel folds up to the size of a tshirt and I don’t even notice the weight.

My Favorite Yoga Travel Towel

I’ve tested a few different yoga towels and the “Yogitoes premium skidless towel” is definitely my favorite.  Its made of a polyester nylon blend fiber that grips well and has great absorption.  It sticks any surface (mat or floor) due to its hundreds of silicon nubs.  Machine washable as well.  I highly recommend this amazing product.  If you don’t already have a yoga travel towel, get one now, you won’t be sorry!

Buy Now

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A yoga cruise is the pinnacle of luxury yoga travel.  Combine the pampering and enjoyment of a cruise with the healing aspects of yoga.  After a lovely yoga practice, relax on your balcony overlooking the calm expansive waters of the ocean.   Typically marked by fine organic cuisine, first class yoga instruction, and an assortment of healthy activities, yoga cruises are truly heavenly.  As with the selection of any cruise, careful consideration must be taken before selecting a yoga cruise.  Follow these steps and we’ll help you select your ideal yoga travel cruise.

How to choose a Yoga Cruise

First and foremost, take some time to research the style of yoga that will be focused on during your cruise.  Yoga teachers typically focus on certain styles (vinyasa, astanga, etc.).  Make sure that the style is to your liking and similar to your current yoga practice.  Typically the teachers on yoga cruises are top-notch but it is always safe to double check.  Take some time to Google the facilitators and their backgrounds in yoga.  You’ll want a teacher with at least five year’s teaching background and experience on yoga cruises.

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Yoga travel brings you the next in the series of yoga travel tips: yoga in your hotel room.  Yoga can be an effective remedy for the stresses of long distance travel.  After a long flight or drive, the body begins to tighten up which can result in discomfort.  The mind starts to get tired and exhausted, perhaps from looking at too many useless Skymall products or solving sudoku puzzles.  Upon landing and reaching your hotel room, take some time to reverse the effects of travel.  The physical and mental benefits of yoga will help to ground and relax you, getting you ready for a sound nights sleep.

Whether you’re on a business trip or a travel vacation, make sure to do a little yoga in your hotel room.  It’s not the same as a yoga studio, but with a few tricks, you can come close.  Follow this simple 15 minute routine made of basic hatha yoga poses that can be done in your hotel room to reconnect with yourself after a long journey.

Start off with mountain pose, tadasana.  Long distance travel, especially by plane, can tend to energetically un-ground you.  Reestablish your connection with the earth in mountain pose.  With your feet hip-width apart, toes facing forward, press into the ground with your feet as your grow tall.  Engage your core as you drop your tailbone towards the earth.  Roll your shoulders down your back and extend the top of your head towards the ceiling.  Now close your eyes.  Notice the foundation and stability of this posture.  Notice your breath and the calming effect it has.  Hold this posture for two minutes.

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