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Category Archives: Travel
Free Music Download + Introducing A Very Cool East Coast Yoga Festival
Free Download courtesy of the Nantucket Yoga Festival (July 12-14, 2013) and Yogi Tunes.
About the Nantucket Yoga Festival: The island of Nantucket has a unique vibration that has consistently inspired conscious living, the independent spirit and creative collaboration. Join us on this very special island July 12-14, 2013 for the second annual Nantucket Yoga Festival. The festival brings together the very best world class yoga instructors, wellness experts and healthy living guides Featuring legendary yoga master; Dharma Mittra, Sadie Nardini, YogaSlackers and more than 20 inspiring instructors. With a one of a kind opening night, fantastic vendor market place, and a farm to table dinner. It is going to be one inspiring weekend. You do not want to miss this!
The only way to live.
Yesterday was one of those perfect Saturday’s with no plan. It started with yoga with an incredibly inspiring class with MC Yoga ~ nbd (www.mcyogi.com) in Port Reyes Station (in my opinion, one of the world’s cutest towns) and lead us through the mountains, forests and to the beach.
Seriously friends, I know this blog is “going with the flow” but sometimes it’s easy to take this concept for granted.
It’s days like this that really remind me, it’s the only way to live.
Happy 2013 from the Sierras!
“In My World, It Is As Essential As Oxygen And Water” … Mine too!
Hi friends! If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that yoga and traveling are a big part of my life. I love the concept of the newly launched hitPLAYyoga that allows you to access “YogaCasts” and practice no matter where you travel (no more excuses). I am also able to take classes from my teacher friends, even if they live 3000 miles away. I love that there are also 5-10 minute classes when I just want a little bit of yoga on those days when I am so stressed out and about to throw my computer out the window. This only happens about once a month. ;) I have provided the information below if you would like to check it out. Namaste! Traci
“Like so many others, I fell in love with yoga. It’s like an old friend that I am always happy to see. No matter how busy my day gets, or where I travel, I wanted to make sure I had access to yoga. In my world, it is as essential as oxygen and water. I knew there were others out there like me and I truly believe that everybody should have access to yoga no matter their location or the time of day. So, I created hitPLAYyoga.” - Diana Hudson, Co-creator of hitPLAYyoga.
hitPLAYyoga announced today the official global launch of their virtual online community and library of streaming audio yoga classes called “YogaCasts.” The online community is located at http://www.hitPLAYyoga.com where members gain access to unlimited power vinyasa yoga and meditation classes instructed by a worldwide network of teachers via monthly membership dues. Classes range from 5 to 90 minutes and are suitable for beginners all the way to advanced yogis.
hitPLAYyoga, is on a mission to raise the vibration of this planet by creating community and connection and empowering people to do more yoga around the world. Students can take their favorite teachers with them anywhere and practice anytime or gain exposure to a bevy of new inspirational teachers throughout the world.
The community will also be raising awareness for various causes throughout the world via the hitPLAYyoga Empowerment Fund. Every month a portion of each member’s monthly dues will be deposited in this fund and donated to various causes throughout the year. In the upcoming year, members will have opportunities to be directly involved in choosing the funds beneficiaries.
Currently, hitPLAYyoga is proud to be supporting the Africa Yoga Project, (www.africayogaproject.org) a grassroots organization that has introduced thousands of students in Kenya to the practice of yoga, as well provides educational scholarships, job training, food stipends, temporary housing and health services.
“We are thrilled with how many teachers from around the world have already shared their inspiration and classes via our online community. We look forward to continuing to create a community where students and teachers can come together to empower themselves and inspire others through the power of giving, the sharing of classes and of course the practice of yoga.” said Kerry Armstrong, Co-creator of hitPLAYyoga.
hitPLAYyoga is currently offering free previews of any of their classes and offering 25% off the first month membership to celebrate their launch. New members can access this discount by entering HPYLIVE at their checkout. In addition to unlimited online YogaCasts, members can also create their own class schedules, and set and track personal goals on their hitPLAYyoga profile page.
The community also offers special promotions for yoga teachers and studios throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.hitPLAYyoga.com or email HPY at info@hitPLAYyoga.com.
About hitPLAYyoga
hitPLAYyoga is an online library of streaming audio power vinyasa yoga classes called “YogaCasts”. Classes are taught by powerful teachers worldwide who work to spread the love and joy of yoga. At hitPLAYyoga, Power Vinyasa yoga classes are served up around the clock, globally – so members can hit PLAY, anytime, anywhere!
The adventure part is what it’s really about.
My favorite nights = When I am getting on a plane the next morning.
Off to New York in the morning. My brother is getting married! Time for family, lots of seafood (lobster and clams-on-the-half-shell, one of my top 10 favorite foods) and NY pizza. Yum!
And time to cut back on words like “energy”, “the universe”, “gluten-free”, “organic”, “free-range”, “kombucha”, “wheatgrass”, “chakras”, and “almond milk.” My family makes weird faces when I say those words. haha.
Sending lots of love to Garth and Jess and wishes for a beautiful wedding day … and beautiful life!
P.S. Does anyone know where we can get Wheatgrass on Eastern Long Island? (I’m half-kidding).
I only closed my eyes twice
I went on my first very small plane ride yesterday. I didn’t think I was nervous, but then I realized I didn’t say one single word for about 30-minutes before the flight (and not talking is not like me). I only asked one question before we took off … “what happens if we ‘land’ in the ocean?”, “oh, yeah”, and one of the guys came back with three life jackets. Awesome.
Once we took off (which was in about 30 seconds after take-off) it was actually pretty fun and not scary at all (well, except a couple bumpy moments and the landing, both of which I closed my eyes for). I saw some dolphins jumping out of the water (which, no matter how many times I see, I love it the same each time) and as you can see from this picture, it was a pretty cool view from up there. We just flew out there for a quick burger … but next time I want to stay camp on that beach in the picture.
“Do one thing a day that scares you” … check for yesterday, actually, I think yesterday’s mission was good enough for today too. Enjoy your Sunday!
Information on Traveling to Catalina
How to prepare for a cozy & comfortable night sleep at 12,795 feet … well actually, what not to do.
I recently got back from Peru (half work and half vacation). We did the Salkantay Trek, which is an alternative to the Inca Trail, since they only allow 500 people on per day and lots of people want to hike to Machu Picchu – i.e. the next available reservation to hike the Inca Trail is in September (almost 5 months away). One thing to note, we only saw about 25 people at the most on the trek we did… I liked that. You can do the Salkantay Trek in anywhere from 4-7 days (depending on how much you want to see, and how much time you have). Because of limited time, we did it in 2-days, then headed to Machu Picchu then Cusco.
As I often quote, “life begins where your comfort zone ends” … well, congratulations to myself, because, the first day of the trip was one of the biggest mental challenges of my life … and anything but cozy and comfortable. It’s kind of crazy when you get altitude sickness, there is little you can do to relieve it, aside from going down to a lower elevation… and you have to be smart about paying attention to the symptoms (because, being alive is fun), but those mental and physical challenges can be good for you from time to time… and the world is so much more fun once that challenge is over (funny how that works). What’s even funnier, is once it’s over, you usually just want more.
Day One:
Well, I didn’t necessarily do what you should do, but here’s what you shouldn’t do if you want to have a nice night’s sleep above 12,000 feet.
O.k. ready, don’t do this: Get two hours of sleep, get on a plane in Lima at 6:00 am (at sea level) to Cusco (11,200), hike for 6 hours, then sleep at 12,795 feet. Don’t be fooled, although I am smiling in this picture below, my head is about to explode from altitude sickness. I did a lot of different types of Ujjayi breathing throughout the night (yes, seriously) drank a ton of tea, thought I was going to die a couple of times (half kidding), but thankfully survived.
What I should have done: Got a good night sleep the night before my flight, flown to Cusco, acclimated for a few days, then started the trek like a normal person. Oh, and drink lots of tea (I actually did do something right).
One point: As miserable as I was (literally one of the worst night sleep of my life), when I got out of the tent in the middle of the night to use the “ladies room”, I saw one of the most beautiful sky’s I have ever seen. Millions of stars and glowing glaciated mountains. I won’t ever forget how brutal that night was, but even more so, I won’t ever forget how magical that sky was, seriously, never. Pretty amazing.
Day Two:
Tired? yes. Head pounding from the altitude? yes. Hiking for 10 hours straight? brutal. Worth it? um, yes.
@ 15,000+ … the mountains behind us are 20574 ft.
Day Three:
Machu Picchu … I would live in one of those houses if I could.
Day Four:
Cusco … No more altitude sickness, wine and cheese … and my Spanish is getting better. Life is good.
Peru travel information:
Peru … Coming Soon.
Every time I travel, it always takes a few days to start to feel “normal again” (… but not too normal of course) at home (I’m almost there) and get caught back up in the daily activities that, on this trip, I gladly forgot about on the top of a mountain. Then once that normalcy sets in again, that’s usually the moment I start planning my next trip (I can’t help it). Anyway, I can’t wait wait to share all of the pictures from my trip to Peru and some tips on how to prepare for a cozy night sleep at 12,000+ feet. I just need one more day to do my “chores” and then I get to write all about my trip (writing is always my reward). Stay tuned.
