YogaHolidays Blog

Author credit Jennifer Dawson
Image by Elly Fairytale from Pexels

The staycation continues to rise in popularity as millions of people are spending their weekends at home or at a nearby hotel or AirBnB. Last year, summer staycation searches and bookings were up by 33 percent in the UK, and more holidaymakers are opting to go on domestic getaways. Going on a staycation is one of the best ways to spend a weekend, as you can save on travel costs while having a stress-free holiday. But to make the most of your free time, why not go on a yoga staycation sometime this year? Not only will it rejuvenate your mind and spirit, but it will also enable you to stay active while you’re having a relaxing time in your hotel room. Here’s a guide to planning the perfect yoga staycation. 

Author credit Jennifer Dawson

Adults in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep: a recent study has revealed that three in four British employees are experiencing some form of sleep disorder. The persistent sleeplessness plaguing millions of individuals has not only resulted in workers struggling to stay awake during the day, but it has also caused a dip in productivity within businesses and organisations across the nation. While medication may help to ease one into a deep sleep, there are better, more natural solutions to have a restful night, and one of them is practising yoga. Studies have shown that when done regularly, yoga can help to promote better sleep. If you’re looking for a better way to have a good night’s sleep, here’s how yoga can help you cope with insomnia.

Nepal is a beautiful Himalayan Kingdom blessed by Guru Gorakshanath. It is the origin place of The Vedic Sanatan Dharma (root of all the religions), birthplace of Veda Vyasa who wrote the 4 Vedas; father of all the literature and scientific discoveries, source of holy river Ganga, the land of Devas, saints and sages. Therefore, it is a matter of pride for yoga lovers to practice yoga and meditation in the pious land from where Vedas, Tantra, Yoga, Astrology, Ayurveda, Vastu-shastra (fengsui) was started. Long later, Hindus of India learned our Vedic culture and spread yoga and meditation in the western world. It would be unfair not to thank those dedicated Indian Yogis who came to the original Rishikesh (Ruru Kshetra of Palpa-Nepal) and received immense spiritual vibration enough to spread the noble message to the entire world.

Winter Sun Holiday from 12th-21st March in Costa Rica staying at Boutique Hotel in the surf mecca and wellness zone of Nosara.
The hotel has a stunning rooftop yoga shala with views of the ocean, and is only a short walk away from the beach.
Start your day with your yoga practice followed by a tropical breakfast, then time to relax by the pool, beach or experience one of the many activities on offer.

There’s zip wiring, animal sanctuaries, coffee plantation tour, boat and snorkeling trip, and quad biking along the beach.
In the evening return for yoga and an evening meal while listening to the wildlife and ocean waves that surround you.

https://www.adventureyogi.com/yoga-holiday/beachside-yoga-holiday-costa-rica/

Author credit Jennifer Dawson
Photo by Rima Kruciene on Unsplash

If you’re finding it difficult to provide the safe, contented childhood you had hoped to give your children, you’re far from alone. A recent survey has revealed that two thirds of grandparents and parents feel that childhood is worse than ever, and over 2 million children in the UK agree. From worries about bullying and social media pressures, to concern for the environment and political uncertainties, today’s families are feeling the strain, and it’s affecting young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Taking the whole family on a yoga retreat can help to restore a little harmony by encouraging mindfulness, resetting sleep patterns that may be disrupted by school pressures or technology overload, and bringing everyone together in a shared experience of a new culture and philosophy.

Author credit Jennifer Dawson
Picture Photo by Anupam Mahapatra on Unsplash

There are as many as 36.7 million yoga practitioners in the U.S. alone. But while many take up yoga for its stress and anxiety-relieving capabilities, a growing number of people choose to trade in their weights for the toning and muscle building benefits that come with a yoga mat. Practicing yoga can offer everything you're wanting from a fitness regime — without ever needing to go to the gym!

Yoga:

Author credit Vivek Roy

To know what yoga retreat to choose, you first have to know about yoga as well.

What is yoga?

Yoga is an ancient and spiritual art form which was commonly found and performed in India.

Yoga is an art of creating discipline among its followers and has a culture which leads people towards nature

Yoga helps a person to leave a stress-free and happy life and it also provides inner peace to its practitioners

Yoga is an exercise which can be performed within a short period of 20 to 30 minutes

Yoga RETREAT:

Author credit Anita Fernandes

The most common New Year’s resolutions are to eat healthier, exercise more and lose weight. Sadly, over 90% of us are unable to achieve these health goals. It is important to understand the obstacles that prevent you from leading a healthy lifestyle so that you can tweak your routine accordingly. This will help you meet your health and fitness goals and improve your quality of life.

7 obstacles standing between you and a healthy lifestyle           

1. Busy schedule

Our pace of life has increased dramatically in the last couple of decades and yet we find ourselves scurrying around each day trying desperately to stay on schedule. While you cannot add more time to your days what you can do is improve your time management skills so that you can manage more in less time. For instance, you might not have the time to cook on a daily basis, instead you can meal prep over the weekends. Similarly, if you do not have the time to hit the gym each day, you can simply spend 10 minutes on an HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout at home.

Photo by Coen van den Broek on Unsplash

Author credit Helen Bradford

As people today live quite a busy and hectic life, stress is a normal occurrence. However, stress is detrimental both for our body and mind and thus, we need to learn to deal with it. Besides the fact that cycling is a great way to alleviate stress, it is also a physical activity that is quite affordable and accessible. Cycling benefits our state of mind, it relaxes us and it benefits our body too. If you’re interested to learn how riding your bike helps you beat stress, keep reading!

Photo by Oliver Sjöström from Pexels 
Author credit Jennifer Dawson

It’s estimated that 142 million Americans went boating in recent years, equating to 36% of U.S. households. While fishing and lazing about can be an enjoyable way to spend your day, more people are starting to practice yoga aboard, enjoying the relaxation and simple exercise it offers. Doing yoga on a boat offers many additional benefits, including great mental and physical effects.

Author credit Jennifer Dawson

Despite coffee being the most popular beverage in the world, with around two billion cups consumed per day, according to reports by the International Coffee Organisation, most yogis do not indulge. This decision is often made based on their interpretation of Yoga Sutras, specifically Saucha, one of the five niyamas that emphasizes self-purification. According to Saucha, yogis are only allowed to imbibe pure foods, and most people view caffeine in coffee as a toxicant. There is, however, no mention in Saucha that yogis should avoid coffee. There have been many debates on whether or not it is right to drink coffee while practicing yoga. Yoga is a tool for self-improvement and coffee has numerous health benefits to the body, and many people enjoy both. But can the two go together when yoga is all about relaxation and coffee is a stimulant?  

Author credit  Jennifer Dawson
Photo by Li Sun from Pexels

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States and plays a pivotal role in several chronic illnesses. More than 30% of the U.S. population is obese with an annual medical cost of $147 billion dollars.  Yoga can be an effective way to solve this social issue as it can help individuals lose weight - especially the more active forms of yoga.  Furthermore, the practice of yoga can lead to the development of mindfulness that helps individuals who want be more aware of their eating habits.

Author credit Jennifer Dawson
Photo by Form on Unsplash

Yoga is one of the oldest forms of self-improvement in recorded history, beginning in the Indus Saraswati Valley in 2700 BCE. From its origins, yoga teachings have emphasized that individuals should master their own destinies through achieving harmony between mind and body. Whenever we feel a lack of motivation, yoga can give us the boost we need to assert control over our surroundings, making it an integral component to regaining self-worth and coping with negative energy. 

Author credit Jennifer Dawson

The top official causes of death in the UK, the US and many other countries are cancer and heart disease, and one thing these diseases have in common is a far less discussed condition - inflammation, which occurs when the immune system recognises damaged cells. Inflammation is involved in so many conditions that can wrest from your quality of life, including arthritis - a condition affecting 350 million people worldwide. The good news for those who make yoga a part of their daily life, is that this practice has been found to lower inflammation, in a 2019 review published in Biological Research for Nursing. If you have already booked a yoga retreat to a beautiful part of the world, know that you are doing much more than providing yourself with a relaxing getaway. You are also battling inflammation in a powerful way.

Author credit Jennifer Dawson
Photo by Brandon Nickerson from Pexels

Over 50 million Americans experience seasonal allergies every year with a variety of symptoms ranging from itchy eyes to nasal congestion. Even though these allergies are relatively harmless, there’s something to be said for the quality of your day to day existence; discomfort is discomfort. If you’re not keen on medication, there’s another alternative for relief: yoga. You may be familiar with yoga for a variety of things, like improving digestion or increasing your sleep quality. The benefits, however, don’t stop there. The right poses and sequences have the ability to aid many other areas, including providing relief from allergies.

A tempting getaway - four days (13th - 17th April) in an idyllic setting in sunny Morroco with Sine and Aidan,
two enthusiastic and insightful Iyengar yoga teachers with many years of experience and practice.
The venue is a traditional and stylish Moroccan villa with delightful gardens and great views of the nearby Atlas mountains.
Marrakesh airport is only 45 minutes away. There will be an emphasis on the mindfulness aspects of yoga.

Please see http://www.heliotrope-yoga-holidays.com/morocco.html for more details.

Over 40 weekend, and week-long retreats every year for the past 20 years at Burren Yoga Retreat in Ireland all year round. 
www.burrenyoga.com   Exceptional quality yoga and meditation teachers in a stunning location. 
Daily guided outings and amazing vegetarian food.  Tripadvisor award of Excellence part 8 years in a row. 

Click here for a short video about our retreats

Author credit Patricia Moceo

Today, the words yoga or meditation can produce stereotypical images of Buddha, in the lotus position, striking up weird humming noises. In its origin, this is a very small part of the Eastern framework of the primary purpose of yoga/meditation. In fact, these practices serve the purpose of teaching people how to live in communion with everyone and everything around them. Meditation requires surrender and acceptance of what was, what is, and what’s to come. Yoga is a holistic exercise that focuses on connecting the mind and body together in harmony despite seemingly negative resistance.

Author credit James Adams

When you want to stay in good shape in life, then you need to eat well. However, while most of us are more than aware of the link between what we eat and how we feel, we often think of how we feel physically. Did you know, though, that your food could have a huge and positive impact on the way that you feel on a day-to-day basis?

Nothing is going to make you feel happier and healthier than simply tucking into some good old food. So what kind of foods should you be targeting if you want to help improve your mood ion a regular basis? 

What can you start eating if you want to feel a bit better?

Here are some of the best foods that you should definitely be taking into your system if you want to start feeling a bit fitter, healthier and generally happier. If you eat these foods on a regular basis, or foods containing these, you should notice a big improvement in your mood and your general day-to-day approach to life.

Aurhor credit Loida Mckinnon

Today life without the Internet is indiscernible. We have become dependent on the Internet for our daily routine, at home, or at the office or at work internet connection has become a part of our existence. With the proliferation of devices that run on the internet, to get the best router for most people is the need for faster and efficient internet connection has become a necessity than a luxury.

Wireless internet is like electricity at this point — you only notice it exists when it stops working. Then you panic. But you don’t need to! You can fix it yourself with a few, simple tips.

Sometimes you run into an issue with one particular device. It’s probably just a momentary issue. Try turning off the Wi-Fi on your device, then re-enabling it. If that doesn’t work, do the same with your router by unplugging it and then plugging it back in 30 seconds later.

When you are experiencing problems with your internet connection, check your devices or the Wi-Fi router instead of calling the service provider or the cable company. The fault may be at your end, so the easy way is to check things at your end.