YOGA RETREAT - Why to go?

By Maya Toracki

Julia Roberts in the movie "Eat,Pray,Love" , Bali Retreat

Why would You go to a Yoga Retreat?            

If we allow ourselves, we can relax and de-stress everywhere. Imagine being on one of thousands lakes of Northern Ontario, not a single person in sight, no houses, no distractions, just beauty of nature, sound of a loon, lake like a glass, razor clean air and – no signal for mobile phones? First day would be fine, second – not really. That’s because we don’t have ‘tools’ to truly relax.

Most of us already know what the health benefits of yoga regular practice are.
Yoga and meditation are great tools to achieve better health, thus going to Yoga Retreat is really the best way to unwind.

At first, I thought that people choose retreats for main reason to – decompress. However, I asked all my friends what was at the beginning their main reason to go to the retreat. I was not surprised when most of

My friends at Yoga retreat, Kopaonik, Serbia

them responded that the main reason was the fact that one can go solo, no company needed! It’s not awkward showing alone - almost everybody is doing that way.

Retreat is a fabulous place to meet new people while practicing yoga and meditation, although I would add to that list few other reasons – like- no need to cook and clean, no smartphones and tablets to intrude every second of our lives, food is great and all that while enjoying beautiful scenery, far from busy and loud streets and enormous hotels.

Going to Yoga Retreat is perfect way to see the world and yourself in a new light. Even if you are a novice to yoga having practice twice a day will ensure your progress faster then when you have once a week back home.
And it is so good to have time for yourself, to break away from familiar routine, to unplug and to meditate.

My friends doing Yoga pose

 
Famous actress and yogist (and Sring’s wife) Trudie Styler said in an Interview for Oprah.com* and full version on Gaiam.com:

Trudie Styler's interview on Oprah.com *

Trudie Styler

"People spend a lot of time and effort on their cars—and our bodies are the most precious vehicle that we've been given. It has to take us through the journey of life. Our body is the only one we've been given, so we need to maintain it; we need to give it the best nutrition. I advocate an organic diet where possible (certainly a whole food diet). I think having a good yoga practice and a spiritual practice is a recipe for living well and, hopefully, living longer. "

Now it is clear why we should choose Yoga retreat as our Vacation option. It’s good to know that there are many options while choosing a right Retreat - from budget friendly to luxurious ones, from retreats that are for absolute beginners to ones that are for yoga addicts and which one is right for you and how to do selection will be addressed in our next post.

* Note - link for Oprah.com is not working, so Interview is published in full from www.gaiam.com

Yoga Wear - our Winners!

Part - Two
by Maya T. and Lena Stefanovic

Yes !!! Our WINNERS are  Wellicious and LVR Fashion! Congratulations! Second is Athleta by Gap and third N---*. Bravo! Thanks to all our participants.

Wellicious

If you want to be hugged and comfortable but in a feminine and luxurious way then Wellicious is right Yoga
Wellicious is a London based lifestyle, eco-friendly brand founded by Yogista Heike Schnell in 2007, and is
Their apparel is on expensive side but  - it will last and you’ll be sure that after you bent over into a forward bend pose 50 times there is no that see-through factor that nobody likes to experience.
Wellicious use natural fabrics – cotton, Lyocell and cashmere – all easy to wear and easy to take care for. Their apparel is naturally breathable and soft against your skin.
Wellicious collection is casual, timeless and versatile thus can be used not just for Yoga but for everyday wear too.

Founder and her team are very proud that they are able to use sustainable materials ethically produced and packed in Europe.

What else one can ask for?

LVR Fashion

Again, another earth-friendly brand that is loved for their roomy and so, so soft tops as well as incredibly flattering bottoms with that convenient long fold that helps us hiding little problems areas around waist and tush.
LVR was founded in 2010 by Eric Clarke. It is Los Angeles based company and as Wellicious it is designed and produced in their own community using organically farmed materials. LVR yoga wear is colourful yet made from low-impact dyes and vintage washes so it is especially good for people with allergies to certain chemicals and fabrics (like me being allergic to all non wrinkle fabrics containing carcinogenic formaldehyde).
LVR yoga wear is playful, functional and flattering and again – so, so soft!

Athleta by GAP

GAP is well known company for their both casual and active lifestyle apparel. Athleta is newer to the GAP family and as expected always up-to-date.

There is not much I can say about Athleta that is not already known – we all love their light, breathable tops, their perfect blend of cotton and Lycra, their soft and at the same time strong sport bras, good quality bottoms, wide assortment of hoodies, jackets, and accessories…
Athleta is expression of simplicity, functionality and style.

Now, which brand would you use depend on you and your specific needs. I am sure that there are great companies out there that are unknown to me so please, feel free to comment bellow this post.
                                                               
                            * * * * *
Cute Quotes:
- It’s astounding how much one’s stress level goes down with a simple act of switching from skinny jeans to yoga pants.
- ‘Those yoga pants are hideous’. Said no one ever.
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*  Unfortunately I got an email on October 7,2014 from N--- company that they are not granting permission to use or modify their trademarks, logos, images, advertising or similar materials therefore I am not able to write about this great company.
I  removed  text and photos that I previously published. I assure our readers that Jazzy Traveller always ask for the permission to publish other company's name or photos and N--- was not an exemption. I apologize to N--- for briefly using their name and photos
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Yoga WEAR

Part - One

by Maya T. and Lena Stefanovic

Courtesy of Wellicious.com

I wanted to know what kind of yoga wear would make me feeling the best while doing my poses and I didn’t want to spend more money than necessary, thus Comfort and Price were my first criteria when I set myself into yoga wear buying mission!

Lena (our Stylist) and me, we started our research and we tried tons of yoga clothes.
After asking many yoga devotees (including me) what they want the most from yoga clothes we narrowed down 3 requests that almost everybody expressed when yoga wear is in Question: 

 - comfort,

 - fit and 

 - fabric that breathes.

However, more we did research more we were aware of the particularities that we need to check before we make a decision.

• We like comfort but we want to look stylish
• Fabric should ‘breathe’ and cool down while in asana but also keep us warm while in the relaxation!
• Yoga wear should fit but be loose too! 

• Then - we all want to avoid harming environment, mostly animals.
• We like Fair Trade certified clothes and equally we like to have clothes made in our own countries, employing our own people.
• We want to have clothes that are made from organic and natural fibers as well as from recycled materials.
• We want to have soft, flattering yoga clothes that hold shape during yoga class

Dedication Jacket by Athleta

We looked at many companies that are solely or partly involved in producing Yoga wear:

1. Some like N---*, Reebok, Calvin Klein or Gap are well known sport wear producers, with hundreds of stores all over the world. 

They are all equally good in how their yoga wear is made, their fit is great and, surprisingly, their prices are pretty equal and not as high as someone would think they could be.

In this group I like Gap and their ATHLETA. I like their tops for the simple reason that they fit my body but they are loose at the same time and mostly because fabric is so thin that feels great and dries so fast. Moreover, GAP has another line – Old Navy – inexpensive and quite good.

2. We were more drawn to this group of Yoga wear producers – smaller, younger yet firmly established companies such as:

Wellicious (from United Kingdom),  

Courtesy of Wellicious.com

LVR fashion ( USA), 

Oysho (Spain),  

Solow Sport,

Purusha People,

Prana ,  

NUX ,  

Lily Lotus ,  

Mika Yoga wear (all from USA),  

Lolë women,  

Lululemon 

Joe Fresh ( all from Canada)

(Joe Fresh - being the cheapest and not at all less stylish)

These companies are mostly focused on Yoga and Pilates, their production is smaller and definitely more oriented towards organic cotton, cashmere, recycled materials and they are able to adjust their clothing line faster.

After all, Lena did her research among her friends in Switzerland and France and me here in Canada and USA – and we got our winners: 

Wellicious and LVR Fashion from our second group and ATHLETA (GAP) and N--- from the first group of Yoga wear manufacturers.

Please read more about these companies in our next post.

Tee by Purusha People, USA

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* This name is removed due to company policy: "not grant permission to use or modify our trademarks, logos, images, advertising or similar materials."

YOGA and our HEALTH

The Benefits of Yoga
by Maya Toracki

Warning! Yoga has been known to cause health and happiness!

Meditation ( Bigstock Photo, Rights EpicStock Media)

If something lasts for thousands of years and has been proven to have a positive impact on people it has to be a – good thing! Don’t you think?
As an ancient spiritual practice Yoga has stood the test of time. Today it became a big business and premium life style which is – perfectly fine with me and I am sure - with thousands of people who already enjoy benefits of Yoga.
I had a chance to meet many women and men who went to Yoga in order to lose weight, or to reduce stress or to gain flexibility, yet, Yoga helped them in so many more ways than any of them expected at the beginning.



Who needs Yoga?
Everyone.  It’s good for kids, for seniors, pre/post natal moms, for athletes, corporate employees and it is beneficial for everyone with disabilities.

Yoga in the park...

Why would one do Yoga?

At the beginning it helps you getting more flexible and improves your sense of balance. Soon you are noticing that you lost some weight, and your muscles are toned and longer. And - it teaches discipline.

Later you became aware that you are calmer, more focused and more confident. Meditation is helping to increase level of Self Awareness; it teaches you to quiet your mind and with that stress level is reduced to minimum.

It is proven that Yoga is also helping to reduce neck and back pain, improves lung capacity with special breathing techniques; improves your sexual function, and helps you sleep better.

What Yoga Style would benefit you the most?

If you want gentle, slow and smooth movements, nevertheless powerful – choose Hatha Yoga.

Hatha Yoga is foundation for all yoga styles and although everywhere you’ll find that hatha is meant for beginners – I do not agree. Hatha Yoga is full rounded experience that includes discipline, physical postures (asana), breathing (pranayama) and meditation.

Ashtanga Yoga (Power Yoga) is very aggressive and athletic practice, with less approach to meditation. It is widely spread on the West.

Vinyasa/Flow Yoga is similar to Ashtanga  but enriched with rhythmical flow almost like dancing through postures, often accompanied with music. Classes are more meditative than in Ashtanga classes. 

Kundalini Yoga is focused on breathing, rapid movements, chanting and meditation. It is deeply spiritual.

Iyengar / restorative Yoga stress the importance

Yoga Props

of body alignment and balance. Poses are 

held longer, sometimes you work full hour

on just one pose aiming to get that perfect

pose. 

Iyengar students use yoga props such as blocks, straps, blankets. Focusing on perfect alignment is greatly helping clarity of your mind.

Bikram Yoga is practiced in heated room (105 F) with an intention to sweat, cleanse the body and loosen muscles. It consists of 26 postures repeated twice for 90 minutes.

Bikram/Hot Yoga

Clearly, everybody can choose what likes and needs the most. What we need to remember is that when we are at Yoga class we don’t need much – mat and ourselves, our body, breath and moves, and we are far from out phones, busy life style, noise, pressure. 

It is powerful and magical experience – giving ourselves time to heal!

Yoga is not a sport. 

It’s a philosophy and lifestyle.

So, Today is the day!

 

YOUR JOURNEY TO WELNESS WITH YOGA

By Maya Toracki

Yoga is essentially a practice for your soul, working through the medium of your body.

~ Tara Fraser

Vida, Yoga Instruktor at Ibiza retreat

It was 3 years ago when I enrolled to my first Yoga class.

Initially it was just fun. My body loved everything we did during the Yoga and Pilates classes and I've always been somewhat refreshed and full of energy after.
Slowly, all those feelings started to gain depth. I’ve got strength in my core and some flexibility in my whole body, however I realized that yoga is not about flexibility or showing my muscles; it’s not about impressing people, or being the best, it’s not about achieving a ‘perfect’ pose – its about feeling that I have inside me, about easing myself on the mat, breathing, listening to my body and about cultivating openness and emotional flexibility.

Flexibility and Concentration

From ancient spiritual practice that can be traced back 5000 years ago Yoga became a measure for premium lifestyle. It has been proven that by practising Yoga one can lower blood pressure and increases strength and flexibility, build balance and core strength. Yoga energise, therefore boost immunity and relieve us from everyday stress.

Yoga Retreat

We all need deep relaxation & rejuvenation. This is the main reason people come to yoga retreats – to feel

rejuvenated!

We gather together in a beautiful environment for the sole purpose of uplifting our lives and expanding our consciousness. It is always a very nice place, where in peace and quiet we can allow ourselves to go deeper, where we can focus on Yoga and ourselves and  detox our body and soul.

                                      

Child Pose

I have been a seeker and I still am, but I stopped asking the books and the stars. I started listening to the teaching of my Soul.” ~ by Rumi

For more about Yoga please visit  www.blueinkatelier.com

Travellers' Luggage Choice

If you want to travel light and with no stress then it is very important to make a right choice when buying luggage. More important than the well-chosen luggage is only the fact that you must not forget the documents and travel insurance.

Many of us are over packers. For 1 week of vacation on Adriatic Coast my traveller friend once carried 4 shorts, 3 skirts, 3 dresses, tons of Ts, light sweater for cold nights, thicker sweater for who-knows-when, when temperature is never bellow 23C, 5 swimsuits, all make up- because ‘you never know’ and 3 towels – one large enough to fill out her whole suitcase, and shoes… shoes – let me tell you just this – that was insane! She ended up wearing bikini all day, 1 shorts, 2 Ts and flip flops that she bought there! High heels sandals (even low heel) were useless, jeans to hot to wear, sweaters totally unused and make up – well, her all make up melted down!

And, she learned her lesson. 

She changed her 30” suitcase to 19” carry on bag and limited space meant – limited stuff.

  

There are three reasons why you should choose to travel lightly:

1. It is – Cheaper !!! Baggage Airline fees are growing every year!!
2. It is – Convenient !!! Less stuff means greater mobility, no baggage check-in or waiting for baggage to arrive; stairs, cobbled streets, narrow passageways are no problems anymore...
3. It reduces Stress !! You are not wasting time and energy while packing – because everything you carry is just enough and sufficient.

Travelpro  Luggage - Maxlite 2

 

Now, which kind of luggage you would buy depend strictly on your budget and your travel needs.

Briggs & Riley Cabin Spinner

If you are business traveller baggage for you should be not only lightweight, but well organized with specific gadget compartments and pockets.

Young traveller prefers Backpacks or rolling Duffel bag. 

There are menu luggage manufacturers today and hundreds of choices. My travellers pals, people that I interviewed and me we tried a large number of different luggage and we got our favorites. 

All of these travellers decided that the least practical as a carry-on in terms of storing under the airplane seat or in overhead storage bins are polycarbonate luggage, although they are cute. I always liked 2 wheeler but whether it is going to be 4 wheeler (spinner) or 2 wheeler luggage (rollaboard) depends on personal preference, so it came up that 4 wheelers (with a brake system) are favorable by majority of travellers and almost everyone agreed that luggage made of nylon is the most durable. Also, everyone loved expandable carry on – “just in case we buy some nice souvenirs…” Even guys agreed!

 

Alpha 2 by TUMI

Samsonite X'Blade

My absolute favorite luggage is by TUMI – Alpha 2. I love everything about it - size, functionality, reinforced interior, 2 wheels, and color. It is on the expensive side and not that light (4.8kg/ 9lb). 

If I need to switch to the lighter luggage my choice is – Samsonite X’Blade that weight just 2.9 kg/6.40lb. 

We also love Boxford by Longchamp, Spark by Samsonite, Cabin Spinner and Baseline by Briggs & Riley and Maxlite2 by Travelpro, all expandable. The best for the price ($75.00) is Traveler’s Choice ConventionalII Rugged (4kg/9lb) – we loved its many pockets as well as sturdiness.

Beside Alpha 2 by TUMI and X"Blade by Samsonite this is our Carry- on Luggage CHOICE plus 2 hand bags by TUMI

Now, having a perfect luggage that suits your travel style is not enough – please keep in mind that how you pack is also very important. All my interviewers agreed that roll-up squeeze method is better than layering but if you prefer layering try to stack sheets of tissue between clothing to prevent wrinkling.

Although, that was the least problem between us, true travellers!

Now, knowing all this – just ‘Hit the road Jack’ and have a great travel experience!

By Lena Stefanovic,

Stylist

Geneva, Switzerland