By Melissa Eisler
Please welcome our guest blogger, Melissa Eisler. Melissa will be hosting a yoga retreat at The Sanctuary at Two Rivers November 9-15, 2014. I met Melissa on a yoga retreat in Costa Rica a few years back and we had an instant connection. I am so excited she is coming to share her wisdom, humor and beauty with us! Enjoy xo Liz
You’re probably reading this because you’ve been feeling stressed out and need a break from the grind,
or you have an interest in yoga or meditation. Maybe you’ve dabbled or fully explored a practice, and want to learn more. A yoga retreat is a great way to dive into the practice, disconnect from the distractions of everyday life, and really connect with yourself and explore your practice.
But once you make the exciting decision to align your next vacation with a yoga or meditation practice, it almost becomes an added stressor to choose the right one for you.
Beachside or mountain top? Local, or far away and exotic? Ashtanga or Kripalu? Your favorite teacher or someone new? Small, intimate group or big community? Focus on yoga or meditation? Can I have it all?
Overwhelming it becomes to choose. Take this quiz to find out your retreat style, and then get some suggestions on yoga retreats based on your responses. Choose the letter that most closely aligns with you, and we’ll add them up at the end.
1: What does a dream getaway look like to you?
- Anywhere beautiful where I can relax, and unwind
- Lots of exercise and activities. Specific location doesn’t matter as much as long as it’s beautiful
- Anywhere I can be active and in nature, preferably somewhere exotic or a place I’ve never been where I can explore
- I like to be pampered on my vacations, so my dream vaca would probably be at one of those resorts I saw featured on TV, maybe in Maui, Europe, or Fiji
- It looks simple, peaceful and serene, a place I can completely disconnect
2: What style of yoga is your favorite?
- There are different styles in yoga?
- Power yoga
- Vinyasa flow, although I dabble with a few styles and enjoy a variety
- I like the yoga class that my gym or studio offers
- I prefer a meditative, mindful movement or hatha practice
3. How present is yoga and/or meditation in your life?
- I’m pretty new, but want it to be a bigger part of my life
- I get to a class at least twice a week
- I practice some kind of yoga or meditation daily, whether on or “off the mat”
- It’s been in and out of my life for some time
- I have a daily meditation practice
4. Your ideal place to practice yoga or meditation would be
- Anywhere warm and by the beach. As long as there is a patient teacher to show me the ropes …
- In a hot yoga studio
- Anywhere outdoors, like on a mountaintop, at the beach, or in the middle of the jungle
- At a 5-star spa
- Somewhere simple and quiet
5. If you had next Friday off of work or school, what would be most fun for you?
- Brunch with friends and family, then just relax and unwind
- Bootcamp followed by a run or yoga class. Finish it off with a power smoothie.
- Hike or climb in the morning, yoga in the afternoon, make a healthy dinner at home
- Brunch with friends and family in the morning, shop in the afternoon, fancy dinner in the eve
- Start my day with a seated or walking meditation, and spend the day relaxing, reading, doing something I love.
6. What would your goal or intention be for going on a yoga retreat?
- Not sure I have a specific goal, but I’d like to learn more about yoga and/or meditation, relax, and enjoy the sunshine
- To practice as many hours of yoga as I can! Spending time at the beach sounds good, too
- To unwind, practice, and spend time in nature. Also, to meet like-minded people and eat healthy, local food
- To relax with yoga, massages, facials, fancy food and sunshine
- To have a completely inward journey, free of distraction. To transform through inner silence and peace
7. My favorite lunch would be:
- Healthy sandwich or salad, iced tea and maybe some fro-yo
- Power smoothie or my favorite all-natural bar
- Organic kale and quinoa salad, half a grapefruit, wash it down with a kombucha
- My favorite order at my favorite café
- Healthy, simple and vegetarian
8. What do you normally wear to yoga or meditation class?
- Yoga pants, sports bra, tank top
- High-tech-fiber, sweat-absorbing, and stylish yoga gear
- Organic and sustainable yoga or active wear
- Lulu all the way
- Loose-fitting, comfortable clothes
9. Pick a mantra.
- Viravawha-wha-what? Is that a mantra?
- Fill in any prefix before “…asana”
- Shanti. Shanti. Shanti. Peace. Peace. Peace.
- Om
- Inhale, Exhale
Answer Key:
- Mostly A’s
- Mostly B’s
- Mostly C’s
- Mostly D’s
- Mostly E’s
Mostly A’s: The Seeker
You’ve dabbled in yoga or meditation, but you’re still fresh to the practice. You may not know the difference between warrior 2 and 3, but you want to dive in and learn more. And you love the sunshine and always bring your open spirit, open mind, and hunger for learning to every situation.
Retreat Recommendation: Take your practice on the road! The best way to learn about yoga and meditation is to immerse yourself in the practice … and a retreat would help you do just that.
Join Lena Schmitt and Melissa Eisler (yup, that’s me) for a week of daily, guided yoga and meditation
in the Costa Rican Jungle-by-the-Sea. The intention for the week is to guide all levels of students on a journey toward finding a meditation and yoga practice that’s right for them. With daily yoga and guided meditation sessions, you’ll be able to get a sense of a daily rhythm, and be encouraged to bring the consistency of the practice home with you once the week is over. Plus, two teachers means more attention, and if you’re new to the practice, the extra attention will go a long way to step up your learning curve.
The program will be full of classes, workshops, activities, Q&A, and opportunities to connect with nature, yourself, and like-minded people. A week this November may be the perfect time to kick-start your practice. Learn more about the Jungle-by-the-Sea Eco-Yoga Retreat.
Mostly B’s: The Power Yogi
You’re strong, fit and a total badass. You can keep up with all the Chaturangas in class, and peak poses are your favorite. You love the physical practice of yoga because you get a solid workout, but also love how it calms your mind. For you, the more you sweat, the better the class. And the more the instructor challenges you, the happier you are when you leave.
Mostly C’s: The Eco-Yoga Retreater
You love nature, traveling, food, and yoga. So … you’re pretty much already awesome. If you’re looking for a yoga retreat that incorporates hiking, natures, monkeys, locally-sourced food, sustainability, meditation, and of course yoga, look no further.
Join Lena Schmitt and Melissa Eisler (yup, that’s me) for a week in the Costa Rican Jungle-by-the-Sea. The intention for the week is to guide students on a journey toward finding a meditation and yoga practice that’s right for them. With daily yoga and guided meditation practices, you’ll be able to get a sense of a daily rhythm, and be encouraged to bring the practice home with you once the week is over.
Did we mention you stay in tree-houses in the jungle? Learn more about the Jungle-by-the-Sea Eco-Yoga Retreat of 2014.
Mostly D’s: The Lux-Spa-Yogi-in-Style
Southern France, Maui, Tuscany, LA ... the perfect paradise to you is white sand, pressed sheets, good service, and a pristine place to put your mat. You love the good life, and I commend you for your style. The first thing you do when you arrive on vacation? Enjoy the view from your terrace and get a massage to settle into the flow of your vacation. And let out a giant sigh …
Mostly E’s: The Silent Retreater
You like simple beauty, quiet moments, and being connected with nature. You are already on your path to finding an inner strength and awareness, but always looking to awaken at a deeper level. Your practice is consistent, your diet is healthy and simple, and you are drawn to spending a week diving into the depths of your soul.
Retreat Recommendation: It’s time to step your meditation practice up a notch at a silent retreat. Check this out …
- There is a large Vipassana meditation network, with meditation centers and silent retreats taking place all over the globe. Check out options for Vipassana and silent retreats, the most commonly offered is the 10-day silent Vipassana retreat.
No comments:
Post a Comment