Serving those who Serve

This weekend we had the grand privilege of being part of a Veterans Wellness Conference, helping introduce alternative therapies for PTSD to veterans, their families, and clinicians who work with military veterans every day. The team from the Fort Bliss Restoration and Resilience program came with their top-notch therapists working in Reiki, massage, acupuncture and movement therapies - and all enjoyed an amazing presentation by Army Col. Lillis-Hearne about scientific studies supporting the benefits of yoga.

The need to help veterans heal cannot be overstated. Many returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering greatly - and some veterans of earlier wars are just beginning to seek alternative treatments, to great impact. There is much more to come and we will keep you informed of our efforts.

Aloha and Mahalo

It's true: the weather is beautiful in Hawaii year round! We had the grand privilege of visiting the Big Island in August and met a group of 50+ volunteers of all ages, creating sustainable gardens, constructing eco-buildings, and cooking great food on the 120+ acres known as Kalani Oceanside Retreat. Many thanks to JaRed and all the crew for some great classes in a truly breathtaking setting. Ocean sunrises, tidal pools, and the powerful energy of an erupting volcano just down the beach made for an unforgettable visit. We promise to return, as soon as humanly possible!

We are now gearing up for the third season of Yatra retreats, in Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize in the winter of 2011. Thank you to all of our friends and clients, for your ongoing support of our efforts to generate peace, one retreat at a time.

Let it Snow!

The weather has indeed been frightful across the U.S. and beyond this winter... at our home base in the desert southwest, we're secretly delighted. In addition to one of the best ski seasons we've had in awhile, we know that the extra moisture will entice out the secret spring wildflowers that sleep underground through the drier years. It's an unusual sight, and one worth waiting for.

This month, Yatra's first two retreats of 2010 take off for warmer climes, to Mexico and Costa Rica. Groups have formed to join our fine teachers on adventures to new places, and new opportunities to connect with and deepen their practice. In our experience, a full seven days of yoga and self-care bring up parts of ourselves that often lay dormant - like the seeds under the desert, that can sometimes receive the extra care they need to blossom.

The result? Beauty! For ourselves, and for others to enjoy. We want to thank our loving hosts on site, and wish everyone safe travels for a time of self-discovery, relaxation and renewal.

Resolutions, Wishes

A new year is upon us, bringing an annual discussion among our friends about... resolutions. Some always make them, some never have, and others gave up long ago, realizing that those ten pounds always come back, and the bank account rarely rises to the level they dream.

One writer this season encourages us to not to bother with resolutions and instead, write a "year in review," noting the people we've met, places we've been, and things we've done in the previous year. And then, write a list of what we want to create in our lives for the coming year. At YYI, 2009 manifested our first season of retreats with new relationships nationally and internationally - energetic clients, strong teachers, gracious hosts, and peaceful natural settings. It was a year of many blessings, and we thank you all for joining us on this journey.

In 2010, a whole new decade is upon us, and the possibilities are abundant. As you write your list of what you want to create in your life, we hope you'll resolve to allow spaciousness in your thoughts, freedom in your feelings, and happiness in all that you do. One of our teachers notes the beauty of all that can happen when we "get out of our own way" -- and we wish you a clear path through the next decade and beyond.

Yatra Teachers on the Road

Our own Jennifer Tipton recently returned from Africa, with new stories and inspirations from her adventures with the Masai, a tribe which lives in its rich traditions in Kenya. As you can see, she took the opportunity to do a camel pose on the beach with some locals - and a camel!

On a seven-day safari, Jennifer visited Amboseli (the home of Mt. Kilimanjaro), Lake Nakuru (the world famous location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth), Lake Naivasha (part of the great rift valley), and the Masai Mara, Kenya's most abundant wildlife preserve.

Yatra Yoga International is pleased to offer yoga safaris in Kenya and South Africa, with some of the best local guides in the country. Call us at 888-359-5020 and we'll share our favorite itineraries with you, your family or small group. Namaste!

Revelations on the Mat

Someone asked me recently how my journey with yoga began. I remember it vividly, and know that I am like many others who found a new part of themselves on the yoga mat... and then just kept going with it.

I was in a yoga class at the local community center, bored, complaining in my mind about the teacher, who I thought just talked too much. I’d been practicing for a few months, loving the asanas and feeling physically great after every class. So I was annoyed with this teacher, and impatient for the flow to begin.

The theme of the class, she explained, was opening the heart. She went on to describe the different heart-opening poses we’d learn, and warned that for some people, it could bring up emotions, for others maybe not. The New Yorker in me was thinking, “yadda yadda… Can we move on here?”

We started moving, some simple vinyasas, and then a series of poses I’d never done, arches and backbends that lifted and exposed the heart, alternating with rest – child poses with forehead to the mat, known to still the clamor of the mind.

And then it happened.

Tears started flowing. And flowing. There was nothing particular in my thoughts, and I can’t say that I felt sadness necessarily, but something was releasing, and the tears were literally flying out of my eyes. Nose running, mat soaked with tears, I walked out to find a tissue, not understanding what I was feeling or why the tears would not stop. It continued through the final meditation, and I was speechless afterward.

That was the day I understood that yoga is bigger than me. And I committed to practicing and learning as much as I could about it.

There's more to the story of course -- a years-long process that continues every day. And now, through YYI, I now have the honor and pleasure of offering yoga retreats to others, working with some of the best teachers in the country, and sharing the beauty and power of this ancient practice.

My team would love to hear your story! Send us a note on our Facebook page, or an email to info@yatrayogainternational.com. Namaste.

Jodi

Connecting

Perhaps the best thing about sharing the gift of yoga is connecting with new friends, and seeing the results when those friends spend time re-connecting with themselves. It is difficult to describe the lasting benefit of diving into oneself for a full seven days - removed from the cares of the everyday world, listening to your heart and the pulse of nature all around. The quiet place within, the place where all things are known and understood, is allowed to come forward. And that is the magical moment when the heart and the mind connect.

Since part of our mission at Yatra involves connecting with the very people who are ready for an inner adventure - last week we got ourselves up on Facebook, to help spread the word of our work, and the work of our gifted teachers. It's turning out to be a fun way to start new connections - and we invite you to join us and learn more. Namaste.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Santa-Fe-NM/Yatra-Yoga-International/87947280628?ref=ts

New Teachers, New Retreats for 2010

We're delighted to welcome gifted yoga teachers Pasha Hogan, Robert Sidoti, Sherry Sidoti and Jennifer Tipton to the Yatra family. Visit the "About Us" page at www.yatra-yoga.com to learn more about them, and the retreats they are creating for the winter of 2010.

Look for new sites in Belize and Hawaii, and return retreats to Maya Tulum (with Steven Cheng), and Villa Sumaya on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala (with Pasha Hogan). Yoga Ma Barbara Powell and black-belt Nia instructor Kelle Rae Oien are also on board for another round of the popular "Trusting the Mystery" - this time at Mar de Jade Holistic Lifestyle Center in Chacala, Mexico. More to come!

Come Shop With Us

It's official! Phase I of our online store has come to life, thanks to many new colleagues and friends. Yatra is growing, thanks to your ongoing support and patronage.

Our gift to you, to celebrate: the first ten clients to make a purchase over $25 at the store will receive $100 off any Yatra retreat between January and April 2010! Come on in, the shopping is beautiful...

www.yatra-yoga.com

Seasons, Changes

A gorgeous spring is underway in the desert Southwest, though our minds are already into next winter... Yes, we are currently planning Yatra's second season of yoga journeys! Three new teachers are coming aboard for 2010 (from both coasts actually) and we look forward to welcoming new friends, and continuing to work with our growing base of clients seeking renewal, beauty and peace.

And - Phase I of Yatra's store is nearly ready to go! Look for great products from our friends at Doce Vida Fitness wear, Osea Skin Care, Nila Bindu Jewelry, and Beauty Scoop - plus the perfect eco-friendly yoga mats and carrying straps, coming soon...

Wishing you all a great summer.

Why We Love Taos

We've been on the road a lot lately to far-flung destinations, and while we truly love it, once springtime approaches we are happy to be close to home.  

Now that everyone is back in the U.S., Yatra's spring season begins in Taos, NM.  From April 17-19, Karuna DiLibero will teach four two-hour classes at a special weekend retreat at El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa, and you can read all the details here.  Karuna has just returned from winter in Scotland (where it rains a lot) and we welcome her back to New Mexico, where the sun shines more than 300 days a year, and you can see the whole sky, all the time.

We're pleased to be working with new friends at El Monte Sagrado, an award-winning destination that is easily one of the most eco-friendly luxury resorts in the world.  The site boasts a Biolarium and The Living Machine, a holistically-designed eco-structure that incorporates recycled water, plants, and rock formation in a self-sustaining ecosystem.  This ecosystem flows throughout the property and creates an enclosed sanctuary around the resort's pool.  By treating and recycling the water with natural filters and purifiers, El Monte Sagrado sustains a fertile year-round environment, even at 7,000 feet above sea level.

On top of all that, there's a top-notch spa, and restaurant, all in a picturesque mountain town where you can hike, bike and escape the clamor of everyday life.  We hope to see you there.

Inspirations

If we are lucky, many special people touch our lives and make it richer and stronger. This past weekend I had the privilege to attend an event in Santa Fe honoring Gloria Steinem, a longtime inspiration to me. There I was pleased to greet once again two more outstanding and inspiring women: Count Me In's Nell Merlino, and Diane Denish, the Lt. Governor of the state of NM.

Both women are outspoken supporters of women entrepreneurs, and everyone at Yatra sends an enormous thank you for their encouragement and example. Be sure to check out Nell's new book "Stepping Out of Line," and visit www.countmein.org to join the RACE for women's economic independence! (See additional post below.)

Blessings,
Jodi

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala March 2009

Colorful markets. Women and girls in traditional dress, washing clothes in outdoor lavanderias. A breathtaking room to practice yoga - up in the trees, over the water, across from the volcanoes: Air, water, earth, fire all at once!

We are practicing with a group of beautiful warriors, and will return to Villa Sumaya again and again. Blessings to our hosts! We have now experienced the power of Lake Atitlan, known to locals as the Center of the Universe. Now we know why.

Feeling the G-Forces

Yatra is growing rapidly and many changes are ahead in the coming spring. Watch for some hot domestic retreats, new partnerships - and an online store! Meanwhile, we are off to Guatemala with ten wonderful yogis and will have more stories to share shortly. Thanks as always for your interest and Namaste!

Sayulita, Mexico - February 2009

Lots of love to our wonderful Sayulita group, who enjoyed two yoga classes and one nia class every day for a full beachy week with Barbara Powell and Kelle Rae Oien. One guest wrote to us today: "The rooms, staff, classes, participants and thunder of the ocean were fantastic. Thanks for this amazing experience."

We thank You and look forward to many more wondrous weeks to come. Namaste chicas!

Maya Tulum, February 2009

Two groups return home from their Mexico retreats this weekend! Jodi was in Tulum for the first few days of the "Hatha-Raja-Vinyasa" trip with New York-based teacher Steven Cheng, who rocked us all with six hours of Dharma Mittra-inspired class each day. Monday night brought one of the most incredible shavasanas: A lovely beachside studio, just after sunset, filled with candles -- as soft thunder rolled in, followed by a sweet rain softly landing on the palm leaves above. A magical time, and a wonderful group of people to practice with.

Can't wait to hear from you all - especially the yoga-nia folks who spent the past week in Sayulita!

Count Me In's M3 Race

Today we'd like to send a shout out to Count Me In (www.countmein.org), whose groundbreaking program "Make Mine a Million Dollar Business" is assisting women entrepreneurs nationwide, helping them grow their businesses - and the nation's economy - in a time of need. Yatra Yoga International received a Micro to Millions award in October of 2008, and is now part of a growing network of vital companies dedicated to growth and sustainability.

And now other women-owned businesses can join us! Visit the Count Me In website to learn more about the The Make Mine a Million $ Business RACE, a year-long business growth marathon. Just like the walk/run marathons that you know to benefit breast cancer research and other causes, you can choose your own pace for your 2009 business revenue goal: $250,000, $500K, or one million dollars or more. Whether you have a business or are just starting one, CMI will help you “train” by assessing your business strengths and weaknesses, introducing you to coaches, peer groups and experts, increasing your access to new markets, financing and national recognition so you can grow, create jobs where you live and provide economic stability for your families, communities and the country.

Wishing peace and prosperity to all. Namaste!

Welcome to YYI

Welcome to Yatra Yoga International! We hope you'll use this blog to stay informed of our adventures, and gain a new understanding of our company and what we do.

Why we do it, is simple.

First, we'd like you to think about how many hours a day you spend serving others. Then, think about how many hours you spend doing other things that don't serve you. Taking the time to re-connect with yourself and nature, and to deepen your yoga practice, brings about a certain spaciousness that you can bring back to your work, your relationships and your life, infusing them with new ideas and energy. YYI is in the business of generating peace, joy and connectedness - one mind, one excursion at a time.

In Sanskrit, "Yatra" means journey. And our journey is just beginning.

After many months of envisioning, designing, hiring, and learning, our website was born in the summer of 2008, and our mission to provide intimate, high-quality yoga retreats worldwide became a reality. We invite you to join us at any time for one of our transformative excursions. Or, we will help you create your own - from Africa to Argentina, Central America and Mexico, we and our partners are standing by to help make your retreat vision a reality.

Namaste!