5 Reasons for a Yoga Retreat in the Mountains

*This Retreat is No Longer Available.  Join Libby in Costa Rica in October for Her Next Available Retreat. Details are on the Home Page or at Trip Tribe.

Join me for my next yoga retreat from Wednesday, July 12th to Sunday, July 16th...

Awaken the master within you for all of the answers that you seek and already have at my next yoga retreat! Often times we get so bogged down with stress and anxiety that it becomes hard to trust our intuition and to see clearly. A short getaway, especially one that eases stress and clears the mind, can be the perfect solution that allows for great healing through mindfulness and awakening. This retreat we will cultivate awareness through movement and acceptance on the mat that will carry off the mat and into your daily life. This gift of higher consciousness and relaxation will help you respond to life rather than react, giving you tools to make better decisions, to have better relationships, to improved your health and reduce stress.

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This wonderful retreat will be hosted at the Elohee Center, which is located on over 200 gorgeous acres of forested land nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, just 2 hours north of Atlanta. The named Elohee is a Cherokee word that means earth place. This center was founded by Andy and Carolyn Bralley in 2010 when their daughter Eve was battling refractory Hodgkin lymphoma as a place of healing for her. This beautiful land inspires self exploration, growth and mind body healing. 

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In addition to Yoga and Meditation, I will encourage journaling to help you to manifest your goals and intentions. When we write our desires down, we begin to manifest and put them into action. We will talk a lot about how to bring light and inspiration into your daily lives as you awaken your heart center and learn to live with true intention and confidence, and aspire to become the best vesion of yourself. That is the true purpose of this retreat.

You will also have the opportunity to join me on optional hiking excursions, becoming one with nature while calming the mind. You can participate in painting workshops that will encourage creativity and letting go.... to free your mind!  This retreat center offers additional luxury massages, as well as other yoga and cooking classes to enhance your experience! 

So if you are not already convinced to register, here are my top 5 reasons for you to participate in this yoga retreat in the mountains:

1. To let go of what no longer serves you (including stress).

2. To build confidence in yourself and in your yoga practice.

3. To inspire and awaken your inner teacher.

4. To connect with like minded people and feel accepted.

5. To move forward toward your dreams.   

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My purpose here is to AWAKEN what is already within you, to show you what you are truly capable of achieving, to remind you of your amazing beauty that is sometimes forgotten. We all get stuck from time to time. Allow me to help you get unstuck. I invite you to join me on this wonderful journey that will elevate you to a new level in many aspects of your life, including family, work, creativity, focus and self esteem.  

Register by March 11th for the early bird pricing and save 10%. I selected this location specifically for its incredible value and its accessibility from so many locations. I love to meet people from around the world and share my passion for yoga and wellness, so all are welcome!!

Peace & light,

Libby

P.S. - You can choose to a share a room or to have your own. Trip Tribe will try to pair you with someone compatible and it may enhance your experience if you choose to share a room. Connecting with one another as we are learning and growing together will truly create a special retreat filled with friendship and amazing energy! I cannot wait to share this with you!

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This yoga retreat is organized by Trip Tribe!

Imagine your creative side in full bloom! 

The Power of Breath

Have you ever noticed how powerful the force of water in nature is? Your breath is similar. Now visualize a large body of water. Sometimes that water is choppy with whitecaps. Sometimes that very same water is flat and still. The water moves with the wind. When we are stressed or angry, our breath tends to be rapid and shallow and the body, as a result, becomes taxed. When we are calm, our breath is naturally slow, steady and deep. But you have the power to instantly use your breath to turn your stress or anxiety into calm.  The key is awareness! Try the following meditation. 

Now, close your eyes for a moment. With your eyes closed, breathe in deeply through your nose and out deeply through your nose. Put your awareness into your breath as you allow the other busy thoughts in the mind to fade away. Acknowledge any thoughts that pop up, but save them for later, they can wait. Simply listen to the sound of the waves in each breath going into shore, and back out to sea. Breathe in, breathe out.  Feel your breath slow and listen as it quiets. 

 Now, with your eyes still closed, visualize that body of water. As your breath calms and quiets, that body of water will begin to still. The body of water represents your soul conciousness. Once the chaos of the external world subsides, your natural state arises like the surface of beautifully calm and crystal clear water. Small ripples represent the effects of others upon us and us upon others. But underneath is where the depth occurs. Your true authentic self is deep below the surface. It is in this calm where the breath is slow and steady, and that the body and mind can truly become one and work to be their best. Your natural state is one of calm and joy. Your natural state is divine love. It is here in this silence that the answers you seek will come. There is in essence no need to worry. Just let go. Just be.  Just breathe. 

 Breathe in, breathe out, release and let go... 

Breathe in peace, breathe out chaos.

Breathe in acceptance, breathe out judgement.

Breathe in divine love, breathe out divine love.

 You are enough. You are all you need. In times of chaos, turn to your breath. Take just a moment, listen to those waves and let that calm you. It is proven to lower your heart rate. It works and it is in your power all the time! Have an incredible start to this week!  

Clarity

Happy Monday, 

Libby

Meditation: I heard it is good for me, but how do I do it and what is it anyway?

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Anyone and everyone is capable of meditation. You do not need any set amount of time, you do not need to be affiliated or NOT affiliated with any religion. Meditation has been proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure.  According to Dr. Deepak Chopra, “meditation can both heal and reverse the biological effects of aging.” YES! Go back and re-read that line several times! It IS true! Just a few minutes of meditation daily has been proven to reduce heart disease by 80% and cancer by 50%! Now, imagine the benefits when combined with a healthy diet and exercise! You, my friends, are in control of much of your health. So, let me break this down in simple and easy to understand terms so that you can even meditate from the comfort of your own home.

There are many ways you can meditate. Even with just a few minutes you can consider a walking meditation. Walking down the street, pacing around the house, or even on a run. As your mind starts to wander, focus your awareness on the movement of your body parts and on your breath.  Pay attention to the feel of your feelings as they connect with the earth. Soon many of the other busy thoughts will fade away. This, is meditation, which is all about being mindful, present and focused. 

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For seated meditation find a quiet comfortable spot. It does not need to be fancy.  It can be a spot outside, inside, or even in your car. Try to stay away from distractions to the senses; sights, sounds, smells…. Now, just allow yourself to be comfortable. There are no rules. You can sit cross legged if it is comfortable.  Or, feel free to recline. I want you to be comfortable so that you are able to let go of the clutter in your mind and focus on a single pointed thought. The purpose of meditation is NOT necessarily to clear the mind completely, but to lessen the chatter.

Meditation is not as difficult as you would think, it just requires practice. Try choosing a topic.  For example; you can meditatate simply on the breath ~ how it feels and sounds, and notice how as your thoughts quiet, the breath too will quiet and slow.  OR try to imagine with your eyes closed a place in nature that soothes and calms you. Be all there with all your senses.  Imagine how that place smells, feels, the sounds….. then when you are ready, bring yourself back to your present surroundings.  You can meditate on a color and imagine that color filling your body with each breath in and each exhale leaving your body and filling the space around you. 

As you can see, it allows for great creativity. There are also great guided meditations available on YouTube and meditation apps are another excellent reference.

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The important thing to remember in this world that is glorified by multitasking and being overly busy is to SLOW down the pace! Take a few minutes of quiet time for yourself each day and allow your body and your mind to connect.  When we go on auto pilot too long, we disconnect and things go very badly. 

Try to practice at a regular time each day ~ find what works for you and your lifestyle. At first allow your mind to wander. It is perfectly normal, but also try to set those thoughts aside. Apply your choice of technique.  And with practice you will reach Samadhi, the ultimate enlightenment.

Namaste,

Libby