The location was Enchanted Mountain Yoga Center in south Brazil, the home of Integrative Yoga Therapy. Since the 80’s I had travelled many times to India for meditation at the Brahma Kumaris Headquarters in Rajasthan. This was my first yoga vacation.

Life lessons from a yoga vacation

1. Keep a journal – we do forget
After I got the idea to write on this topic, I wondered if I would find my journaling at that first vacation. Whew! I found it. How much I had forgotten. The soul searching, the massage, and the classes I skipped. I smile now as I easily remember the delicious food, and the warmth of the sun that seems to bring out my playfulness spontaneously.

2. Intentions influence our experiences
My intention to be open minded and to have a kind heart resulted in my doing things like pacing myself by listening to my body; even leaning on the side of caution by going to bed early in order to fully participate in the next day’s activities. And with an open mind, I appreciated the differences in our two societies.

3. “Simplicity in releasing the old, embracing the new” – quote from the journal
I love to travel lightly, and so needed more room to bring back items purchased. For a while I pondered about how to solve the problem. Then I took a deep breath, straightened my spine, and made the decision to leave some things I brought with me behind. Life’s like that.

Come play in a yoga vacation in the most pristine Caribbean rainforest island of Dominica March 28 to April 4, 2009. Experience the bounty of nature, peace, healing and transformation through intimacy with, amongst other things, your own nature. Novices to yoga are welcome. Visit www.yogatogo.com, call 905-628-6463 or email heather@yogatogo.com for more information.

Heather Greaves
Yoga Therapist