10 Best Yoga Destinations

Written by Guest Writer
on 16. August 2016
in female-travel
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10 Best Yoga Destinations

(Picture by Julia Caesar/ stocksnap.io)

If you practice yoga, you don’t need any research to tell you about its various benefits. Unlike most other the activities, yoga has a spiritual dimension to it and is deeply rooted in specific kind of communities. You can say it’s a way of life, certainly not just another fitness class you like to attend. Because of the constant growth of the yoga community, cities all around the globe recognized a touristic potential that lies in combining yoga and traveling. Roll up your mats and pack your bags for an adventure: here are the top ten destinations with amazing yoga retreats to give you a full zen experience.

1. Rishikesh, India

Some of the best yoga ashrams and resorts can be found in the city by the holy river Ganges. Known as the world capital of yoga, Rishikesh is a host of the International Yoga Festival. If you’re hoping for a deeply spiritual experience, definitely choose Rishikesh. As a home of the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, this city is famous for developing various transcendental meditation techniques. Enjoy some of the world’s best yoga centers in Rishikesh, such as Sadhana Mandir, Sivanada Ashram, Yoga Niketen, etc.

2. Bali, Indonesia

Bali offers many different yoga classes (from Vinyasa and Hatha to Yin and others), combined with mindfulness and meditation activities. If you’re truly passionate about yoga, consider becoming a certified trainer with Bali yoga teacher training. Being in the global top when it comes to comprehensive teaching about what yoga truly is, Bali’s trainers will help you understand the philosophical and spiritual dimension of practicing yoga. There’s a wide range of yoga retreats you can choose from, depending on the experience you want (i.e. whether you prefer more urban-like setting or a simplified stay and in touch with nature). There are several locations in Bali you should take into consideration, and some of the best yoga retreats include Bali Floating Leaf, Five Elements and Bagus Yati.

3. New York, USA

The surroundings of New York hide amazing yoga centers tucked in the beautiful nature which isolates them from city noise. The tranquility and fresh air will help you fully enjoy many different yoga styles: from kripalu yoga and yoga nidra, to other types of restorative yoga and meditation. Check out the offer of Omega Institute in Rhinebeck or the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch located in the Catskill Mountains.

4. Nosara, Costa Rica

Perpetually ranked as the happiest country in the world, Costa Rica is one of the best places to go for the positive and relaxing experience of practicing yoga abroad. For a more urban experience, you can enjoy being pampered in spas and then take care of both your body and mind by participating in a yoga class, even if you’re a beginner. Costa Rica is smaller than lake Michigan, so think about extending your stay and exploring this country’s “pura vida“. Check out the offers of Yoga Spa, Blue Spirit and Harmony Hotel for your stay.

5. Alicante, Spain

Alicante is a charming town of Spain’s Costa Blanca, one of the healthiest places to be. Similar to Nosara, Alicante offers you an idyllic, hotel-like yoga experience: you can enjoy a comfortable schedule by practicing yoga twice a day, but also enjoy massages and spa treatments, and other activities such as cooking classes, biking or hiking. Most of the packages include healthy nutrition for full body and mind detox. Check out the offers from Yoga Breaks or Blissful Retreat for a holiday for the soul.

6. Koh Yao, Thailand

For reconnecting with nature and experiencing a truly unique yoga adventure, consider going to Koh Yao. White sandy beaches, turquoise water, bungalows, beautiful sunrises, and waterfalls create an ambient filled with serenity, which is perfect for your yoga trip! Thailand offers many different types of yoga (e.g. vinyasa or modern mixtures of existing types), along with additional activities such as kayaking or exploring lagoons and caves. Revitalize your spirit within reputable yoga retreats, such as Island Yoga or Paradise Koh Yao.

7. Juluchuca, Mexico

For a truly transformative trip, choose Juluchuca in Mexico. In Juluchuca yoga centers, you can practice many different yoga styles, including the modern ones (e.g. contact yoga). Hosts take a holistic approach during classes, which will leave you with a purifying zen feeling. In addition to your yoga classes, you can experience wildlife (e.g. marine turtles or bird watching) and mesmerizing nature and beaches. For your stay, check out offers of Playa Viva or Present Moment Retreat.

8. Maui, Hawaii

A true paradise on earth, Maui has a pleasant tropical climate which is the reason why most of the yoga centers love organizing classes outdoor. You can experience the mixture of healing yoga and ritual music, various yoga styles, deep breathing exercises, or specialized yoga classes (e.g. pre-natal yoga). Explore the offer of The Black Swan Temple, Bikram Retreat or Hana Maui Yoga Institute.

9. Swiss Alps, Switzerland

Healthy mountain air will certainly make your stay at one of the yoga resorts much more pleasant. In the Swiss Alps, you can try out relaxing and reflective yoga, meditation, Bhakti yoga, Hatha yoga and much more! Hiking through the mountains will complete your process of rejuvenation and ensure you have a good night sleep. Pick through some of the best retreats, based on your preferences. Hatha Yoga Retreat is one of the best out there.

10. Vis Island, Croatia

Located in the beautiful Adriatic sea, Vis island is truly a dreamy destination for your yogi-getaway. You can experience amazing seafood, beautiful beaches, and additional activities. You can practice different styles of yoga, with the focus on breathing exercises and anti-stress movements. Consider staying at the wellness sanctuary of Yoga Retreat Croatia or check out the offer from Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

Make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for when searching for your yoga destination: do you prefer luxurious yoga packages accompanied with spa treatments, or are you more of an adventurous type? Do you enjoy an urban setting or do you prefer wild nature you can experience by staying in bungalows? Do you value the possibilities of a personal spiritual quest through practicing yoga or do you use yoga just as a way to relax? Whatever your preferences may be, you can find a destination on this list that will suit your needs.

About the Author:

Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Higstylife Magazine.

Read more from Roxana Oliver: highstylife.com
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The Pros And Cons Of Solo Travel

Written by Guest Writer
on 26. April 2016
in female-travel
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The Pros And Cons Of Solo Travel

Solo travel: there are two words that seemed to breath fear into some while others grew exhilarated by it. Gaining popularity over the past few years, many people seemed to swear that solo travel is something everyone should do once in their life time, and that, in fact, should be the preferred way to travel. What makes the act of solo travel so alluring? And why, despite the fact that everyone seemed to be talking about it, are many so hesitant to do it?

Let’s break it down to the pros and cons!

Pros:

Flexibility
It’s a universal rule, the more people there are, the more argument there would be. If you are on your own, your schedule is completely up to you and only you. There’d be no one to argue with you about where to go or what to eat, and you don’t have to hang around waiting for the other person to get ready to go and wasting your time. There’s nothing like the freedom of doing whatever it is you want on a whim (or you can be as organized as you want – we won’t judge it either way). Which leads us to the next point:

Self-discovery
There’s nothing like pushing yourself out of the comfort zone to find out what you are made of, and unfamiliar situations and surroundings are one of those things that would do that to you. More often than not, how you would react to something in the spur of a moment might not be what you anticipated, and it’s when you react to those scenarios that tell you more about yourself than sitting at home and doing those Facebook quizzes ever could. While it might not be something huge and unsettling, like finding out you are a secret adrenaline drunkie who wants to sky dive day and night; realizing that you prefer to sit alone with your notebook and write down your thoughts and experience might just quench that notion of you thinking that you should be hitting the bars and clubs at night, because you know what you prefer.

Meeting like-minded People
There’s no place better to meet other people than when you are travelling. Most people meet new friends at a hostel, but you are as likely to run into your new bestie during a free walking tour or asking for directions to get on the right train. It’s funny how easy it can be to strike up a conversation with someone else when you are in a foreign place; in fact, I was surprised at how warmly people usually respond, whether they are a fellow traveller or local. You will meet people from all walks of life, from a variety of countries each with their story to tell. Because you all share something – the travel experience.
Now you might be meeting these people when you are travelling with others as well, but it’s never as easy to chat to new people if you are already hanging out with someone else. And you are less likely to be able to adapt your schedule to your new friends’ to hang out together.

Self timer photo by putting the camera on the fence at Milan Cathedral, Italy

Solo time with an ice cream strolling around Verona, Italy, Laugh Trave Eat — Solo time with an ice cream strolling around Verona, Italy

Cons:

Loneliness
While meeting new people might be easy, your schedule might not line up, or you might not have met someone who you really connect with. Some people enjoy the loneliness that is part of the journey, declaring that it had helped them figure out themselves more; that it was the best self-discovery process they had ever had. However, not everyone likes being lonely, and there are people who find joy in sharing experiences with others, and not alone.

Safety
Travelling solo has its risks, and safety is definitely the biggest point I want to bring light to. No matter how secure the location you are heading to is, or how many new friends you meet, it’s always safer if you have a travel companion that you know well. An extra pair of eyes can come a long way, especially when you are travelling long distance and struggling to stay awake and man your belongings.

Lack of a photo partner
Some might immediately jump into argumentative mode and say that it’s easy to take solo travel photos, but there really is no denying that having someone you know to help you take photos is a much better, and easier task than trusting your camera to a stranger or well, a selfie stick. I have lost count of how many bad photos people had taken of me, and that’s on top of the fact that I find it embarrassing and difficult to approach people to help me take a photo. Self-timer is a blessing, but it’s not a method that can be used every time.

shot by my sister at Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre — Shot by my sister at Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre

Verdict

Solo travelling, though a great form of self-discovery, are not for everyone. While I would encourage others to try, you should consider all kinds of factors before deciding whether you want to solo travel or group travel . If you are a keen solo traveller, but you aren’t great at meeting new people, then the
tourlina app is the thing to help you look for like-minded female travel companion!

About the Author:

Nam Cheah is a third culture millennial who spent half her life in Hong Kong and the other half in UK. Planning to make the most out of life, she documents her passion to laugh, travel and eat on her suitably named blog: Laugh, Travel, Eat. When she’s not doing any of that, she’s either catching up on TV while online shopping or writing her novels.

Read more from Laugh Travel Eat: laughtraveleat.com

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Viajosola – Why Women Should Never Stop Travelling Solo

Written by Sandra
on 21. March 2016
in female-travel
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Viajosola – Why Women Should Never Stop Travelling Solo

Several weeks ago, two young Argentine women were brutally attacked and murdered while backpacking in Ecuador’s coastal area of Montanita.

Maria Coni, 22, and Marina Menegazzo, 21, had run out of money while travelling through South America. A friend put them in touch with two men, who they thought would offer them a place to stay. Instead the men sexually assaulted the pair, before murdering them and dumping their bodies.

Sadly, in the wake of the tragedy there were many people who were inclined to blame the victims of this terrible attack, rather than the perpetrators. One controversial opinion offered by Argentine psychiatrist Hugo Marietan was that the women “took a risk” by travelling in “parts of the world that are not ready for the full freedom of the woman”.

He went on to say: “Women, you are also responsible for your preservation. Do [you] serve your feminist theories in that final moment?”

In response to those blaming the victims for what happened, one woman wrote an impassioned Facebook post from the perspective of the two women. Guadalupe Acosta from Paraguay sparked a social media outcry with her words:

“From the moment I had my lifeless body, nobody asked where he was, the son of a gun…
No, they started asking me useless questions…
What clothes you had on?
Why are you alone?
How a woman is going to travel without company?
You got yourself in a dangerous neighbourhood, what did you expect?

But to be a woman, the crime is minimized. Becomes less serious, because of course, I asked for it. Doing what I wanted, I got what I deserved for not being submissive, for not wanting to stay in my house, for investing my own money in my dreams.”

The Facebook post has been shared over 730,000 times, and the hashtag #viajosola – Spanish for “I travel alone” – trended on Twitter worldwide.

Acosta’s words touched a nerve with female travellers across the globe. Independent women who travel to broaden their minds, to learn and to grow, and for the sheer joy of it began posting inspiring viewpoints and photos of themselves travelling solo.

#Viajosola because my gender has nothing to do with my desire to see the world @SammyLT

#viajosola because you will never know who you truly are until you do so @jomanaElwenni

#viajosola because my love for seeing the world & its cultures shouldn’t be jeopardized by the fact I’m a woman @twiitterlessDad
Travelling alone is my joy in life, not an invitation for man to rob, rape and murder me #viajosola @coreen085
Gender shouldn’t be a barrier from the world #Viajosola @TwinsWade
#viajosola because the world is so big and amazing – and I do not and should not need an escort… #liveloveexplore @tara_bt

Travelling is one of life’s great pleasures. Travelling alone is a truly liberating journey which nobody – man or woman – should feel afraid to embark upon. Travelling alone teaches us so much about ourselves and the world around us. We learn to be at peace in solitude, we learn to trust ourselves, and we meet likeminded people who we form deep and lasting connections with.

The random and tragic murders of backpackers like those of Maria and Marina should never be seen as the victim’s fault for daring to go out in the world unchaperoned. Dangerous viewpoints like that of Hugo Marietan should not hold women back from exploring whichever corner of the globe they choose.

To travel solo doesn’t mean to stay alone.

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WHY YOU SHOULD ALSO USE TOURLINA FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP?

Female users of Tourlina can connect before or while they travel. Tourlina connects women based on their future travel plans. Of course, they can connect as well with other female travelers while they travel, e.g. for one evening in Bangkok or for a part of their trip. Women find more meaningful and long lasting connections with other women and make lifelong friendships as Tourlina connections are based on shared interest in travel and socialising.

Awesome Tourlina video from Monica – one of the many fans and users of Tourlina 🙂

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10 Best Yoga Destinations