Picture the scene. Its a cold blustery morning, the skies are grey and your feeling blue. The rain pitter patters against the windows and the distant rumble of thunder makes you sigh with unease. You think to yourself, how did I ever get to this point, bored to death and stuck inside. Your mental state of mind is under stress and you are suffering under the duress of winters cruel temperament. The weather matches how you feel and noone dares to talk to you when you are in a mood. You seek solace from winters dreary weather by gazing at endless photos of white sand beaches, glistening with secret treasures- its wanderlust. Ever since you were a little girl you dreamed of spontaneous travel, away from the hum drum reality of city life. Could now be the time to pack your things and go? After trawling through endless sites offering ‘party holidays’ you begin to lose hope and wonder if you could ever find a holiday cheap enough to travel to and still have change left over. But wait… there it is, like a beacon of light your dream holiday awaits you. And yet you are almost taken by surprise, you were once a girl who would love nothing better than to down shots in clubs abroad and now a Yoga Holiday was the flavour of the day?
You knew that you needed to make a change and the pressures of working life had left you desperately seeking a secret escape, a world so different from your own. You had always wanted to go to Tuscany and its promise of a ‘gloriously slow’ and ‘laid back pace’ was too good an offer to ignore. Scrolling through the images of women at peace in their beautiful Italian surroundings made you wonder whether some time away from the city would be just the ticket you needed to improve your health and wellbeing. After all if you were looking for a holiday to rejuvenate and cleanse your mind, body and soul then wouldn’t yoga help you stay grounded outside of the big city? Besides, those old wives tales that you used to read always told you that some time in the sun would help you feel more relaxed and happy and lord knows you needed some happiness, especially after everything that had happened.
The big day had come and your yoga holiday was just a flight away and as you waltzed into the airport you smiled, today was a new day. You wrote a list to pass the time, a little game if you will of things that would help you maintain health and wellbeing while abroad. The flight was wonderfully slow and it gave you time to indulge in that little list of yours, you would be sure to check it twice. You made a promise to yourself that you would try hard to be more mindful and that you would try your hardest to be healthier than you were in the big city. After all you worked 60 hour weeks, with very little play and you couldn’t remember the last time you had eight hours sleep. As for a proper cooked meal, it seemed like eons ago and lets not mention the fact that the last holiday you had was nearly five years ago. But that didn’t count, it was just a family holiday after all and self-care went completely out the window! No, this time things had to change and you knew that this yoga holiday would change your ways.
The plane flew into Tuscany and as you entered the taxi to take you to your villa, you remembered the first step on your list: sleep. You knew it would be a long journey and settled into a light slumber, luxuriating in your nest of dreams. Â You finally arrived and the warm rustic scent of freshly baked bread wafted underneath your nose, while you walked through a quaint apple orchard. Your hosts for the week had made you a special Tuscan meal of ‘sugo finto’ paired with soft slices of home baked bread. She gazed at the list you were clutching in your hand and smiled “number two-food, don’t worry Bella, I think we have that covered. While you are with us you will always be fed”. Her forehead furrowed as her expression deepened and she added as an afterthought “but I see you are malnourished, your clothes are hanging off your frame and the dark circles under your eyes are testament to how little sleep you get. “Cara you must look after yourself, you are not a child anymore” she scolded. You are almost taken aback by her no nonsense approach but looking at your list you realize that she was right. When was the last time you slept like a babe, feasted like a king and danced until the sun rose high in the sky?
It turned out that your hosts were yoga enthusiasts and mentioned that they would be joining you on your expedition to find peace. Confiding in you, the woman told you that she was once ‘you’, chained to her job day and night, forgetting to look after ‘number one’ but enough was enough and she found peace here in Tuscany. Tuscany, oh Tuscany the land where all your troubles are cleansed by the warm glow of the mid-afternoon sun.You look at her as though she has gone mad but that glow around her is almost ethereal, in fact she radiates happiness. She slinks into a waiting armchair and sighs with cream fed content, ” Tuscany will change you, Bella”. As the night falls and the time has come for you to settle into bed, she comes and finds you, places a warm cup of milk by your bedside table “drink this and sleep pretty dreams of Tuscan countryside, no bad dreams will enter your room tonight. Drink this with positivity in mind and forget the strives of yesterdays past”.
Day is dawning and you wake with intent, time to tick number three on that list of yours ‘meditation’. You go downstairs in a flurry of excitement and wait for your host to join you for yoga; despite her age, she seems more active than you and you struggle to keep up with her pace as she scurries out the door. Today’s class is Cintamani Yoga ; in the heart of the Chianti Hills you can feel the sun bathing all the yoga members in a warm mid-morning glow, massaged by its languorous rays. Like the cat that had got the cream you felt blissfully content;It had been a while since you felt true happiness and you knew that you had made the right decision on that cold, blustery winter morning. When was the last time you had even stepped outside of an office and truly appreciated how beautiful our world is? You knew that this yoga holiday would be one to remember and you couldn’t wait to tell all your friends all about it. The day was drawing to a close and you crumpled up that list, knew that you didn’t need it anymore because Tuscany had shown you the way. Tuscany had been the answer to all your prayers and you knew that one day, your ticket to mindfulness would be just one click away. You repeated it like a mantra to yourself… sleep, eat, self-care, repeat, sleep, take time out, think positive, sleep.
Have you ever dreamed of going on a Yoga Holiday? What are your tips for maintaining health and wellbeing whilst on holiday?Â
*Disclaimer
Please note this is not a sponsored post but an entry into a blogger competition. All creative ideas and processes are my own.
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I’ve never tried Yoga… But then, I’m not one for exercise really…
That coat definitely is dreamy! I would love to try yoga one day, but not sure where does it where i live!
Great post! Hope you do well in the competition! I don’t know if a yoga holiday is for me, but the idea of tranquility and mindfulness is quite appealing!
I had a friend take a trip to Thailand last year for a yoga retreat and I’ve been wanting to go on one since!
I never tried Yoga. I am not very flexible either. Your fluffy coat is so stylish.
I think a yoga holiday would make a nice relaxing change to the type of holidays I usually go on when I’m always on the go x
Lovely, well written post. I do think that a Yoga holiday would be fabulously relaxing although I am not sure if I could do the yoga. Good luck with the competition xxx
I’d love a relaxing holiday right now!
I just love the way you write. Your outfits are fab too. I love the idea of a yoga holiday although I’m not sure how much yoga I’d do!
I have never done yoga, I have a friend who is obsessed.
I’ve never thought about a yoga holiday. Yoga is one of those things i want to try
I love yoga so would love something like this. Although i’ve never been to Tuscany, I’d love to as i love visited Florence, Rome and Venice in the past. I tend to enjoy taking my time on holiday, and getting opportunity to see things I’ve wanted to. I enjoy not picking food because it’s healthier, and taking time to unwind in evenings doing whatever activity i choose whether it’s having cocktails or attending an event that I’ve maybe booked to see x
I’d love a yoga holiday and this post has made me want one lol. It’s so relaxing and at the same time getting to meditate while doing it. Perfect. X
I never tried yoga but lookin at this post I should definitely give it a try…love your coat 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this post you were so wonderfully descriptive and imaginative in talking about Tuscany and the yoga retreat and how it would feel to go on this holiday. I think this would be such a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday and so many people these days could really benefit from something like this.
Yoga really helps us to strengthen our body, I suggest you can try that too! It relaxes our minds too!
I have never tried yoga before but I did enjoy doing pilates.. so I think yoga would work for me too, I prefer the calm excercise..stretching and relaxing!For me, holidays normally are all about enjoying myself and not exercising at all! The yoga holiday does sound quite nice to be honest…
I use to love yoga at my other gym. My new gym does’t do it now. A yoga holiday sounds great!!I could really do with a break. Love your coat and good luck in the competition 🙂
I do love yoga so would absolutely love to head on a yoga holiday x
I must confess to having not tried Yoga but I love the idea of a Yoga holiday to really immerse yourself into it
Such a lovely post. I would love to go on a yoga holiday too. Good luck!
A guy here. But I can relate to your need and want to go to a Yoga holiday. Incidentally, I am crossing of days to a holiday to the origin of Yoga and Ayurveda.: “Kerala”. and your article just made it more difficult for me to wait.
I have never been on a yoga holiday before but it sounds like a good idea, I am tempted to go on one, one day
I would love to go on a yoga retreat. Your post has inspired me to actually look some up. Good luck with the competition
I’ve never tried yoga as I wasn’t sure if it is my kind of thing but maybe I should give it a try . The idea of a yoga holiday isn’t spmething I’ve heard of before
I’ve tried yoga before – years ago – and found it extremely relaxing! I don’t know if I’d dedicate a holiday to yoga, but i’d definitely take it up again!
Kayleigh x
Ana, while yoga holidays sound therapeutic, my initial reaction is that there are so many historical sites I haven’t seen as well as exotic dishes I’m yet to try that yoga holidays must wait until I’m older. Only recently did I take a yoga class. For the previous 4 1/2 years I did yoga in my bedroom. With that said, I can’t imagine life without yoga. My days of downing shots are over now like the Alice in Chains song!
Yoga is so wonderful and beneficial. I would love to take a relaxing holiday. Kaz x
For a moment there, I hoped everything that I was reading was truly happening to me. I would very much like a yoga holiday. I think it’s awesome to be able to hop on a plane and just aim for a refreshing vacation.
Yoga holiday sounds great! I had never heard of it before but it would be interesting to go to with my husband.
What a beautiful post. I can so relate. The days go by and I work .. and do my regular life things .. and forget to take time for myself. Or maybe I don’t forget .. not taking time for myself simply becomes my normal. While I’m on vacation .. I simply let myself do whatever it is that I’d like. No to-do lists .. I just let the days flow. It’s bliss
I heard and read a lot of good things about doing Yoga. However, I wish I still had that flexibility to get into those poses. I know I could little by little, but I have not gotten into it yet. When on vacation, I do a lot of walking, hitting two birds with one stone. Getting to see the sights and squeezing in some exercise as well.
I’ve seen so many photos of women doing yoga on top of a crisp white building, facing a deep blue sea and every time it makes me dream of going myself! xxx
This sounds like a really different but relaxing kind of holiday. It would be lovely!
It’s really not that difficult to picture the rain right now. Plus, I feel like I really need a holiday under the sun to recharge my batteries.
Another fabulous Blog post, I’m always so drawn to your style of writing, love it. I haven’t done yoga in years, its on the list of things to do this year, for mind and body x
I love yoga and I’ve been thinking of going to a retreat this summer! This sounds like an absolute dream x
That coat! 😉 you look amazing and what a beautiful story as well xx
I feel like we all just need to take a moment to appreciate your style of writing in this post, a story well told! I love yoga and having recently just taken a trip to Marrakech, the hotel I was staying in provided Yoga retreat weeks and I’ve always wanted to do one somewhere really tropical!
Yoga holiday sounds amazing! Too be honest my only excersise I am doing while I travel is walking but would be so nice go to maybe Bali just to do yoga 🙂
What a good post, I really love to have a good Holiday! Glad that you share this with us.
I love the way your write! I definitely would love to go on a trip like that. Yoga is so relaxing!
Xo,
Megan at Lush to Blush
I have never tried Yoga but have been recommended it for a back problem. I would like to go on a yoga holiday and get taught how to do it all
A yoga holiday sounds so relaxing and perfect. I have only ever been to baby yoga classes with my daughter ( you do yoga moves holding the baby) but I would love to learn it properly, I could do with a learning to unwind x
I really enjoyed reading your post. I could feel the sunshine and the Italian atmosphere as if I were there. I hope you do well in the competition.
I know how you feel, everything seems boring and the ‘done that already’ attitude arises more often! I need a change too, maybe a new job or so haha!
Yoga holiday does sound fun, but I’ve never been to one myself!
shelley xoxo
http://www.shelleymorecroft.co.uk/
I used to do yoga and loved it. A yoga holiday sounds like something I need! I hope you win the competition lovely! xx
Amazing written post (as always) ! I need to read more about yoga! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Oh you had me in that flight, envisioning myself in Tuscany as I contemplated life and enjoyed the beauty of life. I’d love to take a retreat and to just center myself away from the bustle of life. Need to put that on my to-do list.
I love yoga and would love to try some kind of yoga retreat.
Do it… that is the only comment that I can think of to say, it sounds as though you desperately want it, so it give your all and win x
I’m feeling exactly as you described at the beginning of your post right now. I’m dreaming of sun and glistening white sands. I’ve never tried a yoga holiday but it sounds very calming.
Have to say Anna you got me at the word Tuscany, and the meal with the home made bread! Glad you got time away and it sounds like a perfect break X X
Lol it was a creative writing story, an entry into a competition to win a holiday in Tuscany, I wish I went away. That would be bliss xx
Never heard of a yoga holiday before. Never even tried yoga. I should.
I think a yoga holiday somewhere exotic sounds absolutely lovely – definitely something I could get on board with!
Ana you must consider India if you are looking for a yoga holiday, it is the land!
I’ve been thinking about booking a yoga holiday. Maybe I should just dream about it and save myself some money haha! I love the detail you’ve gone into in this post.
I’d love to go on a yoga or fitness holiday. I saw an article in Women’s Health a few years ago about them and I’ve been thinking about doing something like that ever since! Bonus points if it was in a beautiful location! xx
Yoga holiday sounds like a divine to me! I’ve never been to yoga holiday but spa holidays couple of times. I love spa getaways!
Never planned a yoga trip as I never even tried yoga.. 😀 But. Travel is always a good idea when one got overwhelmed or bored 🙂 I would love to see Tuscany! If not this year…I hope I’ll get there in 2018.
Yoga holiday is such a hood idea to take some rest and that is also with an exercise, so you will take rest as well as you will feel nourished both physically and mentally
My friend Joy went on a Yoga holiday and loved it…….now something you can take kids on though
Yoga holiday sounds quite interesting and inspirational! I’ve never done Yoga holiday before, but thinking of Tuscany vineyard scenery, and doing yoga whilst being relaxed with the amazing surroundings, is quite fascinating, isn’t it? I wish you best luck for the competition, Ana.
I’ve only started doing yoga this year but I love it!
Your fur coat is lovely 🙂
Dani x
A yoga holiday sounds amazing! I love your coat too.
I had no idea yoga holidays were a thing! Sounds really interesting 🙂 Also, loving your look here x
Very well-written story enjoying reading it. I never knew that yoga holiday it was a thing but hey now i know, lets plan one soon. xx
I would love to go on a yoga retreat, but the Ines I’ve seen are for 7+ days. I am looking at a few in Ibiza where you can bring your children
Ooh a yoga holiday sounds great, I’m actually looking into starting yoga xo
I’ve been dying to go on a retreat since I took yoga back up last year – love the thought of all that health and wellness! x
Yoga holiday sounds perfect right now 🙂 dreaming already hun 🙂 x
I’ve never done yoga before, but after everything that’s been happening lately, I am considering going on a yoga and meditation retreat away… Your creative writing skills are beautiful by the way Ana xx
Not heard of yoga holidays before but sounds a fab idea to work on mindfulness and self-healing. Love the photos too 🙂