Starting in Jan. 2015, I will be teach the first of many retreats in Costa Rica. I love being able to experience different cultures while traveling light. There is something to be said about the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” all you truly need to bring is a towel and a toothbrush. I can’t claim that I have traveled with that little, but I like the idea. The more I travel, the less I bring with me. It is freedom. We aquire so much in the material as we grow. From small items to the large, we become subconciously and sometimes very conciously attached to these things. Currently I am in the process of slimming down these items. I am getting back to the basics. That is a big reason why I like yoga, all you need is an intention to do yoga. Sometimes you might want a mat, but not always. I think that is why I like the idea of surfing, it’s you, the board, and the ocean. I pick my activities like I pick my food, the less ingrediants the better.
Here are some ways to get back to the basics:
1. Declutter. Do you really need that dress you’ve had for the past five years and never wear or that broken printer you’ve been hanging onto in hopes of some day fixing? I didn’t think so. Get rid of it! Create a good-will pile, e-bay pile, and a junk pile. I know sometimes clearing space can feel daunting but the release you will get afterwards is by far greater than any anxious feelings you may have about doing it.
2. Do more yoga. It’s simple! Get to your local studio or pop on a youtube video at home. The more you practice getting into the flow of the present, the more you will instinctively get back to the bare nessecities in life.
3. Local Farmer’s Market. Buy local, buy often. When you support local farmers you are supporting a healthier you. Local raw honey has been known to fight pollen allergies and organic vegetables and fruit hold more nutrients. Plus, how good does a fresh tomato or local raw honey sound right about now?
4. Craft. Our ancestors used to do it often. We only do it in grade school unless we take a special interest in basket weaving and continue it into adult-hood. There is something to be said about creating something with our own hands or feet for that matter. Check out some of these great ideas for crafting with nature on Pinterest.
5. Only bring 1 back-pack next time you travel. You’ll be happy you did. Bring the bare minimum. A toothbrush, a towel, fresh underwear, socks, one change of clothes, and climate dependant gear like sun block, bug spray, scarves, etc. It’s less to watch, lug around, and worry about period. I will be hosting a Yoga and Meditation Retreat in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Jan 17-24, 2015. I would love it if you came to practice the art of letting go with me in a community setting. Here is where you can find the details!
Remember, non-attachment comes in stages. I am definitely still learning to let go, but I can tell you that when I do, I find a new level of awareness that is so incredibly healing to my mind, body, and Soul.
“As spiritual searchers we need to become freer and freer of the attachment to our own smallness in which we get occupied with me-me-me. Pondering on large ideas or standing in front of things which remind us of a vast scale can free us from acquisitiveness and competitiveness and from our likes and dislikes. If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy. Also recalling our own experiences in which we acted generously or with compassion for the simple delight of it without expectation of any gain can give us more confidence in the existence of a deeper goodness from which we may deviate. (39)”
― Ravi Ravindra, The Wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra
With much love always,
Alana Roach
RYT, CYT, Wellness Support and Freelance Writer
www.AlanaRoachYoga.com
Alana’s love for yoga came from firsthand experience with just how powerful the practice is. “In 2009, Yoga found me. Inside the studio, she experienced a deep sense of belonging, but the most profound part was what happened after. “I felt as though I was at true peace. I finally knew what the word meant. Until that moment, I had just understood it cerebrally. There is something profound to be said about Peace dropping into the heart.”