CYBER Monday - Wednesday!

Don't miss out on our CYBER Deals. What a great time to secure a spot in one of our 2012 Yoga Retreats! We'd love to see you next year. SIGN UP ONLINE!

NEW 2012 Retreat Dates

Have you heard? We've announced several new 2012 retreat dates on the site! Now you have more opportunities to join us on an EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreat holiday this next year.

2011 was an amazing year in Italy and Morocco with some of the best groups ever. I'm so excited to see who we get to meet next year. There have already been some sign-ups and even some repeat guests coming again.

Here is the line-up! Don't miss out.

UPCOMING 2012 RETREATS: 

MARRAKESH, MOROCCO :: March 4-10 & September 23-29, 2012 • Click HERE for more info!

TUSCANY, ITALY :: May 20-26, 2012 • Click HERE for more info!

VENICE, ITALY :: May 27-June 2, 2012 • Click HERE for more info!

ISCHIA, ITALY :: September 16-22, 2012 • Click HERE for more info!

Food in Marrakesh :: part 3

Part 3 of my posts on the past yoga retreat in Marrakesh. This one will probably be my last one about Marrakesh for a while, as I have several other things to update you on...but this one is last, and not least, about the amazing FOOD we had.

The week was an ongoing parade of tastes - all completely vegetarian and completely delicious. Most of the meals were served at Peacock Pavilions, from breakfast and lunches on the outdoor poolside terrace to extravagant dinners in the Moroccan dining tent.

Flavors and spices from sweet to savory were in every bite...

(and sip...as we had a few lovely cocktails throughout the week too! Here were some cucumber mint Pimms sipped poolside during the henna party)

All fresh, local ingredients were served with a mix of traditional and more international flair of recipes.

All meals were multi-courses and served in beautiful displays before each of us.

Dessert was a daily indulgence as well. (shhh.... ;)) and I don't think there were any complaints about that.

What a GREAT group it was - so many laughs were shared each day, smiles/hugs/encouragement given, and life-long friends made. Can't wait to see everyone again sometime.

Here's a video recap of our amazing week:

There's a few spots left for the next Marrakesh adventure in March 2012. 

JOIN US!

Yoga in Marrakesh :: part 2

I hope to have whet your appetite for more about the Marrakesh yoga retreat from the last post. Oh but how much there is to say about our lovely time there.

So what did we do during the week (well besides a couple yoga classes and some meditation each day)?

PLENTY!

 The first day was a magical guide through the exotic Marrakesh Medina. Through palaces, rihads, and souks.

We explored the streets, bargained at the stalls, found just the right rugs and slippers, and of course enjoyed a few mint tea breaks throughout the day.

The main square in the old part of the city is indescribable in words or photos...you just have to be there to experience it first-hand!

One day we enjoyed a pool-side cocktail party at Peacock Pavilions while getting painted up with beautiful henna designs! (Even the guys joined in on the party!)

Then we all took a trip to the seaside town of Essoauria with its lovely laid-back vibe. After a yoga session on the beach we explored the markets and the quaint streets, (ate a gelato...shhh don't tell!), and then geared up for one of the highlights...

...Camel rides on the beach! Passing old fortress ruins, watching the sunset as we lazily rode through the sand, "fantasizing being like Lawrence of Arabia" as one guest put it!

But wait...there's more! Stay tuned for thoughts on the food, flavors, and spices of Morocco!

and we're baaaacckk!!!

Wow. Has it really been six weeks already? Finally just a few days ago I arrived back to NYC and am finally getting over the jet lag!

The last time we spoke I was just about to board a transatlantic flight - and boy has the time flown! Well now I'm back after some unforgettable weeks in both Marrakesh and Ischia. For now I thought I'd just give you a nice recap of the Marrakesh retreat and the amazingly fun time we had at Peacock Pavilions in September. ...Of course, stay tuned for even more updates about the Ischia retreat - and news on the upcoming 2012 calendar announcements.

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OUR EXPERIENCE AT PEACOCK PAVILIONS

I thought I'd break up the posts on the Marrakesh retreat into several categories. The first being about the amazing location and hosts of Peacock Pavilions. Words won't do it justice so I'm only going to give some snippets of how beautiful it really was.

As soon as we arrived we were given a tour of the grounds and just oooh'd and aaaahh'd at all the details that had gone into every single space. The rooms are magnificent and each piece of paint, artwork, or fabric seems to have some story behind it.

Many an afternoon was spend lounging by the beautiful pool area while mint teas were sipped continuously. We even had a henna & cocktail party as well as a wine-tasting event around the pool throughout the week...but more to come on that in another post!

Morning and evening yoga classes were held in the lovely yoga tent in the olive grove. Spacious and always nice views, the tent has most recently been painted even more awaiting our next retreat in March! Meditation class, including a walking meditation around the grounds, was always a nice wake-up routine with just the warm breezes and occasional bird caw filtering in through the tent.

Meals here are another story that will require its own post - as there's just too much to say about it. I think that between all of the guests, the plates were the spotlight of the most photos all week! Each meal, including breakfast, was served in courses, each one more beautiful than the next. And don't get me started on the mouth-watering tastes. Plus, we enjoyed dinner in the dining tent which made us all feel like kings and queens each evening!

Maryam with me and some of our lovely guests

Then there are the hosts Chris and Maryam (plus their adorable kids, interns, and staff) who all welcomed us with open arms. Their hospitality makes you feel at home - ok, well maybe a bit more pampered than at home - but a beautiful home nonetheless!

...More to come on the rest of the Marrakesh experience!

leaving on a jet plane

So today I fly out for the upcoming EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats in Marrakesh and Ischia! Really excited for these next adventures and to meet all the wonderful guests that are traveling over to join us.

I can't believe that the time for Morocco is already here. This coming week we'll be doing yoga in an olive grove, sipping iced mint tea by the pool, shopping at the souks in Marrakesh, and riding camels on the beach...

Doesn't this video just get you in the mood for the exotic aura of Marrakesh?


If you missed signing up for this one...then join us in March when we'll be meeting again at Peacock Pavilions for another week of yoga, Moroccan cuisine, henna parties, and spa days.

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Plus, you still have time to sign up for the ISCHIA, ITALY retreat Oct 2-8! Here we'll be exploring the amazing island off the Amalfi Coast, hiking, visiting castles in the sea, eating amazing food, and practicing yoga along the cliffs of the Tyrrhenian Sea. JOIN US (psst...there's a $100 off last-min discount as well...just mention the post during sign up!)

I'll be staying in Italy between the two retreats this time to lead a SOJOURNISTA Travel Stylist trip. We're visiting the "waters of Italy"...Belaggio, Lake Como (lake) + Venice (canals) + Florence (river) + Cinque Terre (sea). I'll be sure to post lots of pics!

...and the WINNER is...

A big THANKS to all those who participated in the Tiny Devotions mala giveaway last week! We had such a great response on the blog and on Twitter...plus many new friends on our Facebook page as well.

Well...the names were all put together and the random.org number generator chose...

GLAD DOGGETT
(don't you just love her name?!) :)

CONGRATS Glad! We know you'll love the beautiful mala from Tiny Devotions. Also a big thanks to Tiny Devotions for being a part of this and for the lovely light & love you give!

Glad is getting the beautiful Amazonite Mala which "promotes universal love and alleviates fear and anxiety".

Be sure to visit Tiny Devotions site for yourself to check out all the malas... And visit EAT.PRAY.MOVE to see the upcoming retreats (and perhaps sign up to join us in Marrakesh or Ischia SOON!)

Q&A with Tiny Devotions

Well, if you have been following EAT.PRAY.MOVE for the past week you'll know that we're really excited about the current mala bead giveaway with Tiny Devotions. If you haven't entered yet...be sure to do it before this coming Saturday when the contest closes.

Today I want to introduce you to the lovely founder of Canadian company Tiny Devotions, Diana Charabin. According to her bio, "she is a yogi, a world traveller, an adventurer, a writer and creative soul that is dedicated in making the most beautiful mala beads in the world." Her travels have taken her from the Gold Coast of Australia around the world and back - and to life-changing time in Bali. In Bali is where she began making these beautiful malas which are now exploding as the must-have mala beads in the worldwide yoga community.


We're thankful that she had a bit of time to answer a few questions that EAT.PRAY.MOVE threw her way. There's a lot more to know about her and the Tiny Devotion company - so feel free to check out their site and videos for a lot more information!

Q&A with Diana of Tiny Devotions
• On your site and videos you've shared several inspiring stories of intention with your mala beads. What story/experience, either personally or from a customer, stands out the most?

The story that most stands out is an amazing girl who received a rose quartz from her friend in Switzerland. She had been trying to get pregnant for some time with no success and a few weeks or months (not sure) of wearing the rose quartz mala with the intention of helping her get pregnant she became pregnant and called me with tears from Switzerland. Um…that was pretty cool!
I would not say that our mala beads magically got her pregnant but rather (and hopefully) shifted her intention and energy which made her more emotionally and energetically open to getting pregnant. Sometimes we have blockages and mantras and tactical objects with intention can help us overcome them!

• How do you decide which new stones to introduce to the collection and are there any exciting additions you have coming out?

Creating our mala beads is sort of like solving a jigsaw puzzle. There are some stones that I want to use that I can never find and other stones that I never thought of using that I find and get inspired by.
We're always creating new and evolving our mala beads - it is a balance of creating buddhaful mala beads that are still functional.

• What is the most influential teacher you've had in your journey through yoga/meditation?

Well two different teachers come to mind - for meditation Emil Wendel - he told me I could have coffee before I started meditation. That won me over.
For yoga it would have to be the Merrifield sisters. Michelle and Clare are phenomenal yogis and human beings! Complete opposite styles and energies and I just feel like whenever I am around them I learn so much and connect. Unfortunately they are in Australia so have not got to practice with them in a while but heading there in a few months so stoked!
I also feel as though I have a lot to learn from my lovely friend Katie Brauer who is a North County + international yoga teacher. You will hear a lot about her in the next few months/years. She is so in the flow!

• What is your favorite location to retreat to?

Well being a travel addict I obviously have a few. The 2 that stand out are: Southern California and Gold Coast, Australia.
The last two trips I have taken have been to San Diego and North County - I kind of feel like I live there. Ocean, Yoga, nature and great food. There is a natural pull there. Plan on spending more time there doing yoga with Katie Brauer and practicing at Bindu and Haute Yoga.
Gold Coast is where I lived for 3 years during law school and it is one of my most favourite places on earth. I would describe it as magical. Nobbys is such a cool area to go and chill - also my favourite yoga studio is there - Essence of Living. People are so effortlessly cool in Australia and I just feel a lot of goddess energy when I'm there. It is so easy to be in the flow and to manifest your dreams! Australia to me is like a parallel universe. It is bliss!
And obviously hope to go on one of your retreats someday soon ;)

A HUGE HUG and THANKS to Diana and Tiny Devotions for the Q&A and beautiful beads!

guest post :: husband talks of Ischia

Happy weekend everyone. Hope you're all entering the Tiny Devotions mala GIVEAWAY we have going on this week! We're hosting the giveaway in conjunction with our upcoming yoga retreat on the lovely Italian island of Ischia. If you haven't familiarized yourself with this amazing oasis off the Amalfi Coast of Italy, then you can catch up on some past blog posts here here and here. If you need some more temptation, read on...

First off, I'd like to introduce the guest blogger for today's post - my husband and partner in crime, Chris. He flew to Italy between the Tuscany retreats this summer to accompany me to Ischia to finalize some details for the fall retreat...here is his account of arriving at Villa Lina, the location of the retreat...

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Just outside the small town of Panza...

...we drive off the main road, beyond small shops and occasional warehouses...

...down winding dirt roads to the unassuming gate of Villa Lina...

Entering through the gate reveals a large house surrounded by trees, blooming flowers, and other foliage. Pretty as it is, you won't lose your breath. Yet.

The gravel driveway continues to the right and then suddenly turns left downhill.  Just as I make the turn, the serene world of Villa Lina presents itself. Looking ahead, the descending terrace of the mountain on which the villa resides and another mountain to the left mildly encroach upon my periphery as the vast expanse of the  Tyrrhenian Sea  stretches out into oblivion. Perhaps it's merely the light, but I can't be sure exactly where the sea yields o the sky. This has rendered the horizon as a thick brush stroke of hazel instead of the sharp and deep blue pen stroke I had expected to see.

Continuing down the hill and to the right, Vito, the friendly guardian greets me with hearty barking. He's a spinone, an Italian breed said to have the eyes of a person. Having greeted him in return, Vito accompanies me toward the villa just ahead. As I approach Nicola, one of the villa owners, I take a moment to gaze into the dark waters of the pool on the main terrace. There are a couple of pools at the villa, but this one is unique as it appears turbid. The pool isn't filled with crystal clear, chemically purified water, nor is it backed with inner walls of blue to feign the appearance of the sea. No, this water is a mix of the mineral-rich waters coming from within the mountain and the calm, clear, salty waters from the sea.

We carry on to meet Nicola. There is a calming aura about him, reinforced by a gentle smile that won't support even a whiff of pretense. After a brief chat he excitedly offers a tour of the grounds. As we descend on a new path down into the earthen terraces, I realize that Villa Lina is much larger than I had imagined. Nicola leads us down the path towards the indoor yoga room, past thickets of rosemary and other foliage I can't readily identify. We stop at the indoor yoga room; it's spacious and well equipped with mats and a stunning view, but I'm eager to continue down the path. We carry on through trees yielding olives, and pears, stopping briefly at a plum tree from which Nicola gives us two deep purple plums. At each pause Nicola excitedly points out new blooms or fruits that are now in season, exclaiming “la natura e cosi” (“nature is like that”).

Eventually we arrive at a pen full of chickens eagerly awaiting their meal. I smile as Nicola feeds them sliced pieces of zucchini followed by seed. I smile as I notice that these chickens are much leaner than those you'll see find at commercial chicken farms. It's apparent that Nicola respects and cares for these birds, just as he does the sprigs of rosemary, the dangling plums, the young olives, and the gulls making nests on unreachable rocks on the edge of the mountain.

There is a purity in this place; a calmness fostered by a gentle caretaker who unceasingly tends to its wellbeing and is enamored by its beauty. 

-Chris

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After this walk we ended up enjoying a meal prepared from the vegetation gathered on our walk around the grounds. The rest of our days here were lovely and I can't wait to be back with the yoga retreat guests in Oct.

There are still spaces left...do you want to join us? 

cha cha cha cha chan-ges!

Wow, it's been quite a whirlwind here at the EPM camp the past couple of months (hence the m.i.a. on the blogs, updates, etc). But will you forgive me?

Pretty please? :)

It's just that I've been moving to the big apple! Yes, NYC. A city I've always loved and am now very excited to call home. What an amazing yoga community they have here in the city! And one I can't wait to get connected with.

Plus, the next two retreats this year are just around the corner - MARRAKESH, MOROCCO and ISCHIA, ITALY. Can't believe they're almost here. I'm getting things ready for these weeks, and gearing up to meet the lovely groups of guests.

THINGS OF NOTE:
• One spot left for the ever so popular Marrakesh retreat! GRAB IT.
• Spaces still available for the breath-taking Ischia retreat HERE.
• $100 Early-Bird DISCOUNT extended until Aug 31 for Mar 2012 Marrakesh retreat SIGN UP.
• Watch out for more posts on the current GIVEAWAY with Tiny Devotions Mala. ENTER HERE

Until later...be and give light.

~namaste~

GIVEAWAY :: Tiny Devotion Mala

So the anticipated GIVEAWAY is here! (A week after the first announcement - sorry again for the delay those who saw the original post that we removed) We're SO happy to announce that we're working with the amazing team at Tiny Devotions to offer one of their lovely malas to one lucky EAT.PRAY.MOVE fan and to help promote our upcoming yoga retreat on the beautiful island of Ischia!

As the name EAT.PRAY.MOVE suggests, PRAYing and meditating is one of the fundamental aspects of the yogic experience we want to promote on our retreats, and throughout life in general. Mala beads are a great tool for helping one focus, meditate, be still, and stay present.

Here's a little snippet from the Tiny Devotions site:

"Our Tiny Devotions mala beads are perfect for beginnings and endings - goals, struggles, worries, dreams, intentions and prayers. 

Mala beads transcend cultures and religions and can be found in some form in nearly every tradition around the world. The word bead, historically coming from the word "prayer" or "to pray". 

These sacred and beautiful beads help us live in the moment - staying present to the beauty of life. 

We combine rudraksha seeds with semi precious crystals and pearls to create beautiful designer malas that each have their own specific intention. Rudraksha seeds are known as the eyes or tears of Shiva - and are worn for their protective and sacred qualities."

So...are you ready to get a set of these designer Mala Beads for yourself?
Then enter our GIVEAWAY!

Here's what you have to do:
1. COMMENT on this post (include an email if it isn't included in your comment profile) and ANSWER the question: What Mediterranean location would you like to retreat to and use your mala? 

2. EXTRA ENTRY: TWEET this exact phrase "win a @TinyDevotions mala from @eatpraymoveyoga http://bit.ly/npy9n3 (& join a #yoga retreat in Italy http://eatpraymove.com)" 

3. That's all! One entry + one extra Twitter entry per person. US and Canada shipping addresses only allowed for winner. Contest ends SATURDAY, AUG 20th.

That's all! We would also ♥♥♥ it if you would join our Facebook page - that way you can find out about new retreats, news, and fun other events from EAT.PRAY.MOVE.


...plus watch this lovely lifestyle video from TD, and STAY TUNED for more posts about Ischia, malas, and Diana, the beautiful founder of Tiny Devotions!

Ischia, oh Ischia!

I just got back to the States after an amazing month in Italy. Two Tuscany retreats and lots of research for the next EAT.PRAY.MOVE adventures.

 Not only did we have two amazing groups of guests at each retreat at the villa in Tuscany (which by the way, check out the summary of week one...week two coming soon!), but we also met the truly lovely people of the villa in Ischia where the October retreat will be held.

 That island never ceases to amaze me. It's a one-of-a-kind gem sitting in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the shore of Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

 We visited ancient castles in the sea... 

...lounged on the sandy beaches

...enjoyed magical views from our lunch table

...exploring new "rooms with a view" for retreat day trips

...swimming in the clear waters

And, we also had the opportunity to stay at the Ischia villa where the retreat will be held, which sits on the cliffs of a seaside mountain. Yes, it's quite a magical place itself...

Won't you join us in the bubbling thermal pools...

 ...relaxing on the deck at sunset

...practicing yoga

...and watching the sun disappear into the sea every night

Here's a video to tempt you...

We have a great group signed up so far, and there are still spaces available for YOU! Don't miss out.

http://www.eatpraymove.com/events/ischia-italy-2011-october