Karma Connection :: Chianti Wine Tour

Today on another installment of the "Karma Connection" blog series where I highlight other types of retreats in order to share the ♥love♥, I'd like to introduce you to Passionate Palate Tours.



I was lucky enough to meet the beautiful founder, Jeni Moretti a few years ago when I was living in Florence. We had "met" through the blogosphere, and finally met in person and enjoyed a glass of, none other than, Chianti. She and her husband Antonio run a wine business and from their love of the grape, came the Passionate Palate tours where they share their knowledge of Italy and Italian wine + food to guests on their trips.

photo: Artist in Italy

They just announced their upcoming trip this fall, taking place September 5-11 and will allow guests to indulge in VIP wine and food tours, alongside of chef and author Leonardo Curti.

Leonardi Curti

Find out details HERE. Cin Cin!

Pose Series #3 :: Virabhadrasana I

Virabhadrasana I :: Warrior I

Fingers and palms reaching up.

Strong, straight arms and elbows.

Shoulders down away from ears.

Neck long.

Gaze (drishti) up at thumbs.

Chest lifted.

Navel pulled in and up (uddiyana bandha)

Pelvis floor engaged (mula handha).

Tailbone tucked under.

Hips square to front of mat.

Front leg strong with 90º bend in knee.

Weight in front heel. Feet pointed straight. Toes light.

Back leg strong and straight.

Foot pressing into floor at 45º from front.

B R E A T H E (ujjayi breath).

smile.

Pose Series #2 :: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana :: Upward Facing Dog

Fingers and palms pressing into the mat.

Hands below shoulders.

Shoulders moving down and back.

Neck long.

Gaze (drishti ) towards third-eye.

Abdomen engaged (uddiyana bandha).

Hips lifted off mat.

Pelvis floor engaged (mula bandha).

Gluts soft.Legs engaged and lifed off mat.

Feet hip distance apart.

Tops of feet pressing into the mat.

Toes pointed.

B R E A T H E (ujjayi breath).

smile.

Pose Series #1 :: Adho Mukha Svanasana

Welcome to the first post in a new series of posts I'm working on. It is a series of poses that I thought would gear us up for the upcoming retreat in Italy. (These will also be posted on the Eat.Pray.Move Tumblr as well).

How better to start a series of poses than with one of the foundational asanas (poses): Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog). In this series I'll try to plainly explain the physical cues from FINGERS to TOES. As, we all know that in yoga, we must be aware of every part of our body, breath, and mind in each pose.

So, here we go. Try it yourself. Enjoy...and b r e a t h e.

---

ADHO MUKHA SVANASANA :: DOWNWARD-FACING DOG

Fingers gripping the mat.

Palms pressing down, even weight distribution.

Hands shoulder-distance away.

Head relaxed.

Gaze (drishti) knees to navel.

Neck relaxed and long.

Abdomen engaged (uddiyana bandha).

Tailbone tilted up.

Pelvis floor engaged (mula handha).

Quads strong.

Kneecaps lifted.

Feet hip-distance apart.

Heels pressing down.

Toes light.

B R E A T H E (ujjayi breath).

smile.

photo by Crystal Jones

Karma Connection :: Morocco Retreat

A couple times a month I plan to feature other amazing people around the world offering lovely retreats as well, because hey, isn't that what part of the yogic spirit is about?

Plus, this gives those of you reading an opportunity to learn about other options out there - retreats that take place on other dates in the year than EAT.PRAY.MOVE and perhaps other places on the globe that are more accessible to you.

photos from My Marrakesh
This week, as the first KARMA Connection on this blog, I'd love to introduce you to the lovely, Maryam, an American who lives in Morocco and blogs at My Marrakesh.

From reading her blog for years now it becomes more and more apparent that Maryam is a sort of Renaissance woman - wearing hats from writer, expat, journalist, traveler, designer, hotelier of sorts, wife/mother, and shopper. Yes, among many other things, she's a professional personal shopper and is hosting a retreat this May for those interested in diving deep into the exotic Moroccan shopping experience.

photos from My Marrakesh
When she isn't acting as purveyor of peacocks at home on her 9-acre olive grove property, she's getting ready to host amazing experiences for her guests in May at the Ace Camp Morrocan Shopping Retreat. Enjoy a week shopping in the souks with Maryam as a guide, Morrocan wine tastings, palace visits, expert talks, and lodging at the Peacock Pavillions boutique hotel.

Find out more on Maryam's site HERE. And say, "salam alekoum" for me!

Tempting Tuesday :: A Walk Around the Villa

If you've already checked out the EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreat website and read through the details, you'll know a little already about my friends' villa in Umbria and the lovely art retreats they host. You'll have a sense of the loving details they put into restoring each room of the house, and how they make guests feel like part of the family.


Then you won't be surprised when I tell you how much I love visiting, and I thought I'd give you a few reasons to why I can't wait to get back there this summer. (Plus, I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, you'll read this and picture yourself there with me this summer as well. *hint*)


There are so many reasons really, but let's start with the little ones. The small pleasures...Let's take a walk around the estate where the EAT.PRAY.MOVE yoga retreat will be held, shall we?


Heading out the villa, past the olive tree in front, and down the pebbly road we're greeted by Tartufo & Tiddly Feet, the resident pets ready to take an afternoon stroll as well. Tartufo is aptly named as, you see, he's of the specific breed of dogs trained to sniff out those Italian treasures in the Umbrian earth, tartufi (truffles). Funny enough, those types of dogs even look like truffles with their brown, uneven surfaces.


As we continue up the road the pebbles change to packed clay and on either side of us are sweeping hills of winter wheat and depending on the season, there are endless rows of sunflowers or red poppies, or even a freshly plowed field revealing orange earth. The layers of colors and textures are always changing, always beautiful.


Stroll past the lines of cypress towering over us, guiding us long the paths of the estate. Cypresses, which so iconically invoke images of Italian landscapes, are often seen lining the edges of drives and seem to welcome a traveler forward. As we head back over the last hill, the villa comes into view once more and we gather again for an evening yoga class during the sunset and the evening is topped off with a glass of wine on the terrace before dinner.

Won't you JOIN ME?!