Summer Reset: Check in With Yourself

Tags

daily yoga, mind-body, mindfulness, wellness, yoga holiday abroad, yoga holiday Algarve, Yoga Holiday With Paul

July is here!

We welcomed summer with an amazing week at Yoga Holiday With Paul in the Algarve. Once again, it was an opportunity to grow your yoga practice, strengthen old friendships, strike up new ones, and enjoy some glorious beach weather.

Getting home is an opportunity to carry what we experienced on holiday over into our daily routine. Whether you’ve been away or not, this is the perfect time for a summer reset — a chance to focus on wellness and set your intention for the coming months.

Yoga Holiday With Paul crew 🙂

For your summer reset, take some time to think about the following things, then decide what areas to focus on to increase your well-being and peace of mind:

Physical body

How do you feel right now? What health concerns do you have? How would you like to feel in the coming months? What can you do to enhance or refresh your yoga practice?

Mind

What is your mental state? Do you feel happy, positive, stressed, uncertain? What factors are affecting your mood? How can you incorporate more mindfulness into your life?

Relationships

What are your relationships like right now? How can you deepen your communication? Is there a relationship that needs nurture or healing?

Work

Are you feeling good about your professional life? What aspects would you like to change or improve? How can you achieve the work/life balance you want?

Goals

Where do you want to be by the end of the summer? How can you accomplish these goals? Are there goals you need to let go because they no longer serve you?

Taking the time to think about these aspects of your life can help you spot unhealthy patterns, reinforce good habits, and enjoy a healthful, emotionally rewarding summer.

 

Peace, Friends

Tags

peace quotes, summer yoga holiday, yoga holiday Algarve, Yoga Holiday With Paul, yoga meditation, yoga peace, yoga retreat

Warm greetings from Yoga Holiday with Paul in the Algarve. We are embracing a wonderful week of yoga, friendship, sunshine and nourishment — physical and spiritual.

One of the best parts of this experience is its peacefulness. The tranquility of nature, the peace we create in our minds through practice, the relaxation we share…

I share the following beautiful quotes with the wish that they bring you peace, wherever you are this moment.

Namaste.

 

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
-Thomas a Kempis

If we ourselves remain angry and then sing world peace, it has little meaning. First, our individual self must learn peace. This we can practice. Then we can teach the rest of the world.
-Dalai Lama

The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.
-Thich Nhat Hanh

Peace is not achieved by controlling nations, but mastering our thoughts.
-John Harricharan

Share your favourite quote or thought about peace in the comments!

Yoga Retreat: 4 Months, 4 Reasons

Tags

Bikram yoga retreat, hot yoga retreat, summer yoga holiday, vinyasa yoga retreat, yoga holiday abroad, yoga holiday Algarve, yoga holiday Portugal, Yoga Holiday With Paul, Yoga With Paul

It is just four months till the Yoga Holiday With Paul retreat in the Algarve on 21 June – 28 June  2019. June seems like a long ways away, but that time will fly.

A lot will happen in our busy lives between now and then, so I just want to take a moment to focus on four reasons why dedicating a week to yourself and your practice is so critical. It will truly change your life.

Time to reflect

Despite our best intentions it is almost impossible to switch off and disconnect in our daily lives. There is always something to do, an app to look at, an email to answer. Yoga Holiday With Paul creates space for deep reflection.

Time to practice

Needless to say, we do a lot of yoga. Some students come not sure if they are strong enough to do multiple yoga sessions in a short period of time. What they find though, is that yoga itself is energising. Much of what we experience as tiredness in the studio is what we’ve dragged in from our busy lives outside. When we dedicate the time to yoga, it invigorates and strengthens us.

Time to connect

Have you noticed how hard it is to connect with new people? Everyone is running a hundred different directions, loaded up with responsibilities and worries. Yoga Holiday With Paul is a space where students have time to relax and get to know each other. Humans are social animals. We want to befriend, and be friends. This is a wonderful opportunity to tap back into that basic desire and form great new friendships.

Time to play

We often take ourselves too seriously and even feel guilty if we’re not totally focused all the time. On our yoga retreat, we let go of these expectations and make the time to play. We do yoga with music, we dance, we go to the beach, explore the town, hang out by the pool. Basically, we give ourselves permission to have fun and experience the world in a free, spontaneous playful way. You’ll be amazed how it lightens your spirit!

To reserve your place or for more information: YogaHolidayWithPaul@gmail.com

 

 

It’s Yoga Holiday Time!

Tags

hot yoga retreat, vinyasa yoga retreat, yoga holiday abroad, yoga holiday Algarve, yoga holiday Portugal, Yoga Holiday With Paul, Yoga With Paul

Today is the day, friends. We’re off to the beautiful Algarve for the annual Yoga Holiday With Paul retreat. Those of you who are with us will be hearing a lot from me over the next few days, leaving you little time to read the blog.

Those of you following along from London, or anywhere else, can dip into the archive to experience the joy and benefits of a yoga retreat right where you are now.

Yoga Holiday Countdown 

Get super(food) powers

If you’re already eating clean you can amp up your diet by adding nutrient-rich superfoods. Eat more of the following

• Vegetables: Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Beets, Garlic, Cauliflower, Leeks
• Fruits: Blueberries, Strawberries, Watermelon
• Nuts & Seeds: Almonds, Pistachios, Quinoa, Chia
• Herbs & Spices: Green tea, Ginger, Turmeric

What Not to Bring on a Yoga Holiday

Worry

Yoga Holiday With Paul is the ideal time to disconnect from your worries. You probably don’t even realise how much you worry – about work, family, money, friendships, even yoga. Make a conscious decision to put aside worry and focus on being in the present moment. You are enough. You have enough. You are cared for. Let yourself relax.

Yoga Holiday Prep Steps

Meditate (just a little bit)

Making time to meditate when you’re rushing around trying to get everything done before your holiday might seem impossible, but you don’t have to spend half an hour a day in lotus position to get the benefits. Set aside five minutes in the morning or evening (or both, if you can manage) to sit quietly and breath. You don’t have to adopt a particular place or posture, just be still where you are. This will help your mind and body relax, and get you used to switching off from external stress.

Stay in touch by commenting or Tweeting @YogaWithPaul !

 

Yoga Holiday With Paul 2016

Tags

Bikram retreat, hot yoga holiday, vinyasa retreat, yoga holiday Algarve, yoga holiday Portugal, yoga holiday Turkey, Yoga Holiday With Paul, yoga meditation holiday, yoga retreat, yoga vacation, Yoga With Paul

I am running two Yoga Holiday With Paul retreats in 2016 and now is a great time to book.

YHWP is fantastic way to develop and deepen your practice, make new friends, reset your eating patterns with delicious wholesome food, and get some essential vitamin D!

The first is 24 June – 1 July in Portugal; the second is 5-12 September in Turkey.

Both retreats include Bikram and Vinyasa flow classes, yoga with music, meditation, terrific catering, social outings, and plenty of free time for beach/pool/sunshine and relaxation. Each year brings together a wonderful group and we leave with a lots of happy memories. Get in touch if you want to join us!

To reserve your place or for more information email: YogaHolidayWithPaul@gmail.com

 

View the Algarve gallery

View the Turkey gallery

To reserve your place or for more information email: YogaHolidayWithPaul@gmail.com