Why a Retreat is Better than Partying on Spring Break

Image source: Flickr

By Alberto Güitrón – Spring Break has been widely regarded as the party week par excellence. It’s the time of the year to go crazy and vacation in a warm location; to find a good concert on the beach, wear swimsuits all day, gather with a bunch of people, drink as much as your body can handle, wake up when the sun has long passed the zenith, and repeat the same schedule until your time and money are over.

Isn’t partying like that a bit overrated? Why would you want to get wasted, destroy your liver and come back home feeling like you need another Spring Break? There are definitely better ways to celebrate the beginning of spring than harming your body. One of the ways is to go on a yoga retreat. Not convinced? Then, here are 5 reasons why it is way better than partying all week long:

1. You Actually Get to Fully Experience Beautiful Places

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Image source: Pixabay

So, you’ve found the perfect party at the beach, surrounded by astonishing nature, happening exactly around sunset. Sounds great! However, we all know that you won’t really pay attention to those things around you once the first beer is poured. Soon, you won’t be in the best physical nor mental condition to actually appreciate it and will probably forget to turn your head west when the sun is setting.

On the other hand, during a yoga retreat you are always completely mindful to enjoy whichever destination you choose. And if you don’t think there are good enough places hosting a retreat, think twice, because Cancun, Austin, California, Ibiza and all the other popular Spring Break destinations, also offer several retreats the first few weeks of March.

2. You Would Feel Refreshed When You Return

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Image source: BookYogaRetreats.com

Partying is not easy. And if you have a truly committed party soul, a night that is worth it, should normally be over not earlier than 3 a.m. Going to bed after that time every single day could end up being very exhausting, no matter how young you are. With that rhythm, the vacations are over in the blink of an eye and you come back home begging for a Spring Break 2.0.

If you are going on a yoga retreat, it will be the total opposite. You come back fresh-minded, reenergized and in the best shape of your life. Isn’t it how everybody should feel after vacations?

3. You Make Friends That You Will Actually Remember

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Image source: Apura Yoga

Let’s get back to the brain-cells-destruction-factor of Spring Break partying. Granted, you might make an average of 10 new friends per minute at a party, but how many of them can you actually remember (or want to remember) the next day? Chances are that the number is close to 0.

A yoga retreat gives the opportunity to spend your whole time with the same group of people, really interacting and getting to know each other on a deeper level. Those people could end up being lifelong friends with whom you can have conversations not related to the amount of shots you’ve guzzled down.

4. Photos are better!

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Image source: Feather and Fur

Whether you have that artistic alter ego in the form of a photographer and want to capture the breathtaking views, or just want to show off on Instagram about the amazing Spring Break you had, you will probably want to take lots of pictures. The belief that artists work better under the influence of a substance is probably one of the biggest myths ever, you do need your five senses to capture the best photos!

And if you are not interested in holding a camera, you still look way better on a picture doing an impressive inversion, than holding a cup of a suspicious beverage with a distorted smile on your blurry-eyed face. You don’t want to share those memories with your family, do you?

5. You Make Good Use of Your Money and Free Time

Image source: Torange

A never-ending party can be quite expensive, especially after a few drinks when you start losing control of your wallet. The saddest part is that most of the time it is gone forever with no valuable benefit in return. At a yoga retreat, most of what you need is usually included in the price you paid when you booked. And most importantly, you are investing in your wellness, your body and mind will surely appreciate it.

In addition, by going crazy over Spring Break you are not smartly taking advantage of your free time in a clever manner, because you can party at home any given weekend. For a yoga retreat, you would actually need some time off, so be wise and make good use of it. For you to take full advantage of your time off from school or your job, choose to be wise and make the most of your downtime by booking a yoga retreat!

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Alberto Güitrón is a Community Manager at BookYogaRetreats.com. He is a committed yoga practitioner who still can’t touch the ground with his heels in Downward Dog. One day he’ll do it and he will probably write a story bragging about it.

Posted under Health and Fitness, Yoga Events, Yoga News

This post was written by Barefoot Blog Admin on March 21, 2016

The Best Foods to Eat Pre- and Post-Yoga Class!

YogaPractice

The struggle before yoga class of being hungry, but not wanting to overdo it and spend an hour on the mat feeling uncomfortable. The conundrum of choosing what to eat after class that best serves your body’s nutritional wants and needs. Both are feelings we (and you, probably) can probably relate to!

We wanted to take a closer look at the foods that are best to eat before yoga class for a healthy and energetic practice, and what foods are best to eat after so that your body feels rejuvenated, relaxed, and awesome in general. See below for our favorites!

Pre-Class:

Tip 1? Once again, don’t overdo it! If you’re like us and enjoy an early morning before work class, or an after work early evening class, you probably know that those are a couple of the main mealtimes of the day. How to remedy the situation and not feel hungry? Snacks! Snacks are a lifesaver – whether you’re on the go to a class or on the go in general.

Below are some of our favorite, tried and true snacks for pre-class nosh:

1. Oatmeal

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is filled with soluble fiber (which is slow to digest and won’t interfere with your workout), energy-boosting carbohydrates, and magnesium, which helps boost your energy. Try bringing a small packet of to-go oatmeal with you for easy preparation on the go, or make a light portion at home for some healthy sustenance pre-pose.

2. Almonds

Almonds

Almonds are super easy to bring with you wherever you go, and provide an awesome hit of protein and healthy fats. Try roasted and unsalted almonds for the healthiest option. For some extra natural sugar to boost your energy, throw some raisins in there, too! Almonds also contain potassium, which will help to keep you from cramping up, and magnesium to maximize your energy levels.

 3. Bananas

Bananas

What’s the world’s favorite on the go fruit? Bananas! These babies are packed with natural sugar and carbs for energy, along with potassium so that you’re kept well-hydrated and aren’t hit with a leg cramp in the middle of crow pose.

What to avoid pre-class? Foods heavy in insoluble fiber (which is quicker to digest), liquid, and dairy. Foods containing large amounts of any of these can cause uncomfortable gas and/or bloating. A couple of examples include soups (no one wants to go into downward dog after eating soup), bean-heavy foods like hummus, and milk.

Post-Class:

After a workout of any kind, hydration is extremely important! Start by hydrating with some good old fashioned water before moving onto a post class snack or meal.

Then, once you’ve hydrated, focus on healthy foods packed with natural ingredients. Below are some of our favorite go-tos:

 1. Whole grain toast with peanut butter

Toast

This is a filling and healthy snack filled with protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.

2. A salad packed with greens and protein

Salad

Salad often gets a bad rap for being “boring”, but the truth is that salad can be extremely delicious! Try a mixed greens salad with healthy and delicious vegetables (think avocados, onions and tomatoes), protein (hard boiled eggs, cheeses, tofu, sunflower seeds), and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette to top it all off. This is a great way to fuel up after class and cover all the nutritional areas your body craves – and requires – after working up a sweat.

3. Greek yogurt

Yogurt

Craving something dessert-like post class but don’t want to undo all the good work you’ve just done? Go with Greek yogurt! Packed with protein, this is a sweet treat you’re sure to feel good about. Try mixing it with berries or adding some honey or Agave in for an extra kick. And, if you’re feeling extra creative, make your own Greek yogurt pops!

What to avoid? Mainly, food laziness. Resist the urge to pick up a bag of chips from the store on the way home, or to order pizza instead of taking that extra step. Your body will thank you.

For all of your yoga mat, prop, and clothing needs for looking and feeling your best during your practice, visit us today at barefootyoga.com!

Posted under Food and Cooking, Health and Fitness, Yoga News

This post was written by Carolina on October 9, 2015

Yoga Poses for Morning, Noon, and Night: Starting (and ending!) Your Day in the Best Way Possible

Morning:

CatCowPose

What an awesome stretch to start the day! If you’ve tried it before, you know how satisfying cat-cow pose it. It helps to stretch out your back and abdomen muscles, while still being a calming stretch that helps you start your day in a relaxed and restored way.

 

DownwardDog

Another great stretch for the beginning of the day! This will help wake you up and do away with some of that morning stiffness.

 

CamelPose

You’ve stretched out your back, now time for the front! Camel pose is a great way to open up your chest, torso, and hip flexors, readying you for the day ahead.

 

Noon:

Warrior1

Practicing warrior one midday, as well as transitioning into warrior two and three, is a great way to energize the middle of your day! Whether you’ve got a case of afternoon sleepiness, or your day has been a whirlwind that doesn’t show signs of slowing down, practicing some warrior poses will help to refresh, and refocus your mind and allow you to access a renewed sense of personal empowerment for a wonderful afternoon. (These are also ideal poses if you don’t have your mat with you!)

 

Warrior2

Warrior3

Night:

Upwarddog

Ah, the time to wind down, relax, and cozy up. These three poses are a great way to get your body and mind into a bedtime state of mind. Upward dog provides a deep and relaxing stretch, helping to work out the tensions accumulated throughout the day. Try doing it on your squishiest mat or on your rug for optimum comfort.

 

LegsUptheWall

This is another pose that will help to stretch you out and wind you down! And, it’s another pose ideally used with rug, mat, or blanket (depending on the level of support needed) placed underneath your back for comfort.

 

CorpsePose

This pose is the closest you’re going to get to actually laying down in bed, so why not do it right before bedtime? Take as many deep breaths as you need, and help yourself wind down and let go of any burdens from the day that are holding you down. Allow them to be released and make way for the new day to come.

To find any of the yoga products used in these photos, such as props, blankets, mats, and more, go to www.barefootyoga.com!

Please Note: All forms of exercise involve a risk of personal injury, so be mindful of what you are doing and cease to perform any of these exercises if any pain occurs and/or consult with your physician before beginning practice. Namaste.

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga News, Yoga Supplies

This post was written by Carolina on October 7, 2015