Pressing deadlines, daily appointments and important responsibilities are all part of the hectic world we live in. It's almost hard to imagine a time without our iPhones, Blackberries and other electronic devices or remember a time when we weren't constantly “plugged in” to both personal and professional demands. Our fast paced lives have left many of us feeling twisted and stretched often in the wrong direction. A new twist or stretch through yoga may be a move in the right direction.
This ancient practice is more than 5,000 years old but its benefits are timeless. Decreased stress, increased energy and greater flexibility can all be gained from a regular yoga practice. Studios are popping up everywhere extolling the virtues of yoga and offering classes to all levels, from curious beginners to the pretzel-twisting, rubber-bendy advanced. There’s no time like the present to get started because September is Yoga Month, and studios across the country are offering a free week’s worth of stretching, twisting and balancing. You’ll find that relief from the daily grind comes quickly when you take a deep breath and slowly ease into your best downward dog, monkey pose or cobra. Think of it as a mini-vacation on a mat.
If you’re actually planning to pack up the car and escape for the weekend you don’t have to leave your yoga practice in the dust. Bed and breakfasts, known for their relaxing feel and serene surroundings, go out of their way to ensure you leave refreshed and rejuvenated by offering healthy meals, spa services and yoga; wellness is the ultimate reward when you take a much-deserved getaway to a B&B. Located on a pristine stretch of sand and pebble beach, the Amore By the Sea Beach House Retreat and Spa in Victoria, BC, will put you at one with nature with their ‘Yoga Retreat Package’. You can get into fish or dolphin pose while enjoying the sounds of the ocean and follow it up with a 1-hour side-by-side massage at the spa.
The Camellia Inn located in Healdsburg, CA, offers a yoga escape including one night’s accommodation and three yoga classes at the local yoga studio in town. When you return to your room, light a scented candle, add aromatic salts to a warm bath, turn on a soothing CD and melt into the Luxury Bath Therapy Delight. Place sliced cucumbers on your eyes (provided by the inn) while soaking to relax those tired eyes, too! At the Blue Door on Baltimore Bed and Breakfast in Baltimore, MD, Innkeeper Cecilia will not only greet you when you arrive but raise you up into shoulder stand or bring you forward into a bending pose as your personal instructor.
Life will always be filled with every day stresses and demands so we need to make time to breathe. Getting away for a bit of R&R at a B&B is a great way to stay balanced and healthy, as is taking on a regular yoga practice. Why not bring them together for an ultimate escape in a peaceful setting where you can focus on wellness and relaxation? Your Blackberry may miss you but your body won’t mind!
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