Shane Allen, 500RYT and senior team member of The Yoga Trail, will be our guest teacher. He'll share his fascinating knowledge of the ancient principles of Chinese Medicine as it relates to the Vedic Chakra System. In addition to his experience in Meridian Yoga Therapy, Shane is a certified Pilates instructor, and a NADA certified Acu Detox specialist offering services at the New York Harm Reduction Center in Harlem. Meridian yoga therapy works to heal the physical body, the emotions and the mind for the purpose of Self-Realization. Traditional techniques and therapeutic treatments might include dynamic stretching, individualized strength focused exercises, acupressure, ear seeds, and breathing techniques.
We offer two main lodging locations: at Orto Del'Idro, our Yoga Eco Farm, and at Casa Delle Api, a historic country house 2 min walk from it. - ORTO DELL'IDRO is our Yoga Eco Farm, where we'll have most of our activities. This is a place for Nature lovers, who enjoy the outdoors and rural life, while being really close to the sea and the center of town. It is surrounded by organic gardens and orchards, and designed following the principles of Permaculture to create natural ecosystems that are abundant and in harmony with all living creatures.We are looking for real Nature lovers that appreciate and share these values! Please note: this is a natural setting so if you are not comfortable or familiar with the presence of insects or animals (e.g. geckos, snails, armadillo insects, etc) that are typical of the countryside, this may not be the place for you. We also have 5 cats that may sit on your chair and laps, or try to eat your food if left unattended. We don't use pesticides nor poisons of any kind, and we try to reduce waste as much as possible: reduce, reuse, recycle.
Accommodation options at Orto Dell'Idro - prices per person, based on Single or Double Occupancy
The Casetta: a charming stone house with private bathroom and fireplace. $2200 (single) or $1500 (double)
The Grotta: a stunning room carved in stone with vaulted ceiling, with shared bathroom. $1500 (single) or $1000 double
The Nido: a cozy room with stone walls, with shared bathroom. $1200 (single only)
None of these options offer AC, but temperatures in May and September are pretty comfortable. Fans available.
- CASA DELLE API, a historic country residence, 2 min walk from the Eco Farm. Here we can offer accommodation for up to 6 people:
one/ two people in the master bedroom with private bathroom. $1200/ $1000.
one/ two people in the guest bedroom #1 with private bathroom. $1100/ $900.
one/ two people in the guest bedroom #2 with private bathroom. $900/ $700
A nice living room with fireplace, a kitchen, a terrace and a garden will also offer you comfort for your downtime. The garden hosts the remaining of an ancient carved stone bee hive structure.
This is a unique opportunity for people who love to be immersed in Nature, enjoying the outdoors and rural life, while being really close to the sea and the center of town. This is a natural setting so if you are not comfortable or familiar with the presence of insects or animals (e.g. geckos, snails, armadillo insects, etc) that are typical of the countryside, this may not be the place for you. We have few cats, 5 of them will be about 3 month old and super furry! We don't use pesticides or poisons of any kind, we try to reduce waste as much as possible: reduce, reuse, recycle. We have been designing the farm according to the principles of Permaculture in order to create natural ecosystems that are abundant and in harmony with all living creatures. We are looking for real Nature lovers that appreciate and share these values!
HATHA YOGA is designed to align and calm your body, mind, and spirit in preparation for meditation. Its name comes from the Sanskrit words “sun” (ha) and “moon” (tha), the yoga of balance. It encourages to explore the balance within ourselves, raising our consciousness. A powerful way to self-transformation, it brings attention to the even flow of breath and alignment of the body so energy can flow freely. By its nature, Hatha is a gentle, basic, slower-paced yoga with minimal flows between poses, making it ideal for beginners. While you may not sweat much, you’ll likely feel longer, looser and more relaxed after practice.
Are you an exceptional yoga teacher? Competent, reliable, empathic, friendly and a little adventurous? Do you love nature and practicing outdoors? Do you live in NYC? We're selecting the new team of teachers for our 2020 season of Yoga in Central Park! Contact us for more info!
Nicaragua
Roofs. The traditional roofs are made of wood and interlaced palm leaves or grasses, which create a thick beautiful protection for the rain. Platano is the strongest wood and originally used for sacred buildings. A lot of second hand wood is used especially in area that are natural reserves. The palm leaves layer needs to be treated regularly against insects and completely replaced every 5 or 6 years. Roofing a 12'x20' cabana could cost about $3500. The overhang is typically pretty deep insuring enough shade to keep the building cooler. Most locals prefer corrugated zinc roofs, which are cheaper and require less maintenance. I also heard that president Ortega has been giving zinc roofs to people to win their votes. Clay tile roofs are also common and typically set an a wooden structure. Walls. Vernacular and natural buildings have often walls made out of mud and straws. The result is a very solid and strong wall that has great insulation properties. It's built compacting layers of this material so that there are no crevices left. No forms are used but just horizontal and vertical strings to guide the alignment. There could be vertical cavities running inside the thickness of the wall to improve insulation, or horizontal openings made typically with bricks to improve cross ventilation. The finish is applied with layers of a progressively more refine mix of mud, straw and horse escrements. Yes, that's right. Wood is also used for vertical enclosures in traditional architecture. Often the most solid material is used only up to the bottom of the windows, leaving the upper part to lighter structures made with bamboo or similar. Cross Ventilation is extremely important and oftenthe walls have permanent openings covered with mosquito nets. Foundations. In Nicaragua the soil is very rocky because it's a vulcanic land and especially small buildings have rock foundations. Stilts houses are also very common to insure protection against flooding and also to keep out vermin. The shady space under the house can be used for work or storage.
About Yoga
__I believe that yoga is more than just bringing the foot behind the head. It is about re-connecting and feeling good about ourselves. It allows us to remember our own strength and beauty and re-align ourselves with something that is bigger than us. Through yoga we can get out of the mind and into the body and heart. We learn that we are free to make choices, so instead of turning away from the world, we engage with it in a conscious way with a new set of tools and new awareness and clarity. Our goal is to create balance and remove any blockages that keep us from living with joy. When we are living our truth and free from fear, we will inspire others to do the same. Anybody can practice Yoga. There's no competition, and it's not about flexibility or strength. The goal is to take some time to dedicate to yourself and re-connect. "Sthira Sukham Asanam" Patanjali says in his Yoga Sutras. Just do what feels good and stable for you in that particular moment, it doesn't matter what you did yesterday or what you want to achieve: your body and your breath tell you when to stop pushing: let it go, next time it'll be different anyway : ) Remember: Relax also your Ego!! ...and listen to your breath!
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The practice of yoga is an art and science dedicated to creating union between body, mind and spirit. This art of right living was perfected and practiced in India thousands of years ago and the foundations of yoga philosophy were written down in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, approximately 200 AD. The core of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is an eight-limbed path that forms the structural framework for yoga practice. In brief the eight limbs, or steps to yoga, are as follows:
Yama : Universal ethical principles
Niyama : Personal observances
Asanas : Body postures
Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of prana
Pratyahara : Control of the senses
Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
Dhyana : Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
Samadhi : Union with the Divine
The Yamas
The Yamas are five ethical principles to guide our life, they are oriented toward our public behavior and allow us to coexist harmoniously with others. Their observances help us develop the more profound qualities of our humanity. “Yama is cultivating right perception in order to examine the true facts and consequences of the issue we are confronted with. Yama is the cultivation of the positive within us.” B.K.S. Iyengar.
1. Ahimsa: Non violence I’d consider Ahimsa in its broad meaning of non violence in feelings, thoughts, words, or actions. It is compassion towards yourself and others. It is kindness and care towards all living creatures and things, including reducing waste and respecting the earth.
On the mat, be kind to yourself; listen to your breath and to the messages of your body. Don’t push if you should be pulling back, don’t fight when you need to surrender; don’t force your body to do things it’s not yet ready to do. When we are forcing, we are not feeling, and awareness and harmony in the body cannot exist.
2. Satya: Truthfulness Practicing Satya means being truthful to our feelings, thoughts, words, and deeds. It means being honest with ourselves and with others.
“Truth is an absolute of staggering power…Truth is not a weapon to be abused, and the sword of truth has two edges so be careful… we cannot impose our truth on others, and we must always make sure that our actions do not do violence to others.” B.K.S. Iyengar.
On the mat, assess yourself honestly, listen to your breath and body, and work at your own level. Be content with it wherever it is: you are being true to yourself. A pose is too expensive if it is bought by selling Ahimsa and Satya.
3. Asteya: Non-stealing
Stealing is motivated by a greed springing from a perceived lack of abundance, from the thought that there is not enough for everyone and that we will not receive in proportion to our giving. Asteya is about rooting out the subconscious beliefs of lack and scarcity that cause greed.
Experience abundance thru breathing: when you inhale, your body naturally keeps just what it needs, and then when you exhale, you let go of what doesn’t serve you, knowing that there will be another breath right after. There’s abundance in the Universe and we shouldn’t hold on to more than what we really need. On the mat, don’t hold back in a posture because you may fear you are not going to have enough energy to do the next pose. Each pose gives the energy required to do it.
4. Brahmacharya: Continence
“The lack of self-discipline in any area is a waste of energy. Even throwing food away is an offence against the life force of the food. If, on the other hand, you overeat, it Is an offence against your own life force...Brahmacharya is the ethical control of a powerful natural force. The degree of control will depend on the degree of evolution of the practitioner.” B.K.S. Iyengar. “We practice brahmacharya when we consciously choose to use our life force (especially the energy of sexuality) to express our dharma, rather than to frivolously dissipate it in an endless pursuit of fleeting pleasures. Brahmacharya reminds us that our life force is both limited and precious, and sexual activity is one of the quickest ways to deplete it. As yogis, we choose to use the power behind sexuality to create, to fulfill our mission, to find and joyously express our inner selves. The practice of brahmacharya is not some archaic form of moralizing, but rather a reminder that, if we use our energy wisely, we possess the resources to live a fulfilling life. “ The Yoga Journal
On the mat, keep the lift of the pit of your abdomen: this actually conserves the life force. Once conserved, this pelvic energy can be channeled up to the heart, the home of the indwelling Self.
5. Aparigraha: Non attachment
“It means living without excess, modesty of life… Wealth that is not redistributed will stagnate and poison us. Wealth is energy and energy is intended to circulate.” B.K.S. Iyengar “Aparigraha means not coveting what isn’t ours. It is about the greed that is rooted in jealousy, which means that we desire to be what someone else is, or to have what someone else has. Rather than finding who we are, we look at someone else and say, "I want to be that." Aparigraha, in its essence, helps us discover our own selves so that we no longer feel the need to covet what someone else has, or be what someone else is.” The Yoga Journal On the mat, do your practice alone, even in a large class. Don’t look at others in the room and compare. Keep your gaze inward, work on your own body, at your own capacity.
...to be continued...
Bibliography: “Light on Life” by B.K.S. Iyengar. http://www.yogajournal.com http://www.expressionsofspirit.com
PACKING FOR BACKPACKING: MUST HAVE ITEMS!
In general I believe less is more, and in particular when you are traveling. If you are going on a backpacking trip to a tropical undeveloped country, here is a list of items I would recommend taking with you. In random order: - Head light - Small towel - Cotton pillow case and small inflatable pillow - Lock: often needed in hostels - Small size bags of salt, pepper, sugar, tea bags or granulated coffee, cereal bars/ nuts: I bet you are gonna love me for this one at some point! - Swiss knife, and spoon-fork combo. - Rain Poncho: a thick one that covers also the pack, not one that you want to throw away after 5 min of use. - Sealable plastic bags of different sizes. Ziplocks are just fine. - Yoga towel: if you are a yogi, it's good for your practice on sand and decks, but also as a blanket and beach towel. I would bring also a foldable yoga mat, see below. - Post-it & travel guide. - Local language grammar book. - One piece of clothing of every length and thickness, eg. one pair of shorts, one at knees, one long jeans. One warm sweater. - Mosquito repellant and after bite remedy - Sun block: sometimes it's expensive and difficult to find because locals don't use it in tropical countries. - IPhone or smart phone to catch wifi, camera with great zoom and... chargers! - USB stick and additional camera memory card. - Hat, sun glasses, and light scarf. - Basic drugs: pain relief, general antibiotic, and band aids. - Washing line - Tissues and wet tissue. -Passport and pictures of it on your phone/camera. - Mask & snorkel if you like to look at fishes -Aluminum water bottle for refill: reduce waste!!! - A foldable bag: I love the Envirosax, they're big, light, strong, and washable! -Your favorite toiletry items: it's difficult to find your favorite brands on the road!
- The Yoga Trail has a new location in Italy, in collaboration with Orto Dell'Idro, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable and conscious living in nature, in a green valley 5 minutes walk from the sea and surrounded by orchards! - Check our 5 star reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp. - Silvia, founder of The Yoga Trail has her own channel at Online Yoga TV, a video platform powered by Yoga Magazine. She also has a gentle Vinyasa Flow class on Yoga Download.
Silvia has her own channel at Online Yoga TV, a video platform powered by Yoga Magazine.
Discover the importance of balance between Yin and Yang with this two in one open level class. Find balance on and off the mat, blending the energy and muscular training of vinyasa yoga with the ease and relaxation of yin yoga. Open to all fitness levels. Teacher: Leslie Carcach, 200RYT
Explore the shapes, the movements, the correct alignments, and the theory behind the practice of Yoga. Find out how yoga strengthens both muscles and will power, how it stretches both the body and the mind. Come breathe, move, and soak up the sun in the middle of Central Park! Open to all levels. Teacher: Tamara Pavlovic, 200RYT
Wherever you are in the world, if you have a good internet connection you can invite Silvia, the founder of The Yoga Trail, to lead you through one of her energizing and balancing classes using Skype. Enjoy the comfort of your home or practice while traveling! Contact us for more info or BOOK HERE.
Sunday 25th October, 2015: 9am-7pm Silvia, the founder of The Yoga Trail will be teaching two classes at the Yoga Magazine Festival in Amsterdam. They will both be dedicated to the immense power of our heart, and to the chakra that resides there: Anahata, the gateway to loving connections with our self and others, but at the same time, a place that may contain pain from past hurts. Both classes (a gentle and an intermediate Vinyasa flows) will be focused on opening this beautiful channel: allowing held emotions to resolve, helping wounds to heal, and the loving energy of the heart to flow and shine through our lives with compassion and forgiveness.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Mission
I believe Yoga offers the great opportunity to connect and empower your true higher Self, in particular through grounding into Nature, that's way I promote a lot of Yoga events outdoors. I'm very passionate about sustainability and I take Yoga as an opportunity to raise people awareness about honoring Mother Earth.
The Yoga Trail is a New York based group focused on outdoor Yoga and traveling. It was created in 2011 to help people find ways to travel and practice Yoga, reconnecting to Nature. Its founder Silvia Neri often travels offering Yoga classes, workshops and retreats, tracing The Yoga Trail as a network of Yoga studios worldwide. More HERE.
READY FOR A YOGA ADVENTURE IN THE JUNGLE?
Not enough time or money to go to a Yoga vacation in Costa Rica?
Think again: GLAMPING! The Yoga Trail offers you unique opportunity to be an
eco-community immersed in the beautiful Nature of Costa Rica, a place
described by National Geographic as the most biologically intense on
earth... AND IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE! ONLY $180!!! Hike to waterfalls, learn about permaculture and sustainable living... and connect with Nature even deeper with Yoga and guided meditations! Check it out...limited spots!
About the Chakras
The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through, and they are related to basic states of consciousness and emotions. Blocked energy in our Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely. 1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded. 2.Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences. 3.Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives 4.Heart Chakra - Our ability to love. 5.Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate. 6. Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture. 7. Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.
SEPT 19: REIKI AND RESTORATIVE YOGA CLASS
SEPT14: HIKE AND YOGA IN COLD SPRING
PRIVATE YOGA CLASSES Expand your practice with one-on-one private sessions. Build your own personal practice and discover where yoga can and will take you. Develop strength, release tension from the body and mind, alleviate health issues. Improve your alignment with personalized adjustments. Whatever your personal goal, private sessions can help you build a path to balance and wellness. GROUP YOGA CLASSES Silvia's classes unify the purity of muscle engagement, alignment and the connection of movement and breath to help you deepen your practice, create strength and experience the thrill of reaching beyond your comfort zone in a safe way. Creative, fun, energetic and relaxing Silvia's classes include active flowing sequences, Pranayama and breath work, chanting of Sanskrit mantras, and Yoga Nidra for deep relaxation. BUSINESS YOGA Business Yoga group sessions focused on relaxation, awareness and health at work encourage work/life balance, improve productivity and focus, and allow employees to bond on a more casual level. Classes or workshops can be held in conference rooms and lunchrooms, or outdoor during summer months. Adding a lunch time or after work yoga class or workshops will help reduce stress and increase happiness and productivity, improve posture, relieving back and neck pain, and increase and improve focus and memory.