Give Back :: New Venice Partner!

We just announced our new Venice New Year retreat, and along with that exciting news, we have decided on a Give Back partner for our retreat: Save Venice. 

Save Venice Inc. was established in response to the serious damage caused by the November 1966 floods – the highest tide in Venice in the last century. More than thirty international committees were formed under the administrative umbrella of UNESCO to restore and preserve the priceless and irreplaceable cultural heritage of Venice.  

"Per capita, Italy spends ten times more to preserve its patrimony than the United States. Its restorers are the most skillful in the world. They are extraordinarily dedicated to their work. They are tireless workers. They are paid a pittance. In Venice, Save Venice knows and loves them all. Yet, there are too many treasures residing in Italy for the Italians to protect. The cost is simply too great. The Old World must look to the New for help. If it is not forthcoming, we will all see the treasures of our heritage fade. If they are gone, we will remember them as they were, but our children and theirs will only see them in books," says Randolph H. Guthrie, chairman of the organization. 

We are very aware that, as tourists, our footprint places a strain on any place we visit, especially a place as small and unique as Venice. We feel that we must give back to this incredibly city as a way of thanking them for keeping its cultural integrity and allowing us to be a part of the magic year after year. And in consideration of the fact that many of our retreats in Venice are yoga and art, we are so excited to partner with this foundation to help preserve local art and save them for the world to have in the future. 

We look forward to visiting them on our New Year retreat to Venice later this year. You can join us by following this link. We hope to see you there! 

Guide Introduction :: Sarah Scarborough

We are so thrilled to finally introduce our newest team member, Sarah Scarborough! 

At EAT.PRAY.MOVE, we have been so lucky to cross paths with some incredible teachers in multiple fields of study, and Sarah is no exception. Not only is she a certified yoga teacher, but she is an expert in all things tea related: she is the creator and tea buyer for Firepot Nomadic Teas, a Nashville based company serving the highest quality organic and ethically sourced tea from around the world. 

Like most creatives (and much of our team), Sarah's journey has been incredible and  covered a lot of ground. Born to an American father and Finnish mother, she split her childhood between Finland and the US. Of this she says, "I grew up spending summers with my family at our lake house in central Finland. We pulled dinner from the old forests and deep lakes that surrounded the little cottage that my grandfather built after the Winter War. We gathered around a picnic table under the birch trees twice a day, feasting on homemade rye bread, my uncles smoked salmon and the love of family. At night, we bathed in the sauna and launched our naked bodies into the cold lake under the midnight sun. I learned more from my wanderings in those quiet woods full of berries and fairies and during my aunt, mother and grandmother’s sauna sessions than I did back home at school in Tennessee." 

Her love of nature led her to college in Connecticut and Montana for sustainable agriculture. After school, she time spent in New Zealand creating he first tea company, eventually coming back to the US, spending time in Montana and California working in organic farming/sustainable agriculture and time with Republic of Tea as a buyer, traveling the world to find the best teas and studying the rituals and traditions of the cultures that used them. She used her world education to create Firepot Nomadic Teas, which are not only sold online, but can be found all over St. Louis and Nashville and now in their first ever Firepot Tea Bar. Still travels to source tea, but she spends most of her time in Nashville with her husband and 2 boys and just released her newest project, Tea Huntress. 

She will be leading our Marrakesh Ritual+Renewal retreat, which is a combination of yoga (both more invigorating and yin styles) and tea rituals, including learning to brew your own Moroccan mint tea, gathering wild herbs on a mule trek into the Atlas Mountains, sipping traditional mint tea in a Berber tent and even a luxury high tea at one of the top hotels in Marrakesh.  I talked with her to learn a little more about what makes her tick.

What hooked you about tea and kept you interested in it after all this time? 

Dharma is the best word to describe my journey with Tea. When I was 25, I found myself for the first time unsure of my next step. I took a job cooking at a Tibetan teahouse in Montana and started making what would become Firepot Chai. From the very beginning, it felt like I was being led, like Tea was taking me on an adventure and I only had to follow along.  It has always been that way, always changing and showing me new things, opening doors, teaching me about the world and myself. Now, I just sit back, waiting to see where we are heading next!  I am endlessly grateful. 

How did yoga become important to you? 

I started practicing with my mom when I was 17 and it has been a thread running through my life ever since. My practice has waxed and waned over the years as I shifted from Iyengar to Ashtanga to Bikram to Yin. Yoga saved me once or twice, giving me peace and strength when I needed it.  Again, I feel very lucky to have and share this practice.

How do yoga and tea work together to you?

Since ancient times, monks and shamen have used Tea as a spiritual guide, considering it to be a plant teacher, or a god plant, given to Man to heal and connect us. High vibrational, ancient and intentionally grown tea is medicine for body, mind and spirit, and daily tea ritual enhances yoga or any spiritual practice. In the end, the practice, or Way, of both Yoga and Tea are about leading us into the magic of the present moment, helping us feel that we are connected to Nature, our Self and to each other, bringing us peace, joy and connection.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about tea?

Tea is so much more than an alternative to coffee or a way to wake up. It is a tradition, a ritual, shared by almost every culture in the world, connecting us locally and globally. Once you start to look at tea as a practice and drinking teas that are ceremonial, Tea will change your life, gently.

What role has travel played in your life? 

Travel has expanded my mind in so many ways. It has made me realize that cultural norms only exist within the borders of society and so allowed me to be more accepting of others and myself. My family is Finnish, so I grew up traveling there each summer. It has been incredibly grounding to connect with that heritage. The best part of a life traveling to (but also living in) different cultures is that now I have beautiful friendships around the world.

What is your favorite place you've been in your travels? What is still on your list? 

I really loved living in New Zealand. There is a magical little valley north of Auckland on the Pacific Ocean where I could see myself settling down, growing tea and adding surfing to my daily rituals. Yunnan is pretty amazing as well, especially if you are into plants. Turkey and Rwanda are on my immediate lists, and I dream of visiting Budapest one winter to experience the Bohemian tea culture.

You can meet Sarah in Marrakesh, March 3-9, 2019 and experience these rituals for yourself! Thank you, Sarah, for letting us into your world and giving our readers some insight into your life.

DETAILS + SIGN UP HERE

Give Back Update :: Marrakesh - Project Soar

We were so excited to get to revisit our beloved Project Soar while we were in Marrakesh and catch up on the amazing things they are doing. Plus we were able to work on some projects! 

We have been working with Project Soar for years now, and it's an incredibly powerful organization, working to empower Moroccan girls, giving them an open space to study and be, as well as educational tools, health resources, empowering affirmations, the chance to play sports and take art classes, and so much more. They strive to give these young women a voice and a chance to complete their education. 

Our retreats guests were able to visit the center and see firsthand the impact of this organization, watching videos of these young women shouting mantras of strength as loud as they could! It's moving beyond belief. The image above is of a photo board displayed in the headquarters...and yes, that is Michelle Obama in one of the pictures. She visited last year, and shows firsthand how important it is to support young women that will be our future. 

During the first of our two spring Marrakesh retreats this year, we were also able to work on a hand-on project to beautify the space. Under the guidance of EPM "Form+Focus" collaborator, Julian, guests joined in painting in some of the study rooms to give the place more identity. 

Thanks to all of our guests to help us continue to give back to such an amazing organization!

WANT TO JOIN US ON THE NEXT MARRAKESH RETREAT WHERE PART OF THE PROFITS GO TO HELPING PROJECT SOAR AND THE GIRLS OF MOROCCO? THERE ARE STILL SPOTS OPEN FOR SEPT 23-29, 2018! 

DETAILS AND SIGN UP HERE.

Traveler Testimony :: Catherine, NY, USA

In the next round of our Traveler Testimony, I spoke to Catherine from New York City. Catherine was an actor in NYC and London before transitioning to writing and producing. She is a repeat guest, one of the people we lovingly refer to as our EPM family. She has already joined us in Marrakesh, Croatia, Goa, Tuscany and Iceland! We asked her to give us a little of her perspective on what it's like to travel with us on retreat.

What drew you EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats?  

I had been wanting to travel for years but always put it off, either because I didn't have time or anyone to travel with. When I turned 40, I realized it was now or never and began to look for ways that I would be comfortable traveling as a single woman, on my own. When I found EPM online, I was instantly drawn to the Marrakech trip, as it was somewhere I've always wanted to explore, but never felt comfortable going on my own. Despite the fact that I had probably taken two yoga classes my whole life and was intimidated by the idea of having to take an art class, I signed up for the Form + Focus retreat with Erin and Julian.

I was nervous as I flew into Marrakech, never having been on a group trip before, where I wouldn't know anyone. I'm an introvert and I'm not always comfortable in groups. As soon as I entered Peacock Pavilions, I was greeted by Erin and Julian, who were so warm and friendly, they quickly put me at ease. The next week in Marrakech was unlike anything I have ever experienced.  The trip was thoughtfully planned and paced, so I felt like I got to see and experience everything without feeling rushed. We always had time to relax and be on our own if we wanted to. Peacock Pavilions was just gorgeous--pictures don't do it justice. I didn't want to leave at the end of the trip!

After that first week, I was hooked. It is such a luxury to show up and have everything taken care of for you.  I have since been to Croatia, Tuscany, Goa and Iceland with EPM and plan on going on many more!

What did you learn on your trips? 

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the art classes! I had never been someone who was gifted in that area and I never had much interest in it. Julien spoke of using the classes as a kind of meditation, and with that in mind, I found it really relaxing to work on something and not worry about the outcome. Julien also gave us tips on how to improve taking pictures so we come home with photos that really capture a moment instead of a bunch of random shots. It's really wonderful to come home with an art journal, a unique way to remember all the things I saw and felt on the trips I've been on.

What was it like to have Erin, Julian and Jen as guides?

I have been on trips with Erin, Julian and Jen and they are all fantastic! I always know I'm in good hands with Erin, who takes great care in scouting and putting together all the trips. Julian is loads of fun and always has lots of interesting stories about wherever it is we are traveling, and Jen has such great, positive energy, I felt like a friend the minute I met her. Most importantly, they all have a great sense of humor, the most essential quality when you are traveling with someone!

What were the top moments from your travels with EPM? 

Each trip is so unique and I have had so many great moments its hard to narrow them down. Walking through the night market in Marrakech and watching Casablanca under the stars at the outdoor theater at Peacock Pavilions; Going on a sunset boat ride off the coast of Croatia with the special group of women I met on that trip;  Making an offering at a Hindu temple in Goa;  Getting a tour of off-the-beaten-path artworks in Florence by Julien; Riding Icelandic horses and bathing in the Blue Lagoon in on New Year's Day in Iceland. These are memories that have really stayed with me.

What lasting impressions did you have? 

I learn so much every time I travel.  I learned that there are many wonderful people out there who love to experience different cultures and learn new things, and those are the kind of people who travel with EPM. I have made great friends on these trips and part of the excitement I feel when I'm on my way to a new retreat is wondering who I'm going to meet next!

What keeps you coming back to EPM? 

I always feel renewed and full of energy when I come home from an EPM trip. There is something about going away and taking time for myself in a new environment that invigorates me. Knowing that all I have to do is show up at the airport and everything else will be taken care of, is a big reason I keep coming back. Erin always make sure that the accommodations are beautiful and the food is divine. I also know that I'm going to meet great people. I'm looking forward to many more journeys with EPM! 

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, Catherine! We will see you on retreat soon!

Give Back Update :: Croatia - Staying in Touch with Erika

If you've been following our Give Back program, you may have seen that for our Croatia initiative, we partnered with the Croatian Scholarship Fund to donate to a student named Erika. She is studying at the Teacher's University in Zagreb, the largest city in Croatia. We get regular updates from Erika, so we thought we should share what she's been up to! 

She recently went through her exams, which are much later in the year than in the US--theirs are late February. Studying is hard, but she says, "when there is a will, there is time, and you find a way to achieve your goals." She is enjoying studying to be a teacher. "After my exam session, I will have the practice to work with kids in school again, and I really can't wait for that period of time. It is a really good opportunity to see what we study for." In the midst of studying and working with kids, she also spends time playing volleyball and rowing, in addition to spending time with her brother and best friend and exploring the beautiful cities and countryside nearby.

Erika shared these photos with us, and we are so excited to see what an incredible role model she is at this stage, even before graduating. Nature, movement, exploration and connection to others are core priorities at EPM and essential components of a well lived life, so we are so happy to see her intuitively create a life that is so mindful and spirited. Thanks, Erika, for sharing your experiences with us!