Our admin + guest coordinator, Sarah Roseberry, is not just an employee; she’s also a client, and she wrote a bit about what motivates her to take our retreats, now almost 8 years after discovering us!
Soulful Snapshots \ Liz + Rene - California, USA
75 Retreats + Endless Gratitude
Traveler Testimony \ Going to France Solo
TRAVELER TESTIMONY \ Eugenia - Georgia, USA
TRAVELER TESTIMONY :: Leigh-Ann - Ohio, USA
We are excited to share another traveler testimony! This time around, we were lucky enough to chat with Leigh-Ann from Columbus, Ohio. She works in the health and wellness industry, where she is currently creating her own hair care line! (Her tresses are certainly envy worthy.) Leigh-Ann is a long time member of the EPM family--she has joined us for retreats to Ischia, Provence and Iceland. She is a true testament to the reason we do what we do and love it so much. We asked her to share about her experience with Iceland and EPM.
What drew you EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats?
I was originally drawn to EAT.PRAY.MOVE because I loved the idea of having everything organized for me, as well as the vegetarian cuisine and the locations. Iceland looked amazing in the photos, and after going on 2 other retreats, I knew it would be amazing.
The beautiful Leigh Ann, full of love
How did your trip compare to your expectations?
Iceland was my 3rd retreat with EPM, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations.
What did you learn on your trip? Did anything surprise you?
I learned that Iceland is even better in person than in the photos! Everyone was very friendly and proud to talk about the history of the country. (I also learned that the cuisine there is a little different--they eat animals that we typically do not!)
What was it like to have Erin Lewis as your guide?
Erin is great as a guide! I am a planner by nature, so the amazing thing with this trip and its itinerary is that I was aware of everything we were doing, but all I had to was show up. Erin took care of the rest. From the food to the activities, everything was handled.
Enjoying a hot tub along the riverside at Frost and Fire
What was the best part of your trip?
The best part of the trip was reconnecting with guests from previous retreats and meeting new people. Once you attend one of the retreats, you have a certain bond with the other guests. There are many repeat guests, so it's always nice to see them again.
What lasting impressions did you have of EPM?
The first retreat I attend with Erin CHANGED MY LIFE. I attended the Ischia, Italy trip, and I was in a very stressful state. I hated my job, and it was controlling my life. I went away on this retreat and realized life is too short. I need to do what makes me happy. When I returned home I changed my career path, and I have never been happier! I began working at Whole Foods and started an all natural hair care line called 2 Girls With Curls. You can check it out at www.2curlygirls.com.
An elegant group dinner in Iceland
These are trips that you will never forget. New friendships are formed and you get to do yoga and see the world in style.
Thanks, Leigh Ann, for sharing your beautiful story and experiences with us. We love having you as part of our family here at EPM, and we look forward to adventuring with you in the future!
2014 : What a Year! (part 1)
I know we're not quite all the way through this year, and as we're still looking forward to the holiday season and to our final retreat of 2014 to ring in the New Year in Iceland under the Northern Lights I thought it's a good time to stop and reflect on the amazing year it's been thus far.
This year we began the season in Marrakesh, Morocco at our amazing location of Peacock Pavilions - a "do good boutique hotel" in an olive grove outside the city. There were two amazing weeks there, one classic itinerary and one luxury retreat, filled with great guests as always. We also had two more weeks in Marrakesh this past September and began the "
" retreat initiative, where we were able to donate over $800 to the
non-profit group that we've been working with at Peacock Pavilions. It was wonderful to be able to see the group of girls from the village again, and in September we also got to work with their mothers as well and see the difference that this project is making in their lives.
There are 3 Marrakesh retreats in 2015. Join us for a magical week and also to know you're giving back to an worth while cause!
(click on the links for details)
:: Luxury Retreat
:: FORM+FOCUS Yoga/Art Retreat (only a few spots left!)
:: Classic Retreat
In May we headed to Provence, France for our second visit to the beautiful Cote d'Azur and enjoyed yoga, a visit to the islands of the southern French coast, wine-tastings, and
joie de vivre
! The very next week was spent with our premier week in Dubrovnik, Croatia and it was a week that exceeded everyone's expectations...bike rides through the wine country, secluded beaches with crystal clear water, yoga in the lush gardens, and the warm hospitality of the Croatian people.
We are returning to France and Croatia early summer 2015 and would love to have you join us!
(click on the links for details)
:: Dubrovnik, Croatia (only 1 room left!)
:: Provence, France (SOLD OUT)
These retreats were a great kick-off to the summer and fall that lay ahead...Stay tuned for part 2 where we'll update on how the summer and fall in Italy, Iceland, and Morocco went!
TRAVELER TESTIMONY \ Sunny Sojourner (Susanna - Maryland, USA)
We are so excited to introduce you to another one of our EAT.PRAY.MOVE repeat guests, Susanna! She is from Maryland, USA, and she has now joined us for FOUR different retreats (to Tuscany, Ischia, Marrakesh and Provence). We caught up with her and asked about her experiences. While she has loved every retreat, she says Tuscany really stuck out for her as a special trip.
Susanna has added such fun and laughter to each group and connects with guests with her inspiring personal stories. She clearly has a heart that is full of joy and adventure!
What drew you to EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats?
I was doing some research on different yoga retreats and most of them were the same, just on a different Carribean Island. Then I came across the EAT.PRAY.MOVE retreat in Tuscany. I thought it was really orginal and somewhere I've alway dreamed of visiting. I signed up right away and have been on 4 different retreats so far! I can't wait to sign up for my next one!
A beautiful view in Tuscany
How did the trip compare to your expectations?
The trip exceeded all my expectations. We stayed in a breathtaking villa in Tuscany, Italy. All the activities and sightseeing tours were already planned, so there was no stress of where to go and what to do. I got to meet the most amazing women from all over the world and different walks of life.
What did you learn on your trip? Did anything surprise you?
I learned how much I really love to travel and learn about different cultures and people. I was really surprised at how much you can learn and have in common with women of all ages and different backgrounds.
Yoga fun at Castello Aragonese in Ischia
What was it like to have Erin Lewis as a guide?
Erin was an amazing guide! She did all the research and found the best places to eat, what's important and interesting to see, and she found the perfect balance of sightseeing, shopping and relaxation. The most important thing for Erin is that everybody is enjoying themselves. She puts her whole heart into planning these retreats, and you can feel that every day that you're there with her. Not to mention the fact that she's a fantastic yoga instructor!
What was the best part of your trip?
The best part of the trips were the people that I met and the friendships that I've built while experiencing the most beautiful places in the world.
Overlooking beautiful Italian waters
What lasting impressions did you have? What stayed with you once you traveled home?
There isn't a week that goes by that I don't think of an experience or a person from one of the retreats. Those moments will be with me forever, and they are priceless. Taking these amazing adventures has made me change my perspective on what's important in life and what's just not worth stressing about. I can't say enough great things about EAT.PRAY.MOVE and Erin Lewis.
Susanna, we are so grateful for your thoughts and time. It's travelers like you that keep us inspired to create and to give great experiences. Thank you for being a part of the EAT.PRAY.MOVE family, and we can't wait to see you on another retreat!