We are continually inspired by vintage travel posters, postcards and photographs. When we were rebranding last year, these tokens were our main inspiration. Not only for the color and type, but for the memory they provoke. We wanted to share with you a collection of a few from some of the locations we are visiting this year. Hope you enjoy and tha it inspires you to travel somewhere with us in the future!
Our EPM team are avid readers and we wanted to share with you what we are currently into. We would love to hear back from you any suggestions. We want to make this a place we can share and exchange ideas, so comment away!
We always love catching up on their journal for recipes, informative articles, city guides and so much more. On the blog this week we wanted to share a super simple face mask you can make at home with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Enjoy and take some time to pamper yourself naturally with ease.
We are looking forward to several retreats in Tuscany this year and thought we would highlight some of the charming Italian towns we visit while there. (Our Itinerary changes depending on the retreat and time of year but this will give you some insight into the region.)
We are so excited to introduce to those of you who don’t already know her, our newest collaborator for our yoga + self care + cuisine retreat in Tuscany, Amy Commander! Amy has been friends with our founder Erin for many years and after last years Puglia retreat (Amy is also half of Boxerina) they have finally found the perfect collaboration in Tuscany.
We're so happy to share this post from our past guest Kristen Shoates. Kristens specialty is helping businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, influencers, makers, artists and organizations of all kinds grow their brands through strategic storytelling. She has a background in journalism and over a decade of experience working as a copywriter and strategist at marketing agencies.
When I was 19, I fell in love with an Indie Kate Winslet film called Hideous Kinky. It was about a young English woman who moves with her two small daughters to Morocco and gets lost in the soul of the place. I watched it over and over, taking in the colorful souks, the music, the sufi poetry, the vast desert and mountain landscapes, pink city walls shaded with orange blossoms and roses and silver pots of sweet mint tea.
Thirteen years. Twenty countries. Countless more to go.
The more I travel, the more it becomes apparent to me that it is in my DNA. As a kid, I loved going on trips – whether a staycation to a nearby hotel or a warm weather getaway to escape the Midwest winters. Despite my love of travel, the first time I left the country was in my late 20s. A year or so later, I decided that I was going to visit a new country every year until something got in my way.
We are back with our Traveler Testimony series, where we talk to past guests about their experiences on retreat! This time, we talked to Deborah, who is based in Southern California. She is a PR professional who has worked in entertainment, book publishing and tech. Deborah has not only joined us on three retreats (Marrakesh, Bali and Spain), but she has lived all over the US, including New York and Seattle. We wanted to know more about what led her to join us for her travels.
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.
We're happy to introduce you to two amazing women who joined us on our Tuscany "Form+Focus" retreat over the summer. Emily and Hannah are the creators of the London-based company, Twice the Health -where this team (consisting of a nutritionist and PT) are best-friends turned bloggers, turned health-maker-world-travelers. Their matching outfits and youtube workout videos take them around the world finding interesting new forms of workouts and health, as well as new landscapes in which to challenge themselves.
We wanted to share with you a guest post of our recent guest, Arlene, who attended one of the Tuscany retreats this summer. We were so happy to have her join us and thankful for her lovely post about the experience. Born in New York City, Arlene currently lives in Rome, Italy after working for fifteen years in Hollywood as a film executive and a screenwriter. Now she spends her time in 'il bel paese' continuing her writing and working as an interior decorator with clients from around the world.
Here's a snippet of her blog post below and be sure to click through to the full post below!
We're happy to introduce you to one of our EPM guests who has joined us in Italy and Morocco and always adds fun, glamour, and plenty of food knowledge and excitement to each retreat. Courtney is the author of the blog, Blonge Voyage Nashville - a Nashville, TN native who has a healthy obsession with culinary delights both at home and abroad…
We are back with our next Traveler Testimony. This round is Anna and Jared from Atlanta, GA. This couple has a graphic design and photography business, have been married for 14 years and love any opportunity to travel together and explore new places. We are always excited to welcome couples on our retreats, and this duo is quite a lovely pair. We even got to enjoy Jared's stunning photos from the retreat, seen in this post!
We are excited to bring your our next TRAVELER TESTIMONY! This edition's blog guest is Stacey from Ontario, Canada! Stacey is a dental hygienist and active volunteer in her community. She loves yoga, art, good food and wine, so we were thrilled to get her take on what it's like to experience an EAT.PRAY.MOVE retreat from her perspective. Here are her impressions on a MINDFUL MOVEMENT yoga + meditation retreat in Croatia with Jen Carter.
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!
Marja has made a full circle of friendship with EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats. As a long time friend of Sarah, she got to see from the outside what the excitement of an EPM yoga retreat was all about. After hearing about Sarah's experience in Italy, she signed up for a retreat of her own, a beautiful trip to Tuscany. As a stage actress, she has a lot of experience with travel and the arts, so we were excited to hear her thoughts on the retreat. Marja is a lovely woman, bringing grace, style and an infectious smile wherever she goes. We were so excited she got to experience the beauty of Italy.
Marja exploring village life in Tuscany
What drew you EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga Retreats?
I consider myself an artist, a student of life, and a lover of exploration, travel, and simple pleasures. What drew me to Erin's retreat was the offer of a balanced, curated experience, one that incorporated relaxation, wellness, culture, and a touch of indulgence.
How did your trip compare to your expectations?
It’s important for me to have the local experience when I travel. I avoid falling into the typical tourist itinerary of “See this! See that!" while missing the experience. Erin’s retreat nailed this balance.
YOGA amongst the artistry of Florence
What was it like to have Erin Lewis as a guide?
Erin is well traveled. She has not only acquired an understanding of many languages, but also relationships that let her provide her guests with access to artisanal crafts, food, and an insider's knowledge of the area.
What was the best part of your trip?
Staying in the Tuscan villa was relaxing and grounding, and a great sanctuary to come home to after a day of sightseeing or touring nearby Cortona or Siena.
What lasting impressions did you have? What stayed with you once you traveled home?
The best thing for me with Erin's retreat was the idea of balance. There is a lovely mix of enjoying oneself and having indulgence in doses while also being good to the body/mind.
Under the Tuscan sun, amongst the sunflowers
Thanks, Marja, for sharing your memories and your friendship. We can't wait to see you on your next retreat!
This month we're happy to introduce you to our friend and repeat EPM guest, Erin W! She first came to a Marrakesh retreat several years ago and has since returned - but even better, we're honored to say that she has become such a good friend on top of that! It's one of the stories and connections that really embody what EPM is about - building, connecting, and growing in yourself and with others. Meeting guests for the first time at a retreat, being able to carry that over into friendships after the trip and seeing other guests do the same - it is one of our most favorite things here at EPM. Erin is a creative woman and avid traveller who is a true adventurer at heart.
Erin and Erin
What made you decide to take this EAT.PRAY.MOVE yoga retreat?
I attended the Tuscany trip because of the amazing experience and friendships I made on my first EPM yoga retreat to Marrakech, Morocco. Everything was so incredible I just had to have another vacation with EAT.PRAY.MOVE!
How did your trip compare to your expectations?
Everyone dreams of a relaxing holiday in Tuscany, wandering through the beautiful rolling hills, drinking wine from local vineyards and eating fresh olives. Erin's EAT.PRAY.MOVE retreat did not disappoint! Tuscany is such a beautiful region of Italy, and the villa we stayed in was tucked right in its rolling hills with fantastic views of the surrounding area. I loved that the moment I arrived, a sense of calm and self overcame me.
Playing amongst the Tuscan architecture
What did you learn on your trip? Did anything surprise you?
This trip quickly became one of self discovery through yoga, art as meditation classes, museums and hillside explorations. It was truly a retreat and exactly what I needed!
What was the best part of your trip?
One of my favorite moments from the trip was strolling through the streets of Cortina with the friends I'd made from Morocco and the new friends I'd made over the first few days in Italy... shopping, eating, exploring and laughing. Such a magical time.
Making friends in the countryside
What lasting impressions did you have?
This retreat was a much needed getaway for me, and I knew from experience that I was in good hands with Erin. Erin, who I am lucky to know and have become friends with, has such a talent for finding the best spots (to eat, see, experience) and creating the opportunity for the most memorable moments to enjoy and then to carry with you wherever life takes you. I can't wait for my next EPM retreat...maybe Iceland!
Thanks,
Erin, for your sharing your time, thoughts and friendship. We can't wait to see you on your next retreat!
