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What to Eat, See and Do on Maui
Heading to Maui? Wanna know what to eat? What you should do? Where to stay? I’ve got you covered on my Guide to Maui, including my most favorite gluten-free eats and the sights that you don’t want to miss!
What to See, Do and Eat on Maui + Where to Stay:
I felt that the perfect and fitting end to Maui Week here on TY would be just a quick roundup of some of my favorites from our time on the island. From favorite (gluten-free/paleo) eats, where to stay and what to do and see – this list is my Guide to Maui. Admittedly, we planned for our trip to Maui to be as relaxing as possible so we didn’t do ALL the things, which means that just leaves a list to do next time. We really wanted to stay at a resort that would have all the amenities and bring the classic island vibes, while giving us the opportunity to truly let go and relax, which is why we stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani, rather than grabbing an Air BnB or the like. We did of course get out to explore the island a ton and planned many activities during our week, so I wanted to share all of the highlights of our trip to Maui.
Hawaii’s state motto is: Ua mau ke ‘ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono, which translates to “the life of the land be perpetuated in righteousness” – this is beyond captured on magical Maui, every where you go, with every sight you see and every breath you take. I am certain the sacred, righteous vibes of this place will strike you, too, as it did us and I know you will fall in love with the aloha spirit of Maui. We are already counting the days until we visit again.
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Gluten-free in London (and Beyond)
This post comes a little later than I had originally planned, but here it is, none the less. Better late than never. An account of my favorite gluten-free eats from my fall trip to London (and a few from Leeds, too).
I have to say, having traveled to London about 15 years ago, I had a slight amount of trepidation around the food scene there. From my previous travels, I recall lots of traditional pub food, meat and potatoes, lots of beer and cider but not a whole lots that really knocked my socks off. Could be I was a broke 20-something that didn’t have a clue how to find good food or possibly that London was a tad late to the foodie game. I was also slightly concerned about the level of awareness and accommodation for gluten-free eaters.
I have NEVER ever visited a city more gluten-free accommodating and aware than London. Even the smallest of restaurants and cafes in the middle of nowhere not only had an extreme awareness and concern for gluten-free eaters, but every single place stocked locally baked gluten-free breads that impressed the shit of out of this 12-year strong gluten-free eater. Beyond the gluten-free awareness and options, I was also just incredibly impressed by how much London had stepped up it’s culinary game since my previous visit. I still dream of many of these meals and in fact have been experimenting with recreating some of my most favorites so I can continue to enjoy them without the 10 hour flight.
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The Benefits of Travel
If you follow me on social media, you have probably noticed how much traveling I have been doing this year. Being on the road, exploring and discovering – this ignites my soul in a way that I can’t even express into simple words. Just this year alone, I have been on-the-go in bustling cities, I have ventured home to experience the comforts of family and my old stomping grounds, I have hosted and experienced retreats in the forest of Northern California, amongst the mighty sequoias and at an ashram in the desert and I visited a bison ranch run by an inspiring family, following traditional and sustainable practices. However, one of the most relaxing trips I have taken this year, was the luxury and rejuvenation I experienced in Loreto, Mexico, in the Baja California Sur. {You can read a bit about this incredible trip and the delicious food, here}
In the Indian culture there is a tradition of taking retreats to rejuvenate and revitalize the body, mind, and spirit. This is time away from work and responsibilities to focus on the self, to gather strength and wisdom so that we can return to society with new energy and enthusiasm. Yet here in the west we rarely allow ourselves such a luxury. We work too hard, too much, and don’t allow enough time in the day for contemplation, let alone an entire day to devote to our spiritual growth. And we feel it – maybe over time it happens so gradually that we get used to the sluggishness and struggle – but that’s not the way life is supposed to be.
Taking vacations can improve health in several measurable ways. So let’s chat about the Benefits of Travel. Read the rest of this entry »
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GATHER // Women’s Empowerment Retreat // Southern California
This Spring, Wild Spirit Retreats hosted RISE, our first women’s retreat of it’s kind. We were blessed with an incredible group of women who came together to cultivate a magical weekend of healing and deep connection. We moved together, we created, we feasted, we laughed those incredible heart-warming belly laughs that can fuel you for months and there were many tears shed as we dove deep into our souls, hand-in-hand with each other. I am honored to have been able to share my passions, to have nourished and shared space with those 23 beautiful souls. As a teacher, I found myself learning from my students, so much about myself and this journey we are all on together and I am still swelling with gratitude for the lifelong friendships that were formed during our gathering.
I am so excited to announce our next Women’s Empowerment Retreat, GATHER, a sacred, women’s-only gathering in Southern California, October 2-5, 2015.
G A T H E R is a harvest for the soul.
A journey into the abundance of the Earth.A place to forage for light,
to explore the field of the spirit,
to discover the wonders around and within us.This is an exploration of your wild heart.
An offering to your highest self.
A place to find your tribe.This is a celebration of the Earth goddess within.
What is GATHER?
GATHER is a 4-day Women’s Empowerment Retreat combining yoga, meditation, ceremony, cooking and connection. GATHER will take place in Southern California, being held at the Akashas Vedanta Ashram in Ramona, CA, in San Diego County, October 2-5, 2015. The entire retreat is 100% gluten-free.
We will be offering multiple daily yoga classes, guided meditation and ceremony sessions, various cooking workshops and demos, creative workshops and more. You can see the sample schedule here.
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How-to Pack for a Yoga Festival
I am hitting the road tomorrow, heading to Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley for the Wanderlust Festival. I have been counting down the days to this trip, for months. I am so excited for all the yoga, the meditation sessions, teacher-only workshops, hikes through the beautiful Squaw Valley, epic music and dancing, maybe some stand-up paddle boarding and of course, reuniting with friends I haven’t seen in forever and connecting with many new-to-me, beautiful souls.
I thought it might help some of you heading off to a yoga festival this summer to share some of my go-to’s when packing for a yoga festival. No reason to get stressed before you head off to a weekend of peace and bliss. I’ve got you covered.
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Wanderlust 108 West Coast Giveaway
For many of my readers that are yogis, I am sure you have heard of the Wanderlust events. These incredible, full-on celebrations of all things mindful, combine yoga, meditation, hiking, music, incredible speakers, farm-to-table dinners and so much more – all in beautiful, inspiring locations.
But, have you heard of their one-day events, Wanderlust 108 – “The world’s kindest triathlon”. These events are unlike the traditional triathlon’s you are likely familiar with, rather Wanderlust 108 is a day of running, yoga and meditation to bring out your best. This “mindful triathlon” combines a 5k run, an outdoor yoga experience, and a guided meditation in your local park.