Meditation in just 2 minutes!

Do you Meditate? Or as I like to call it “sit quietly”? 

I meditate because I use to be controlled by my mind it would have me in a constant state of anxiety and negativity, have me making up scenarios and conversations in my head about things in the future, it would have me trying to figure people out all the time, have me dwelling on the past and going over conversations that I should have had. Judging people, talking me out of my true desires, and it would love me to lay awake all night tossing and turning because it went into overdrive and sometimes even giving my a panic attack. Yes, the power of our thoughts and the mind can be absolutely draining.

So we can either choose to live by our mind and its craziness keeping us in stressed out busy states and the more this becomes a habitual way of living the more it will fight us to become still and calm and when we begin mediation the hardest thing to accomplish is mind stillness. But with some practice and your experience maybe just a second of stillness AMAZING you will feel the benefits.

My favorite time to meditate is first thing in the morning before my day and routines get going and after savasana at the end of my yoga practice and I really recommend you make it a life habit too.

Here are a few of my tips that could get you reaping the benefits of this wonderful practice. It takes a little patience, but it is free and all your need is your good self and a comfy seat.

1. Start with 2 minutes a day. Now you make be like What! 2 minutes that’s easy! Well yes, it could but we will start here for a week then when you feel comfortable increase it by 1 or 2 minutes each week until your reach 10 minutes. But remember less is more!

2. Meditate first thing in the morning as soon as you awake. Why because I have been meditating many years and still some days are harder than others to get to the mat and its really easy to say, “I’ll meditate every day,” but then forget to do it.
So wake up have a good stretch and sit up in a comfy cross-legged position.

3. Choose your mantra. Ok, so you might not know what a mantra it but for me when I began this was the most effective way to get me away from my crazy mind. A mantra is a word or phrase that you silently repeat to yourself during meditation. I use the mantra ‘Let Go’ so when I inhale I say ‘let’ and when I exhale I say ‘go’

4. So maybe set you alarm for 2 minutes and let’s give it a try. Sitting comfortably gently close your eyes. In meditation, we breathe in and out through our nose so gently your attention and become aware of your breath flowing in and out of your nostrils.

4. Begin repeating your mantra silently to yourself without moving your tongue or lips. The repetition of your mantra is soft, gentle, and relaxed. There is no need to force it. Inhale let exhale go. The repetition of your mantra should be almost effortless.

5. Now thoughts WILL try and disrupt you and you WILL find that you drift away from the mantra. This is normal we simply acknowledge our thoughts and come back to repeating your mantra. Again and again and again.

6. Smile when you’re done. When you’re finished with your two minutes, smile. Be grateful that you had this time to yourself, and lovely 2 minutes of self-connection and that you stuck with your commitment, and took the time to get to know yourself and make friends with yourself. That’s an amazing gift to self and two minutes of your life.

Jo <3

Come out my Yoga Holidays here in beautiful Turkey  www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

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Are you a self-saboteur?

I was an expert self-saboteur and it kept me stuck for years until I began to understand my pattern then I could start breaking down my habits like, constantly talking myself out of things, trying to be someone I wasn’t, doing things against my will and certainly not putting myself first to name a few. One thing about being a self-saboteur is that is it exhausting because you are constantly battling with your authentic self and natural alignment.

That decision to break the cycle started by me listening to my needs and ignoring my negative mind that naturally eased my heaviness and self-sabotage tendencies. I really didn’t realise how much power and courage I had until I started embracing life with my own hands in making the changes to be and do what I wanted. Life opened up there was no more pretending, my mask fell off and my body softened. I became so much happier and creative and hanging and being with myself became a wonderful thing.

We are constantly evolving and what suited us 10 years ago may not be the case today. We all have habits and ways of thinking but maybe it is time to free your habits or change them up to meet your needs today.
Drop limiting thoughts like
This won’t work…
I can’t do this…
I’m too busy right now…
I’m just not ready yet…
I’m just not good enough…

Take more risks and take a chance on yourself and snap out of old limiting mind and behaviour patterns that might leave you with regrets and  haunt you for the rest of your life. NOW is your time to make changes! And who can make it happen YOU, you wonderful soul!

Start today and kick that self-sabotage in the ass 

Wishes and Sunshine

Jo <3

Come flow it out with me at my Yoga Holidays here in beautiful Turkey

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I still get resistant to practice yoga!

‪#‎yogatip‬

After many years of practice I still get resistant to practice yoga. 

Life's demands and routines can get in the way. I hear myself saying "Oh I will practice tonight as need to get to work this morning" or some other excuse. 

But one thing that can't be ignored is the way my body and I start to feel. My body starts to get sore and aches especially my shoulders and back after hours over my computer. I start to loose focus but try to work harder to compensate and this then causes frustration. My balance starts to tip then a headache will appear then ahhhh. I have to listen.

And it was the same when I started yoga. I knew how good I felt after my practice but found it real hard to weave it into my daily schedule.

One of the best things I did and still do today when I am feeling that outside life is taking over, is place my yoga mat beside my bed, so it's the first thing I see when I get out of bed and the last thing I see when I go to bed at night. And believe me it works and is what got my own self practice rolling. 

Just seeing it there and knowing how good you feel after you practice will get your yoga juices flowing. You may take to it for 5 minutes or an hour or more and that feeling once you are done will start to outweigh the cranky feelings you wake up, drag around your day with or put yourself to bed with. 

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‪#‎mat‬ ‪#‎time‬ ‪#‎my‬ #time ‪#‎unwind‬ ‪#‎release‬ ‪#‎connected‬ ‪#‎awake‬‪#‎spaciousness‬ ‪#‎yoga‬ ‪#‎holidays‬ ‪#‎turkey‬

Change Up the Routine!

A change of scene, a day out or night away can give me such a boost and recharge. That is how I felt after a weekend filled with wonderful birthday celebrations. Dinner out with the kids on Friday and away with my husband on Saturday night. No expectations just went with the ideas and suggestions, it was so lovely to flow with what my family arranged for me. 

The night away on Saturday was just what I/We needed. Although I live, see, work and have been together with my husband for the last 20 years. A break from our normal work life routine being a mummy and daddy was a Pure tonic. We only drove an hour away but spending time as a couple, no responsibilities just the two of us to think about was ace. 

I think sometimes it is real easy to become complacent, we take things for granted and the thought of change or a different routine can feel a bit of an effort. But taking time out for a day, night or even better a week, is the
Perfect Gift to Self.

We can get real comfy in our daily routines, we know the ropes and we pursue our days, we walk the same route, drive the same road, eat the same foods, see the same faces, although there is nothing wrong with that, for me when I change it up, I love it! And sometimes I forget how much I love it, until I do it again!

 Our fears can also be a big distraction and can kick in when we think about changing up our routine, its like the fear of the unknown. It does take effort to organise, make arrangements to try something new, but that effort can sometimes be quite life changing.

I know people that have come holiday with us and its there first holiday in years and the first thing they say is why the hell didn't I do this sooner. 99% of my guests that come holiday with us are solo travellers and it is maybe the first time they have travelled alone and this can bring about a lot of questions, thoughts or anxieties on the lead up to their trip. But the total exhilaration once they have experienced their first solo adventure or week it amazing. 

We can easily talk ourselves out of change, we become comfortable and it seems like the easy option is to stay put in what we know, with the predicted outcome, but for me it's the opposite. Every week is change through the summer. I get to meet different people. Some become great friends and some simply pass through. Change for me is inspiring, its eye opening, I love meeting new people, great to hear new ideas, to explore and dip into my more than capable skills of exploring and discovering, new places, trying different foods, and totally trusting what I am all about. 

It opens my eyes and has created wonderful opportunities and can be a totally and utterly inspiring experience. 

If you feel that life has or is boring you should try changing up your routine. 
It doesn't have to be huge, it can be something small and have a profound effect. Bust through those fears to change and enjoy the ride.  Life is a journey of discovery and sometimes when we hold on and grasp for things not to change  be can become very disappointed. 

Move with the ebb and flow of life be open to change, happy and free. :)


The world is Your Oyster!

Happy Days Jo :)

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Why I didn't start away teaching when I got my Yoga Diploma!

6 months into my 9 month Yoga & Anatomy course and my interest and hunger to learn about the human body grows with each lesson.

This was the same for me when I started to practice yoga, I could feel the effects that my practice was having on me and my body. I learnt so much from my own self practice. I liked going to classes and being guided but I never fully connected with a teacher. I was always grateful to hear and listen to there knowledge and experiences but for me, more work could be felt and done with-in my own practice.

After I qualified as a teacher I never felt the rush to teach others. I was so happy to continue to deepen with the knowledge and to work with what I had learnt. I have a lot of emotion heaviness that I really wanted to attend to, to free from my being. From my dad getting killed in a car crash when I was 25 to suffering from the disease Rosacea on my face for 13 years, from a difficult mother and throwing myself into work to hide from it all.

 I attended different styles of yoga classes to be inspired and be guided along with my dedicated 5 day a week practice and lifestyle. My home practice was sometimes intense, I had to battle with my resistance a lot but just starting with my breath and slowing moving my body, my practice would start to unfold for anything from 20 mins to 2 hours. What I did notice In the classes I attended is I could really feel my practice evolving and the deep connection I was making with myself. If the class I attending was Ashtanga, vinyasa or other, I never felt the need to strive or push past my capabilities, don't get me wrong I loved to challenge myself but I would take the posture and work within my ease to move me closer. I would always take the breaths I needed to flow me through the practice. For me it was never about the target it was always about how my yoga felt within my body. How the breath made me feel, how much freedom and spaciouness I could create in my body within asana and this was the time I started to think about sharing my practice.

It was a natural progress for me. My Yoga diploma was a self progression. I really wanted to grow myself and help myself heal. It was and continues to be an incredible journey, I have come along way but our habits and thought patterns take a long time to break and ease and I know without the dedication to myself, my Yoga practice and all this wonderful knowledge I contiue to learn. What  I know is that as long as I am breathing, and have a functioning body anything and everything is possible.

How grateful am I to be able to learn such incredible knowledge from the Master that continues to deepen his knowledge and to absorb and continue to do my own work to be able to share it with so many wonderful people that I am fortunate enough to teach/guide.

When we do our own work and look to ourselves the possibilities for happiness and pure fulfilment and endless.

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#blog #sharing #caring #yoga365 #yogalife #mylife

Yoga is about Union not Levels.

A question I get asked a lot when people enquire about our holidays is "what level of practice do I cater for"? 

As most of you know I am the resident Yoga guide here at Yoga Holidays Turkey and my classes are for everyone.
From brand new to Yoga to the more experienced. For me Yoga is not about levels, so when I am asked the question my answer is that the Yoga I guide is a peoples Yoga. I encourage everyone in my classes to explore and deepen their own yoga practice.
And each person so different from the next.

We offer 8 classes here and the first class of the week I encourage people to surrender. We spend time tuning into our lovely breath, connecting and warming up the body and flowing through a vinyasa slow sequence to prepare the perfect foundation for the rest of the classes over the week. Once we have flowed together for the first time I can then see and feel what variations to offer to each person to suit each and everyone in my class.

I encourage people to ask questions and offer myself as a guide for everyone to indulge in what feels good in there body.

Yoga means 'Union' and when we all flow with what we have, letting our breath guide us then Union is vibrant in each and everyone in the my class.

I have guided people with injuries from a broken ankle, years of lower back pain, dyspraxia, frozen shoulder, knee injuries, Hyperextension elbows and some totally burnt out and each have indulged in a wonderful practice over the week to even forget or become surprised with how deep they took their own Yoga practice.

I have a dedicated practice and live a yogic life style and sharing all that I have learnt along the path with so many of you is a true gift.
I welcome you all and can’t wait to flow with you in the very near future.

‪#‎yoga‬ ‪#‎union‬ ‪#‎transformational‬ ‪#‎freedom‬ ‪#‎holiday‬ ‪#‎London‬ ‪#‎reunion‬

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Be Your Own Truth Seeker!

Be Your Own Truth Seeker!

One thing I can’t do is lie or be dishonest. Not only to myself but to others too. I have tried to lie and not be honest to get out of a situation, to mask over feelings and hurt or try and let someone down gently but it just sends my stomach and nervous system into turmoil and I get so tense and relaxation forget it.

Yoga has taught me so much about truth because the practice is so intimate and I can never hide from my emotions or feelings that rock up during moving with the breath. For me doing the breathing is the pose.

When we are not truthful to ourselves, someone, our feelings, our thoughts this reflects right back at ourselves. I only teach from my experience and lessons, how I got though certain periods of my life and as a result of those experiences can help others and share the tools that helped me.

I lose my father in a car crash when I was 25 and it wasn’t until 7 years later that I gave in and got help for my grief. Within that 7 years I became moody, unfulfilled, aggressive, I threw myself into my work, I felt the need to control and contractedRosacea on my face, I couldn’t sleep and I blamed a lot.

Thankfully through the help and some stern words from my know husband I realised and got help. It was the wake up call I needed and before I lost what I had. I had to admit to myself I needed help. So I got help. The 1st 6 months was the hardest for me but in the midst of those hard times it was also very empowering. I began to feel blips of change, I cried I shouted, I let out my frustrations but each time left feeling lighter and I was beginning to understand myself. I started to slow my life down, I started to notice myself, I was understanding that is was my choice to change and find my own freedom to stop blaming and live the life I was born to live. I learnt that no one is responsible for my happiness. No husband, No child, No parent its all down to me.

I never felt afraid of change just really excited at feeling and learning to and get, build MY life back. I got so hungry to change and thinking of myself become and is still is what keeps my life in balance and happiness.

I look back at those times as massive lessons and am so grateful for finding my strength. This in turn gave me the strength and courage I needed to nurse and watch my mums life slowly fade and die through her tremendous battle with cancer for 3 years. The lesson I learnt through that journey was incredible and I will forever be thankful for my mum for that.

When I practice yoga, it really is a self exploration for me. If I feel unsettled in my body, or have something on my mind, or maybe I have an ache or a pain or maybe I have so much energy that I need to release it is for me a self enquiry.

Life can hurt us and yoga sure can and has helped me. For me yoga is about peeling away layers of stuckness, layers that are heavy, layers of negativity, layers of uncertainty, layers of insecurity. And I love peeling back my layers to reveal and see how it feels to do my own work and feel the beauty that is freedom. Giving myself, time and space on the mat. Yoga provides a great vehicle for slowing down and learning to truly take care of ourselves. Yoga simply makes us feel better.  Full, deep breathing into all corners of the body makes people feel better. Feel stronger. Feel more energetic. And it has been doing so for thousands of years. We all no when we feel stuck, thoughts we cannot shift but most of the time we try to fulfil ourselves through a better time, ignoring our thoughts, maybe a new outfit or waiting for the perfect man.

Choice, freedom, fulfilment is all ours to have. We can continue to stay stuck in the greyness, drone of life or we can live, indulge, embrace everything it has to offer. We can turn all those wishes into reality and fulfil our dreams. And believe me if feels so amazing after the battle I had with myself for years.

Whenever someone comes up to me after class or writes me an emotional email to tell me how much they have benefited from their holiday with us and yoga practice. I feel the gratefulness and love from my Father and Mother and will to continue to grow and enjoy this wonderful gift of life together. 

By simplifying, slowing, and centring on the breath, we cultivate patience, a greater understanding. We can shift our thoughts. We no longer battle with difficulties, but rather learn how to ease through them, and enjoy and embrace the fact that we are here.

Jo xo

W. www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

T.  Twitter@joanneyoga 

 

F. https://www.facebook.com/yogaholidaysturkeyside 

 

Find Peace wherever you are!

I love this quote, so true!.

So many people think that shutting themselves away from civilisation to find peace is the answer, but from the feedback I have heard over the years that being in such a remote place can make returning to the/your real world even harder. 

Finding peace in our everyday living is the best way. We have a choice to be peaceful or to be busy and harassed. No one can offer or show you peace all has to come from Yourself.

We see so much transformation happen here at Yoga Holidays Turkey through keeping things real and encouraging and inviting our students to be with self for the whole week. To drop away the daily routine, to forget about work or the demands or home life. To explore this wonder home we live in. To take the time to listen, to notice our own bodies. To connect deeply with our gift that is the breath and to move and flow to awaken what is the magic deep inside. To shred of old thoughts, feelings and habits that are holding us back, It’s not heavy or a struggle, it is as much as you want it to be. Learn or to deepen our own trust for ourselves, to grow our strength, Love and own our power to live a fulfilled, healthy, extremely joyful life with a LOT of fun along the way. And all this happens in our Oasis in the heart of old town Side just steps from the Ocean, gorgeous bars and restaurants and steeped in ancient history. 

Jo xo

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

#reallife #happyyogi #yogaholiday #yogaretreat #Flowjo

Self Nurture, Be Free, Be Happy

For me its all about growing who you are. Being the happiest you can be, being as present as you can be to stop mind distraction, to stop living in the past or future. To connect to find the magic inside. To allow the breath to keep you balanced, self nourished and shining bright. To explore the body through yoga, to create self abundance and compassion to indulge in your own love affair and then offering out to the world... 

It takes time and discipline but the profound effects it has on your life, body and happiness is simply amazing. Make every minute of this wonderful life count, it is such a gift. 

Happy days Jo xo

Free Your Soul

Yoga, mindfulness, and being totally interested in your own beautiful self and happiness is the perfect gift to Yourself.

Yoga, self discipline and life style changes can take a long while to become part of your daily life. But through yoga asana and quiet time we can gently invite transformation and change within the body and mind. This can feel intense or overwhelming but through your own exploration we face our intensities and each time they arise and if we sit with them long enough we will start to notice that the intensity starts to subside, it gets a little easier, we start letting go and slowly we start to release a bit of our world.

It does not need to be forced or taken to seriously we just allow what ever it is from where ever we are to release. We start to grow and it brings us closer to getting to no our true self, to Evolve to Rock who we was born to be and become ridiculously happy.

We have such a limited amount of time, make a start to look at your barriers and Free Your Soul.

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

"Gratitude is my Attitude"

When you have found you're calling, magical things happen.

I Really enjoy my life. I make my Own happiness.
I have patience and self dedication to work and move my body everyday through things to find freedom. 
What I have is enough. 
I don't look to somebody else to make me happy.
I am Here, I am Present. NO rules. No guru's.
I love to be inspired, and never compare myself to others.
I am happy and believe in myself.
I trust my gut feeling, (its never wrong)
I am grateful for everything I have.
I don't take myself to seriously.
This is my Yoga. Jo Ozden

"Gratitude is my attitude"

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

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Why my Yoga Practice Excites Me

Today I am so looking forward to taking to my mat and being guided by a lovely Ashtanga teacher here in the UK.
Every time I fly to the UK I indulge in as many sessions as I can, to absorb and indulge myself, to flow and explore my body in the 90 minute offering.

My mat practice is MY time to be quiet, learn to listen to my body get hooked on my breath and flow and explore the challenges and the freedom throughout my practice and what is so beautiful for me is when you find a teacher that you really resonate with. It is the feeling of surrender I get as soon as I am asked to close my eyes at the beginning of each practice.

I feel a huge sense of wonder at the beginning of my practice and always welcome any feelings or thoughts. If a flow or asana becomes challenging and I feel resistance in my mind or body this is my OWN lesson to myself.
I soften and explore, never force, maybe hang there for a bit, to see and feel.

All the juicy experiences I indulge in on the mat is the path I walk and learn from in my every day life. And this for me is more challenging then my Mat Practice.
This is my Yoga every minute, everyday every situation, every person I meet, being a wife a mother, friend, employer.
It is my way and at the end of every practice, I Thank myself for this wonderful me time that keeps
me keep growing as a person, to enjoy this beautiful gift of life and everyone in my life.

This Is what Yoga has taught me so far and I LOVE being its STUDENT 

Namaste. Jo xo

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

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Enter the New Year with a Gentle Aproach

Don't put yourself under pressure with a heavy New years resolution.
Like I want/must get fit.. Make it easier by making it part of your lifestyle.. 
Like washing or feeding your body we do it everyday and that should be what it is like to move your body.. Don't make it a fail buy expecting to much of yourself to soon, make a small commitment to yourself to get up just 10 minutes earlier a day to indulge in a few stretches, your body and mind will respond so deeply and just 10 minutes will give you so many benefits.
From Simply inhaling the breath deeper into the belly will bring calm to the mind and this can only enhance and slow down your day.
To notice how your body feels while stretching will show you the areas of tension you hold in the body and just 10 minutes will fire up your energy system to remove stagnation and encourage your energy to flow around the body freely this will in turn will help the internal organs to function fully and maintain a healthy body a calmer mind ready to face the day.

 Everyday the body needs coaxing open. During every day living we endure stresses and tensions that accumulate in our bodies. And by moving and stretching the body through yoga will help open, release and remove the stress and tensions, that if allowed to stagnant or build up in the body will cause pain and may lead to disease. Even advanced yogis need to coax their bodies open with every practice and the more you practice and really start to connect with your body, you will soon learn that your body and mind will urge to take to your mat each day. 

Just 10 mins with make huge shifts in the body and mind and a continual daily practice/life style of taking care and connecting with your wonderful self through breath body connection will open up your world of gratitude and ridiculous happiness.

My 30 minute practice this morning in the hotel room while everyone was asleep is pure bliss for me. Breathing deeply and once again coaxing open my body, to start a brand new day  

Happy New Year to you All xo

P.S thank you for taking the time to read my blogs. Please feel free to share and join our social media pages below and hope to meet you in beautiful Turkey for some Yoga Holiday Goodness some day soon. Namaste :)

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I FEEL A JUICY SELF PRACTICE COMING ON

Greetings and festive Happiness to you all

 I love my time on the mat to explore my being, to move with ease, to connect deeply with my breath, that not only calms my mind but nourishes all my internal organs, calms my entire nervous system, lifting any stress in my body or anxiety and improving my self-awareness. I am so grateful for this body I have been given and find such pleasure and happiness when I am with it on the mat…I am never fearful of what may come up during my practice. I encourage any deep emotions or stresses to surface so I can free my body of any holding patterns to create more freedom and space to live my life to the full and be ridiculously happiness.

 All the juicy tools I learn on my mat allow me to offer and keep reaching out to share and help many others I meet to grow their own Yoga with ease to become self aware and starting living the life we all so deserve. 

 I love my Yogic lifestyle, it has freed my fears, and anxieties. It has helped me with the grief of losing of both my parents and it has helped rid me of a 15 Yrs debilitating skin disease on my face.  Although at times it has been very hard and emotional I thank all my experiences for bringing me here where I am today. My happiness grows everyday, I have a wonderful marriage, and adore raising my 2 children, I meet and guide wonderful people every summer that come live and holiday with us in this wonderful part of the world. 

This is a taste of my yoga. It excites me and for many, many years of searching I have finally arrive home..

Get your yoga on, and realease your inner Guru. It will be the best gift you can offer yourself :)

Happy Holidays Jo <3

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

#norulesjustyouryogatocreatefreedom

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NEVER BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT

NEVER BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT and share your troubles or something that just won't shift.. We have all experienced highs and lows in our life's and to suffer in silence it not the way to move forward to lead a fulfilling happy life we all so deserve... I have been so saddened by the loss of a dear friend through depression. She was the most giving offering person you could ever meet…

Yoga Holidays Turkey, my facebook pages and my ramblings is my way of reaching out to this beautiful growing community for people to share and care and make our life's as fulfilling as possible.. I have lost both my parents that had a huge impact on my life in so many ways and have overcome some shit in my life and this is all through reaching out when needed and really embracing this beautiful life that we have been given.. I never feel the target of any shit I have been through, I simply roll with it and learn, listen to the sensations it rocks up for me and start moving forward to blossom once again.
Most of the time we are dealing with others peoples shit that has a great effect on us, maybe we are in a relationship that is toxic, maybe we are in a job we hate etc.

We all have choices and freedom to make them.. This life has been given for you to blossom or be a victim.. The choice is yours.. Please do not forget to reach out, in time's of need. YOU are not a burden, and the right people around you DO want to listen and help.. There is no shame in asking for help there is so much out there to be lived and experienced you just need to start baby steps to listening the trusting voice inside and slowly but surely watch the world start to open with it's wonderfulness.

Jo xo

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Doing what you love is Freedom!

I really love my job. 6 months of hosting and teaching in our home in a beautiful location just steps from the beach, and rich Turkish culture. And 6 months in our home in the country, working from home, hanging out with my family, indulging in my own home practice & teaching a few classes a week. It really is the perfect balance and something I feel am grateful for every day. 

Each summer we meet such wonderful people, that travel from all over the globe, to come yoga holiday with us and explore the beautiful historical sights that Side has to offer.

I would like to share with you one story of a guest that came to stay with us on the last week of our summer season. It really touched my heart, and has left sweet, heart-felt memories.

Murat arrived with our last guest from the airport and I was waiting to welcome her. Murat introduced Lindi to me and I was so surprised and excited to hear that Lindi had travelled all the way from South Africa to holiday with us for a week. We had had many a solo traveler but Lindi was our first from such a great distance.

Lindi's journey had taken her 19 hours in total, so was very relieved to be here at her destination to unpack and really get into her holiday.

Our home from home chilled vibe, really helps our guests settle and chill straight away and Lindi soon found herself at home.. 

What was so beautiful about Lindi was that as we got talking and getting to know each other, Lindi told me that this was her fist holiday in a while. She had practiced yoga before and was introduced to Yoga by a lovely Yogi called Paul, who over time Lindi fell in love with in which a beautiful loving, romance blossomed. Lindi told me some beautiful stories about her and Paul’s adventures and how Paul’s lifestyle and outlook really had an impact on her.  She told me how she use to attend Paul’s amazing classes and be in total awe of his mind and spirit, his beautiful body :-) and lovely practice.

Lindi then went to share with me that in January, Paul went to Vietnam - he loved hanging out with the locals and being in the mountains close to nature.  They had sms’ed regularly and as much as Lindi missed her soul mate was happy Paulie was indulging in what he loved. 3 Day’s passed and the regular sms did not come, which made Lindi become a bit uneasy and unsettled, until finally a sms came and Paulie told Lindi that he felt really unwell and thinks and felt like he had a fever so he was resting and waiting for it to pass. Unfortunately that was the last Lindi heard from Paulie as he passed away from a suspected insect bite.

Lindi had not practiced yoga for 8 months, every time she rolled her mat out she would just cry and cry and remember this wonderful person that was taken from her. Since Paulie passed Lindi was trying to make sense of why and the love she had lost.....

After 8 months Lindi began to think of herself and thought getting away on holiday, to maybe try and move a few steps forward and to re-connect a little and just find a bit of Lindi time.... Lindi looked through many a holiday but was drawn to website after reading my bio and felt that she really resonated with my life story so far... It didn't matter that is was a good 19 hours in transit, Lindi made the choice to come....And sent me an email to secure her place..

I was absolutely touched by Lindi's story and that I was going to be Lindi's first yoga guide since Paulie.. Wow what an absolute honor.. Lindi had no idea how she was going to feel in her first practice so we spoke and I reassured her that she go with what ever she was feeling and if at anytime it became to much to simply do what she needed to do to ease and flow through her practice. 

Our first yoga practice was the next morning all our guests arrived one by one placing down their mats. Lindi placed her mat at the back, next to my wonderful assistant Liz and we began the class.

Our opening practice is always about arriving and learning to connect with our breath and flowing together so we can get to know each other. As we started to flow I noticed that Lindi had a lovely practice and was really flowing and connecting with her breath. The class ended and before rolling up my mat I walked over to Lindi and we embraced in a huge hug.. Wow what a beautiful thing that just happened and I was totally just part off.. Lindi had just taken her first steps to moving gently forward, into a new place of feelings and release and I had the total privilege of guiding and being part of Lindi's incredible journey. 

We practiced for 8 more sessions together that week. We ate good food, drank some lovely wine together along with the rest of the wonderful group and over the week Lindi just blossomed. We all went out for our final dinner together and I have never laughed so hard in one night. We all shared stories, we toasted each other.  It is wonderful for me to share and hang out with so many lovely, interesting like-minded people... The transformation in just a week is incredible and I feel real proud that my husband and I have created such a beautiful atmosphere, comfortable and relaxed space for people to have such wonderful experiences... 

Lindi and I have emailed a few times since she has been home and although at times things get tough and she can still feel the loss and heartache she is forever thankful for the time she did spend with Paulie for showing her true love and a brand new view on life...

I am sure Lindi and I will meet again in the near future and we will certainly keep in touch and maybe who knows even a possible retreat in South Africa… :)

Dear Jo

I think you are an amazing yoga teacher!  It is so difficult to teach yoga to people that you don’t even know and we were all on different levels.  You made us all feel that we were developing our own! practice and you guided us in such a beautiful way. I loved the setting, the incense, the birds in the trees and the cool music…   

I walked into your house and immediately felt at home.  Nice rooms and bathrooms – and at no extra charge for a single room. The food was amazing, I’ve met special! people and enjoyed the swimming, chilling and reading under your tree.

I’ve travelled all the way from South Africa and would do it all over again!  I miss you and please send all my love to Murat, Kuzey and Kaya.  Till we meet again.  Lxxxx

When someone you love becomes a memory,

the memory becomes a treasure.

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com