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.
