Yoga holiday Turkey – how our yoga tutor Jo followed love to Turkey

Happy Summer Everyone!

by Sally — May 22, 2013

On a week holiday in Turkey Jo met Murat – 12 years later they’re married and running yoga holidays in the very house that they met in!

Jo was a 25-year-old hairdresser running her own business in Bath, UK when she took her first real holiday to Side, Turkey.

There she stayed in a pension by the beach that Murat’s family ran, but it wasn’t until the last night of her holiday that Jo agreed to go on a date with him.

“After one hour we were totally smitten” Jo recalls.

Several months later Murat visited Jo in the UK but only two days after he arrived tragedy struck Jo and her family.

“Murat met my parents and then the next day my father was killed in a car crash. It was so hard and Murat was there for me through it all,” Jo said.

As well as support from Murat, Jo turned to yoga to work through her grief.

But it wasn’t until many years later that Jo truly fell in love with yoga – after getting married in Turkey, she and Murat were expecting their first child and Jo began anti-natal yoga classes.

“I finally learnt how to calm down and relax, it really changed me” Jo said.

Soon Jo was doing yoga any chance she could outside of her busy working schedule. But it wasn’t until her second child was born that Jo decided she’d had enough.

“I was shattered and I never saw the kids.  So one day I just put the house and my business on the market and told Murat I wanted to move to Side. As soon as we got here I knew it was the right choice,’’ Jo said.

After completing several yoga training courses, Jo and Murat took over his family accommodation and they began running yoga holidays.

And with Murat’s knowledge and passion for the region and Jo’s love of yoga the holidays have been a huge hit.

“The best thing for me is seeing people arrive and they feel how I used to feel – totally stressed out from the 9 to 5, and then seeing the transformation at the end of the week is incredible,” Jo said.

The holidays are right beside the beach and the guests who are from all over the world come and go as they please. And with no single supplement the holiday is very popular among solo travellers.

“We always so welcoming and we’ve made some friends for life through the courses – there’s nothing else we want to be doing now.” Jo said.

Want to know more?Get a glimpse into a day in the life of Jo
Discover Jo’s fantastic yoga holiday in Side, Turkey Find out what Jo’s holidays are really like from recent guests reviews

Restorative Yoga Flow & Spinach Saute

Happy Summer! I hope you are all well and the sun is well and truly shining where ever you are. Please click here and Take your Yoga down a notch with this restorative flow. Flow with me to release excess tension in the body, calm the system through a soothing series of flowing poses. We are well into our summer season this week we are Vinyasa flowing with Martha and 9 lovely students from all around the globe. We are 6 practices in this week, we have laughed been inspired and ate great food along the way. We have a few fully booked weeks and urge you if you are thinking of joining us then to reserve your place soon. Click here to see our schedule for June, July & September.   Our welcome dinner was well devoured this week and have been asked to share some recipes My favorite dish this week was  Spinach Saute Ingredients 500 gr spinach, roots cut off*, washed several times, drained 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp crushed tomatoes, fresh preferably or in a can 1/2 tsp nutmeg, grated 1 teaspoon of Tomato paste Salt Pepper & red pepper flakes to taste Boil the spinach for 5 minutes, drain. Squeeze the spinach with your hands. Then chop it on a cutting board. Saute the onion in a medium sized pot with olive oil and salt until the colour of the onions turn to light brown. Add the spinach, crushed tomatoes, nutmeg & spices. Cook for about 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Turn the heat off. Let it cool down for a few minutes. Arrange on a service plate. ENJOY! Please email me if you have any questions about our holidays Wishing you a great summer. Jo xo www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

Happy summer

Hope life is great and you are getting some sunshine where every you are in the world.

Thought I would share with you what I have been up to and how I spend my days doing the job I love, Hosting a Yoga Retreat and eating good food here in beautiful Turkey.

We are well underway with our summer season, meeting some wonderful people sharing some great yoga and having lots of good fun along the way.

Please click here to see what our guest Heather had to say about her stay with us.

If you have not already then please join our Facebook page
Yoga Holidays Turkey by clicking here and like our page. I have just uploaded a lovely Shoulder Sequence. Check it out!

We still a few places available for June & July if you fancy joining us. Simply drop me a mail to check availability for the week you are interested in joanne@yoga-holidays-turkey.com 

Ezme

Ingredients 

4 medium-sized tomatoes (it is important that you use the tastiest tomatoes you can find.
4 spring onions
1 red pepper
1 chili pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
juice of half a lemon
olive oil
parsley
salt and pepper

Preparation - EASY PEASY! 

I like to place my tomatoes in boiling water and peel them before slinging everything in to a blender and blitz until smooth ish.
Ezme can be served as a cold starter or a meze with fresh bread or as a dip with carrot and cucumber sticks etc. It also works well as an accompaniment to grilled meat (especially lamb) or fish.

Enjoy -   Afiyet Olsun!

Please see our website for full details on our holidays here in beautiful Side.

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

Happy Weekend

Jo ox

Yoga Holidays Goodness

Hey Everyone,

 We are a week in to our summer season and what a fab week it has been.  A great group of Yogis and lots of fun, delicious food and laughter.

Check out this lovely video of me interviewing a lovely guest Heather.

Places are filling fast so please if you are thinking of joining us reserve your place soon by mailing me joanne@yoga-holidays-turkey.com to check availability and then I will send you all the details you need to secure your place.

Check out our website for full details of our holidays and course dates.

Sending you all sunshine and hope to meet you here soon.

Happy Sunday

Jo :)

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

When the going gets tough.

And how Yoga keeps my on my path.

Today is a brand new day of a brand new week. 

Every day we encounter something or someone that tries to send us of balance. Weather it be our over active mind going over stuff from the future or worrying you about something that happened in past or maybe someone else's point of view, opinions or mood. These are all lessons we are meant to learn along our path and that I am grateful for but keeping it real and true to yourself is our full time we owe to ourselves.

Cruel words or rejection are hard to swallow especially when it's not in your nature to hate or be judgemental. Every one is walking their own path and it is very easy to judge or retaliate when things offend or you don't agree with. Yoga Has taught me precious tools to walk my path with a greater understanding of peoples needs and to work though my tough times almost from a spectators perspective. At times the blows knock me for six, I feel out of sorts, maybe anger arises but my yogic lifestyle has taught me to take the time needed to work though and understand how I am feeling instead of suppressing my thoughts and negativity deep inside to fester and cause me deeper pain and suffering.

When you are on this journey of openness sometimes it feels like the work is constant. Just when you feel lift from one blow another swiftly follows. You will find the deeper you are connected to your self, your truth and following your own path each time a blow hits, the softer the blow knocking you gently with full awareness and a deeper understanding and knowledge to get you back on track.  The feeling of living in the present is fulfilling in every way that over time it becomes the only way to live 

To become frustrated of others or situations is a pure waste of energy, we are warriors of our own destiny if we stay true to our path and integrity we will flourish in happiness and vitality and all in time we will attract and build our tribe of like minded souls.

Here are some lovely yoga postures the will help open and stretches the chest and shoulders offering the heart and keep reminding you of all the factors that keep you unique. Opening up your heart centre and freeing your heart to open new channels for understanding of energy and love.

Up Dog

Upward Plank

Wheel

Namaste

Jo xo

Let's talk Tea

So something that am really into and have been for a little while and I even got my husband onto it and every night we enjoy a cup of it before we hit the sack. Especially if I have had a busy day and my head is a little full. You no when you get into bed and BOOM all the thoughts in the world rush into your head. 

So I must share for you all to try as the benefits are calming, and aid a peaceful nights sleep.

Melissa/Lemon Balm Tea

So you no those time when your nerves feel all jangled up. You feel a little anxious and tense. Most of us reach for another coffee or tea as that's what we are drawn to when our stress levels are up more caffeine, more sugar etc. Check out some of the great benefits below.

1. Insomnia 

2. fever due to colds or the flu

3. Depression

4. Upset stomach or digestion discomfort

5. Brain function and memory

6. Fflatulence

7. Asthma, 

8. Headaches 

9. Toothaches. 

Lemon balm is another herb useful for relaxing. In short lemon balm tea can help dealing with nervous or anxious states, or when you have some digestion or similar problems. It has nice lemon smell, so when preparing lemon balm tea you don't need to use lemon to have that nice smell. Of course, you can add some lemon juice because of vitamin C or add honey to taste.

Lemon Balm is also available in other forms, such as capsules, extracts, tinctures and oils.

There are a few precautions though like if you are breastfeeding or taking hyperthyroidism then please check with your doctor first.

Lemon Balm Tea is a very beneficial and very tasty and with all those wonderful benefits go out and try a cup for yourself!

Happy Tuesday

Jo :) 

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

https://www.facebook.com/yogaholidaysturkey

I have an intolerance for suffering.

This does not mean that I reject it or fight against it. It means that I stop and look at it, not morbidly, but rather because we have faith in the possibility of living a joyful and peaceful life.

The past 3 months have been both challenging and embracing. It has been filled with ups and downs, sadness, shifts, changes and overwhelming moments. Though the road was very rocky my True Self shone through and I had real moments of feeling secure, peaceful and certain.
Every day I thank the universe for this day and for all the many lessons I continue to learn and be taught by my continual practice, as I share and do the things I love. A BIG Thank You to mum & dad in heaven. Mum for showing me crucial life lessons, courage, strength & positivity & dad in sharing so much love and understanding. 
A BIG thank You to each and every one of you for your loving thoughts, kindness and supportive hearts that have really touched and enhanced my life (near, far & virtually). I send Peace and Happiness to you all for your love that gives me so much strength to be who I am and to continue to share and keep doing what I LOVE. 

Namaste ♥

www.yoga-holidays-turkey.com

http://www.facebook.com/yogaholidaysturkey