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La Viñuela Template Retreat page

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15-21 January 2023, La Viñuela, Andalusia, Spain

Every day, we walk in the depths of a deeply masculine world, but endless possibilities are waiting for us when we step into the sacred circle of sisterhood. 

In this women-only retreat, we will learn from, connect with, and co-create alongside one another. We will explore many avenues of self-expression through daily yoga and meditation, as well as movement, breath, journaling, and embodiment practices. We will tap a toe into the magic of living alongside our natural, feminine rhythm, and we will support one another as equals as we move into our shadows to shine new light on the beauty that is flowing within us all.  

Throughout our retreat, we will form a circle of sisterhood where we can hold space for one another and breathe in the healing of our shared experiences. Through the enchantment of self-expression, we will find a deeper connection to ourselves and to one another, leaving our week together to return home with a more profound understanding of the magic pulsing within all of us.

An important note: This retreat is open to all bodies walking in the expression of femininity. If you identify in another way and still wish to attend, we are so open to hearing from you and we can either discuss whether this event will support you, or we can direct you towards other practitioners who hold the best possible space for you.

Lauren Simonis

Hello beautiful humans! I’m Lauren and I’ve been a yoga teacher for five years, a facilitator for twenty, and a lover of all-female spaces my entire life. I believe there is magic when women come together and share their experiences. There is a sacred divinity that lives in each of us just waiting to be brought to the surface, and sometimes, a room filled with other voices calling out, “Yes, sister!” is exactly what we need to leave feeling a deeper sense of love and devotion to all of the magic that lives inside of us.

Lauren moved to Portugal from the U.S. in 2016 and that’s where her passion for yoga grew from a hobby, to a habit, to a passion. She first began teaching aerial yoga and then expanded her training to include vinyasa, hatha, yin, and myofascial release when she realised how much joy her students brought her. With these experiences, she found herself immersed more and more in all-female spaces, and in them, she found the healing, love, and support she had been craving all her life. These experiences inspired her to take additional training in creating sacred spaces for women so she could share the magic she found within them.

More about Lauren

lauren-simonis

It's time to connect with your true self

retreat offerings
○ 6 nights at La Viñuela
○ 3 vegan meals per day
○ vinyasa yoga in the morning
○ meditation, pranayama
○ asana workshops in the afternoons
○ hike on Wednesdays
○ water, tea & coffee

not included
○ flight or train to Málaga
○ airport transfer to La Viñuela
○ massages, optional Workshops
○ travel insurance  (recommended)

investment
from 1070€

please visit our faqs for infos about our corona policy, travel, airport transfer and much more.

a typical day

07.30 tea, coffee, fruit

08.30 yoga & meditation 

10.30 breakfast

reading 〰️ journaling 〰️ going for walks 〰️ massage

15.00 lunch or snack

17.30 yoga

19.30 dinner

arrival day: check-in from 16.00,
afternoon snack, no yoga class,
19.00 dinner, 20.30 welcome circle 

departure day: no yoga class,
9.00 breakfast, check out until 10.00

 

all yoga equipment is available at our retreat location, as well as towels & bed linen. we’ll let you know what’s good to bring, a few days before your retreat.

check- in is from 16:00, dinner at 19:30 // check- out on saturday until 10:00 after breakfast

arrival & departure: group pick ups & drop offs will be organized for arrival day from Málaga airport & Málaga city center. Vice versa for departure. costs: 30€/person/way

please take a look at our faqs or send us an email. Looking forward to hearing from you.

about the place

This is the cozy place you want to escape to for a week of withdrawal from the world. The venue is set in the mountains overlooking the beautiful La Viñuela lake. The sun here is also warming in the autumn and winter months. More

© Yoga Spirit Circle 2023

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Thai Style Baked Tofu

Full of Asian Flavours – Thai Style Baked Tofu

Sometimes people approach me with: But Tofu doesn’t have any taste! I think that’s a bit unfair.

Tofu is definitely that kind of food people love to passionately exchange opinions about. Some people hate tofu, some think it is unhealthy and so on. For a food that has been invented 2000 years ago and since then has been eaten all over the world tofu is still so misunderstood.

If you tip the word Tofu into google this is what you get: Cheese-like flavorless food made from soybeans. Flavorless – a devastating verdict! But what about chicken or mozzarella when eaten raw or only prepared in the pan with a little salt? Aren’t all of them blank canvas? Ready to get colored with your favorite flavours. This recipe is very adjustable. You can play with different ingredientes such as spices, fresh herbs, acids (e.g. lemon, vinegar, citrus) or fruits (e.g. oranges, passion fruit, raspberries).

Let’s talk about the health benefits of Tofu:  all soy foods are very high in protein, calcium, and iron while low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. As a result you can lower your cholesterol and reduce the risk of some cancers as well as heart disease. Soy also contains isoflavones which show tremendous potential to fight disease on several fronts. For those new to soy it is recommendable to add soy slowly to your diet. Make sure you buy tofu that is made from organic and non-GMO soybeans.

Here I am sharing one of my favorite ways to prepare Tofu as you can prepare it a day before and then just put it in the oven the next day. You can also prepare this dish with Tempeh instead (mmmh I like it even better).

Recipe Ingredients

Marinade

1 small Onion, diced
1 clove Garlic, sliced
1 tabelspoon greated Ginger
1 Lemongrass Stalk, cut into pieces big enough to take it out before eating
1 teaspoon Chilli powder or flakes or sauce
1 handfull Thai Basilikum
5 tablespoons Tamari (or soy sauce)
2 tablespoon Rice Vinegar (or other vinegar)
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
3 Tablespoons roasted Sesame Oil
1 tablespoon Agave Syrup (or other sweetener)

Ingredientes

200g Tofu
200g Eggplant or small Eggplant

To Serve

Sesame Seeds
Green Onion
Lime Wedge
Thai Basilikum
Cilantro

Preparation

  1. Press Tofu! Thats a very important step that should always be done when working with Tofu as you will replace the water by a flavourful marinade. Here’s how to press tofu: Take a clean kitchen towel, fold it several times to rectangle. Place the tofu block on one of the short rectangle sides so you can flip over the other short side to cover the tofu completely.Place a heavy object on top of the towel. Let sit for about 20 min.
  2. Mix the Marinade. This is the fun part. You want to make a good amount of Marinade to infuse the Tofu and the Eggplant. To make 200ml of Marinade: take a glass jar and fill in 100ml of Water. Now add all Marinade ingredientes but the onion and the garlic. Pestle the Thai Basilikum Leaves and Lemongrass Stalks and then add Garlic and Onion. Taste the Marinade and adjust with more Lemon, Soy Sauce, Chilli, Sesame Oil or more Rice Vinegar. You want to achieve an intense flavour. Combine Tofu and Eggplant with Marinade in an baking dish and let sit for 2- 24hours.
  3. Bake for up to 45 minutes on 180 degree.
  4. Garnish with Sesame Seeds, lime wedges, Green Onions, fresh Thai Basilikum and Cilantro. Serve with Rice or Buckwheat.

Enjoy!

Variant with Tempeh
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Thai Style Baked Tofu

Full of Asian Flavours – Thai Style Baked Tofu

Sometimes people claim that Tofu doesn’t have any taste. I think that’s a bit unfair to say and I bet most of those claimers have no idea how to prepare Tofu.

Tofu is definitely that kind of food people love to passionately exchange opinions about. Some people hate tofu, some think it is unhealthy and so on. For a food that has been invented 2000 years ago and since then has been eaten all over the world tofu is still so misunderstood.

If you tip the word Tofu into google this is what you get: Cheese-like flavorless food made from soybeans. Flavorless – a devastating verdict! But what about chicken or mozzarella when eaten raw or only prepared in the pan with a little salt? Aren’t all of them blank canvas? Ready to get colored with your favorite flavours. This recipe is very adjustable. You can play with different ingredientes such as spices, fresh herbs, acids (e.g. lemon, vinegar, citrus) or fruits (e.g. oranges, passion fruit, raspberries).

Let’s talk about the health benefits of Tofu:  all soy foods are very high in protein, calcium, and iron while low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. As a result you can lower your cholesterol and reduce the risk of some cancers as well as heart disease. Soy also contains isoflavones which show tremendous potential to fight disease on several fronts. For those new to soy it is recommendable to add soy slowly to your diet. Make sure you buy tofu that is made from organic and non-GMO soybeans.

Here I am sharing one of my favorite ways to prepare Tofu as you can prepare it a day before and then just put it in the oven the next day. You can also prepare this dish with Tempeh instead (mmmh I like it even better).

Recipe Ingredients

Marinade

1 small Onion, diced
1 clove Garlic, sliced
1 tabelspoon greated Ginger
1 Lemongrass Stalk, cut into pieces big enough to take it out before eating
1 teaspoon Chilli powder or flakes or sauce
1 handfull Thai Basilikum
5 tablespoons Tamari (or soy sauce)
2 tablespoon Rice Vinegar (or other vinegar)
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
3 Tablespoons roasted Sesame Oil
1 tablespoon Agave Syrup (or other sweetener)

Ingredientes

200g Tofu
200g Eggplant or small Eggplant

To Serve

Sesame Seeds
Green Onion
Lime Wedge
Thai Basilikum
Cilantro

Preparation

  1. Press Tofu! Thats a very important step that should always be done when working with Tofu as you will replace the water by a flavourful marinade. Here’s how to press tofu: Take a clean kitchen towel, fold it several times to rectangle. Place the tofu block on one of the short rectangle sides so you can flip over the other short side to cover the tofu completely.Place a heavy object on top of the towel. Let sit for about 20 min.
  2. Mix the Marinade. This is the fun part. You want to make a good amount of Marinade to infuse the Tofu and the Eggplant. To make 200ml of Marinade: take a glass jar and fill in 100ml of Water. Now add all Marinade ingredientes but the onion and the garlic. Pestle the Thai Basilikum Leaves and Lemongrass Stalks and then add Garlic and Onion. Taste the Marinade and adjust with more Lemon, Soy Sauce, Chilli, Sesame Oil or more Rice Vinegar. You want to achieve an intense flavour. Combine Tofu and Eggplant with Marinade in an baking dish and let sit for 2- 24hours.
  3. Bake for up to 45 minutes on 180 degree.
  4. Garnish with Sesame Seeds, lime wedges, Green Onions, fresh Thai Basilikum and Cilantro. Serve with Rice or Buckwheat.

Enjoy!

Variant with Tempeh
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Peanut Butter – Chocolate Cups

Vegan glutenfree Chocolate – Peanut Butter Cups

The dessert our Yoga Retreat guests rave about the most are these delicious sweet bars!
And the best about it is that they are easy to prepare with only 5 ingredients. Furthermore you can store them in your freezer and take them out, whenever your sweet thooth asks for it.

 

Recipe Ingredients

Peanut Butter Layer

1 cup Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Coconut flour or shreds (unsweetened)
A splash of agave syrup to sweeten

Chocolate Layer

1 cup vegan Chocolate Bar
1/2 cup Peanut Butter

To Serve

Coarse good sea salt

 

Preparation

First melt the chocolate in a water bath or very short in the microwave.
Until the chocolate is melted, mix the other ingredients for the peanut butter layer and fill it in to a silicon ice cube or muffin form. Now you mix the peanut butter in the melted chocolate and fill it it on top of the peanut butter layer. After the chocolate layer is cooled to room temperature, put the form into the freezer. After around 3 hours the dessert can be served.

Before serving take the cups out of the freezer and let them defrost for about 10-15 minutes. Afterwards sprinkle some sea salt over them. Ready to serve!

 

Enjoy!

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Schoko-Erdnuss Dessert

Veganes glutenfreies Schokoladen-Erdnussbutter Dessert

Diese leckeren kleinen Köstlichkeiten lösen bei unseren Yoga Retreat Gästen regelmässig Freudenschreie aus.
Das tolle daran ist, dass sie sehr einfach zuzubereiten sind und man nur 5 Zutaten benötigt. Außerdem kann man sie im Gefrierfach aufbewahren und hat immer ein Dessert parat.

 

Rezept

Erdnussbutterschicht

1 Tasse Erdnussbutter
1/2 Tasse Kokosnussraspel (ungesüßt)
Ein Spritzer Agavendicksaft zum Süßen

Schokoladenschicht

1 Tasse vegane Backschokolade
1/2 Tasse Erdnussbutter

Zum Servieren

grobes gutes Meersalz

 

 

Zubereitung der veganen Erdnussbutter-Schokoladen Bars

Zunächst schmilzt man die Schokolade in einem Wasserbad oder ganz kurz in der Mikrowelle.
Bis die Schokolade geschmolzen ist, vermengt man die Zutaten für die Erdnussbutterschicht und füllt sie in eine Form. Am besten eignet sich eine Eiswürfelform oder Muffinschalen aus Silikon.
Nun rührt man die Erdnussbutter in die geschmolzene Schokolade und füllt die Menge auf die Erdnussbutterschicht in die Form. Nachdem die Schokoladenschicht auf Raumtemperatur abgekühlt ist, stellt man die Formen ins Gefrierfach. Nach ein paar Stunden kann das Dessert serviert werden.

Vor dem Servieren die Erdnuss-Schoko-Bars aus dem Gefrierfach holen und 10-15 Minuten antauen lassen. Anschließend mit groben Meersalz bestreuen und servieren.

 

Enjoy!

 

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Discover the joy of chanting

“Chanting. What does that even mean? Am I supposed to sing in a language that I don’t know? I’m not a hippy, nor a Hindu. Is this some kind of sect..?”

Do you recognise some of these thoughts? They ran through my mind for the first… well, several months, when introduced to chanting mantras. And to my own surprise, I now experience chanting as the most powerful part of my yoga practice.

Every class I took at my favourite yoga studio in Amsterdam, Svaha Yoga, started and ended with chanting OM and another mantra. The first few months I hardly opened my mouth during these chants. Self conscious as I was, I thought I had two good reasons not to participate: First, the idea of a Westerner singing Indian songs with eyes closed was just weird to me. Second, I was convinced that I was a lousy singer. I came to this conclusion years ago while studying at the dance academy. Although I had always enjoyed singing, when I had to perform for an audience and was judged by my teachers, I was too insecure to sing. It made me sing out of tune. I stopped singing in front of others and concluded to myself: “I cannot sing. And well, never mind, actually I don’t like singing anyway”.

I had no reason to change my mind about my singing qualities. But one day in the yoga studio, I just thought: “Ok, I’m here now anyway, let me chant along. I mean, not too loud, and I am still not a hippy, but I have nothing to lose.” My voice was just one of many, and no one cared how I sounded. I still felt self conscious and I wouldn’t want my friends or family to see me chanting mantras… but I enjoyed using my voice! It felt liberating and the sound of all our voices in unison moved me. I still thought my voice sounded badly, but I didn’t care anymore. And that was the key to opening up.

A year later I started my yoga teacher training at Svaha. During the training, I would now and then teach classes at their smaller studio in Amsterdam Noord. One day, moments before I taught one of my first classes, my teacher suggested I play the harmonium (type of pumped air organ, but looks like a small piano) while chanting OM. He quickly showed me the chords and how to get sound out of the instrument.

I just did it

By then I was used to chanting as part of a group, but to lead a mantra with my own voice and play harmonium at the same time was something else entirely. Since class was about to start and I didn’t have time to think about it, I just did it. And I loved it! From then on I would stay in the studio after class and practice melodies on the harmonium. The more I played and chanted, the more I enjoyed it.

Another year later, I taught my first yoga retreats, where I led kirtan sessions (chanting together). Instead of chanting just one short mantra as part of a class, I experienced the powerful effect of chanting in a group for a longer time. Most of the guests had never chanted before, but surprisingly their reaction was really positive. I was amazed that they were open to try, remembering my own scepticism about the whole OM OM OM thing. But there we were, simply enjoying chanting together!

For the joy of sharing

I love chanting mantras during retreats, because there is more time to get into it. Most people have never chanted before, so I can relate to the hesitation (like “this is weeeiiird!” and “I don’t dare to sing”). I chant for the joy of chanting and I share for the joy of sharing and I think (and hope) that it helps people to open up and give it a try, and perhaps they’ll also find it to be as amazing as it is for me. And if not; they haven’t lost anything!

Maybe my story inspires you to chant OM in class, listen to mantras online and sing along at home or join a kirtan session.

The power of a mantra lays in the repetition and there are many melodies out there. Some are more melancholic or meditative, others can be fast and invigorating. Whichever the case, the experience of chanting (together) can be sublime.

 

 

To give you an idea of what I am talking about, here is a clip from a kirtan session I led last June during Festivalito 2017 in Spain:

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Meditation. Just do it!

Viele unserer Retreat Gäste freuen sich darauf bei uns ihre erste Meditation zu erleben. Nach einer Woche fühlt man den wohltuenden Effekt der Meditation besonders.

Yoga und Meditation sind stark miteinander verknüpft. Yoga stärkt den Körper, beruhigt den Geist und bereitet so auf die Meditation vor.

 

Daria hat auf ihrem Blog dariadaria.com einen tollten Artikel zum Thema verfasst: Meditieren. 7 Tipps zum Anfangen. Kurz und gut erklärt sie die wichtigsten Punkte beim Meditieren und wie man klein (und überhaupt) anfängt. Mir hilft es immer sehr mich auf meinen Atem zu konzentrieren und ein Mantra an die Ein- und Ausatmung zu knüpfen. Meins ist ein „just“- aus „now“.

Dann macht es am Besten wie Daria es schon schreibt: “ tu es einfach. Setz dich hin, schließe die Augen, atme.“

Setz dich bequem, etwas erhöht, auf ein Kissen. Dafür bieten sich natürlich ganz hervorragend ein Meditationskissen an, da es dir hilft deinen Rücken gerade zu halten. Außerdem schonst du deine Knie und dein Becken. Meditationskissen sind nicht so weich wie normale Kissen und geben deinem Körpergewicht nur ganz leicht nach. Du kannst die Beine vor dem Körper überkreuzen oder die Schienenbeine und Fußrücken auf dem Boden ablegen, die Füße zeigen nach hinten.

Die Sitzposition sollte als bequem empfunden werden, da sie nach Möglichkeit während der Meditation nicht geändert wird.

Falls du immer noch das Gefühl hast nicht zu wissen, wie du deine erste Meditation beginnen sollst, lade dir die App Insight Timer und wähle eine geführte Meditation. Hier wirst du mit Musik oder gesprochenem Wort in und während der Meditation begleitet. Das kann manchmal helfen Konzentration zu finden.

°

Wir bedanken uns herzlichst bei Lotuscrafts für diese Kooperation.  Die Meditationskissen von Lotuscrafts werden fair und ökologisch aus 100% Baumwolle (Bio) produziert.

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Jeder Mensch ist einzigartig

Eigentlich ist es sehr offensichtlich: Dich, genau so wie du bist, gibt es nur ein einziges Mal. Wahrscheinlich gibt es den ein oder anderen Menschen, der die gleiche Yoga Kleidung trägt wie du, der gleiche Interessen und Einstellungen hat wie du, vielleicht gibt es sogar Menschen, die genauso groß sind wie du. Doch jemanden der, in seinem Ganzen genau so ist wie du, gibt es nicht. Ist das nicht wunderbar?

An diese wundervolle Tatsche, können wir uns nicht oft genug erinnern.

Auch in unseren Yogaklassen nicht. Hier folgen wir oft bestimmten Ausrichtungsprinzipen und gehen von einer Art Norm aus und vergessen dem so individuellem Yogi, seine eigenen Varianten erspüren und finden zu lassen. Oft aus Schutz. Manchmal allerdings fast Sicherheitsfanatisch, was unter Umständen mehr Angst, vor irgendwelchen halsbrecherischen Momenten entstehen lassen kann. Ich hoffe du verstehst mich nicht falsch. Ich finde die noch so feinsten Ausrichtungsprinzipien super, spiele und arbeite liebend gerne damit, doch achte ich dabei auf einen offenen Geist, da solch Prinzipien nicht für jeden funktionieren können.

Noch immer ganz fasziniert bin ich von dem Ansatz der beiden Yogalehrer Jo Phee und Joe Barnette, beides Schüler wie Assistenten von Paul Grilley und Sarah Powers. In ihrem Yin Yoga Teacher Training im vergangenen November hier auf Bali hatte ich die Möglichkeit einen Monat lang ganz in deren Lehre einzutauchen. Es ist ein riesiges Geschenk, zu lernen und zu sehen, wie unterschiedlich Körper sind. In meinem eigenen Unterricht sehe ich solch Individualität ständig, doch in diesem Training wurde es so deutlich, da auf die Einzigartigkeit der Anatomie ein großer Fokus gelegt wurde. Wir waren 50 Leute im Training und hatten somit die Möglichkeit auch 50 verschiedene Körper kennen und untersuchen zu lernen. Mit großer Leidenschaft teilten Jo und Joe die Idee, dass es im Yin Yoga so gut wie kein richtig und auch kein falsch gibt. Ein Ansatz, der Zeit braucht, um verdaut und verstanden zu werden, da es oft einfacher scheint einem Richtig – Falsch – Modell zu folgen.

In einem Raum voller Menschen zu sein, die neugierig probieren, den eigenen Körper nach eigenem Gespür auszurichten, war großartig. Der Unterricht ist natürlich geführt, jedoch mit viel Raum sich selbst zu erspüren und zu begegnen. Fast wie ein Tanz, ein Abwechseln von Struktur und Freiheit.

 

Meine Lieblings-Yin-Yoga-Haltung

Nimm dir ca. 10 Minuten und erlaube dir die Zeit die du brauchst um die einzelnen Varianten zu probieren und zu spüren.

In dieser Haltung willst du dich so ausrichten, dass du einen angenehmen Stretch in der rechten Seite deines Körpers spürst. In der Rippengegend, Hüftgegend oder sogar in deiner kompletten rechten Flanke. Durch den Stretch in den seitlichen Rippen, wird eine tiefere Atmung unterstützt. Eine tiefere Atmung versorgt unsere Zellen mit nötigem Sauerstoff und wirkt ausgleichend auf unser Nervensystem. Nach traditionell Chinesischer Medizin, regt diese Haltung (Banana Asana) die Gallenblase an, wodurch wichtige Verdauungsprozesse unterstützt werden. Nach TCM wird durch Stimulation des Gallenblasen-Meridian unter anderem die Emotionen von Ärger und Frustration balanciert.

Yin Yoga Retreat
Frauke Schroth
  1. Lege dich bequem auf den Boden
  2. Bringe deine Füße soweit es möglich und angenehm ist zur linken Seite
    1. vielleicht möchtest du den rechten Fuß über den linken kreuzen
    2. oder den linken über den rechten

3.  Bringe auch deinen Oberkörper zur rechten Seite

4. Probiere die Haltung gerne mit einem Kissen unter deinen Fersen oder unter dem Kreuzbein

5. Sobald du deinen Stretch gefunden hast, bleibe bis zu 3 Minuten oder weniger in der Haltung

6. Erlaube dir auf deinen Körper zu hören. Er weiß oft genau bescheid, wann genug ist. Wenn du den Impuls bekommst   früher aus der Haltung zu kommen, mache das gerne.

Um aus der Haltung rauszukommen und die Seite zu wechseln nimmst du dir 1-2 Minuten Zeit. Ja, ganz genau. 1-2 Minuten für den Übergang.

Mit so wenig Bewegung wie möglich bewegst du dich aus der Haltung. Und bleibst einige Momente und spürst, was passiert. Nach Paul Grilley wird die Ruhepose zwischen den Haltungen ‘Rebound’ genannt. Vielleicht nimmst du wahr, wie sich deine Empfindungen von Moment zu Moment ändern und sich der Körper von ganz allein wieder balanciert.

Sobald du bereit bist, nimm dir bitte genau so viel Zeit und Aufmerksamkeit um die Haltung für die linke Flanke zu üben.

Yin Yoga ist ein bisschen das andere Extrem zu den dynamischen Yogastilen. Wunderbar und empfehlenswert ist es einen Ausgleich zu finden, aus Aktivität und Empfänglichkeit, aus Yin und Yang und am besten on & off the mat 🙂

Viel Spass*

 

>> Fraukes nächstes Retreat auf Bali im März 2017.

 

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New Year, healthier, happier you

New Year’s resolutions are about trying to break habits. Most of us want to live a healthier life and let go of bad habits like smoking or physical inactivity.

As it is hard to keep up the enthusiasm for all those DON’Ts & MUST’s why not choose some of the following Ayurvedic routines which will bring change to your perception of your body and mind in a very short time.

Pick one of the following Ayurvedic routines. If you can stick to it for a few weeks, pick another resolution and so on.

1. Live by the sun, feel by the moon.

I know, it is not easy to change habits. Especially when it comes to sleeping times. I just love the daylight and when it gets dark outside I feel my energy level decreasing. So for me it is just naturally to go to bed early and to wake up early. I love to start the day quietly & get shit done with nobody bothering me.
For most people the ideal time to go to bed is at 22h. Our bodies are detoxing and rejuvenating from 22h till 2h caused by a metabolic energy boost. You are truly missing out on beauty sleep when staying up late because the metabolic energy  is diverted to mental energy, and we get activated instead.

2. Drink Hot Lemon Water in the morning.

This is an easy and very effective one. It helps to wash the G.I. tract and flushes the kidneys.

3. Oil pulling.

The perfect oral detoxification. It removes bacteria and promotes healthy teeth and gums! All you have to do is swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. Start with 5 minutes and use a tasty oil such as coconut oil or mint oil.

4. Exercise your body & mind.

Start with a short meditation and set your intention for your yoga practice. Already 15 minutes dedicated to your morning routine centers the mind and balances the body. You will be filled with energy. Moreover you will very quickly feel the progress. There will be nothing more easy than One-Legged Chaturanga 🙂

5. Have a healthy breakfast!

The Ayurvedic Theory suggests a warm breakfast to decreases the disturbance of waking from deep sleep. My favorite breakfast is a warm porridge with lots of fruits, nuts and spices.

6. Keep your mind tranquil.

Especially in the evening time it is better to avoid mental stimulation. Don’t get yourself excited with watching the news, planning your future or having intense conversations. It’s toxic for your dreams.

7. Dedicating the evening to non-digital activities.

This might be a bit harder for most of us as we are so used to check our phones many times per hour, watch a movie or browse the internet till we fall asleep. This is a very calming ritual and brings you closer to yourself and to „real life“ friends. Start with one hour before going to sleep and try to extent this time up to three hours.

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YSC goes vegan

After being vegetarian for about 3 years I recently discovered that the production of dairy products is just as horrendous as the meat production. Well, I wouldn’t say I discovered this recently. It is more that I can’t keep ignoring it anymore.

Most people know about the horrible procedures of the meat industry and actually many of them care about animals. But still, they close their eyes to these facts because they can’t change their habits.

I was still eating dairy products on a daily basis although I knew where milk comes from. And I love cheese. And eggs. And a good coffee with milk. But there is this point when you just heard too much and then there is no going back. To know what all these animals have to go through in their short lifes just to produce dairy products made me rethink. And this is not just affecting my own plate. I have to create the menu for our Retreats and the decision to go vegan makes a huge difference at the end of the season. Only in Germany 778 million animals (excl. aquaculture fish) have been killed in 2015.

We want to inspire

Nobody should be pointing with fingers on others as all of us make their own decisions. As it came to us as a necessity to change our habits it might come to you, or it might not. Human beings are creatures of habit. It is not easy to change those habits and thinking patterns you are used to follow all your life. But it is possible when you start to see the necessity and the fact that you can make a difference. On top you are going to inspire the ones around you by not demanding certain products.

It is our demand that accounts for the miserable existence of these animals. With every day that you do not eat meat or dairy products there is less animal suffering.

Our offer

You are going to experience a delicious and very diverse, mostly vegan menu. We are happy to share our passion about vegan food with all our guests. We hope to inspire you with our creations to a mindful way of eating.

From the last season we learned that almost all of our dinners were already vegan or mostly vegan or easy to make vegan. It is just a small challenge to replace or dismiss cheese, milk, yogurt and eggs from the menu.

We start the day with tea, coffee, fruits and oats. Choose between soy and oat milk. After the morning yoga class a delicious brunch is waiting for you. Freshly baked bread, different porridges, vegan spreads, fruits, veggies and fresh orange juice as much as you want. In the lunch break we offer freshly made smoothies and light snacks, such as Chia Pudding and Açai-Nicecream. In the evening we try our best to impress you with fresh veggies, hearty dishes and colorful creations influenced by the worlds cuisines.

Find more food inspo here.