I'm Heading Out on an Adventure!

As I write this, I’m getting ready to leave for my Tuscan Yoga Retreat! And I’m feeling so many emotions.

The biggest one is excitement, because I’ve been to Italy a couple times in the past and I remember the beautiful landscape, food, and people! Of course, I’m excited for the time to travel, but first and foremost, I am going on this trip to provide an amazing experience for the people who signed up for the retreat. And I have no doubt that we will form bonds and friendships that are meant to happen in each of our lives right at this moment.

I’m also filled with gratitude. When I decided to host an international yoga retreat, I was definitely afraid that no one would sign up. As a yoga teacher, planning something like this is a big risk. Often, you have to put down a deposit on a location before you know if you have anyone signed up. And since asking people to pay thousands of dollars, take a week of their time, and be away from commitments at home is a lot to ask, I was definitely nervous. But I am grateful for the students who have trusted me with this investment of time and money. And I was shocked to hear that all of them said they would have never done something like this but trusted ME enough to provide a safe, fun, and organized trip! No pressure!

And that does make me a little nervous. I want to make sure I give them an experience that warrants the investment that they made. I have a well planned agenda, and have been corresponding with the owner of the villa (who is adorable, by the way) and local tour guides to ensure we get to experience all that we can while we are there. But I also know that things don’t always go according to plan, especially when you’re traveling! So, I’m setting my expectation to be flexible. I will not be able to control everything, and I suspect we may have some hiccups along the way, so I’m going to try and roll with the punches and adapt when necessary.

And finally, I know the emotions that arise when traveling, being away from friends and family, and being forced outside of comfort zones. So, I hope that I can hold space for these students, because quite frankly, each of them have their own reasons for wanting or needing to do this. I hope that this experience of travel, along with the different types of yoga we will explore, will help them grow, learn, and be inspired.

I’m looking forward to this adventure and can’t wait to share it with you! If you want to follow me on the journey, find me on Facebook or Instagram (carafraseryoga)! If not, I’ll see when you I get back!