MY 200H YTT EXPERIENCE IN BALI

Yoga + Inner Transformation

If someone would have told me at the beginning of April what the month of May had in store, I simply would not have believed them.  As fate would have it, I wound up receiving an opportunity to travel to Ubud, Bali to work while earning my 200-hour Yoga Teacher certification through the Shades of Yoga program at Taksu Spa.

Throughout my time in Bali, my experiences on and off the mat are quite hard to put into words.  For one, the idea of participating in a Yoga Teacher Training can be scary, even daunting.  The long hours, new faces, remembering the sequences, and thought of teaching a class is a bit intimidating.  Off the mat, the foreign destination, new home/environment, and strong energy of Bali can create a massive shift in everyday life.  Why are all of these concepts so scary?  Because individually and collectively they all bring about change.

The definition of change means “to make or become different.”  Like I discussed in a previous post, when we are settled in our daily routine, why would we want to incorporate change?  Why would we want to personally be different?  Why change your life and embark on a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in just 21 days?  Simply put: because change can transform us in ways we have never imagined.

During the month of May, Yoga Teacher Training ushered in new energy to help explore aspects of myself I did not know existed.  While I have been practicing yoga for eight years and in-depthly studying philosophy for six years, I felt my personal growth accelerate throughout the entire four weeks, which I credit to the Shades of Yoga program at Taksu.  During the intensive training I was able to challenge my mind through new concepts and meditation techniques, and challenge my body through “correct” postures and alignment.  These new changes to my daily routine soon started to transform my life.

My experience in Ubud, Bali at times felt emotional and uncomfortable, yet cleansing and liberating. From the second I arrived at my guest house (Kunang Kunang) to the moment I boarded the plane back to Chile, my life had gone through a transformation.  Thinking back, I would not have had the opportunity for such growth if it were not for my time at Taksu with Shades of Yoga.

Before embarking on my new spiritual, yoga journey, I had a few days to settle in to the Balinese way of life.  Ubud itself is a magical place.  There is an array of delicious, healthy restaurants, a plethora of yoga studios, and different wellness spas on every corner.  The small city itself radiates with high vibes and spirituality.  The Balinese culture is rich, and the locals greatly value their traditional heritage.  I immediately felt a strong sense of peace and acceptance upon arrival in this magical city.

After a few days of some relaxation from traveling, I was ready to begin my Shades of Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training course at Taksu.  I must say, the venue is absolutely amazing.  When I first walked into Taksu Spa, I was amidst a tranquil, tropical jungle, lush in nature.  From the entrance, a small pathway leads straight to the Shades of Yoga Shala.  The Shala is where my classmates and I spent the majority of our time, whether practicing yoga or engaged in lectures.

Monday through Saturday I made my way to Taksu Spa where the day began with 30 minutes of mediation, 30 minutes of pranayama breathing, and a one-hour asana class.  After breaking for breakfast, the rest of the day was comprised of lectures, self-practices, and/or learning the sequences, always ending with a second one-hour yoga class.

The Shades of Yoga course is more than a teacher training, but a life course guide to living one’s highest potential.  The program is designed to take you out of your comfort zone, providing the chance for all students to look deeper inside of themselves.  In my experience with SOY, the regimented yoga and meditation practices began to release and uncover “blocks” or stuck energy I might have been holding on to, creating changes to how I think and feel.  This process is cleansing, and causes life-lasting effects within your mind, body, and spirit.  While change can be painful in the beginning, the benefits are astounding. I began to feel more “open” and my intuition became stronger.  I even started to have “ah-ha!” moments to questions that have bogged my mind for quite some time. I really felt a strong shift in just four short weeks.

Not only did yoga and meditation accelerate my self-growth, but the lecture classes played an important key to my development of self-awareness and inner knowledge.  The May students and I learned about the Ennegram Personality system, Yamas and Niyamas, Chakras, Spiritual Philosophies, and Anatomy (to name a few).  Our group was also lucky enough to experience an hour long sound healing session.  The Shades of Yoga program is extremely well-rounded, providing the students with the most top-notch teachers in the field. I felt humbled to have found a curriculum that tapped on so many different subjects.  The program was also extremely supportive, providing one on one guidance and personalized attention to each person partaking in the course.

While the Shades of Yoga program is amazing in itself, the cherry on top was the serene, peaceful venue known as Tasku Spa.  Taksu is not only home to SOY, but is both an exquisite restaurant and state of the art wellness center.  Taksu offers an organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner made only with the finest, freshest ingredients.  For Shades students, breakfast is included in the training, and I must say, this was one of my favorite parts of the program!  After morning meditation and asana practice, we were given a one-hour break to indulge in the breakfast buffet.  The Taksu breakfast included fresh, tropical fruit (my favorites were the papaya and dragon fruit!), granola, oatmeal, yogurt, spring rolls, sushi, coffee/tea, and an array of hot food (I definitely got hooked on the coconut yogurt).  It was such a great perk to the teacher training.

Not only does Taksu Spa offer healthy, delicious meals, but top-quality spa services as well.  During my time in Ubud I was lucky enough to experience the amenities and relaxing treatments Taksu Spa has to offer.  For example, during lunch after a particularly physically challenging day, I was able to squeeze in a reflexology foot massage. Immediately after booking my appointment, I was lead down a cobblestone pathway to a tranquil spa house – all located right next to the Shala.  Not only was the foot massage exactly what my body needed in that moment, but the session was conveniently located.  During my two-hour lunch break I was able to decompress for a full hour, with time to spare to eat a healthy lunch outside at Taksu.

Aside from my reflexology treatment, I had the chance to decompress for two hours deep in the jungle for another rejuvenating spa service called The Royal Mandi Lulur.   The Royal Mandi Lulur is a (highly) recommended treatment consisting of: aromatherapy Balinese massage, full body scrub, and soothing bath filled with fresh flowers.  When I checked into Taksu Spa for my Royal Mandi Lulur appointment, I had the option to choose which aromatherapy scent and scrub I wanted for my treatment.  From there, my masseuse lead me through the lush forest to my room – surrounded by the vibrant energy and the soft whispers of nature.  Taksu is uniquely designed and sits on a small hill in the jungle.  The walk to the spa is also quite beautiful.  Throughout my treatment I truly felt like a queen! The staff was beyond friendly, attentive, and extremely professional, and the atmosphere gave me a sense of relaxation, peace, and ease.

With all of the changes my mind and body were experiencing, I felt extremely thankful that Taksu Spa is home to the Yoga Teacher Training venue.  The space proved to be healing and nurturing, a great outlet for both myself and the other students.

As the Shades of Yoga Teacher Training came to an end, I realized how much I experienced in such a short amount of time.  Life is comprised of one change after another, some external or internal, some changes we facilitate, some out of our control.  Moving forward, how do we deal with these shifts when they arise?  How can we release fear?  How can we use change to our advantage? We must "let go" and learn to trust ourselves and know timing is always perfect.  Change is the catalyst to growth, which facilitates positive transformation, which pushes us to living our divine potential.  Without change, how would we reach our goals?  Our dreams?  How would we ever fulfill our heart’s (authentic) desires?  We must believe in ourselves as we shift out of our mundane routine into a space that is foreign and new.  I know for a fact that positive, yet uncomfortable, situations can lead to new friendships, better ways of living, and experiences not even imaginable.  Opportunities we never thought possible all of a sudden come into fruition once we embrace change. 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to deepen my insight and gather tools to use during day to day life.  What a month of self transformation!  Thanks to my time in Bali, I am a different person for the better.  

Whether or not teacher training is YOUR calling, I hope that everyone reading this can welcome change with open arms.  Buy the plane ticket, embark on that adventure, start a new project, or sign up for a 200-hour Y  Your life is not in the past or future, but this exact moment.  Now is always the perfect time, embrace it.

“IN THE END… We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” – Lewis Carroll

Officially 200-hour certified!

THE POWER OF CHANGE

For many (or most) of us, the word “change” can be scary and/or uncomfortable.  It is a word and a concept that can mistakenly take us by surprise and cause a shift in our daily routine.  As I sit at a cafe in Ubud, Bali, looking back on the past year, it is undoubtedly crazy how much change I went through.  In May 2017 I put in my leave of absence at my corporate job, preparing my move to Chile in June, and not having the slightest clue as to what to expect.  My move to Chile brought immense amounts of change, in some ways more difficult than others.  It brought about the obvious, like language, culture, and living situation changes.  But along with those came others I did not expect - changes with my way of thinking, my beliefs, what I really want out of life.  Not to mention huge changes spiritually - not just within my self but also in my career.  Continuing forward, my move to Chile led to my one month stay in Bali, an enormous change that basically happened overnight, and would not have been possible without my South America venture.

So how do we deal with these changes when they arise?  How to we break out of fear mode to allow the changes to come into fruition?  From someone who likes to control things, we must trust.  Divine timing is always perfect.  When we are presented with a challenging change or perhaps an “out of the blue” seemingly positive change, we must feel what we are going through and use it for personal development to further better our lives.  Change is the catalyst to growth, which is the catalyst to positive transformation, which pushes us to living our highest potential.  We must know the dark to experience the light.  We must believe as we delve into new concepts and ways of living.  Once we accept change, our growth accelerates.  Moving forward, if change is extra scary for you, start small.  Watch how the little day to day changes you make greatly affects your life.  From there, trust builds and even greater miracles will occur. <3

Allow. Trust. Feel. Know. Believe. Accept

-The Now With Nat

5 GROUNDING TECHNIQUES

My Top 5 Techniques To Stay Grounded...

We are awakening this very moment to a global transformation. Intense energy is coming through at lightning speed, through solar activations, lunar cycles and shifts in consciousness (to name a few). It is important during this time to protect ourselves and to stay grounded as our DNA is re-wiring and re-activating, dissolving old timelines and programmed thoughts that have been embedded in our soul since the beginning of time. As the energy shifts, we can feel less balanced, lethargic, experience head aches, and just feel “off”.

The new year energy started off STRONG (leaving many of us feeling confused and a bit sad) as we dropped old habits, people, situations, and thoughts that no longer serve us. Below are my top five ways to remain grounded during these intense, yet transformative, times of change. <3

1. SPEND TIME IN NATURE

Spending time in nature + simply connecting to the Earth rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul. Take time by the beach, go on a hike, or simply dig your bare feet into the ground. A mere 20 minutes can do wonders, leaving you with a new sense of clarity and peace.

2.  YOGA + MEDITATION

Through yoga, one not only receives a great physical work out, but obtains a healthier mind as well. Yoga and meditation teaches us the act of breath work as we train our minds to become still by sitting in silence and/or hold challenging poses. The practice of yoga also creates balance and detoxification within our bodies and organs. Old emotions and dense vibrations are released, creating more space for light energy.

3.  JOURNALING

Journaling is one of my favorite techniques to release old thought patterns and to gain insight about a specific situation or obstacle I might be facing.  Journaling gets our creative juices flowing as we let our emotions pour out on paper. I find this technique freeing. Sometimes a single thought turns into a few pages worth of expression and releasing. If you are a first timer, I guarantee you will be surprised how much information reveals itself on paper.

4.  SEA SALT BATH

Sea salt baths purify you on a spiritual level. The salt draws out and dissolves negative energies that are held within our bodies — from our own thoughts and experiences, or through interactions with other people. When we surround ourselves with others who might feel anxious or stressed, we can naturally take on these energies as if our own. Salt not only grounds you, but clears your aura as well — leaving you feeling lighter and more balanced.

5.  CREATIVITY

What drives your soul? Do you like to paint? Draw? Play an instrument? Plan an event? Think of something that you LOVE (or miss) doing. If this seems impossible, what small step can you take to get closer to feeling creative? As we embrace our passions and acknowledge our creativity, (without judgement), our vibrations rise, creating a balance between mind, body, and spirit.

"With greater understanding comes greater knowing. With greater knowing comes greater self realization. With greater self realization comes greater wisdom. With greater wisdom comes greater truth. With greater truth comes comes greater self expansion. With greater self expansion comes greater knowledge that we are everything, yet nothing."                   

- The Now With Nat

TUESDAY NIGHTS ARE THE BEST NIGHTS

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Pelourinho, Salvador, known as the “Old Historic City” has one of the best Tuesday night parties in all of Brazil.  Every Tues night, percussion bands parade the streets and bring out a crowd of people from all over the world - where everyone is dancing, drinking, making new friends, and simply enjoying life!

Music is everywhere in the city, and stages are put together at the main squares. I had SO MUCH FUN dancing Samba in the streets, and then heading to a square to continue the dance party!  Salvador has so much flare and culture.  Highly recommended and one of my favorite cities to date.

SALVADOR HAS MY HEART

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Salvador- one my favorite places I visited.  Located in the northern part of Brazil in the state of Bahia, lies a beautiful, colorful city rich in culture.  I was instantly in love with Salvador the second upon arrival.  The rainbow city is booming with life, creativity, diversity, and soul.  The “Old Historic City” in Salvador is a traveler’s mecca.  I especially loved the old ornate churches that line the streets, and the people in Salvador are so so friendly!  (click below to scroll)

The first two nights I stayed in a hostel called: The Hostel Salvador.  This hostel is walking distance from the beach and night life.  It also has a beautiful roof top with a pool- you definitely get a bang for your buck!  The next two nights were spent in Hostel Gallery 13.  Located in the heart of the historic center, this hostel was my favorite.  Every night between 5:15pm-6:15pm the hostel owner hosts happy hour with free caipirinhas for all of the guests!  (One of the best caipirinhas I’ve tried, I might add)  This is a great way to meet fellow travelers, many of whom I am still friends with today.

The main restaurant I recommend is: Bar Zulu.  Bar Zulu is located in the historic center of Salvador (walking distance from Hostel Gallery 13) and it does not disappoint!  Their top dish is the Moqueca (meat, shrimp, or vegetarian) and the restaurant is vegan friendly.  The cocktails are all delicious, but I went with the caipirinha of course! 

(beaches & Bar Zulu below)

Get your Samba on…

If you are looking to go out at night, there is a row of dive bars right near the beach in Rio Vermelho (Salvador).  I had SO much fun going out here, but the city itself is dangerous- make sure you stick with a group of people that you trust.  Also, my friend and I made sure to remove all of our jewelry while we were visiting Salvador.  You do not want to stand out as a target for pickpocketers.  

Tuesdays:  The Tuesday night dance party was my absolute favorite!!  My next post will be solely on the samba dance party in the streets on Tuesday nights..

Throughout the week you can find outdoor samba concerts around the city.  Salvador loves to dance!  No wonder why I love this city so much…. <3

MORE COLADAS IN MORRO de SÃO PAULO

Morro de São Paulo, Bahia, Brazil

Morro de São Paulo- one of five villages on the island of Tinharé, Brazil.  MDSP is a place of pure tropical paradise- with some of the clearest waters and most beautiful beaches in the world.

Click pictures below to see slideshow

Morro de São Paulo is not a place I thought I would visit.  My friend and I were staying in Salvador, Brazil, planning on visiting a national park.  However, our itinerary quickly changed when the bus tickets to the park were sold out!  Since I met a few people who highly recommended the village, I immediately booked a round trip boat ticket to the magical island.

Since the majority of my trips are "backpacker style", my friend Kelsey and I stayed in a hostel called Che Lagarto.  Che Lagarto was more like a mini hotel!  We had our own room and bathroom- which is super rare for hostel life.  Surrounded by nature and the beautiful beaches, Che Lagarto is clean and full of travelers from all over the globe.  They have a lovely common area with hammocks and a game room, and a mini bar stocked with yummy traditional cocktails.

Since we only had 24 hours, we immediately changed into swim suits and went straight to the beach.  We did not have time for any tours, but were completely content with relaxing near the ocean, piña coladas in hand. 

One of my favorite parts about the island is that all of the restaurants are right on the beach!  One gets to dine by candlelight with toes in the sand.  These beachy restaurants make it a perfect (and romantic) place to watch the sunset.  And if you are looking to go out after dinner, nightlife on the island consists of traditional music and dancing on the beach until the early morning sun.

Oh, and the chocolate piña colada is HIGHLY recommended!

One thing I found interesing is Spanish (not Portuguese) is the first language on the island, even though Morro de São Paulo is part of Brazil.  There are not many Americans, for most of the tourists are from Argentina or Brazil.  

Poster at the hostel upon arrival- a sign?! ;)

HOT SPRINGS, THE GALAXY, + FLAMINGOS

San Pedro de Atacama (Pt. 3)

The Atacama Desert offers SO many attractions, that it is quite frankly difficult to choose which ones to see!  Along with the recommendations from my previous posts, here are three more of my top choices…

PURITAMA HOT SPRINGS

The Puritama Hot Springs is one of my favorite places in Atacama! (but mostly because I am a water girl) Nestled in the middle of the mountains lies an array of hot springs.  Walking down to the water is breathtaking.  The views are incredible, and dipping into the warm water surrounded by vegetation is nothing like I have ever experienced.  I am pretty sure I spent about two hours in the hot springs- I did not want to leave!  There are also showers/changing rooms available, as well as  picnic tables if you decide to bring lunch.

STARGAZING

One of the last tours I signed up for was the stargazing tour.  Since you are located in the middle of a vast desert, the sky is completely clear- you get to see the entire Milky Way!  The tour was about two hours and very informative.  However, I must add that I did get cold by the end, since it starts at 10pm.  After the tour (which is all in Spanish), you get to view the sky through advanced telescopes- viewing stars and the planet Saturn- up close! (Because it was nighttime and the stars are so far away, I do no have any pictures!)

LAGUNA CHAXA

I recommend checking out Laguna Chaxa close to sunset.  What is so incredible about this place is you get to see flamingos in the desert, and the colors of the sunset are beyond STUN-NING!  The sky looks like it is on fire!  For about $4 you get a small tour and a history about the flamingos.  Truly incredible!

Click pictures below to see slideshow

MOON VALLEY

San Pedro de Atacama (Pt.2)

Our second tour was Valle de la Luna, or, “Moon Valley” - one of my favorites!  It was quite warm while exploring, which made it hard to believe I was in freezing temperatures that same morning at the Geysers.

A must for hiking - a Fanny Pack!  (mine is Everest for under $10!)

Valle de la Luna is a must see.  The terrain has been carved by the wind, creating a mix of stone, salt, and sand formations.  The wide range of texture and color resembles the surface of the moon- hence the name.  Our tour guide took us hiking up and down the mini mountains, with spectacular views I have never seen in my entire life! 

COLONIA, YOU'RE CUTE

Colonia, Uruguay

Colonia, Uruguay is such a fun little destination to explore.  Only a three hour boat ride from Buenos Aires, Colonia is one of the oldest towns in the country.  Located on the coast of Uruguay, I had no idea what to expect, plus I did not know much about Uruguay in general!

When I arrived on land I felt like I was in a different world!  The quaint town is full of charm and history.  Lining the cobblestone streets is an array of homes, restaurants, and boutique hotels- all of Portuguese and Spanish influenced architecture.

My main recommendation: Rent a golf cart!  This is an affordable way to drive around Colonia and to easily see the city in a day!

Main attractions: Puerta de la Ciudadela, Plaza Mayor, House of the Viceroy, & Calle de los Suspiros.

#thenowwithnat

HOLA, BUENOS AIRES

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The first night of my trip was an absolute world-wind!  I flew into Buenos Aires, Argentina and had less than 24 hours to explore the city.  With that being said, my friend Kelsey and I thought the best way to quickly see the city was by bike!  The tour we booked was through BA Bikes - a four-hour tour that takes you all over Buenos Aires.  We made multiple stops where our bike leader was also our tour guide, providing historic and culture facts about the diverse city.

My favorite neighborhood we biked through was La Boca.  La Boca is comprised of the most colorful streets in all of Buenos Aires!

After our bike tour, we went back to Milhouse Hostel to get ready for dinner.  Even though I was there only a night, this hostel provided a fun environment and is booming with backpackers from all over the world.  (They also have a hostel in Cusco!)

My only dinner in Buenos Aires was at La Cabrera Sur La Cabrera Sur, which I HIGHLY recommend!  Kelsey and I split a steak dinner, where the portion size was enough for four people.  {Not to mention the wine is amaze}.  Imported from Chile, we split only $25 for a bottle of Malbec, which is equivalent to $100+ in the United States!

Mas vino, por favor!