It Began with Bali By Jamie Nicole Wirht

It Began with Bali.

It was not so long ago I quit my job in fashion. Cold turkey with no real plans.

Why? Because I was unhappy where I was. I could feel it in my body, hear it in my thoughts, and others could see it on my face.

The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted to help people and I knew I couldn’t wait much longer to explore that path. Then of course uncertainty started to kick in...

How would it happen?  When would I know?  Where would I start?

So I decided to ask for signs and trust that it would all fall into place.

November 2016 I was in a yoga class. Right after shavasana, the teacher mentioned she had one final spot left for her yoga retreat to Bali in January. I got full body chills. 

Could this be it?  Could this be the next step?

That night I went online and looked up the retreat. Thankfully it was not your average yoga retreat. The title read…Manifest & Magic Bail Retreat. Learn how to manifest the life of your wildest dreams.

I was Sold.

It was a full body YES.

So I let go of the fear of traveling alone and the uncertainty of what would happen. I quit my job that December, packed my bags, and went…

Bali is not a place. It’s a vibration. A portal. A location to go to experience a different version of yourself. The person you could be without all the fears and limiting beliefs you currently have. The person you are craving to be but you just don’t have the time, can't see the next steps, or don't even know where to start.

Bali was a big shifting point for me and I am happy to have it help change you too. 

It’s now two years later and I am a yoga teacher and a spiritual life coach. I teach others how to manifest their dreams lives because I manifested and created mine. On this retreat, I will teach you all the tools that got me to this point. I am now getting paid to empower others and do what I love in the place that started it all.

But to get to this point I had to jump. I took many jumps and so can you.

If you are waiting for a sign, a signal, a moment, a feeling, a change…this is it. 

This is your sign!

Enough is enough. Don’t go your whole life playing small. Wishing, wanting, and hoping. Your dream life is yours if you want it.

Get in the driver's seat. Take charge. Your life won’t change if you don’t start changing it.

If you feel called, take the jump and come CONNECT, CREATE, & RECHARGE in BALI with me! I am Co-leading with my amazing friend and teacher Miki Ash on October 10th-16th. 

I hope to see you in paradise.

Learning To Trust Again in Tulum By Carly Benson

A story of leaning into trust by one of our retreaters, Carly Benson.

I have trust issues from being cheated on and out of a lot of money, lied to and backstabbed. What's funny is I knew this, but I didn't really know this about me. I didn't know how deep it runs or the well of anger it has caused in me.

And then I came to Tulum for the fourth time and the Universe handed me the ultimate lessons in letting go and learning to trust.

As amazing as it is in Tulum, what people don't tell you is that it's not like the states...

You can't flush your toilet paper. The mosquitos are on another level. You can't drink the water or use ice. My room has no A/C. And the most terrifying of all: my room also has NO lock on it. Meaning when I go to sleep I have to trust and have deep faith I will be kept safe and protected.

Don't get me wrong, it's one of the most magical places and I'm not complaining, but rather keeping it real about the amount of surrender that goes into traveling internationally.

While these things all seem like a big trade off, it wasn't until I had no lock on my door, that I realized part of my journey here this time was to relearn how to trust. Myself. Life. Others. God.

And to remember to be OK with walking into the unknown. The uncomfortable. And to not just be ok, but to embrace it all. Even the things that make me feel unsafe or uneasy.

To trust that I'm being guided and to know the universe always has my back. To know that I don't need to have 20 locks on my heart either.

I'm reminded of a quote that goes something like this: The caves we fear to enter, hold the treasures that we seek. I entered the cave of trust this trip.

In learning to trust again, I've also learned a thing or two about forgiveness, which is one of the most priceless treasures I've ever tried to find.

Who knew that having no locks on my door would lead me to such gold. 

Follow more of her insights and adventures on Instagram: @carlybbenson

The Beauty of Traveling Alone by Kori Zornes

My name is Kori, and I am a travel addict-

I constantly crave new adventures, it is my drug of choice.  The first time I got the courage to travel alone (yes I was scared), it forever changed me.  It lit up my soul. I gained freedom and inspiration that will forever make traveling a part of my lifestyle and a part of who I am. 

Here are just a couple reasons why myself and many others of our retreat goers choose to travel as a party of one:

1.  Meet Interesting People

The best way to meet new friends?  Be alone.  People are much more approachable when they are by themselves.  You will be amazed by the number of people you meet while traveling alone.  There are so many wanderlust individuals roaming around the world looking to make new connections, learn about other cultures, and find new friends.  You may be surprised by the interesting people you meet along the way and the life-long connections you make.

2. Be Yourself

Often times we get so caught up with fitting in.  We have to act a certain way at work, in our relationships, and in our society.  When you leave everything behind and venture off on your own, you can be exactly who you are; honest, real, lost, found, happy or sad. There is no judgment when you take this journey.  You are a unique individual who is enough. 

3. Enjoy “Me” Time

How often do you really get alone time to do whatever it is that makes you happy?  Sometimes we forget how nice it is to spend solo quality time to just be with ourselves.  You start to listen to your thoughts, gain new insights, entertain your daydreams- it's all part of that quiet alone time.  Imagine lying on a beach or hiking through nature in blissful silence, soaking in how happy you are to have time with the most important person- YOU.

4. The choice is yours

Sometimes the hardest part about traveling with others is making decisions… where to go, what to do.  Now think about being able to make all of the decisions based solely on what you want.  Maybe you want to enjoy the entire day sipping cocktails at a local bar, or maybe you want to spend the entire day sightseeing.  When you travel alone you get to decide what to do, where to go, and how the adventure plays out… Your story lies within your hands!

5. Feel Empowered

Nothing is better than facing your fears, getting out of your comfort zone, and setting on to a new adventure.  When you travel you learn, you grow, and you get over obstacles- imagine doing it all alone?  It is empowering!  That solo trip may feel daunting at first, but when you get out there and do it, you may realize how much you can take on in life.

“As you travel solo being totally responsible for yourself, it's inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are.”