Yoga Retreats and Training in Spain!

I've been practicing yoga for a long time.  I think my first class was when I was ten or so.  I took classes on and off, as well as some pilates classes.  4 years ago, I was working at the YMCA and they had been offering pilates until the girl who taught it took a break.  That was the first time I thought about becoming a certified instructor for any type of fitness class.  I liked the serenity of it. I enjoyed learning different ways to use my own body weight to strengthen every muscle.  I wanted the class back, and instead of finding a teacher, I would just become one.  So I started looking into the training for it, and soon later realized I would be moving half way across the country for the Navy.  So that was nearly forgotten about.

While at our first duty station, I took full advantage of the free gym and classes on base, and started practicing yoga again.  When we moved to Virginia 3 years ago, my one class a week turned into 2.  Then when I realized that the same teacher on base was also teaching for free at our own apartment complex, I attended class 3 times a week.

I fell in love with the way the teacher taught.  It was more about strength, less about meditation.  It was more about being comfortable with yourself, not being afraid to ask questions, instead of the typical "silent" yoga, where you're afraid to cough or giggle.  She would explain which organs or muscles were being benefited with each pose.  This was the type of yoga I truly felt a connection with.  It inspired me to study on my own, with help of Yoga Journal and Pinterest.  I started bringing my own poses to class. 

Yesterday I had a frustrating day.  I fought the usual urge to curl up on the couch with my knitting and Netflix for the rest of the day, and text a friend for a one on one yoga session in our apartment gym.  An hour and a half later, I was in a great mood.  I had accomplished a couple self goals with my balancing poses and my muscles were shaky and sore.  (pictures below are of these poses, but not of me.. maybe I'll start bringing my camera down to the gym)

A few days ago, I had stumbled upon a 200 hour yoga teacher training retreat in Spain.  This retreat was near Valencia, it was a good price, and it would provide a once in a lifetime opportunity.  This morning I was looking at the site again, and what I previously thought was a 20 day retreat, was actually a 10 day course in April, followed up by a summer of self study, and a second 10 day course in October.  It was still doable, but a little disappointing... so I did some more searching.

I found a 20 day teaching retreat just an hour away from the base in Rota!  If I stay in the dormitory (sharing a room with 3 other women), the price is the same as the one near Valencia.  3 vegetarian meals a day is also included, and their olive oil is made right there!  The dormitory slots fill up quickly, so I plan on registering as soon as we get the OK for moving in May!  I'm so excited to stay at the Suryalila Retreat Centre.

If I obtain my teaching certification, I'm hoping I can teach a class or two on base there, as their yoga options aren't as plentiful as they are here in VA.  When we finish with the military and move back to Western NY, I hope to find a teaching job, or better yet, open my own little studio.  As I have said before, yoga is such a great tool for obtaining and maintaining mental and physical health. 

Introduction: Why Did I Make a Blog?

After hoping and dreaming, and by some amazing stroke of luck, my husband and I found out we will be transferring through the military to Rota, Spain this year (2014).  We will be there just shy of 2 years, as it stands right now, and despite some apprehension concerning family and my extremely long to-do list, I am thrilled. I had spent 3 weeks traveling Spain in 2004 with my father, but as a 17 year old freshly out of high school, I did not get the most out of my stay.  I now know what not to do, what I should most definitely do, and I've had 10 years to build my (until now, hypothetical) trip.

Having studied it for years in a structured environment (from 5th grade up until level 4 Spanish in college), and owning several books on Spain/Spanish, I am not the typical transfer from the states.  I'm interested in some topics which are not as common. I know all about the late meals, the typical siestas, tapa bar hopping, etc, but what about going to the hair salon? What about knowing the local traffic situations? I have lived in 3 main parts of the states: Western New York State, Northern Illinois, and currently Southern Virginia (namely Hampton/Norfolk area).  In NY or IL I knew that if I searched something on Google maps and it said the trip would take 20 minutes, I could usually count on that, with maybe a 5 minute variable.  In Virginia, 20 minutes can easily take an hour.  So in my informational searches for houses or apartments, do I search in the town that is 25 minutes away? Or will that mean it's an hour drive each way?

These random facts are things I hope to address with this blog as I move and become settled in my new country.  I hope to help others who will be making the move.

Beyond informing about Spain to future transfers/inhabitants, I also will be using this blog as a diary of sorts for my family and friends to share my experiences and adventures. A large part of my life that I'll be taking to Spain with me is my love of crafting and cooking, so there may also be a sprinkle of that in there as well, especially when I find those wonderful Spanish markets I've heard about!

Stay tuned for more of my exploration through travel, crafts and cooking! ¡Hasta luego!