Breathe in the Azores

Yoga and meditation are the most important tools for self-awareness and reflection, softening our own inner criticisms and expanding our world – a belief that carried me across the Atlantic to start minuvida.

At minuvida, we base our experience package around the idea of connecting guests to food, hiking and yoga. Many guests attended their first yoga class here. As my Portuguese started to improve I slowly grew a local community of yoga students. Classes evolved into a mix of locals and visitors, a mix of English and sometimes comical Portuguese.

​Our post-practice herbal tea gives students an opportunity to engage in conversation. Locals enjoy hearing how much visitors love their island. Visitors enjoy getting to know locals, what they do, about the island, and even get some insider tips.

I hosted a sunset series in summer, selecting a different beach or viewpoint every week to host a class. Post-class conversations sometimes led to impromptu dinners. Those are some of the most memorable nights for me.
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Isn’t that what travel is all about? Those experiences that lead to a new friend? Gaining a different perspective? Learning how to say a few words in a new language? Communicating beyond words?

These are the experiences that foster self-discovery.

​During yoga we breathe deeply. We work to feel our breath in various parts of our body, becoming aware of the present moment – as well as the connection between breath, body, and mind. Through this awareness, we appreciate even more the abundant nature that surrounds us on this magical island. We smell more. We feel more. We smile more. And then hopefully we bring that awareness home with us. We stay more connected to ourselves and our world, day to day.

I am leading a yoga + mindfulness retreat coming up this April Join me and Discover + Feel the Azores.

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