My yoga teacher training with All Yoga Thailand was intense. We lived, breathed, ate, and slept yoga for a month - and I loved it! We were totally immersed in the culture, and I can honestly say it was the most rewarding month of my life. So naturally 6 months after the training I was ready to get that fix again. I didn’t want to dive into anther teacher training so felt the next best thing would be a yoga retreat, where I could live and breathe yoga for a week or two and indulge in a little ‘me time’. I started researching retreats …. and was shocked at the price! A weeks retreat in Portugal was not far off what I paid for my teacher training in Thailand and didn’t even cover the flights! Determined not to let this stop me from escaping I decided to research how to make my own DIY retreat, booking everything separately and on my own terms. Firstly I decided the country I wanted to visit, then searched yoga to find areas that were yoga friendly. I love surfing and hiking so ensured any place I was looking at could accommodate for these activities too. Needless to say my DIY retreat plan worked and I  have continued to do this every year saving bucket loads. So for anyone thinking of doing the same here are my top 3 DIY retreat destinations …

Nicaragua: San Juan del Sur/ Playa Maderas
Where to stay? Casa Maderas Ecolodge
Where to do yoga?  Zen Yoga
Where to surf? Playa Maderas (boards can be rented from Casa Maderas Ecolodge) You can watch the most beautiful sunset on the planet at this beach too!
Where to eat? Buddhas Garden cafe for amazing smoothie bowls (attached to Zen Yoga) 

Sri Lanka: Weligama Beach 
Where to stay? WEscape Poshstel 
Where to do yoga? Hang time Hostel 
Where to surf? Lucky surf academy
Where to eat? Hangten Rooftop cafe for yummy coconut pancakes and vegan banana bread

England: St Ives, Cornwall
Where to stay? Lower Deck Apartment 
Where to do yoga? Alicia Waters Yoga
Where to surf? St Ives Surf Academy, Porthmeor beach
Where to eat? Porthmeor Beach Cafe for local food and beach views

I teach weekly yoga classes around Folkestone, Kent. My classes start from 6pm onwards, so I get  students often rushing to class straight after work. This poses a question ... what should I eat before class??? 

The thought of stomaching a full dinner half an hour before diving into Downward Facing Dog is not only unappealing but also not the best choice for your digestive system. 

So... my food tip for a quick pick me up of energy before class is peanut butter! And not the sugar filled shop stuff. I'm talking a home made earthy spread filled with protein and nothing but nuts! It is by no means a meal replacement, but a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter before class will keep your energy levels high and tide you over until Savasana! Eat it with rice cakes, crackers, apple slices or even on it's own.  

Here's the super simple recipe ...

Pour a bag of un salted peanuts onto a roasting tray and coat with a teaspoon of coconut oil. Roast for 10-15 minutes. Take the peanuts out of the oven and put them into a blender. Blend the peanuts on full power for 10 minutes until they turn into a spreadable mixture.

Enjoy!

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