Outdoor Yoga

Dobrodošli v Sloveniji!

(Click to read in English)

Priljubljeni skriti biser Evrope? Oksimoron, da večjega ni! A v Sloveniji ta stavek nekako še vedno ima smisel. Slovenija zagotovo ni prva država, ki pride na misel daljnemu popotniku, ki se prvič odpravlja na potovanje v Evropo. Naša mala dvomilijonska kura namreč gnezdi med velikani evropskega turizma, kot npr. Avstrija s svojimi smučišči, Italija z zgodovino in Hrvaška s svojimi otoki. Kljub vedno večji prepoznavnosti se velik del obiskovalcev tukaj ustavi naključno, po nesreči ali pa zaradi hladnokrvne pragmatičnosti na poti proti Hrvaški. Sledi presenečenje, nato vzljubijo novo odkritje in podaljšajo postanek ter se v Slovenijo vračajo. Kaj pa, če je čarobnost Slovenije prav v tem paradoksu?

Novo leto je in na National Geographic seznamu 25. držav, ki jih morate obiskati v letu 2023, je tudi Slovenija. Opisovati mnogo plasten slovenski karakter na zgolj dveh straneh bloga, bi bilo brezčutno dejanje. Zato vas v tem blogu z nekaj alinejami slovenske samosvojosti želimo zgolj navdihniti in ravno prav popraskati, da boste odkrili, zakaj je Slovenija ena izmed naših najljubših.

Gore, morje, vinogradi, gozdovi – vse v enem ugrizu

Kje na svetu na tako majhnem območju še lahko najdete takšno pisano paleto dejavnosti in prizorov iz veličastne narave? Od zasneženih vrhov na severu do lesketajoče se sredozemske obale, svetlo turkiznih rek, starih gozdov, zaspanih gričev, starih zgodovinskih krajev in živahnih mest – vse to je stisnjeno na 20.273 km² ozemlja. 

Slovenija je dom Julijskih Alp, prave pohodniške poslastice. Tukaj so se razcveteli adrenalinski športi in aktivnosti na prostem. Blejsko jezero z otočkom na sredini, gorskim ozadjem in gradom na vrhu pečine, je ena najbolj ikoničnih destinacij v Sloveniji. A to še zdaleč ni vse! Nedaleč stran je Bohinj z največjim slovenskim jezerom in divjo naravo, pa Kranjska Gora in seveda turkizna dolina reke Soče! Slovenci  smo aktivni in močno povezani s svojimi gorami. Tako zelo, da trdimo, da nisi pravi Slovenec, dokler se ne povzpneš na Triglav – najvišjo slovensko goro. 

Na jugu države piha mediteranski veter. Slovenija ima zgolj 46 km obale, posute s slikovitimi sredozemskimi mesteci, kot so Piran, Izola, Portorož in Koper. Nad obalo trdrno stoji Kras, apnenčasta pokrajina podzemskihih rek, jam in kamnitih vasic. Poleg čudovitih suhih zidov so tu Škocjanske jame, ki so del Unescove svetovne naravne dediščine. Najbolj znana med 8000-imi jamami v pokrajini je tudi Postojnska, dom nenavadnega, dolgoživega, slepega in zmajevemu mladiču podobnega podzemnega bitja – proteusa, ozirom »človeške ribice«. 

Na vzhodu države življenje pleše v počasnejšem ritmu. Tukaj so doma štorklje, sladko vino, mineralni vrelci, živahna romska kultura in nerazumljivo narečje. Na jugu države pa se razprostira kočevski pragozd s svojimi rjavimi medvedi. 

V sredini vse te raznolikosti je udobno nameščena Ljubljana. Ljubka prestolnica je polna čudovite arhitekture, ustvarjalne ulične umetnosti, zmajev in prijetne kavarniške kulture. Ljubljana je ravno prav velika, da lahko začutiš živahni mestni direndaj in ravno prav majhna, da se zdi, da se nikomur prav nikamor ne mudi. 

Slovenska kulinarična eksplozija 

Če Slovence vprašate, kaj je slovenska tradicionalna jed, boste dobili zmešano skledo odgovorov. Tako kot narava in kultura je tudi slovenska kuhinja veličastna mešanica lokalnih sestavin prepletenih z vplivom okoliških kultur. Skoraj vsaka regija, vas ima svojo lokalno jed. Pestra in bogata gastronomska ponudba Slovenije vam omogoča, da okusite najbolj prepoznavne kulinarične dobrote v kar 24 kulinaričnih regijah. Kranjska klobasa, jota, prekmurska gibanica, štruklji, žlikrofi, žganci, goveja juha, frika … Kjer pa se uradni seznam konča, se začne ustvarjalnost visoke kuhinje in sodobnih kuharskih nadobudnežev.

Se Vidimo v Slovenija

Slovenija je torej destinacija, ki resnično ugodi vsem potrebam, željam in muham. Ne glede na to, ali se odpravljate na počitek in ponovni zagon, na aktivno pustolovščino, kulturni izlet ali pa na solidno mešanico vsega, je ta prava izbira za vas.

Z jogo obarvano potovanje po Sloveniji je edinstveno prav zaradi uravnoteženosti. Pridružite se nam na nepozabnem AdZENtures joga oddihu v dolini Soče. Spoznajte Slovenijo in dolino Soče skozi nepozabne in pristne dogodivščine!

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Austin – THE place for your bachelorette

Bachelorette Parties in Austin – THE place for your celebration

The bachelorette party is meant to be a big celebration for a person before they transition from single to married life. It’s full of fun, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. Most celebrations include activities and adventures designed to get the group out of their comfort zones, make new memories together, and ultimately spend quality time together. Austin offers bachelorettes everything they need to have the best and most memorable bachelorette party ever! Combine outdoor activities with some of the best nightlife/food scenes in the country and you’ve got yourself a successful bachelorette party in Austin!

As the number one destination for bachelorette parties in the U.S., and rightfully so, Austin has so much to offer. It doesn’t matter what the theme is, if you have a small or big budget, what the group size is or any of that…you’ll be able to design an amazing and unforgettable weekend for the bride-to-be. You can bar hop, find amazing restaurants, have a spa day, enjoy some outdoor activities and still make it back to your Airbnb or hotel to rest up before your next day of adventures!

Outdoor activities

One of the best things about Austin is you have great weather year-round so you’re able to get outside and soak up some vitamin D while exploring our amazing home. With a beautiful boardwalk and trails all throughout the city, it’s the perfect place to incorporate some physical activity in nature before indulging in the amazing culinary/nightlife scenes! Looking for a few group activities to do outside? Here are a few of our recommendations…

• Add a little mindfulness to your weekend with Outdoor Yoga & Mimosas or Yoga, Hiking & Breakfast Tacos
• Rent a Standup Paddle Boarding from Texas Rowing Center on Lady Bird Lake
• Grab breakfast tacos from Pueblo Viejo and head to Zilker Park for a picnic with a view
• Walk the Barton Creek trail to auditorium shores and take photos from the Long Center with the skyline in the background
• Patio pub crawl – start on the East side at Lazarus Brewing and make your way through downtown over to Hold Out Brewing on the West side
• Grab your swimming suit and head to Barton Springs
• Walk the trails at the Greenbelt, start from the trailhead off of HWY 360 and Spyglass
• Rooftop Bars – Handlebar, Eastside Tavern and Caroline’s have great outdoor seating options
• Rent bikes and pedal around the Hike & Bike trail…bring drinks and stop every so often to enjoy the different parts of the trail

Food, food and so much more food!!

Austin is known for having one of the best and most diverse food scenes in the country. Whether you want to spend your time hopping from food truck to food truck or sit down to a swanky meal or both, you’ve come to the right place! Not to mention, Austin is one of the most friendly cities when it comes to accommodating dietary restrictions – dairy-free ice cream trucks, gluten free bakeries, alcohol-free bars and more! You name it, we have it! So when it comes to finding food for your bachelorette parties in Austin, the hardest part is narrowing it down! Well here are some of our favorites…

• Tacos – Pueblo Viejo or Torchy’s (the OG in Austin)
• Pizza – Via 313 or Pinthouse
• Asian – Lin Asian, Elizabeth Street Cafe
• BBQ – this one is tough and heavily debatable but because it’s our post, we’re going to tell you our fave – Terry Black’s!
• Healthy – True Food Kitchen, Bouldin Creek Cafe, Sweet Green
• Mexican – El Alma (best marg in town), El Contigo
• Thai – Sway
• Burgers – Hop Doddy
• Dressy night out – Perry’s (FAMOUS pork chop), Swift’s Attic, Lenoir
• Brunch – Laundrette, June’s, Magnolia Cafe (greasy spoon spot)

Nightlife – our recommendation on the perfect ATX night out

After dinner head on over to Whistler’s for a fancy, schmancy cocktail and some cool vibes. Either choose from their delicious menu or let one of the mixologists choose a drink for you. Don’t rush your visit here…good things take time, including quality cocktails…but they are so worth it!

Next stop, Native Hostel…another one of our favorite cocktail bars. This place is super chic and typically has some live entertainment on the weekends. Artsy vibe that tends to draw an amazing crowd of cool people. Then on to the next…

Whether or not live music and country dancing is your typical scene…we cannot recommend this place enough – The White Horse! Visit one of Austin’s finest establishments (and by finest, I mean the BEST), grab a bottle of your favorite domestic beer or rail drink, play some pool and then make your way over to the dance floor to watch some AMAZING two step dancers float across the floor. Arrive early (8ish) to catch the lessons on Friday or Saturday night so you can join in the fun! Have two left feet? Not to worry, the regulars are there to show you a good time and will make you feel like the bell of the ball! Get a little bit country and have a ball at one of our favorite local dives!

After stompin’ your boots around the dance floor, head back West to the one and only, Rainey Street. This place is always full of great music, quality bars/cocktails and pizza/food trucks catering to the late night snackers in the group. Cannot miss this iconic street in Austin!

And if you’re still standing and looking for a night cap, head on over to Small Victory, our favorite little speakeasy…it’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention but this small hole in the wall has one of the best Old Fashions and French 75s in Austin! A great way to top off a wonderful weekend celebration in ATX!

Enjoy your bachelorette parties in Austin, y’all!

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Benefits of Nature

Nature can boost your mood

Nature is an invaluable resource when it comes to happiness, offering up a whole host of health benefits that are associated with improved moods and feelings of well-being. If you need an instant pick me up, then take yourself outside for some fresh air. Just 20 minutes in nature can have the same effect of up to two hours at the gym.

Boosts Your Memory

Getting outside is a great way to boost your memory and overall cognitive performance, in addition to being an effective treatment for dementia and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. A study carried out by researchers from the University of Michigan found that spending time in nature can even help improve your ability to pay attention and concentrate.

Strengthens Immune System

Getting outside is an effective way of boosting your immune system, helping you fight off colds and other illnesses that might be hanging around at this time of year. Spending just 20 minutes in nature has been shown to increase levels of antibodies by up to 50%.

Nature Helps Reduce Stress

We all know that time spent outside can help to improve your mood, but another one of the benefits of nature is that it has a direct effect on the brain, reducing levels of stress hormones and producing a calming effect on both body and mind. Research shows that even just looking at photos of nature is enough to lower cortisol levels and stress hormone activity.

When we’re stressed, our minds are constantly occupied with worry and negative thoughts. This can lead to a negative outlook on life and can be very damaging to our mental health. But when we take a break from the city, the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and spend time in nature, our minds have a chance to relax and de-stress.

Encourages Mindfulness

Long Story Short

Nature provides nourishment for the mind, body, and soul which can help to improve your overall well-being. In today’s world, we need respite from our hectic, technological lives. Regularly taking a break to connect with nature can help you reduce stress levels and improve your overall health. If you live in an urban area or work primarily indoors, make it a point to connect to nature in some way every day whether that’s by taking a walk, flipping through a book or simply taking some time to look out the window.

Looking for a way to reap some of the benefits of nature? AdZENtures all over the world always include one aspect of nature immersion, whether it’s a mountaintop yoga session in Slovenia, a sailing lesson on Lake Annecy in France or Hiking and Breakfast Tacos in Austin, TX. We’ve come up with the best recipe for an amazing and mindful experience which includes nature immersion along with outdoor adventures and mindful experiences. If you’re interested in joining us for an AdZENture around the world, check out our experiences and retreats!

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Outdoor Yoga in Austin

What is Outdoor Yoga?

Outdoor yoga is a form of yoga that is practiced outside in nature. It offers the same benefits as traditional yoga but is more relaxed. The natural scenery helps soothe the mind and allows you to focus more on your practice. Practicing with friends also offers support and community. Outdoor yoga is a great way to connect with nature and enjoy the peace and serenity it provides.

Yoga Studio or Class vs. Outdoor Yoga

When looking for a yoga class, it can be tough to decide whether to take a studio class or practice outdoors. Both have their unique benefits, so it ultimately comes down to what you’re looking for in a yoga experience.

Studio Yoga

If you’re looking for intense, challenging yoga practice, a studio class is the way to go. Studios typically offer a wide range of classes that cater to all levels of yogis. You can expect high-quality instruction from certified instructors in a safe and welcoming environment.

Studio yoga also offers many opportunities for growth and self-discovery. As you progress in your practice, you can take more advanced classes and explore different styles of yoga.

Outdoor Yoga

If you’re looking for a more relaxing yoga experience, it may be best to take your class outdoors. Outdoor yoga in Austin is typically slower-paced and incorporates movement with breath-work. You can expect gentle poses that will help warm up stiff muscles and calm the nervous system.

Practicing outdoor yoga in Austin with AdZENtures, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful setting that will help your mind and body to heal. You can experience the joy of sunshine on your skin or feel the cool breeze through your hair as you practice poses like tree pose or downward facing dog. Yoga is for everyone, but some people might enjoy taking outdoor classes such as those who live in cold climates where they can’t be outside much during winter months; those who struggle with depression and need something positive to focus their energy on; and even athletes looking for an extra edge by practicing meditation before your next competition! If these sound like you, then take advantage of what our company has to offer: we provide high-quality instructors, comfortable mats, and practice in a scenic space. Book an Outdoor Yoga AdZENture in Austin!

Types of Yoga Practiced Outdoors

Many different types of yoga can be practiced outdoors. Some of the most popular styles include:

• Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga is a gentle form of yoga perfect for beginners. It focuses on the physical postures or asanas and helps to improve flexibility, strength, and balance.
• Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa yoga is a more active form of yoga that combines breath work with movement. It is a cardiovascular workout that increases strength and flexibility.
• Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga yoga is a physically demanding yoga that is best suited for intermediate or advanced yogis. It builds strength, flexibility, and stamina.
• Iyengar Yoga: Iyengar yoga is a form of yoga that uses props such as straps, chairs, and blocks to help improve flexibility and increase strength. Because it incorporates so many poses, Iyengar yoga can be very challenging.

How to Practice Outdoors

If you’re looking for a great way to enjoy outdoor yoga in Austin, TX, look no further than AdZENtures! We offer a variety of classes that are perfect for all levels of yogis. Our experienced and certified instructors will help you deepen your practice and connect with nature. With our unique approach to yoga, you’ll love taking part in outdoor yoga in Austin, TX!

Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your practice:

1. Find one of our scenic location that inspires you. Whether you’re practicing in a park, by the river, or near a big oak tree, choose a spot that makes you feel at peace and inspires you to connect with nature.
2. Arrive early to set up your mat and props. This will help you get settled into your practice and avoid being rushed.
3. Connect with your friends and community. Yoga is more fun when you practice together, so bring along your friends and family. You can even set up a meetup before class, so you have time to catch up.

Who Should Take Outdoor Yoga & Why

Anyone can take outdoor yoga in Austin, regardless of their experience level. Outdoor classes are perfect for beginners because they are slower-paced and focus on the basics of yoga. Most yoga studios are inclusive and friendly but there can still be something intimidating about practicing yoga in a studio surrounded by those who are experienced in the practice. Outdoor yoga makes for an even more accessible and inviting experience, the focus isn’t 100% on the practice itself, but on the whole experience of connecting with your breath and body through movement outdoors. Expect to have a relaxing and enjoyable experience from start to finish!

Interested in practicing with a group or friends, family or for a special occasion? You can reserve our Outdoor Yoga in Austin for private groups. Whether you’re celebrating a bachelorette or just a weekend away, book an active group experience with AdZENtures.

Bottom Line?

Practicing yoga outdoors with AdZENtures, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful setting that will help your mind and body to heal. You can experience the joy of sunshine on your skin or feel the cool breeze through your hair as you practice poses like tree pose or downward facing dog. Yoga is for everyone, but some people might enjoy taking outdoor classes such as those who live in cold climates where they can’t be outside much during winter months; those who struggle with depression and need something positive to focus their energy on; and even athletes looking for an extra edge by practicing meditation before your next competition! If these sound like you, then take advantage of what our company has to offer: we provide high-quality instructors, comfortable mats, and practice in a scenic space. Book you AdZENtures experience in Austin today!

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