What comes to my mind first is the food!  The cordon bleu trained chef is amazing!  You won't have one morsel of prepackaged, processed food the entire week.  It's the easiest vacation you can imagine.

Puravida staff picks you up from the airport and whisks you the quck 20 minute ride to the beauty of PuraVida.  Surrounded by lush gardens, you'll settle in your accomodations and then wander around the grounds to check out the spa, yoga rooms, hot tub, pool and maybe even wander across the road to walk through the coffee plantation.

Smoke detector batteries only begin chirping in the middle of the night.  Why can't batteries die in the daylight?

What are your quandries about life?

 Shunryu Suzuki said: If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind, there are few... That is the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner.

With those words of wisdom in mind, I thought I'd offer a few ideas on some of the questions that have been posted on the site with the reminder to listen to the teacher that is within your Self and an open mind may find all sorts of interesting pathways.

The good news is, some of these questions are really easy to answer...

1.We DO take walk-ins at Rishi's- you are most welcome any time!

2. There are a huge number of poses that you can do at home- it really depends on what's right for you. Safety is obviously of paramount importance. I recommend at least one gentle backbend, forward bend and twist followed by a good 10 minutes of savasana (also called corpse pose) every day.

However, even just putting more awareness into your 'normal' movements can make a big difference- especially since these are the ones we do all day. Try to catch yourself periodically throughout the day- look at your posture. Do you put more weight on one leg than the other? Are your feet straight or do they turn out or turn in? Do you cross your legs a lot while you sit? Is your spine often hunched and collapsed? 

Just building awareness is incredibly powerful!

3. The rocks are just cool- I know this was a bit of a joke question, but it reminds of a garden filled with rock cairns balanced like this one that I saw once in Monterey, CA- quite an interesting hobby, don't you think?

4. Pain in the thighs can mean a large number of things and I'd recommend getting checked out by a yoga therapist, physiotherapist or doctor. From there, there's a huge range of possibilities for healing any injuries that may have occurred. Really taking the time to stretch before and after you workout will not only make your workouts more comfortable, they will make them more effective (and that is worth the extra 10 min!).

Be really careful with cleanses. They can be good, but many are equally harmful. I really recommend consulting a nutritionist before trying one. Make sure you choose a time to do it when you can take time out from work and stress to be extra kind to your body!

5. Travel is really tough on all of us- especially eating. Many grocery stores nowadays have salad and/or soup bars that can be just as quick as walking into a fried chicken restaurant- plus you can grab juice, deli slices and your favourite healthy snack and make a feast!

Yoga does have a bit of a hippy rep, but these days people from all walks of life are making the choice to make their bodies and minds healthier with yoga. It's a lot more than stretching- it's strength, balance and flexibility. Ask yourself this: what do you have to lose by giving it a try? Is it worth not trying it considering your answer to the previous question? What if it could help make you feel better than you ever have before?