By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

We, women, think a lot. All the time. About big things and little things. Sometimes we find some answers, many times – we’re stuck with the questions.

In the last few years one most fundamental topics and questions in the female world is – what is stopping women?*

—

Almost half a year ago I was thinking about my career a lot. I was planning to make some changes. Big ones.  It was – to say the least – a stressful and quite uncomfortable decision to make and to put into action.

The train of thought has brought me to further contemplate why we, women, experience so much stress, struggle, and worry when advancing or changing our careers. And, yes, most everything else in life.

I went to the holy Facebook and posted a question to all my girlfriends asking – what is it that they think is holding us, women, back or putting a lot of breaks along our way to success and fulfillment.  As my girlfriends are superwomen I have received many amazing responses which I later narrowed down to this little report with my own commentary.

Social norms and lack of support

The first and the most featured obstacle that mostly dominated the entire conversation was something we blame everything for. The society and its norms.  And even if it is a tired reason it doesn’t make it less legit.

The norms imposed by society, history and tradition feel like something quite abstract, but I think that it is an issue so wide and powerful that it is the hardest one to combat. Why?

Because it melts together with the external and internal issues.

External “norms” are the usual suspects – the ideas and beliefs of what a woman can or cannot, should or shouldn’t do and what are or aren’t her roles in this world (focusing on family and home vs. career, being “softer” and more “feminine vs. strong and determined, catering to man’s ego vs. voicing your own opinion, etc.)

As if it is not enough, we then take all of these external signals and internalize them – consciously or not. Even if you think you are above it, subconsciously we still are influenced and because of that – start creating restrictions, fears, anxiety and self-doubt. It’s simply incredible.

 “Culture (in the lips of own relatives and some friends) does not like strong women, as this would leave her without a male partner, which is implicitly assumed as an ultimate goal and an example of success. This make women to subdue their strong will and pretend to be what they are not, to fit the ‘norms’. A way to get out of this is to leave the country every now and then and meet other cultures, like Scandinavian or Germanic.”, – Vija M. Pakalkaite

Personally, I am coming from a mixed place – with an Eastern European background, currently living in the global and open world. The mentality and social norms in Eastern Europe are more conservative than in such places like Germany or Scandinavian countries.  And that lack of push and too much pull creates this great problem of not enough of support –  one of the main reasons women struggle.

Oh, I hear you say the closest people support you? You are lucky and this may be true, but have you encountered a paradox where the men in your life will support you, but when it comes to another woman it becomes a whole different story? The strength becomes arrogance, grit – nastiness, and determination – well, BITCHINESS.  Now you see how as soon as you exit your tiny family “bubble” the societal prejudices take over.

I could go on forever about the social norms and I think I will because only by having a conversation and putting it all out there we can fight the old ways. 

“We’re raised to draw our power from how attractive we are and how good we are in the traditional role as women (great at cooking, cleaning, raising children, etc.). It’s quite hard for us to find confidence and society approval to step outside that box. If we do, it’s a daunting road ahead, with little support in the immediate community…. but it’s worth every bit of the struggle”, – Nataša Štambuk

 Gender and family

This is a very complex issue and sometimes touches a nerve to many people, however, I strongly believe that it is something that needs to be talked about. Gender and family. So abstract. So complicated.

I don’t think I am wrong when I say that the social norms dictate that women are the primary caretakers in the family. The ones to stay at home with the family – be it children, old or sick parents/other family members. In a way it is biology (and gender) – a woman is the one who carries the baby for 9 months and a woman is the one who is going to give birth, feed the baby at the beginning of his life. It is a fact, but it poses a challenge none the less.

Depending on how big our family and closest surrounding “bubble” it varies on how long does the woman carry this main role. Somewhere it’s okay to go back to work, but you are still the one doing the most of the tasks at home, other times – it is “enough” to work part-time or freelance in order to care for the kids.

Some other “bubbles” are happier than others – a woman and a man divide those home and child-raising tasks.

Unfortunately, there are so many women outside of these bubbles and they stay at home for good. Yes, it is no secret that there are women who consciously stay at home as a full-time-moms and it is okay as long as it is their choice. A real choice. Unfortunately, many times it is not. And many times that choice comes from a place of anxiety, self-doubt and even fear. Those are never good places to base your life decisions on.

Anxiety, self-doubt, and fear

Here’s the modern “to be or not to be” for women – can I have it all? Should I have it all? Should I go back to my career or should I stay at home longer? And right here is where all the self-doubt and anxiety come to life.  Can you believe that even now, having so many freedoms and rights thanks to the ones fighting before (and today), we still face so much criticism, which comes to create anxiety?

This anxiety and self-doubt raise all these questions: do I still have the skills after time off; are there some new, younger, better candidates; am I a monster for leaving my children “alone”?

The anxiety grows and creates a mindset when the woman is left to feel helpless.

If that is not enough for you – don’t worry, there’s more. There are some legit and emotional reasons to start questioning the life choices – things like the desire to be with your family and the struggle to separate from the baby and go back to work. And when fear, anxiety, and self-doubt touch such sensitive areas –it is that much harder to fight them.

I am confident that only the support provided at home, work and from the entire societal mentality can help set the mind and emotions straight.

“Gender. Once you are not a part of a #childfree movement, you are the one who is gonna give birth, breastfeed, be with them until some 1-2 years of age. In many cases it kicks you off your career and it might be not that easy to accelerate again. Of course, it depends on your priorities, on your partner (how eager and able he/she is to help you in that journey), on your perception towards child raise (whether or not mother is irreplaceable), but me, personally, find it inevitable that I will not make for CIO as fast as I could if I were a man :). p.s. I do not regret it. I state that:)”, – Skirmantė Ušu.

“Fear, self criticism, responsibility to get and raise children, to care for their parents, the wish to be accepted by the society as “normal”=confirm, vanity, proud, in many countries it’s the lack of education and poverty, the wish/need to please men, the culturally transmitted Conviction that women are weaker than men in certain fields”, – Mieka Wizleth

“ For myself it’s a little bit of fear or anxiety to find the balance of being a mom and having a career. I stepped away from a career I loved 5 years ago to have my 2 children and it was a huge struggle for me. I love that I have been there for my kids while they were small but I definitely miss being among the grown ups and working in a job I love to do. I truly believe it is those people you chose to surround yourself with that will help guide you and support you. I feel blessed to have great friends and family who encourage us woman to follow their dreams. Now it’s my turn to get working on that….”, – Nancy Milicevic

High expectations

It’s THIS ONE. Can’t live without them, can’t live with them! We all know how much the high expectations we set for our life motivate us, but also how much they hurt us along the way.

They apply to most of the points we talked about – family, work and of course –  the fact that a woman has to have it all and give it all. Right?! 

And even though many of those expectations come from external factors, we are also confronted with the painful internalization

We want to prove things to ourselves and by extension to everyone else. Yes, as I said, it CAN be helpful.  However, there are lines to not be crossed and it’s easy to recognize them – if you feel like you can’t do it anymore – you’ve crossed them a long time ago. It becomes a hindrance instead of motivation.

“Sometimes I wonder if the high expectations for women exist as much in reality as they do in our minds. My coach told me that, for instance, a man would often take a promotion without hesitating, and might even feel entitled to it, while a woman would more often question if she really has what it takes. I know I question myself a lot. But it can be a good thing too because it pushes you to get better, just need to make sure it does not stop you from trying altogether. I also found at multiple occasions that people actually accept whatever choices you make quite easily if they know and love or at least like you. And these people are the only ones who matter really: family, friends, colleagues. Personally, the more I focus on universally decent human qualities – respect others, show interest, encourage to grow, be genuinely happy, listen – instead of looking for male / female opposition – the more acceptance and encouragement I see from others regardless their gender.”, – Olga Smirnova.

The economy of it all

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to add this last obstacle, because I still haven’t done enough research to provide stats and details. However, I decided that I must mention it, because it is a big one – and that’s a fact that does not need any research.

If all the above was not enough, our lovely society and economy make sure that women don’t get equal pay and have much harder time getting hired than men (well, but obviously – we get PMS and also may want to have babies one day).

The situation comes right back to the fear and self-doubt where women are less likely to ask for a raise or equal pay out of the fear to not get the job at all, being named DIFFICULT, BOSSY (and worse), or being told that there’s a line of others who will do the work for what’s offered.

Once again – only with the support and solidarity of others and especially other women we can move forward. Encouragement to ASK for more. Standing together. United front.

“On the gender level, economic constructs not suitable for the less career driven (not saying this is an exclusively female gender thing). “female” attributes not being validated, rewarded and paid for. “Male” attributes being the standard everything is compared to (she’s too emotional vs. what… he is too neutral??), but women being bashed when showing “male” attributes. Unequal standards, just look at the US: being called the worst liar and people wanting you hung for using the wrong email account vs. gaining absurd power by being borderline fascist, openly racist and obviously dangerously psychotic…Exclusionary male alliances often based on business or military background.”. – Sabine Mueller.

“Living in a male-dominated society, which creates the apologies from women for being strong and determined. If a woman is determined, she comes off as “bossy” or a bitch. If a woman stands up and works hard, she’s a “ballbuster” and devious. Men are not equated to the same connotations. So to break these words, we apologize, which gives us a lack of credit. Cyclical but difficult to get out of. We’ve been told we can’t be mothers or wives and still have the greatness we embody. We are told to make choices. We are trying hard and climbing up, and the biggest thing is to not give up. Not listen to the ego. Not listen to those wanting to keep us down because of their own egos or fears. #hatersgonnahate”, Vanessa Fleming.

*In this entire post I am referring and discussing mostly the situation in Western societies as there are unfortunately many places in the world where women face much more awful treatment and problems (devastating poverty, arranged marriages, lack of education etc.)

Want to dive deeper into the topics of feminism, women’s rights, empowerment, and history? These are our favorite reads.

The post What is stopping women? appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

Summersalt Yoga comes to the rescue if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your yogi friend!

We’ve scouted the treasure chest that is Etsy – you can always check the conventional shops yourself and Etsy offers so many great unique and customizable gift options! – and here are 11 perfect gifts for yogis!

1. Yoga towel

A yoga towel is a great gift – any yogi will appreciate it as it is easy to pack when travelling (and to use at the studios when you do not have your own mat) as well as easy to maintain. And for you – it is easy to pack and you can choose from endless colors and patterns!

2. Fun yoga wear

Let’s get real – no yogi will ever have enough of yoga pants, funky t-shirts and other wear. Lucky for you – the options are endless and so is the creativity of the designers all over the world!

3. Yoga mat tote or strap

Nobody likes dragging their yoga mat to the class in a regular bag or even worse – unwrapped. Luckily yoga tote bags and straps were invented and now you are set for a great Christmas gift!

4. A singing bowl

If your friend meditates, a singing bowl is a great choice. It does not only motivates to keep up with the practice, but also encourages to explore more ways to deepen it.

5. A yoga book

The bookstores and amazon.com are filled with great literature dedicated to yoga and meditation. We’re sure your friend will appreciate any new add on to their library! If you’re looking for ideas – take a look at a yoga book list we’ve compiled some time back! Click the image to see it.

6. Aromatherapy essential oil set

Who doesn’t love to disappear into the wonderful world of aromatherapy? We have a feeling that this next gift could get yourself interested in the magical world of aromas – we’re talking essential oils and their sets. You can get a set with a few samples so that your friend can try out more and decide which ones work the best for them!

7. A journal

Many people love to journal and yogis are no exception! Whether to keep a travel log, try a writing flow or plan a yoga class – a beautiful journal definitely adds inspiration!

8. A Water bottle or a travel mug

Having a travel water bottle or mug not only cares for the environment (no plastic!), saves money (you can refill at home), but also keeps the beverages cold (or hot!). And if you can get a little creative with that – it’s just another bonus!

9. Set of yogi teas

Teas for chakra balance? Yes, please! There are some awesome options and one of our favorites brands is definitely the London based “Positivitea”. To be honest – this is a great Christmas gift not only for yogis, but for anyone who loves tea!

10. Meditation cushion

Practising meditation takes special concentration and comfort. Help your friend practice by gifting them a meditation cushion! They come in various colors and designs, so you can match their home décor!

11. Yoga retreat

If you are looking for a gift for your mom, sister or a close friend and you need that they need a break – a yoga retreat can hit all the right notes. Summersalt yoga has got you covered with our retreats and the gorgeous Vis island!

The post 11 perfect Christmas gifts for yogis appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Vanessa Fleming, Summersalt Yoga teacher

Meditation. It’s everywhere you turn – people talking about it, people trying it, people saying, “Am I doing this right?” or even “I can’t stop my thoughts and sit still, so I can’t meditate correctly.”

First off, asking the question of right way or observing that one’s mind is completely all over the place is the absolute first step in cultivating a beginning step towards meditation.

So often, I am asked about meditation from students. How do they start? What’s a good source? I get it…there are so many things out there to get you on the path, but how do you know?

But before the practice even starts, I’d like to recommend a handful of resources to get you on the way, or at least get your curiosity started.

The Authentic Life: Zen Wisdom for Living Free from Complacency and Fear

by Ezra Bayda

I find this book so incredibly helpful. I read passages from it over and over again. Ezra Bayda is a meditation teacher in San Diego, CA. He has a very intricate way of putting concepts into practical and attainable terms, particularly for Westerners.

In the book, there is one recurring passage that stands out for me. Ironically, it’s in a chapter labeled, “The Eternal Recurrence.” The passage says:

There’s an old Zen saying: “Realizing the Way is hard. Once you have realized it, preserving it is hard. When you can perserve it, putting it into practice is hard….When we realize how hard a spiritual practice is, the initial honeymoon phase usually ends, especially if we believed that practice was going to save us from ourselves–from our fears and our distress. When we realize that our practice is not, in fact, going to ensure that we’ll permanently feel a particular way–such as calm or clear or compassionate–it is very easy to get discouraged. Some students leave the practice at this point. But for those who stick it out in spite of the discouragement, there can gradually come a dawning realization….

Gems of wisdom are planted throughout this book. It reads easily and touches on points of our basic understandings about ourselves, and deep-seeded beliefs that we are “fundamentally not okay.” (Chapter The Misguided Quest, p.86), which cause unnecessary suffering within our minds. Through this awareness, understanding the “Dilemma of Anger,” how to work through these, and what is beyond the seeing eye, Bayda paves a path towards understanding with his simple yet effective technique of writing about practice cultivation.

Bayda also refers to concepts Personal Love and Big Love, while recognizing the complete difficulty of unpacking what defines personal love. He refers to attachment and letting go, the Great Awakening, how to keep sight of the path, expectations and aspirations, and saying yes to fear.

The Authentic Life is broken down into 4 parts: The Territory and the Map, Awakening the Mind, Emotional Awakening, and Awakening the Heart.

Each comes with segues into the next section, and the all encompassing idea of this book is this: Letting it be. You’re merely a human in an human world, don’t get so hung up on trying to be anything else.

Towards the end, Bayda provides a “Letting it Be” Meditation practice. I won’t spoil it for you…go find it yourself!

A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah

(compiled by Jack Kornfield & Paul Breiter)

“Try to be mindful, and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful, rare animals will come to drink at the pool, and you will clearly see the nature of all things. You will see many strange and wonderful things come and go, but you will be still. This is the happiness of Buddha.” — Achaan Chah

A Still Forest Pool is a deeper look from the interpretation of Buddhism. Achaan Chah was a Thai Forest Monk. He wandered the forest for many years before he settled and created two monasteries.

While his teachings are not as simply put as Bayda’s, the message is still clear.

Achaan Chah dives deeper into the teaching of Buddha and references his message throughout. He spent his entire life dedicated to understanding the elements around Buddha’s enlightenment and insight.

This book is more suitable for someone who is ready to take on a deeper understanding of the practice of meditation, but it’s not so far deep–it’s still readable. I recommend this book for the “next step” after the practice begins.

Guided Meditation Practices by Jon Kabat-Zinn

http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/

Jon Kabat-Zinn is one of the leading modern-day Western practitioners in Mindfulness. Let’s face it, most of us can not just pick up and go sit in a monastery or a forest for months or years to learn how to quiet our monkey mind.

His method, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, is a highly popular technique for finding ways to de-stress and meditate in everyday, fast-paced life. Through the essence of adopting mindfulness, we can begin to achieve moments into the present.

Kabat-Zinn’s book, Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment – And Your Life, explores a range of techniques to begin, to deepen, to enrich and to continue a mindfulness based practice.

His website also includes a variety of resources, other books he’s written, MP3s available for download for meditation, and the like.

Alan Watts

Alan Watts was basically an Eastern man trapped in a Westerner’s body. The only problem I find with Watts is that because he’s Western, he over explains yet tries to simplify very heavy content and concepts of the practice. Watts follows the teachings of Zen Buddhism. I am currently reading The Spirit of Zen, and to be honest, I’m having a hard time with wrapping my head around it. Ironically, I’m off to a forest and have this book with me to see if I can concentrate on it, without the modern-day distractions.

Here’s a little taste of his lectures, referring to “Waking Up.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMRrCYPxD0I

I’ll report back once I finish The Spirit of Zen. For now, enjoy the dive into the next step! The hardest part is getting started…you’re more than halfway there.

In the words of my Thai Massage teacher, Pichest, with a fist over the heart and then raised to the sky….

“Gooooo!”

The post Meditation. De-mystify The Practice, One Resource At A Time appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

Is it ironic that it took me a while to write a post about impostor syndrome, because well, I suffer from it?!

It’s been acting up recently (probably relating to certain work related stress at the moment) and only with some constant repetition of “I have to do it” I have finally managed to sit down and start typing.

What is impostor syndrome?

For those who still haven’t heard about it, Carl Richards, a writer from The New York times describes it quite clearly “Two American psychologists, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, gave it a name in 1978: the impostor syndrome. They described it as a feeling of ‘phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement.’ While these people ‘are highly motivated to achieve,’ they also ‘live in fear of being “found out” or exposed as frauds.'”

Even though both genders experience it, it has been noted that women feel like impostors more often than men and it doesn’t surprise anyone (it is said that about 70% of women experience it!!!). We are more likely to question ourselves and be less confident, we raise the bar for ourselves much higher and are more critical when we do not reach it.

I feel like it is important to put it out there that such a thing exists, because otherwise the feeling is even more grim and discouraging. It gets easier when you realize that such highly acclaimed and achieving women as Tina Fey, Meryl Streep, Sheryl Sandberg or Maya Angelou have admitted to suffering from impostor syndrome (I know, right?!).

After speaking up about it to some of my girlfriends I’ve found out that many of them have struggled with impostor syndrome at one stage or another and it seems that it acts up more once they’ve entered a new field or an area where we do not have that much experience (like new job, task, project, challenging studies etc.). Even though I must stress that it is not exclusive to these situations.

Impostor syndrome symptoms include:

• Feeling like a fraud
• Devaluing your worth
• Devaluing or underestimating your own expertise, experience and capabilities
• Being convinced that you will fail

How to fight impostor syndrome?

It took some time for me to understand the issue and start taking some measures to fight it. It is of course not an easy or fool-proof task, but if practiced regularly it definitely helps. Here’s some things I’ve tried or have heard of other women try in order to get their confidence back.

• Failure doesn’t mean you’re a fraud

This one is key for me. I think that many times we fear failure so much that once it happens (and it is inevitable at some point) we identify it with us being frauds/losers as people or as professionals. This is not true and if you manage to look at it from a different perspective or from a position of any other person it will be easier to understand.

Learn from failure, look at it as a study and practice opportunity. It is not pleasant for sure, but if you shine a different light on the situation it will turn from a loss to a gain to some extent.

• Remember and own your achievements

It is natural that us, humans, focus on the negative things and failures more than on the achievements and successes. List all of your wins and realize that you wouldn’t have reached these goals if you were incompetent. Am I right? Own them, do not attribute them to luck or diminish them with such expressions as “but the circumstances where different”, “that was easy”, “I had a lot of help”.

• Keep on learning

Nobody knows everything and even the smartest people in the world are learning every day. Identify what is it that you feel is keeping you from feeling more confident and study those fields more.

• Be present and meditate

Everyone (I know I do) freaks out when they look into the future, new jobs, tasks, projects and start feeling like they are completely not ready to take them on. “Why would I even be promoted, I can’t do this anyway aaah, aah, panic panic panic”. Well, we can’t control the future, so we keep freaking out about it, right? If you focus on the task and situation at hand you will be able to manage anxiety and reassure yourself that you indeed are capable of doing things I have found that meditating daily helps to minimize the anxiety at least a little even though it can be challenging to make the practice regular in the beginning.

• Remove negative talk and vocabulary

Some studies show that there is some benefit to not forcing yourself to be positive at all times and owning the negative emotions.

However, I still find it that controlling the negative energy coming from myself and my surroundings is very powerful.

Simple steps (in the beginning not so easily implemented) are immensely helpful. Stop saying such things as “This or I suck”, “I hate this” (even if you’re talking about traffic or rain), “Well, isn’t this typical – nothing ever works out”, “what’s the point of trying – it will suck anyway”. It is important, I repeat, very important to remove such words and expressions from all life situations, not just work related. Do you really hate it (not just slightly dislike) when your coffee comes too hot or when they run out of your favorite croissants at the bakery?

Same goes for reading overly negative news or hanging out with negative people. Cut these out.

The post Impostor syndrome – what the hell? appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

(*but not anti-men)

#thefutureisfemale. Huh? The future is female is an idea and a concept I have been thinking about for a very long time. Ever since I’ve heard the expression and it’s been so inspiring to me, that it moved me to start this entire The Madame Guru project.

#thefutureisfemale. What does that mean? Well, my friends, it means exactly what it says – it is a future where every single woman has equal human rights, opportunities, and choices for their lives, careers, and bodies as well as equal influence and contribution to the development and direction of our world.

I want to make it clear that it is not an anti-men movement or in any way an emasculation conspiracy. It is such a common misconception that I feel this must be said over and over again. Men are, cool, okay?!

Unfortunately, many women still don’t believe in such a future or at least that it is near.

Here’s an example: once I posted a quote with the #thefutureisfemale on FB and one of my friends has responded something along the lines “well, a very far future”. I was so upset and sad that we, women, are so down on ourselves, that we have such low self-confidence and not enough belief.

We live in the best times women have ever lived, even if sometimes it doesn’t feel like it! We have so many things that we take for granted, but we still don’t believe we can succeed, or lead in the so-called “man’s world”.

What can we do about it, Sherlock?

You better believe it

It’s elementary, Watson. There was a time when in order to succeed and find our place in the world we had to be very “man-like”. I don’t think we’re there anymore. I think today we can do it our way. We don’t have to emulate men and their behavior anymore, especially since that type of emulation is mostly associated with negative things – a cut-throat world and harsh, mean competition. We are in a way forced to suppress our feminine energy and all set of amazing qualities in order to acquire or “pretend have” the masculine ones. But why? We love our feminine energy! And we can 100% do it our way – a natural way, that flows and is not being forced upstream.

So, what, besides the obvious things – such as equal opportunities at education, employment and such minor things like motivation, talent… – do we need to succeed? I think it’s simple – it’s the support of other women (ok, men too, but we’re talking about women now).

We’ve been pitted against each other a lot, but in reality, it is like M. Albright’s famous quote – “there is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women”. I strongly believe, that we should and can support each other in our lives, careers, relationships and I think that it is one of the keys to unlock that female future. You better believe it, because I and my feminine energy do too. We talked last night and she agreed.

Dream+believe=achieve

IN YOUR DREAMS I hear from the skeptics of the world (I hope not, because my dreams are scary as sh*t sometimes!). I will say though – if you dream it and believe it – you can achieve it. Lawyered.

It is very strange to me when people say “dream big”, because I don’t see any other way of dreaming. Is “dream small” a thing? If anyone says that #thefutureisfemale is something we should “dream big” about I don’t see much sense in the expression as the way, I see it –  it is the only way.

It’s time for women to get mobilized (it is happening as we speak, but spreading the net wider is always a good idea) be REALLY heard, and create our own legacy and by doing that fulfill ourselves as women and simply as humans.

I believe that we can achieve it if we work together. Brace yourselves, the future is female.

The post The future is female* appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

Today we’re introducing our last artist joining us this summer – travel writer, foodie, cook-book author and just a cool girl Igne from Lithuania.

“Art is a universal language. It’s a great way to spread ideas, to educate, inspire and uplift people. I think it can be used for many good and positive things, even if that means shocking people with something they don’t really want to know or see”, – Igne

What’s your story, Igne?

I am a freelance translator and writer born and raised in Lithuania. Currently living in Klaipeda – a seaside town I fell in love with more than 10 years ago and finally get to call home. I’m a passionate reader, traveler and a self-proclaimed foodie (I actually run a food blog in Lithuanian).

What do you focus on in your writing, what are your passions?

My writing reflects my passions and interests – I love writing about food, culture & travels. I believe that written word is very powerful, so I try to use it consciously. Personally, I like when texts are both slightly ironic and heartfelt (but not in the sappy way!) and I strive to incorporate that into my writing. I love it when people tell me they’ve discovered something new through me and my writing.

What’s your superpower?

My intuition. I’ve predicted several events. Sadly, not the happy ones.

What are your proudest achievements so far?

Last year I published a recipe book in Lithuanian about East Asian cuisine – I guess I could call it the highlight of my professional life so far. I also rode one of the world’s tallest and fastest roller coasters and lived to tell the tale (let it be known that I am terrified of heights).

What inspires you to create and in general?

People. We are wonderful and terrifying creatures all at the same time and it fascinates and inspires me very much. The beauty of the world is another thing that brings me great inspiration, especially if I get to spend time by the sea.

How does art help to make the world a better place?

Art is a universal language. It’s a great way to spread ideas, to educate, inspire and uplift people. I think it can be used for many good and positive things, even if that means shocking people with something they don’t really want to know or see.

What are your nearest goals?

I want to establish myself as a travel writer and finally finish that novel I started last summer! Recently, my parents decided to renovate my old room and I found dozens of unfinished novels, story ideas, poems and even one play! The sheer quantity blew me away – I’d had completely forgotten how prolific I used to be in high school and university! So now I’m feeling super motivated to do more.

Where can we find you online?

I’m semi-active on Instagram. I actually have two profiles there – one for myself (@igne_ale) and one for food (@ignes_puodas). The first one should come with a warning, though, – I love posting pictures of my dog Boogie Woogie.

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“Art is essential in our world; it is a human treasure. It is a universal language and it can be read through time and cultures. In my opinion Art and music can transcend language”, – Catalina

What’s your story, Catalina?

I’m from the north of Spain, currently based in Madrid. I am a watercolorist and I am also very interested in colour theory. I love reading, cinema, chocolate, yoga, and painting every day.

What’s your superpower?

I can sleep everywhere and at any time for a couple of minutes and, then, keep going on.

What are your proudest achievements so far?

The thing that I am proudest of is having been able to quit my previous job to become a full-time artist. Just after that, I am really proud of quitting smoking six months ago. I’m very happy to have left behind this toxic habit. I was also really proud when I had my first solo exhibition last year.

What inspires you to create?

Daily life is what inspires me the most: my family and friends, good readings, plants and flowers, the power of light, the trips I made, music and cinema. Colour is linked to the experience of light and it has a big impact in the way I paint.

I find beauty easily just paying enough attention. Attention and imagination are key tools for me.

A huge source of inspiration for me is people who have qualities that I admire, qualities that I try to focus on.

What are your nearest goals?

I would love to illustrate a children book. I would also to continue developing collaborations textile related. Reading the Divine Comedy would be another goal. The same with visit Japan and improving my yoga routines.

I ’m planning to go to India this October to do a yoga course. I would love to teach more watercolor and creativity courses abroad as I did last summer.

Finally, I would love to exhibit in Madrid, where I am studying and living now.

How does art help to make the world a better place?

Art is essential in our world; it is a human treasure. It is a universal language and it can be read through time and cultures. In my opinion, Art and music can transcend language.

You can find more about Catalina here:

@catalamitad and on her website www.catalamitad.com

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This summer we’re having 3 amazing artists doing their residencies at our retreat center. We love how art and conversation can elevate our spirits, wellbeing and change perspective on life.

Meet our first artist – writer Jade McSorley from London. Her passions are traveling, yoga, fashion and environmental issues of todays world and that just rings so many bells here!

“Art is something which creates a conversation and I think, now more than ever, people need to communicate with one another to make the world a better place. And art can be created in such a number of ways it is good for the soul – to find that cathartic release, something that is a true, beautiful expression of you”, – Jade.

What’s your story, Jade?

I live in London but originally from the North of England (with a strong accent to prove it!) I have been a model for 10 years which has allowed me to travel to many places all over the world and meet the most interesting of people. It means I have been in a fortunate position to explore and write alongside work – I currently write for the Twenty6 Magazine as the Travel Editor and I qualified as a Yoga Teacher in India last year. My friends, I guess, would describe me as half organised, with one foot on the ground, and half scatty, with my head sometimes in the clouds! My family and friends are my world – they are all a bit bonkers in the nicest of ways so they keep me entertained.

What do you focus on in your writing what are your passions?

My passions certainly focus around the environment and sustainable issues, particularly within Fashion and Travel. When you travel you get to see the most jaw-dropping, beautiful landscapes given to us by our Mother Nature and it’s impossible not to want to protect and preserve.  Interviewing inspirational people from all the over the world has allowed me to gain knowledge on the efforts and, unfortunately, lack of effort from industries affecting our little planet. Fashion, for instance, is a prominent factor which takes from nature and needs to give more back. I hope, through my writing, I can explore more ways of living sustainably, learn from pioneering advocates, and send a message about our environmental imprint through the choices we make.

What’s your superpower? 

I hope that my superpower is to bring out the best in people and make them feel comfortable! My other superpowers are that I can fly and shoot lasers from my eyes, but that’s a secret.

What are your proudest achievements so far?

I guess my proudest achievement is making the move to London and having the guts to start modelling. I am not the most confident but I have learnt to be confident enough to go for my goals, which I feel all started from the move to London – to go for things even if there is a possibility to fail.

How about your nearest future goals? 

I am currently applying for my Masters in Fashion Futures (all about sustainability in the fashion industry) at Central Saint Martins. I am working on the application, which is pretty difficult having not studied in so long, so this would be a massive achievement if I were to be accepted.

What inspires you to create and in general?

Nature inspires more – not only the nature of the world but the nature of people. I think everyone has their quirks and individualities and I love seeing that. It makes the world colourful.

You can find more about Jade here:

@jademcsorley and you can read some of her work at www.twenty6magazine.com

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By Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga founder

Friends, I’m so happy to introduce another wonderful lady to our “The Madame Guru” series. We’ve met Erin last year and her sweetness (she’s Canadian after all!), stories and experiences have inspired the whole group.

Erin is a yoga teacher, a busy woman and also – someone who is open and vocal about her chronic migraines with a hope that sharing her experience can help others.

This is a really good one, guys, so dig in!

We can’t create change without acknowledging something in the first place – and while we can’t necessarily overcome something like an illness, we can certainly talk about it openly and use it to support others.

Erin, what’s your background and what do you do?

I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which is pretty much the farthest that you can get on the Canadian east coast. It’s a city of about 300,000 people – so quite small by global standards. I love that it has a historic feel in comparison to much of North America, as we still have the original citadel, some cobblestone streets and walkways, and building facades from the original 1700s town.

My educational background is in marketing – I have a BComm and MBA that both focused on marketing. I currently work in media planning, specializing in digital and social media. It can be very busy, but I love getting to learn about all the different industries in which my clients are involved.

You’re also a yoga teacher – could you tell more how and why did you get into yoga?

That’s actually kind of interesting – I grew up playing a lot of sports (ice hockey, soccer/football, volleyball) and spent a lot of time at the gym, so for many years I actually felt that yoga was not for me, and I wanted nothing to do with it. I had tried a couple of classes and really didn’t enjoy them. I didn’t know at that point that there were different styles of yoga, and how much the teacher and their influence and personality can bring to the class and experience. I was going through a lot of stress at the end of university and my doctor insisted I swap out one gym session a week. My gym had a yoga/pilates fusion class, which I mainly picked because it was included in my membership, and after giving it a real chance, I discovered how much I enjoyed the challenge and how different it was than anything else athletic I had done in the past.

I sort of fell into teaching – I had just returned from spending a year in Ireland and my gym was looking for instructors. I was about to start grad school, so I felt it was a great time to take the training and something fun for me to do on the side.

What’s rewarding to you about doing yoga and teaching it to others? What do you learn from it?

I think what I love the most is the connection that I’m able to make with the people that come to class – finding out about their lives, and what they personally get out of yoga. I also love that I’m constantly learning through my classes – whether it’s a better way to communicate, how yoga can help people navigate through various difficult periods in life or advancing my own practice through tips from fellow instructors. I love that it’s a never-ending journey – the more you learn, the more you realize you have to learn.

You are open about the fact that you suffer from chronic migraines – could you tell a little more about what that is and how does it affect people?

There’s a common misconception that migraines are a bad headache. A lot of people not involved in the neurological community will actually use the terms headache and migraine interchangeably – and this is simply not the case. A migraine is a neurological disease that encompasses many symptoms, the most common of which is an often-excruciating headache. Symptoms can be different for everyone, but they can commonly include: visual auras (disturbances such as holes in vision, the appearance of sparkles, blurring, and many other variations), dizziness or vertigo, nausea, depression & anxiety, sensitivity in the senses (light, smells, sounds, even touch), tingling or numbness in the body, sudden fatigue (or the opposite, a manic or hyper feeling) and food cravings.

For me personally, I often get what are called ‘silent migraines.’ In other words, these are migraines without the headache pain, but generally with some type of aura and dizziness. In advance of an attack, I will usually go through ups and downs of fatigue and mania, and really intense cravings. When I’m at the height of a migraine, I will often find myself struggling to remember words, and can become severely depressed or anxious.

For those who are chronic, like me, migraine cycles can go for days or even months at a time. While some people are able to take leave from work, most aren’t able to do so. This means that while trying to manage crippling symptoms, they are also trying to, not just function, but excel at jobs or school or parenthood (or whatever else they are choosing to do).

Why did you decide to talk openly about the illness and what it does (which I think is an amazing thing to do) when there is still quite a taboo about talking about almost any illness in general?

I’ve had migraines my whole life, but up until about 3 ½ years ago, they were episodic. That means I only had a couple of episodes per year, I had figured out what my triggers were, it was easy to manage, and I didn’t think much about it. When I suddenly turned chronic, meaning I was dealing with it every single day, it became very overwhelming. I didn’t know anyone else that also had chronic migraines or even any other similar chronic illnesses. I felt extremely isolated and alone, all while trying to understand what was happening to me. I made the decision that if I couldn’t find others talking about it, I would be the one to do so. We can’t just wish for change, we have to make it happen ourselves – and I hoped that by being one of those individuals with a voice, I could help make things easier for someone else going through a similar situation.

How do you cope? And as it has not just physical, but also mental effects – what tools do you use to stay as balanced as possible and live your best life?

Yoga and meditation are both things that I use to cope. Being able to center yourself and breathe deeply are great ways to just bring a sense of calm when you’re feeling really sick and everything is a bit overwhelming.

I also try to take as much rest as I need, and more and more I’m learning the boundaries that I need to set with people. My weeks are extremely busy, so I sometimes find that by the time the weekend comes, I am worn out. And it’s ok if I need that time to rest and have quiet time. The people that truly care about my wellbeing understand that, and won’t be upset that I don’t necessarily want to be social all the time.

I’m a big believer in Western and Eastern/Holistic medicine working hand in hand. So while I do have prescription medications and receive injections regularly, I’m also on a three-week cycle each with massage therapy, chiropractic treatments and acupuncture. I also take a number of supplements (magnesium, sodium/potassium and B12) to help keep my body as healthy as possible. While supplements should vary depending on individual needs, these three do tend to be quite commonly taken by migraine sufferers.

I also find it’s really helpful to find someone that understands what you’re going through. I’m lucky in that one of my coworkers and best friends is also a chronic migraine sufferer. While she and I actually get very different symptoms, we can completely understand what the other is going through in a way that nobody else can. We’re able to empathize and really support each other when one of us is going through a particularly tough time. Having a chronic illness can often be very isolating, so sometimes that can be one of the most important things for your mental wellbeing – knowing that you aren’t alone and that there’s always someone there to listen.

How does yoga fit into this picture?

Yoga has been an amazing support for me, both when I’ve been feeling particularly unwell, and when I’ve been healthy! In my personal practice, it’s my me-time, when I’m able to reflect or focus on goals, or sometimes just find a place of calm where I’m fully connected with my breath. I think this is what helps the most when I’m in the midst of a migraine cycle. Being able to have that space where it’s just the (gentle) movement and the breath – often that’s the one time that I’m able to feel a sense of grounding and a decrease to the mental symptoms.

Has there been any feedback from your students, followers about your shared experiences? What kind?

Not a huge amount from my students – I think the big thing is that they see I’m “normal” – that I have bad days where I struggle with things, and that I’m not always doing everything perfectly. What has been incredible is connecting with yogis and others with various illnesses via social media. I’ve gotten great feedback from them, and I love building that network of people that are going through something similar.

Women today are reaching new milestones in their professional lives, in the way they are treated and perceived, but sometimes there is an idea that we need to have a strong façade and health issues does not “fit” in that picture. What’s your take on that?

I completely agree, and it’s something that I still struggle with on many days. The longer that I live with chronic health issues, the more I subscribe to the idea that true strength comes from being able to acknowledge our weaknesses. We can’t create change without acknowledging something in the first place – and while we can’t necessarily overcome something like an illness, we can certainly talk about it openly and use it to support others. While sometimes it can be really hard to truthfully talk about what’s happening in my own life, for fear of being judged, I know that it’s really important for me to walk the talk. Being open has allowed me to connect with so many people – both yogis and individuals dealing with their own chronic illnesses. The more that people start feeling comfortable with being open, and start sharing their own stories of overcoming challenges, be it health issues or something else, the more we will tear down that image of women having to be constantly strong and perfect.

What would be your tips for anyone suffering from the similar condition to yours? Do you have any insights that helped you and could help others?

I think the two best pieces of advice I could give are to be patient with yourself, no matter what condition or illness you’re going through, and to make sure you have supportive people around you. The patience is something I’m constantly working on, but I have learned over time that bad days or months happen, and stressing yourself over how long it will take to improve isn’t going to make it happen any faster. Find what self-care options make you feel like the best version of yourself, and focus on the little victories every day.

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By Milda Urban, Summersalt yoga founder

Social responsibility, contributing to something that makes the world a little bit better place – especially for those living in less fortunate places of the planet –  has been a part of my focus and goals for more than 10 years now.

There were two main things that I found challenging sometimes, though. First one was the HOW. How can I do something meaningful and impactful besides sending an occasional text message for some charity?

The second one was even a little bit more confusing – is it okay to talk about it and announce publicly that I am doing something to that effect? Is it bragging to say – I am now part of this important organization or I am contributing regularly to this charity?

An important step

When I’ve started my own business these questions became even more pressing. From the very beginning, I wanted to run a socially responsible business, to be a part of something bigger, to contribute, to (no matter how cliché it sounds) make a difference. Even if a small one.

After more than 5 years as a business owner, I was finally in a position to make a larger step in that direction rather than just some sporadic acts here and there.

And to my joy this year we have finally joined a business for good organization B1G1 that creates impacts in places and communities in need all over the world. They do so with the help of various businesses and also give an opportunity for those businesses to create impacts in the area of their own personal investment, interest, and choice.

More about the B1G1 organization and our projects here

Inspire others

I was so thrilled to have finally found a place where our company can contribute consistently and with an out of the box approach. However, I was a little hesitant about announcing it publicly. Is it okay? Does it sound like bragging? Will my say – hey, we’re doing this awesome thing – diminish the intention?

I don’t know if this is a generational thing, but it was so hard to get over these anxieties, being very public about anything is still not a natural state for me (hey, I am at the beginning of the millennial spectrum!).

However, because of my experiences in various organizations and because of my time as a reporter I understand the power of publicity. Sometimes bad, yes, but so many times SO great. By talking out loud and showing what you’re doing good you’re not only spreading word and awareness of the cause – you’re also motivating others to take similar steps.

Businesses today (and people personally too!) are understanding more and more of the need to be a positive impact in society and even if the steps to create that impact seems like marketing sometimes, SO WHAT? If the contributions are honest, genuine and most importantly – needed and effective – it is not a bad thing to talk about them. Not in my book. It is a privilege and honor to do something more and for someone else but yourself and I hope we can continue doing so now and in the future.

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