my life, spirituality, travels and more
Sayulita 101: your guide to Sayulita
Sayulita 101: your guide to this magical little town and pics from our trip
Sunsets in Sayulita from the North end.
As I am sitting here looking out the window seeing a dark, gray and rainy Helsinki, I can’t help but to miss the vibrance of Sayulita. To ease that longing, I decided to make a little guide on the town as I receive lots of questions on what to do, where to eat and so forth. As many of you might know, I spent nearly 7 years residing in this little beach town, which is probably why I get direct messaged with these questions a lot. I’ve actually already written a few blog posts about Sayulita in the past; one on cute shops, one on where to eat and one on where to stay. However, for the simplicity of it all, I decided to gather everything under one post, that will hopefully serve as a guide from here on (feel free to share with anyone asking the same questions). Another reason I made this post, is because the town has changed a lot in the past few years and I felt the need to update my previous lists a little, so that you can have a more fresh input on things in its current state.
To have your heart in two distinct places is not always the easiest thing, but at the same time, I am extremely grateful to be calling two places home. I love hosting retreats in Sayulita and our recent trip there was absolutely magical. In lack of better words, I simply couldn’t have asked for more. We had such an amazing group of people and there were these new connections made on a way deeper level I couldn’t even have imagined. I also want to extend a special thank you to my friend, colleague, fellow yogi and co-host Jonna, whom it was a pleasure working with. If you’re interested in joining us next year, make sure to shoot me a message as we will soon be publishing our new dates. But in the meantime, if you’re planning a trip to Sayulita or need some inspiration for a trip, read through this simple Q&A formatted guide:
WHERE IS SAYULITA AND WHAT IS IT LIKE?
Sayulita is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, just an hour north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit. From Finland the travel is easiest either through LA or Mexico city, which after you hop on a short flight to PVR. There used to be a direct flight from Helsinki to PV, but unfortunately they decided to discontinue it. If you’re traveling from the states, lucky you, as there are numerous direct flights to Puerto Vallarta on a daily basis. Sayulita is a relatively small beach town (population about 5000), most known for its surfing, its vibrant colourful boho vibe along with it being a popular wedding destination. In its early days, Sayulita was considered to be a quaint fishing village, however those days are (unfortunately?) long gone, because just like any other popular tourist destination, also Sayulita has grown, a lot. Especially in the past few years. Today Sayulita is still mostly known for its surf, beaches and laid back & relaxed vibe, however there’s also a big growing underbelly of a party town happening as many decide to throw either their bachelor/bachelorette or wedding parties there. Sayulita is also known as a cultural melting pot with lots of expats from all over the world, even though the majority of all expats are still either Americans and Canadians. For some odd reason there’s also lots of Argentinians, Italians and a few Finnish people (known as the Finnish mafia).
IS SAYULITA SAFE?
Many people refer to Sayulita as the safe little bubble of Nayarit as Sayulita is considered to be a cocoon of safety compared to the rest of the state. As Sayulita is a tourist spot, it’s in everyones interest to keep it safe and keep the tourism thriving. That being said, Sayulita is no Helsinki Finland and there’s certainly more crime than in our Scandinavian neck of the woods. If you’re smart and don’t roam around at 4am in the night, you’ll be fine. In a nutshell: be wise about where you move, with whom and at what time. My recommendation is to always use the buddy system and never walk alone at night or at dark. You’ll be fine by using some common sense; don’t leave your things out of sight while swimming etc.
Cotton candy skies.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?
Mostly sunny and warm throughout the year. There’s basically only two seasons: summer and winter. From June to October, is the period when it’s considered to be rainy season, however this is changing a little bit as in the past few years the rains have started a little later on and continued on for a little past October. The summer is basically just hot as hell and if you’re anything like me, you have to walk around with a cloth and continuously wipe the sweat off your face. Weather wise I personally enjoy Nov-May the most, when the nights are a little cooler and you don’t have to continuously seek shade during the day.
ANY TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY?
Sayulita has a broad variety of different accommodation possibilities and it all depends on how much you are willing to spend since you can literally find everything from a low budget hostel to a extravagant villa with jaw dropping views overlooking the entire bay. You can still use this previous post as a guide, but there are a couple new places that I want to add: Don Bonito Hotel and the airbnb listing: Casita with a view. Don Bonito Hotel is a new & hip boutique Hotel located on the North end of town. The Rooms are clean and the pool area is cute and fresh and the location is perfect for those not wanting to listen to the hustle and bustle of town. Casita with a view is located on Gringo Hill and has a stunning view over the ocean along with a super cute rooftop palapa, this spot only sleeps two people and is best fit for either couples or solo travelers.
WHAT TO DO IN SAYULITA?
Obviously surf. Whether you’re a Kelly in practice (just kidding) or a complete beginner, Sayulita has the perfect setting for both. There are three different surf spots in Sayulita; the beginner spot on the far left with a sandy bottom and mellow white waters, the right hand point break in the center and then a left hand point past the river on the North end of the beach. If you’re looking for less crowded beaches, make sure to ask the friendly surf guides at Lunazul to take you to a nearby surf spot, one in particular worth seeing would be La Lancha or el Anclote (when it works).
Beachcombing. In all honesty, the main beach of Sayulita is not my favorite. There’s a shit ton (sorry language) of beach vendors and unless you want to listen to “donuts donuuuuuuts, donuts very good” or “bracelet amiga” all day long, my suggestion is you explore the more tranquil nearby beaches. Make sure to check out: Malpasos or Carricitos along with Playa los Muertos and the colorful cemetery next to it. As Malpasos and Carricitos are a little trickier to find than Playa Los Muertos, my recommendation is to hit up Mexitreks that will take you there. PS. Make sure to also ask them about Monkey Mountain, which is an amazing hike overlooking the entire bay, but a little outside of Sayulita. Definitely worth the sweat.
Turtle releases. Yes, yes and yes! Check in with the local organization Campamento Tortuguero Sayulita and go watch these little fellas crawl out to sea. Make sure to donate to support this non profit organization so that they can continue their valuable work!
Farmers market or Mercado del Pueblo. You don’t want to miss out on this one. Farmers market happens every Friday during high season from 11am until 2pm. Sayulita’s Farmer’s market brings together local farmers, artisans, jewelers and artists offering their fresh produce, craftsmanship, consumable goods, art and so much more in this colourful happening on the North end of town. My personal favorite is the older gentleman selling his essential oils just by the entrance.
Colorful everywhere you turn.
Salsa night. I mean, you’re in Mexico, so you might as well get your groove on and move your bootie to some latin rhythms. Make sure to check out the most legendary and iconic salsa night happening every Monday night at Don Pedro’s restaurant. This is not for the shy tho and don’t think that you can hide and just watch the show as the odds are you will be asked to dance.
Marietas Islands. The Marietas Islands is probably still one of the most sought after tourist attractions in the Banderas Bay area. These uninhabited group of islands are breathtakingly beautiful and located about 24 km outside of Sayulita. This popular spot is famous for its colourful marine life and its “secret beach”, however depending on the time of the year, there might be lots of other tourists seeking the same experience.
Yoga. The Rose Room Yoga at Hotelito de Los Suenos is your spot baby. Look no further. These gorgeous open air palapas are not only the most beautiful studios in town, but they also have the best teachers. Say hi from me.
Go out and about. Well, it is Sayulita after all and you might as well try out them margs. The best spot for delicious mouth watering drinks in town is hands down Le Zoave De Hafa and Eder’s margaritas. Make sure to check out the trendy, semi-new and cool place El Conejo while you’re out as the ambiance there is pretty cool as well.
WHERE TO EAT IN SAYULITA?
My old list is still pretty accurate and my absolute favorite still remains Itacate, but I would like to add a few more newcomers and an old one I forgot to include in my last post:
Organik: smoothies and acai bowls along with their poke bowls. Yum.
Miscelanea: try their matcha, chilaquiles or avocado toast.
Mary’s tacos: this is an old place I simply forgot to include in my previous list. Try their Sayulita Taco or Olea.
Zatar: Mediterranean cuisine that is simply clean and delicious.
Barracuda. Try their tuna tostada.
In general the food is delicious and pretty cheap in most of the places in town. That being said, even tho I listed Leda in my previous post and I still think the food is yummy there, I would like to emphasize that it’s probably one of the most expensive restaurants in Sayulita. Make sure to especially check out the prize for their wine bottles (just a friendly suggestion).
Please let me know if you think I’m missing out on something else you think is key for me to add onto this list and keep in mind these are only my opinions and takes on Sayulita.
xx,
Eva
10 ways to use tech for your wellbeing
Greetings dear reader,
Nice that you found your way here, if you’re a frequent reader, I am glad that I didn’t scare you off 😂😱 with my most recent blog text, which certainly was written from a place of fire. I think it’s fair to say I have some frustration around being judged for sharing my love for yoga and it showed in my latest post. Perhaps it should go on my own list of “things to work on” and what can I say, I’m simply a passionate opinionated yogini and sometimes I let the sharpness pour into my writing and my blog is a way to funnel it. Either way, no matter if you’re a new or old reader, I am glad that you’re reading my scribbles and today’s post definitely has a softer tone 💛, think unicorns, cotton candy, daisies and marshmallows 🦄🌸 🍭 (sorry I took it too far there).
Okay dokay, well today I want to touch on a topic that might interest our tech and gadget loving humans: how to use tech for your wellbeing. The digital revolution is here and as it seems, it’s here to stay. Every industry is getting digitalized and unless you’re jumping on the bandwagon, you’re basically gonna struggle, or worse, not make it. This is also true for the wellness industry and there’s already a bunch of apps and gadgets out there that you can use to improve, measure and enhance your overall wellness. YAY. It’s also true for us yoga teachers as many of us use for instance the gram, blogging and vlogging as a way to reach more people.
I personally think it’s pretty dang nice that there’s a bunch of trinkets out there we can now use to actually measure and get data from. One of the coolest aspects about even the wellness industry getting digitalized is that now that there’s actually data and proof that displays the benefits, it makes more sense to invest in your wellbeing. And this again means, that the digitalization of wellness can serve a gateway to reach people who perhaps normally wouldn’t be interested in mindfulness, yoga or wellbeing in a holistic way. All around ah-mazing.
Alrighty then, so there’s a broad range of variety out there in terms of what you can actually measure, use and do for your wellness, but I decided to gather some of the most well known tools and apps and then also a few random ones that I know of. I personally use the Apple Watch and let’s just say I’m more or less in love with it. It gives me data on my workout goals, reminds me to breathe (I mean deep breaths and breaks) and is awesome for switching music during yoga classes (I don’t have to use my phone). Here we go:
The Apple Watch
Like I mentioned above, I use the Apple Watch for reaching my workout goals, reminders to take breaks to breathe, to measure how many steps I’ve taken per day, to change and adjust music during yoga classes and so much more more. Oh, and it’s also eye pleasing with its sleek black amazingness.
The Garmin Smart Watches
Similarly to the Apple Watch, Garmin has also launched a line of their own smart watches that you can use for comparable purposes as the Apple Watch. These smart little devices are also eye pleasing and they help you track your activity, then save, plan and share your progress with others.
Yogaia App & Website
Live and interactive yoga classes from anywhere. They have over 100 classes every week and a broad range of teachers and different classes. The cool thing is that you can actually turn your camera on and get live tips, feedback and cues from the teacher in real time.
Yogobe
Take your practice with you anywhere at any time. This useful app and website enables you to basically practice anywhere at any time. All you need is your app and a connection to the world wide web. One of my teachers, Satu Tuomela, whom I did my first Yoga TT with has several of her classes on this site.
Neurosonic therapy lounge divan
This is a new stress relief method developed in Finland that works through low frequency vibrations. There are three different programs you can choose from: recovery, relaxation and activation. It works kind of like a massage chair, but through vibrations, which are directed throughout the whole body. It has proven to be an astonishingly efficient method of recovery and there’s data on its efficiency. We happen to have one at our office, and it’s pretty damn stellar!!!
Yoga 15
Yoga 15 is an rad app thats message is pretty simple: EVERYONE has time to do a 15 min workout or stretching session every damn day! I met the beautiful founder and yogini Abi when I lived in Mexico and I remember how passionate she was about her work and app. She’s definitely gone along way and continues to share the love for the ancient practice in a modern way reaching both men, women, yogis, cyclers, runners and other sportsmen and -women! You go girl! PS. She also happens to have a gorgeous instagram feed.
Headspace
Unless you’ve lived under a rock, surely you’ve heard of headspace!? I’m KIDDING, no, but this app is pretty darn fantastic and so wonderful for taking up meditation as a practice. They have hundreds of themed sessions on everything from stress and sleep to focus and anxiety My good amiga Lucy (who normally perhaps isn’t that into yoga or the wellness hype) swears on this lovely app. Love you mama.
Period Trackers: Flo, M. Cycles or Clue
YESSSS and yes yes yes. These apps are making life so much easier! Now you can use an app to track your “safe days”, ovulation and expected period. The apps will also give you insights throughout the month about how your body is working at specific times. It’s particularly good for those looking to be able to plan around their periods, perhaps if they're booking a holiday and would prefer not to be on, or for those looking to get pregnant. If you’re already expecting, there’s also an excellent app to track the pregnancy throughout its different stages.
Strava
This one is for the ones who love to run and cycle! Strava is already one of the most popular activity-tracking smartphone apps out there and I use this as well. You can also use it on your Apple Watch, that adds to the convenience of recording movement from your wrist, so you can leave you phone at home.
The Moon
This one goes out for moonchildren out there. This app is great for checking the moon phases as you can view the current phase of the moon, see the moon on the day you were born, share the moon with your friends, get notifications for upcoming moon events.
In addition to these, there’s actually an app that can track your dirty mouth and scold you for cussing and help you stop swearing. Obviously there’s ALOT of apps, tools and widgets out there and another topic I didn’t touch on is wellness related podcasts and inspiring instagram accounts to follow (later in life) but if you know of any other cool or useful ones, I’d love to learn more so please, do feel free to comment below.
An Apple Watch, Buddha, Zafiro jewelry, singing bowls and candles. What else do you need?
Alrighty then, let’s all now be tech-savvy wellbeing badasses and have a happy EASTER 🐣!!!
That’s all for now. Go eat them chocolate eggs.
Con amor,
Evita
Real and talk about instagram, selfies and self promotion
Dear reader,
If you're a millennial like myself you’ve most likely stumbled upon the expression “shameless self promotion”. If you’re unfamiliar with it, what it means is putting yourself out there with the idea of marketing something you sell, provide or do without feeling any shame about doing it. I believe the infamous hashtag #sorrynotsorry sometimes goes along with it and most of you have probably seen a cute selfie on instagram by someone you know along with the hashtag. I guess the #sorrynotsorry is a way to acknowledge that something you’re posting might trigger some feelings or opinions in some people but you decide to do it nevertheless. More than the #shamelessselfpromotion, the #sorrynotsorry is often used when someone is simply just giving themselves permission to post that cute pic (nothing wrong with that) and perhaps not as used when marketing a product or a service.
So like I mentioned the whole concept with shameless self promotion is basically not feeling any shame in blasting (presenting would be a nicer word) your services or products on the world wide web. In all honesty though, unless you’ve got the confidence of Kim Kardashian or Queen B (um, Beyonce hellooo) (not even sure she’s got that good of a self esteem actually…) the odds are you might feel some sort of shame or insecurity in posting pics of what it is that you’re trying to sell. I mean, at least I do. And I wanted to write about it openly and honestly. Social media and especially Instagram are great tools to gain traction for whatever it is that you’re selling or promoting. Good content on your feed translates to many likes that will lead to more followers that leads to a wider audience and that again will eventually result in more business. So yes, in a nutshell social media and self promotion are key parts of a smart marketing strategy. Unfortunately or luckily though (however you wanna look at it) if you’re a yoga teacher or someone whose product happens to be a service you sell yourself, it most likely will mean that the content you’re sharing will involve pictures, opinions or words of yours.
The raw truth is that we live in a world were pretty pics of pretty girls gain followers. I mean who doesn’t want to look at a girl striking a one armed handstand in a thong…. hmm, some might not actually want to. BUT many do. For some it might be inspiring, for others it might be entertaining and for others they simply enjoy the beautiful images. But the truth is these accounts have a lot of followers. The important thing is to understand that an image is just that, a glimpse of a moment, and a pose is just that, a pose. It all comes down to your perspective and the pair of goggles you’re using to look at your world though. Learning cool ass ninja tricks like arm balances or being skinny, fit or good looking does not equal happiness. Being fit and attractive are ideal attributes many strive to attain. Knowing how to rock cool ass yoga poses might be empowering for some. BUT again plz remember, it does not necessarily mean that the person is living a balanced happy life. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. We have really no way of knowing, unless we do. So remember that next time you’re scrolling through your feed. But that being said, pretty pictures work in marketing.
Posting pics on social media is a hard dance between creating content that empowers, motivates, gains traction and is beautiful and real all at the same time. As someone trying to promote something you’re obviously hoping to get likes and to gain followers in order to grow your business. But if you’re a yoga teacher like myself, how the heck do I do that in a graceful and successful way. If I scroll down my own feed for example and review the pics that have the most likes, I can see a pretty clear pattern (well now it’s harder after the new algorithm change). Not surprising, the pics with the most likes are close ups of my face or me in a swimsuit. So does that mean I think I’m the shit and hot as balls, well, nope, I can assure you NOT AT ALL.
To put yourself out for the world to see is hard and takes a lot of courage in the first place. Sadly we yoga teachers get constantly judged and criticized for the content we post on our feeds. And this does not only happen with yoga teachers, I see this with many women in many different fields of business. Why the fuck are we not allowed to be smart & sexy at the same time? Seriously though, who are you to say what is appropriate content and what’s not. I mean if you have a social media account clearly you want to share something with the world as well, so why is your content more appropriate than mine!? I remember it like yesterday when a person commented on one of my pics when I posted an image of a landscape “nice, not a picture of yourself”. This made me sad cuz putting yourself out there is already hard enough to begin with. Well watcha gonna do, haters gonna hate, right!?
This image has the most likes on my instagram feed. Taken by talented friend Jess Leigh Photography.
So my point is too often we might be too quick to judge and think “omg look at Bethany just posting pics of herself”. Well, lemme tell ya something Mike, perhaps Bethany needs a little extra validation and has a low self esteem…perhaps Bethany is dealing with a breakup and needs to feel good about herself OR WHAT IF MIKE, Bethany is actually trying to sell or promote something and is using the best possible marketing strategies she knows. So please before jumping to the conclusion and thinking that Bethany thinks that she’s the shit and throwing the first rock, I suggest you step back and check yourself. Sure, most of us might agree that if Bethany is simply looking for validation through social media, it might not be the best way to cope with her low self-esteem issues. But then on the other hand, who the hell are you to judge. I mean are you perfect? What I’m trying to say is, that we are all different and today the gram happens to be a big part of our lives, in the good and the bad, and we all use it in different ways, some for marketing, some for posting pics of their sushi platter, some of them surfing, others for selfies and some for posting pics of their their kids. And this is all completely fine. So please, Mike, try to be more understanding and kind in a world that’s already harsh and hard enough as it is.
With love,
Evita
Your yoga teacher is not your guru
Your yoga teacher is not your guru
If you haven’t watched Kumaré yet, it’s about time. This is hands down one of the best documentaries of our time.
There is a number of reasons for people to go to yoga classes. Some do it to exercise, some to get a good stretch, some for the spiritual benefits, others to reduce stress, some to feel part of a community and some possibly for all of those reasons. The list goes on. I love meeting new people and I also love my dedicated students, so wether you’re coming to my classes, workshops or retreats, I am honored and grateful to have you share your time with me and I am thrilled I can share some of my knowledge with you.
In my bio I state that one must always stay a student and I truly emphasize this. Unless you’re Gandhi, the odds are you’re not an enlightened being just yet. That being said, the fact that you are practicing yoga and the fact that you want to become more connected with yourself and your surrounding world is an amazing first step towards the right direction and something worth celebrating. What is key to understand though is that yoga teachers don’t have it all figured out (hell nah!!). Sometimes actually they might even have more issues than the average Joe and this is what perhaps initially led them to yoga (take this with a grain of salt). So to fully lean on them with your problems and expect them to have solutions is not the best idea. I guess this must be why now they don’t really allow the terminology of “Yoga Therapy”. See, we yoga teachers are just as messed up as you. We get down on ourselves, fuck up and get lost in life. I guess the big difference from the average non yogi is that even though we also fuck up, we MIGHT (caps lock here) be more aware of it and we more importantly might be working on changing that behavior. And yoga can be an excellent tool to become more aware, awake and in tune with yourself. I can truly say that thanks to the world of yoga and its broad field of teachings, I am becoming more aware of my own patterns and issues. And recognition is a hella good first step in this long journey towards a better version of me. Cuz at the end, that’s what a lot of us want, to grow, to learn and to connect.
We can learn from each other. Pic of me and Abi.
Unfortunately we live in a time where people are getting sick. Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Sick from working too much, sick from stress and unrealistic expectations. This sickness and tiredness leads to us feeling stuck and unaccomplished and very often lost. Are we on our right paths? Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing? Perhaps we feel like we need a change but are just too tired, too exhausted and blocked from finding the solutions ourselves. Add some relationship issues or a broken marriage and bam! You’re open AF to having someone else steer your ship and take control. This is of course is okay if that person is a) your therapist or b) actually knows what the best solutions for you are and c) truly has your best interest in mind and works from the goodness of their heart and not for a financial gain. Don’t get me wrong, guidance and mentoring is not wrong and even in yogic philosophy we are taught that once the student is ready, the master will come. But the thing is, you are the master and you will always be your own guru. You hold all the answers to all your problems and what a teacher or a guide can do is, to aid you to see that, but at the end of the day, YOU are the guru. And this is super important to assimilate. The same thing goes for your asana practice on your mat. If something does not feel good in your body but the teacher is telling you to do it, hell nah! Get outta that pose! You know the best what feels food and what works for your god given temple, never forget that. And as a teacher I am only here to give you ideas and suggestions on how to move. If it does not feel good for you, if it doesn’t relate to you, you are more than welcome to skip.
To close the circle I want to say that you can learn a lot from your yoga teacher and they can serve as an excellent guide on your journey, but always remember that you are the captain and you navigate the ship, even if your teacher can sometimes work as the compass on giving you some direction on where to go. I am blessed and grateful to be sharing my teachings and what I’ve learned, but boy, I am still and I will always remain a student.
Namaste,
Eva
Chakra 101 (Chakras for Dummies) and an infographic
CHAKRA 101 (CHAKRAS FOR DUMMIES) AND AN INFOGRAPHIC
Everything is Energy ✨ The thoughts you think, the words you speak, the actions you take, the food you eat...
Your physical body is just one layer, but beneath this 3D dimensional domain, lies a subtle body and a complex system of energetic centers, lines and sheaths.
I have always been curious about the unseen and into the energetic realm of things, which is why I am so passionate about the Chakra System. Energy does not lie and vibes speak louder than words. Think about it...Ever felt certain vibes of someone? Yup, that’s when you pick up their ”vibe”, I’m sure you’ve had moments you’ve for example felt someones bad mood, even if they didn’t express it in words.
Many are still clueless about what chakras are, how they function and what they govern. So, I decided to make an infographic (take it with a grain of salt and humor) and wrote this simple guide for you to get a basic idea and understanding.
Perhaps you’ve heard the term chakra but are still quite unfamiliar with the concept of it or don’t know what it does, how it functions, where it is (or where they are). Let’s dive in:
Let’s start with the actual word ‘chakra’. Chakra literally means wheel or circle and is a word from the Sanskrit language. What that refers to is the wheel like movement of the chakra.
So what is a chakra? A chakra is an energy center, a vortex and the focal point of subtle energy in your energetic body. Like i mentioned in the beginning: Everything is energy. How that energy presents itself in this physical realm, is what we call matter. But when we look at the body from an energetic perspective, there are certain ways the energy flows and certain places where that energy gathers and these are your Chakras.
You have seven primary chakras in your body. Each Chakra is connected to certain aspects of your life and certain areas or glands and organs of your body. Each Chakra is associated with a specific color, an element, a tone, a frequency and so forth. Below is a list of the seven primary Chakras and their elements, color and functions.
1. The Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Muladhara (“root support”) is located at the base of your spine. It is often depicted as a red four-petaled lotus, and it governs what are considered the four primal urges: food, sleep, sex, and self-preservation, but also money. It is the foundation of your being. Its energetic function is to help us maintain a sense of groundedness and inner stability.
Element: Earth
Color: Red
Affirmation: “I am here.”
Tone: LAM
2. The Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Svadhisthana (“her own abode”) is located at the pelvis by your reproductive organs. It is often depicted as an orange lotus with six petals, and it’s associated with creativity, sensuality, pleasure, fluidity, adaptability, emotions, sexual energy, and the unconscious. The second chakra’s energetic function is to help us regulate our emotions and desires, so as not to be driven by them.
Element: Water
Color: Orange
Affirmation: “I am a creative.”
Tone: VAM
3. The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Manipura (“city of jewels”) is located at the navel center. It is commonly depicted as a downward or upward-facing yellow triangle. This energy center is your personal power, your ego and it’s function is to navigate our lives with strength and determination.
Element: Fire
Color: Yellow
Affirmation: “I am strong”
Tone: RAM
4. The Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Anahata (“unstruck”) is located at the heart center. Anahata is typically depicted as a green six-pointed star surrounded by 12 lotus petals. On a spiritual level, it’s said to be the home of the higher “unstruck” or indestructible self. Anahata governs our joy, love (not just romantic love, more importantly self-love), compassion and openness. Energetically, anahata helps us tap into unconditional love.
Element: Air
Color: Green
Affirmation: “I am loving”
Tone: YAM
5. The Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Vishuddha (“to purify”) is located in your throat. It is often depicted as a blue downward-facing triangle inside a lotus with 16 purple petals. This energy center is associated with speaking one’s truth. Its energetic function is to help us find authentic self-expression and honesty.
Element: Ether or space
Color: Blue
Affirmation: “I am honest.”
Tone: HAM
6. The Third-Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Ajna (“command center”) is located between the eyebrows and is.represented by a transparent lotus with two white petals. It is your wisdom center and the seat of the mind, your conscious and unconscious awareness. It is not associated with any element, as this chakra is considered beyond the physical elements. This is the center for intuition, vision, imagination, inner knowing, and self-assurance. The energetic function of ajna chakra is to help us learn to know ourselves on a spiritual level.
No element
Color: Purple
Affirmation: “I am seeing.”
Tone: OM
7. The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Sahasrara (“thousand-petaled lotus”) is located just above the crown of the head. This is the doorway into pure consciousness, it is often depicted as a thousand-petaled lotus with a pinkish aura, and in a similar way to the third eye chakra, nor is this chakra associated with a physical element. This chakra serves as a way of connecting to divine energy and is associated with our highest self. Sahasrara helps us function in a more enlightened way, cultivate self-mastery, and find a sense of connection with all.
No element
Color: White
Affirmation “I am connected”
Tone: MMM
Now that you have a basic idea of these energy centers, it’s key to understand that this energy is constantly changing. Energy flows in and out of these centers all the time and your chakras can either be balanced, unbalanced, over active, under active or even blocked (oh nooo!!). Luckily there are various methods to unblock, align and balance your chakras and these include nutrition, yoga, healing, rest, various activities, crystals, colors and so forth. This all depends on which of the chakras it is that is not in harmony. So how do you know if a chakra is inactive or blocked you might ask? Well, usually after getting an understanding of the chakras you might already have an idea in your mind. Perhaps you’ve gone through heart ache lately (maybe there’s a blocakge in your heart chakra) or did you just lose your job (first chakra) or maybe you never speak your truth and always hold your opinions to yourself, even if you should speak up (throat). But if you’re still completely clueless, there are ways to test your chakras and one method is using a pendulum or a dowser. The dowser is simply placed above your chakra and if the pendulum is spinning in a circular way, the chakra is in harmony, if it’s not moving at all or if it’s going back and forth, there’s a blockage or it’s under active, if it’s making a crazy big circle, yup you guessed it: it’s over active. Below a list of feelings that might be present if a chakra is overactive or under active.
Root Chakra
Overactive
Fearful, nervous, insecure, not feeling grounded; materialistic or greedy, resisting change
Underactive
Lacking a sense of being at home or safe anywhere, codependent, unable to get into one’s body, fearful of abandonment
Sacral Chakra
Overactive
Overemotional, very quick to attach and invest in others, attracted to drama, moody, lacking personal boundaries
Underactive
Stiff, unemotional, closed off to others, lacking self-esteem or self-worth, possibly in an abusive relationship
Solar Plexus Chakra
Overactive
Dominating, aggressive, angry, perfectionistic or overly critical of oneself or others
Underactive
Passive, indecisive, shy, lacking self-control
Heart Chakra
Overactive
Loving in a clingy, suffocating way; lacking a sense of self in a relationship; willing to say yes to everything; no sense of boundaries, letting everyone in
Underactive
Cold, distant, lonely, unable or unwilling to open up to others, grudgeful
Throat Chakra
Overactive
Overly talkative, unable to listen, highly critical, verbally abusive, condescending
Underactive
Introverted, shy, having difficulty speaking the truth, unable to express needs
Third Eye Chakra
Overactive
Out of touch with reality, lacking good judgment, unable to focus, prone to hallucinations
Underactive
Rigid in thinking, closed off to new ideas, too reliant on authority, disconnected or distrustful of inner voice, anxious, clinging to the past and fearful of the future
Crown Chakra
Overactive
Addicted to spirituality, lack of bodily needs, having difficulty controlling emotions
Underactive
Not very open to spirituality, unable to set or maintain goals, lacking direction
So, no that you have a basic idea about the chakras you can learn to work with these subtle energies and become more aware of your energetic body. If you want to study more, I highly recommend picking up the book “The Anatomy of The Spirit” by Caroline Myss.
You feeling aligned AF yet? ;)
Con amor,
Evita
The magic of a good playlist (sharing is caring)
THE MAGIC OF A GOOD PLAYLIST (SHARING IS CARING)
Music is magic. Simply put.
I mean think about it. What is music? One could say that music is an artful arrangement of different sounds creating a vibration that’ll change your mood, frequency, trigger a memory, create feelings of joy, sadness, grief, love, longing, you name it, the list goes on and on. Music is said to be the language of emotions. Studies have shown that listening to music releases dopamine. So why not combine music with yoga? Bulletproof. Duh.
I spend hours and hours discovering new artists and new music on Spotify. Playing an amazing playlist during yoga class is the shit. It gives me energy and inspires me and simultaneously I can see how that energy amplifies when the students get into the flow with some good tunes. I play music on my way to work, on my way home and always when I’m driving. My friends know that I won’t start the car if I don’t have a good tune on, no matter if we’re late.
Anyways, when I first started practicing yoga I started with Ashtanga, which I guess some people would argue to be quite ascetic. It’s rigorous, always with the same movements and no music. Oh, with the exception of the Ashtanga mantra in the beginning, if that counts. I remember back in the day when I would religiously practice mysore style with my good friend Elisa that we were even quite serious about the mantra. Lolz. How times have changed. And please ashtangi yogis, don’t get me wrong I still enjoy Ashtanga, BUT I love vinyasa flow and one of the reasons is: you can add music to your classes. And that adds an extra dimension of joy, so why not.
So to circle back to the magic of music I wanted to share with you guys what my students often ask me post yoga class, which is some of my favorite yoga playlists for you to enjoy.
These are my top 3 playlists currently (I made them public on my Spotify Account):
Con Amor,
Evita
Beach yoga sesh with Vuokko Salo Photography
I wanted to share these stunning images Vuokko Salo captured during her stay here in Sayulita. Vuokko Salo is not just an amazing, talented photographer who's got an extremely good eye, but she is also a beautiful mama of two adorable kids, a loving wife and has a heart big as a whale. I am lucky to call her a friend and to work with her! Without further ado, enjoy these gorgeous shots we recently took. Make sure to give her a follow on IG @vuokkosalo
PS. The beautiful mat is by Yoga Design lab and pants by Solo Sol
Yoga privates in Sayulita | Blog post by SayulitaLife
[This is a guest post by Stacey Elkins for SayulitaLife]
A Relaxing Treat in Sayulita: A Private Yoga Class with Eva Estlander Yoga
Photos: Camilla Fuchs Photography
Savasana love.
It was early Thursday evening and it had been another busy day, leaving me feeling exhausted and drained. As I took my place on the yoga mat at Don Pedro’s Brisa Mar Palapain Sayulita, I could feel the day’s stress already start to melt away. A gentle, cool breeze, the scent of incense, and the sound of waves hitting the shore further enhanced my relaxation as I prepared for my first private yin yoga class with Eva Estlander Yoga, in which she is in high demand.
Eva explained that yin yoga is about relaxing the body, not activating the muscles. It’s about working with the body’s connective tissue, which is a thick, white layer of tissue that holds the parts of the body together. It’s about finding your edge, how deep you can go in a pose (most focusing on the hips, glutes, and inner thighs), without feeling any pain or tingling. It’s about using your breath to move deeper into each pose, which is held between two and eight minutes. Relaxation in yin yoga is the ultimate goal, offering a nice balance from the active lifestyle in which most of live.
For the first pose, Eva had me lie on my back, a yoga bolster placed under my knees, my arms spread out on each side. Her soft, gentle voice acted as a meditative guide as she had me visualize a bright orange wheel of light filling my body and spinning as I inhaled, tension leaving my body as I exhaled. She explained that the body has seven main chakras (energy centers), and that two of them are the main focus in yin yoga: The root chakra at the base of the spine (represents feeling supported and grounded) and the sacral chakra just beneath the naval (represents creativity and sexuality).
Throughout my private class with Eva Estlander Yoga, I felt extremely relaxed as Eva guided me through the poses, which included pigeon, cow, half moon, and more. Eva was very attentive, offering gentle adjustments as needed, which further enhanced the experience. For the straddle pose, she encouraged me do three levels of stretching, which was made possible by utilizing a yoga bolster, yoga block, and a blanket. Each pose offered a nice stretch as I found stillness and enjoyed the solitude of the practice.
During the final pose, savasana, Eva incorporated two natural oils, which are made for the elements of the chakras in which we focused during the class. The scent of orange, as well as a nutmeg mix filled the air, as the sound of a singing bowl and hand drums created beautiful, inviting tones. Eva gently pushed on my shoulders and arms and massaged my temples and between my eyes as I lay on the mat completely relaxed and feeling rejuvenated. The sun had set, the night was silent, and I couldn’t have felt better.
