Saturday, 30 January 2016

IGY Marinas: Part 1 "About IGY"

Are you looking for a luxurious getaway that will blow any typical vacation out of the water? You should entertain the idea of exploring some of your favorite islands by sea with a yacht or charter boat! But when you're not on the water, you need to think about where you should dock your boat. If you want a convenient, high end marina, consider an IGY marina. IGY stands for Island Global Yachting and it is just that! There are two in St. Thomas and a total of 13 throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, so you can enjoy one destination, or a variety!

IGY Marinas have large slips, perfect for yachts of all sizes, and offer great amenities. Besides all the typical amenities a marina provides, imagine great dining, high end shopping, and activities right at your door step. IGY provides all of that and more.

So you're asking yourself, why choose IGY? Why not a hotel or another marina. Well IGY ensures quality. The locations chosen for these marines took considerable thought to guarantee it kept up with the brand's standards. When you're island hopping by sea, it might not be very convenient to rent a car on each island, so you'll probably want a majority of attractions near by. At each location, you won't be limited when it comes to restaurants and bars, like you might be when staying at a hotel. You will also have shopping at your finger tips, which is great in St. Thomas considering duty free shopping!

How do you book your slip? Easy! Visit this link for more details:
IGY Marinas Website
These marinas aren't limited to just yachters! If yachting isn't your thing or in your budget, you can still stop by and check out all the shops, activities, restaurants and bars in the marina. They can even be a great place to walk around, enjoy the great weather, and view the mega yachts (from the land of course)

Want to know more? Catch us next week where we go into the different locations of the marinas! Then the followed weeks, more about the two marinas right here on St. Thomas.

Visit Our Website
"Like" Us on Facebook
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, 21 January 2016

Yoga For All: Part 4 "Yoga Routines"

You don't have to go to a yoga class to enjoy a fulfilling yoga routine! Classes are always good for making sure you're doing a pose correctly and as a relaxing experience, but yoga can be practiced anywhere your heart desires. Don't know any good routines? No problem! YouTube can make for one great yoga class right in your living room! Here are a few you can start with, but don't be afraid to explore YouTube to find more routines of various difficulties. 

 Sun Salutation
This first routine is Sun Salutation. This is a good one to start with because it is typically done by yogis of all skill levels. It's great for any time of the day and touches on both strength and flexibility. 

 Beginners Yoga Routine 
This is one of many beginner videos you can find on YouTube. 20 minutes of yoga in the morning can be a great way of waking up and starting the day!

 Intermediate Yoga Routine
This 30 minute routine really touches on strengthening, toning, and flexibility. 

 Advanced Yoga Routine
30 minutes advanced yoga workout! This one tests your flexibility, strength, and balance. 

Yoga is a personal journey. You don't "compete" with others, just trying to improve yourself at a pace that works with your body. Push yourself, but don't push yourself too hard! Find routines that suit your body and skill level and track your progress.  

 This concludes our 4 part blog post "Yoga For All". We hope that this has opened your eyes to the amazing benefits of yoga and got you excited about trying something new and healthy. 
Visit the links below to read the other parts of our "Yoga For All" blog series



Visit our Website
"Like" us on Facebook
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, 15 January 2016

Yoga For All: Part 3 "Yoga Vocabulary"

Doing yoga in the comfort of your own home is one thing, but going to a class is a whole different experience. The idea may be daunting for many just starting out, “Am I doing this position right? Is everyone staring at me?” but trust me, no one is judging you and the instructor is there to help you out. I’m here today to help you with something else newcomers to yoga may find difficult when starting classes; the yoga vocabulary.


Yoga has evolved throughout the years and many yoga studios use the translated names for various yoga positions. That being said, there are words in this ancient dialect, Sanskrit, nearly every yoga teacher (or guru) still uses today. There are many reasons these words are important in the yoga community, but the main reason is that these words having a universal understanding. 

Here is just a short list of some popular words and their meanings that you may experience while taking a yoga class!

Namaste
Even if you've never taken a yoga class, you've probably heard this one. Its literal meaning is "I bow to you" or "The light in me bows to the light in you". 

Drishti
This is your "Focal Point". During a yoga position or meditation, you may focus on your drishti to help keep your balance and stay focused. 

Guru
"One who brings lightness to darkness" is the literal meaning. Or, in simpler terms, your yoga instructor. 

Chakra
You have 7 chakras or "energy points" throughout the body. We can go into chakras for awhile, so if you'd like to read more, please visit this link:

 Mantra
This is a letter, word, or phrase that is chanted as a way of focusing your thoughts. A popular example of this is "Om". 

 Asana
A yoga pose or position, but literally means seat. For more on Asana, visit this link:

 Savasana/Shavasana
Relaxation/restoration pose that is typically performed at the end of a class. Corpse pose is another word for this.

 Pranayama
Pranayama is the control of breath/a way to control your energy through breath. 

 Ananda
This means bliss/condition of utter joy.

 Atman
The transcendental self or spirit.

 Karuna
This translates to compassion. 

 Ujjayi
This is a particular breathing technique from the diaphragm that is practiced throughout the yoga routine. 
This is just a small taste of a vast vocabulary that is Sanskrit. For more words and definitions, visit these sites:


Namaste

Visit the links below to read the the other parts of our "Yoga For All" blog series

Yoga For All: Part 1 "10 Benefits of Yoga"

Yoga For All: Part 2 "Basic Yoga Positions"

Yoga For All: Part 4 "Yoga Routines"

Visit our Website
"Like" us on Facebook
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Monday, 4 January 2016

Yoga For All: Part 2 "Basic Yoga Positions"


 Welcome to the next installment of “Yoga For All” where I talk about some popular yoga positions. Since there are so many positions, I just took 15 of my favorite ones that I wanted to share with you today, but with a twist. Remember in the previous blog post “Benefits of Yoga” where I said you could do yoga anywhere and with anyone? I took it upon myself to challenge that statement.

I gathered these photos from a few yogis I know to empathize that you can do yoga anywhere.  (If you’re a newbie yogi, stick to your mat and a flat surface)
1. Child's Pose
Benefits: 
a) Gently stretches hips and thighs 
b) Calm and relaxing position
c) Can help with neck, back, and shoulder pain

Skill Level:
Easy

2. Mountain Pose
Benefits: 
a) Improves posture
b) Calm and relaxing position
c) Strengthens thighs, knees, and ankles

Skill Level:
Easy

3. Warrior I
Benefits: 
a) Improves balance
b) Increases flexibility in hip flexors, chest, and shoulders
c) Strengthens thighs, core, and calves

Skill Level:
Easy

4. Warrior II

Benefits: 
a) Improves posture
b) Increases flexibility in hip flexors, legs, and shoulders
c) Strengthens thighs and core

Skill Level:
Easy
5. Warrior III
Benefits: 
a) Improves balance and posture
b) Tones abdomen
c) Strengthens ankles, legs, shoulders, and back

Skill Level:
Intermediate
6. Downward-Facing Dog
Benefits: 
a) Stretches the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, and arches
b) Helps relieve menstrual discomfort, headache, back pain, and fatigue
c) Strengthens arms and legs

Skill Level:
Easy
7. Upward-Facing Dog
Benefits: 
a) Improves posture
b) Stretches chest, shoulders, abdomen, and back
c) Strengthens the spine, wrists, and arms

Skill Level:
Easy
8. Lord of the Dance
Benefits: 
a) Improves balance
b) Stretches thighs, hip flexors, chest
c) Strengthens legs and ankles

Skill Level:
Intermediate
9. Tree Pose
Benefits: 
a) Improves balance
b) Stretches shoulders, hip flexors, chest
c) Strengthens thighs, ankles, calves, and spine

Skill Level:
Easy
10. Camel Pose
Benefits: 
a) Stretches chest, abdomen, thighs, and groins
b) Improves posture
c) Strengthens back

Skill Level:
Intermediate
11. Wheel Pose
Benefits: 
a) Stretches chest, abdomen, and back
b) Helps with back pain
c) Strengthens back, arms, legs, and abdomen

Skill Level:
Intermediate/Advanced
12. Crow Pose
Benefits: 
a) Tones abs and back muscles
b) Improves balance
c) Strengthens arms and wrists

Skill Level:
Intermediate/Advanced
13. Plow Pose
Benefits: 
a) Therapeutic for back pain, headache, and sinuses
b) Stretches shoulders and spine
c) Strengthens your core

Skill Level:
Intermediate
14. Shoulder Stand
Benefits: 
a) Therapeutic for sinuses and asthma  
b) Stretches shoulders and neck
c) Strengthens legs, core, and buttocks

Skill Level:
Intermediate/Advanced 
15. Head Stand
Benefits: 
a) Improves balance 
b) Therapeutic for sinuses and digestions
c) Strengthens legs, core, and back

Skill Level:
Intermediate/Advanced 


These are just a handful of yoga positions that you can do! If you're itching to see more, please visit the links below.



Visit our Website
"Like" us on Facebook

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)