Maui Wowie… Yoga-Style, Brah

The grounds of Lumeria Maui

We’re a little obsessed with yoga retreats… we know, we know. And, since we’re also Kama’aina (local Hawaiian, bradah), we wanted to share Lumeria Maui‘s latest. Lumeria Maui is Hawaii’s newest luxury retreat for yoga, well-being, and personal growth, if you must know, and they’re presenting Symphony Of The Senses with four retreats in 2013.  These retreats integrate yoga, music, movement, sensory awareness, nature, and gourmet organic cuisine (check!)  in, as they say, “a nurturing, supportive, holistic, and vibrantly energetic environment.” Certified Anusara teacher, Skeeter Tichnor, plans to facilitate the movement of energy in participants’ bodies through the practice of yoga.

The goal?

To guide attendees in accessing and experiencing beauty, peace and compassionate awareness. As a leading innovator of contemporary healing and transformational music, Peter Kater will also provide the soundscape to a deeper experience of our emotional bodies and a heightened awareness of our essential selves with music created specifically for these retreats.

A room at Lumeria

The first retreat will consist of a four night and five day stay from April 27 – May 1, 2013 and starts at $1,500 per person based on double occupancy.  In addition to the retreat, this package includes three meals per day at Harvest Café as well as all classes, sessions, and on-property activities. The second immersion is a five night and six day retreat from July 20 – 25, 2013, which starts at $1,700 per person based on double occupancy. Dates and details on the last two Symphony of the Senses retreats are soon to be announced on Lumeria Maui’s website.

Lumeria encompasses six ocean- and mountain-view acres between the seaside village of Paia and the upcountry paniolo (that’s “cowboy”, for all you city slickers) town of Makawao. In addition to its 24 luxury guest accommodations, the retreat also features a spacious yoga studio, 900-square-foot outdoor yoga platform and 8,000-square-foot lower terrace suited for group activities. The Harvest Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week with menus featuring local, organically grown produce.

Relaxing at Lumeria. Not too shabby, eh?

Daily instruction in yoga and meditation are included with accommodations. Further education is made available through customized programs in therapeutic healing arts, water sports, personal growth and transformation, and the history and practices of indigenous Hawaiian culture. Located just 2.5 miles from the Maui’s famed North Shore, Lumeria Maui’s adventure experiences include surfing, kite-surfing, stand up paddle board and windsurfing sessions, all led by world-class athletes and instructors.

The property is a restored historic site, originally constructed in 1909, and features classic Hawaii-style neo-colonial fusion architecture. We love. In light of its adaptive reuse, the project is also listed in the National Registry of Historical Places, and was an honored recipient of a 2012 Preservation Award from the Historic Hawaii Foundation.

Now that’s da kine.

www.lumeriamaui.com

Antarctic Adventures and Beyond with Amazing Experts!

AdventureSmith Alaska Cruise

We love the idea of brain (and heart) inspiring cruise expeditions, so, we think, what better way to get off the beaten path then to really get off the beaten path?

To that end, small ship, expedition cruise expert AdventureSmith Explorations has announced a stellar lineup of academicians, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, travel writers and professional photographers as experts in residence for upcoming cruises as far-flung as Antarctica and Borneo. Yes, Borneo (because your brave and edgy like that).

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, California along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe and, in 2012, it joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List.

Offering a deeper understanding of a particular topic and global perspective to the regional experience, small ship cruises with onboard experts can help bring a unique take to the most unique destinations.

So, get cruisin’ because Smith suggests booking one of these special departures well in advance as they sell out quickly:

Antarctic Explorer: Jonathan Shackleton (cousin of Sir Ernest Shackleton) and Falcon Scott (grandson of Robert Falcon Scott) will be guest lecturers aboard the 189-passenger Ocean Diamond Feb.9-19, 2013 from Ushuaia, Argentina.

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/172

Just a few little penguins chillin’ in Antarctica…

Land of the Ice Bears: Arctic Svalbard:  Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles will travel aboard the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer June 21-July 1, 2013. He is the author of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed and the widely acclaimed Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, which won him a Pulitzer Prize as well as Britain’s 1998 Rhone-Poulenc Science Book Prize. He is a founding member of the board of the Society of Conservation Biology and a member of the board of directors of World Wildlife Fund/USA and Conservation International.

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/69

National Geographic The White Continent: Ed Larson, who won the Pulitzer Prize forEmpire of Ice, travels aboard the National Geographic Explorer to Antarctica Feb. 5, 2013 and Feb. 5, 2014 . A Pepperdine University professor, his latest book was published in May 2011, An Empire of Ice: Scott, Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Science. He places the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social, and geopolitical context in this terrific new history, much enlivened by his own Antarctic travels.

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/68

Orangutans in Borneo

Ancient Sites, Rain Forests & Coral Reefs: Sandra Noble, executive director of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. joins guests on the 138-passenger Yorktown Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2013 for a tour of the natural and archaeological wonders of Belize and Guatemala. On a Feb. 2-9 departure she will be joined by Sandra Brooke, director of Coral Conservation at the Marine Conservation Institute. For the Feb. 16-23 departure the guest speakers are Stephen Whittington, director of the Museum of Anthropology and adjunct associate professor at wake Foerst University, and Susan Perkins, an associate curator in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology and the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History.

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/464

Baja’s Bounty: Ellen Barone joins a March 16, 2013 departure aboard the 86-passenger Safari Endeavour. She is nationally recognized travel writer and photographer. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39. Giovanni Malagrino shares insights on a March 30, 2013 departure. He is a full professor in the Marine Biology Department at University of Baja California Sur, La Paz and devotes his time to Coastal Zone Management. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/39

Another Stunning Hawaiian Sunset

Hawaiian Seascapes: Peter West Carey, a Seattle-based professional photographer, is aboard the 36-passenger Safari Explorer for a cruise beginning April 6, 2013. Patient and resourceful with a wide range of brands, equipment and techniques, he loves to help others learn first-hand how to bring back stunning images that tell the true story of the exciting journey they have experienced. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/200

Alaska Unleashed: Amy Gulick is aboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer for a June 8, 2013 departure. She is an award-winning nature photographer and writer, and a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22. Joe Upton is aboard for an Aug. 10, 2013 sailing and will share his experience as an author. His many books and illustrated maps, including Journey’s Through the Inside Passage andThe Coastal Companion, have shared the wonder of The North with Alaska visitors since 1993. In 2009 Upton teamed up with Alaska commercial fisherman and filmmaker Dan Kowalski to produce The Alaska Story Project, a collection of videos about places up and down the Alaska and BC coasts. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/22

Camp Leakey Borneo will feature Dr. Birute Galdikas on board the 100-passenger Orion II for the October 25, 2013 departure. Scientist, conservationist, educator: for almost four decades Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas has studied and worked closely with the orangutans of Indonesian Borneo in their natural habitat, and is today the world’s foremost authority on the orangutan. http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/289

Secret Spots of Oahu’s Fabled North Shore

Stephen Koehne, Sean Moody, Aamion Goodwin, and Mark Healey. Photo: Kelli Bullock

Turtle Bay Resort’s new “Play Lists” helps guests better experience Oahu’s fabled North Shore. Each list is authored by a hand selected North Shore luminary who lives the “The Life” to its fullest and details the many inspirational ways to play along one of the world’s most fabled coastlines. Authored by Jodi Wilmott, veteran surf and watersports communications professional, Jodi’s life has revolved around the ocean since day one. Born in South Africa to a young Australian couple who were on an “Endless Summer” surfari, she moved with her parents to Oahu at the age of three. They lived with the Hawaiian family of Eddie and Clyde Aikau, who were only just starting to make their names in surfing. After traveling the globe for another decade, Jodi settled back in Hawaii permanently in 1998, taking up as communications director for international ocean sport events like the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, the Molokai to Oahu paddleboard and outrigger canoe races, sailing regattas and distance ocean swims.

Jodi lives in the country area of Waialua on the North Shore with her husband and three young boys. She hosts iconic guests each week at Talk Story (Surfer, The Bar) to share and preserve the many wonderful and inspirational stories that are tied to this iconic stretch of ocean on Oahu’s North Shore. In her time off, Jodi loves to surf at Laniakea, Jocko’s, remote breaks near Ka’ena Point, and at Turtle Bay.

Waimea Valley

With further ado, here is Jodi’s Play List of Things to Do:

• Waimea Valley is one of those places where you feel like you can truly exhale, wind down, and get back in touch with all that is good in the world. The expansiveness and beauty of nature has been retained here and it feels like stepping back in time to a day when the early Hawaiians lived in harmony with their environment. My kids love it here as much as I do. Take a walk, relax and read a book on the valley lawn, take a dive in the waterfall. You will leave rejuvenated.

• Ka’ena Point takes you far away from life’s business. Pack a good sized bottle of ice cold water and a light brunch and drive to the far west end of Farrington Highway, beyond Haleiwa and Mokuleia. There are deserted white sand beaches and aqua waters to find during summer. In the winter, enjoy the massive, crashing surf from the safety of high sand. You can also take the walking trail at the end of the road and gently explore the shoreline. Caution: no lifeguards on this stretch of coastline and it also gets very hot, so get an early start, drink plenty of water, keep a cell phone on you, and stay within your comfort zone for real enjoyment.

• Dillingham airfield offers amazing glider flights over the North Shore and Oahu’s West Side. Soar like a bird without the sound of an airplane engine and savor the greens, blues and earthy tones of the region, not to mention the spectacular mountain range and ocean views. Get lost in your thoughts and the gorgeous scenery!

• If you’ve got small children, Shark’s Cove is a natural wonderland. It’s so easy for a kid to be content here and a few small items will make it extra fun: sunscreen and a hat, reef walkers, snorkel and mask, even a small bodyboard to float around on. There are pools of varying depths and plenty of living sea creatures to explore. Get an early start on it to get a parking spot and skip the midday heat. Or, enjoy it late before the sun goes down – there’s an excellent sunset view from here, too.

• 21 Degrees – this is where my husband and I go for a romantic dinner of superb quality and the island’s best lychee martini!! I love their food and wine paired with the ambiance and view at sunset. It’s the highest quality menu on the North Shore, for sure, and one of the best restaurants in the Islands.

• Coffee Gallery, in the Haleiwa Marketplace, is where a local’s day begins… or ends! Fresh, fresh, fresh coffee, locally grown, with an incredible selection of one-of-a-kind sweet and savory treats. I love their creamy lattes and the staff pays special attention to making every cup enjoyable. Excellent!!

• Kahuku Superette and the Fiji Market are just a short drive to the east from Turtle Bay, but are a local favorite. These mom-and-pop stores are like a trip back in time and we’re so fortunate to still have them on the North Shore. Kahuku Superette has the freshest and tastiest poke on the island, and various other Hawaiian delicacies. Fiji Market offers meat pies and sausage rolls among many other things, and is a favorite of expat Australians, New Zealanders and Fijians.

• The Talk Story speaker series at Turtle Bay Resort’s <Surfer, The Bar>…is my ultimate fave…OK, OK, full disclosure…I am the host!  But, each week I am treated to exceptional stories from iconic surf and ocean-related personalities. Whether the speakers are world champion surfers, best-selling authors, oceanographers, cinematographers and photographers, or big wave riders and legitimate North Shore legends, Talk Story is a human experience you won’t find anywhere else on the planet.

• Laniakea will forever be my favorite surf spot in the world. Suited more for intermediate and advanced surfers, this is one of the best waves in Hawaii and many surfing greats have had their day at ‘Lani’s’. I may never surf as well as them, but riding a wave is a relative experience; if you’re comfortable with the conditions, you can have the greatest wave of your life – whether it’s 2-feet or 20-feet.

Check out Turtle Bay Resort for more Play Lists.

Maui, Hawaii: SwellGirls Surf & Yoga Camp

Who isn’t looking for a Swell Experience? A surf and yoga camp in Maui with on location concierge happy to help you find the activities that suit you… what’s not to love? If all you want to do is lounge around on beautiful beaches, then they’ll point you to Hawaii’s best beaches. If you want to fill your time on the island with unique Hawaiian activities like hula dancing or lei making, then they’ll make sure you find the right activities to suit your needs.

This one-of-a-kind women’s surf camp and yoga wellness retreat in Maui, Hawaii is, as they say, “Designed for women who seek the thrill of adventure, the reward of accomplishment, and the fellowship and encouragement of new friends.” Surf packages are for women of all ages and surfing abilities who are seeking to learn, discover new adventures and have fun. Established in 2003, SwellWomen creates memorable surf vacations for women from all over the world with every detail taken care of.

Accommodations are set amidst 27 tropical acres along a secluded half-mile stretch of the famous Ka’anapali Beach in West Maui. You will be treated to luxurious guestrooms and five-star service thats celebrate the artistry, environment and culture of Hawaii.

The Surf Experience
Surf instruction occurs both in the water and on the land. You will gain confidence in learning how to surf, understand and practice surf etiquette and see how surfing is a metaphor for achieving your personal goals. Surf instructors come from the most popular surf school on Maui, Maui Surfer Girls, among the best in the nation and have current American Red Cross First-Aid and CPR training. Each instructor has at least eight years of surfing background and a minimum of five years of surf instruction expertise. You will be provided with a variety of surfboards including soft tops and custom-shaped performance surfboards to enjoy on Maui’s gentle waves.

With many surf breaks to choose from on Maui’s west side, both never-ever surfers and intermediate surfers are sure to enjoy their morning and late afternoon surf adventures. Expect rolling waves to greet you each morning and glassy waves to end a perfect day.

The Wellness Experience
The Yoga and Wellness Experience is an important part of your SwellWomen surf vacation. What better place to tune into your well-being and experience positive benefits than on the magical island of Maui. Guests leave our surf and wellness retreats not only feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and inspired. It begins with rolling out your yoga mat and experiencing the 6,000 year old practice of yoga. Next, get ready to be pampered by one of our licensed massage therapist with options for additional spa services throughout the week. The wellness portion of your Hawaii retreat doesn’t stop at yoga and massages it extends into nourishment for the body. Guests are also provided delicious and healthy food prepared by a qualified professional chef who cooks with love offering a menu that is an eclectic selection of the freshest seafood, meats and mostly organic vegetables. Three meals a day including dessert, island fresh fruit smoothie and fresh daily appetizers will not only satisfy your palate, but will provide nourishment in the most blissful way imaginable. Special diet needs? No problem.

A Typical Swell Day
6:15am Beach Walk (Early risers love this optional activity)
7:00am Breakfast
8:00am Surf Lessons
11:00am Yoga
12:30pm Lunch
1:30-4:30pm Activities (Excursion/Massage/Wellness or Educational Workshop/ Shopping/Stand-Up Paddle Board/Lounging by the pool or beach
4:30pm Sunset Surf Sessions
7:00pm Dinner and Dessert

The schedules may change according to surf conditions, guest speakers and surprise events that are planned during your women’s surf and wellness package. They best part? You can opt to relax by the pool the entire day or choose to participate in only one activity per day. No pressure here, they’ll support you in that decision.

7-10 Days including food, lessons, and board from $2,895-$3,495

Let the bliss begin.

http://www.swellwomen.com