Breathing in Italy, and Beyond...

​The irony of frantically rushing to a yoga class to ‘chill out’, ‘get zen’, and start my day ‘right’ was never lost of me; yet I remained faithful to my 6:30AM classes. I figured at some point, everything I hoped to ‘get out’ of my yoga practice would be achieved (yup…I’m a former Type A personality). ​
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​Enter Liberty Life Yoga (June 2018) who hosted a yoga retreat in Italy’s Amalfi Coast that I jumped on without hesitation. This was a beautifully curated retreat that brought us to the cozy seaside village of Positano, glamorous Capri (my Amal Clooney moment), limoncello tasting (Niagara-on-the-Lake x 10), and of course, daily yoga practice that over looked the Mediterranean Sea that left me in awe, EVERYDAY. 

​Within the first couple of days I found myself coming back from the morning practice, and stopping, virtually at the same spot that over looked the calm, crystal-blue sea with the mountains as a backdrop. I realized I was trying to figure out how to bottle up this feeling of peace and take it home with me. I needed to find a way to pack this calmness in a little vial so I could pop it open when things get a little hectic.

​Unfortunately, no such vial exists. What I was able to bring back with me from this retreat was a newfound relationship with my breath…yes MY breath. It was in these short, yet powerful, seven days that I began to understand why many refer to the breath as 'the life force'. Why in my frantic moments to get ‘zen and chill’, I needed to get out of my head and listen to my breath (it was an 'ah-ha' moment for sure). 

It was during our morning practices that I was guided to focus on my breath, to listen to my breath, be present, get out of my head, and move slowly; and I began to notice how beautifully this set the tone for me (inside) and my day. 
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Naturally, I decided to bring this back with me to the T.dot, and every morning since returning, without fail, I begin my day with deep, deep breathing (right down to my belly). It has evolved to include a few rounds of sun salutations, a morning meditation, or perhaps a couple of squats and push-ups (for good luck 😊). No matter what form my morning routine takes, it starts and ends with listening to my breath, which has kept me present and off the hamster wheel ‘chasing calmness’.

A big thanks to Christine and Sarah for hosting a beautiful retreat that truly lives within me everyday.

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Written by: Carmela Liggio