Want to Ignite your Summer? Hit ReFresh!

August is around the corner….. Have you taken some time off to enjoy this glorious summer?

At Hot Eight Yoga this morning I overheard a woman talking about her recent trip to Shanghai. Though she loved being there, she complained that jet lag had already cancelled out the benefits of her journey. I smiled, because I’ve discovered how to experience the exhilaration of travel without having to journey halfway across the planet!

Here’s my secret – Take mini trips to places you’ve never been. This might be a half-day excursion to the spa in your home town, a day drive up the coast, or a short fight to a new city!  The key is to get out of your comfort zone…. Hit the Refresh button and shake things up!

My more recent excursion was to North Carolina. It began in Asheville, and unfolded from there. Imagine flying into a valley surrounded by magical mountains glowing orange at sunset, going to sleep to the drumbeat of cicadas, and waking to the sound of cows mooing and water rushing down a nearby stream.  Everything is lush and saturated with green, and there are waterfalls everywhere!

Each day I left my Air BnB early in the morning with a backpack, and let the day unfold. No plans and no commitments, except to follow the promptings of my heart. The more I let go, the more I was guided to the next experience….. a dance class, an unexpected encounter with an band of musicians, a hike in the forest, connections with people who went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I felt free, happy, and attuned to everything around me.

Back in Los Angeles, I feel lighter, rested, and revitalized. And I’m already planning my next adventure!

I invite you (if youhaven’t already) to plan an excursion RIGHT NOW, before before the summer slips away from you. Even if you’ve already made a vacation plan, give yourself the treat of a some mini getaways. Otherwise, you might end up like my friend, John, who just spent most of his summer vacation sleeping in a hammock!

A key to nourishing our vitality is rest. But rest doesn’t have to be sleeping in a hammock. Sometimes a new experience is even more refreshing than sleep. Exploring a new neighborhood, taking off for the day without a plan, making time to speak with strangers, traveling to a place you’ve never been, swimming in the ocean or a cold river. Something a little wild that you’ve only dreamed of?

And, guess what, you might have an absolute blast!