Vacation Time Is the Best Time To Learn

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My interest in yoga started long before I began practicing yoga.
 

It wasn't that I had limited opportunity where I could go attend yoga classes - there are at least 4 yoga studios within a 6 block radius of my condo and the YMCA where I work-out offers yoga classes throughout the week; but yet, it took me almost 2 years of being interested in yoga until I finally started to practice the art.
 

It was during a trip to Turks and Caicos. I was doing some initial research on what was around the resort we were staying at (something I regularly do) and found within 50 yards of the resort entrance was the entrance to a yoga studio. My brain synapses said, "Yes, sign up for a couple classes. Why not?" Finding no counter-argument in my mind, I purchased my passes in advance - to help ensure I would attend.
 

When I first arrived at the studio I was a little hesitant, a little unsure as it was my first time practicing yoga - and I had chosen to do so at an advanced studio with some very experienced instructors. However they were anything but intimidating and unbelievably welcoming. Needless to say that week - after 3 classes - I fell in love with yoga and couldn't wait to get home and find classes that I could attend regularly.
 

Vacations are one of the best times to finally take a few classes in a hobby you have been interested in or possibly take the next step in a current hobby. Why?
 

Because, when you decide to take a vacation you have already made the decision to open yourself up to something new. Something non-routine. On vacation you don't have the same timelines you do at home.
 

Maybe you have always wanted to expand your knowledge of scotch or whiskeys - why not take a cruise to Scotland or Ireland where you can visit distilleries and learn from the masters? Or maybe you have always wanted to learn how to make delectable chocolates - how about a tour of Belgium where you can take a chocolates class? Learn to golf? There are wonderful courses in the Caribbean. Or learn to surf - Hawaii, Costa Rica or Baja - have options. The list is truly endless and only limited by your imagination. 

Vacation-time is a great chance to learn something fresh, practice something you used to do, or find a long-desired passion you can bring back to your "non-vacation" life. In addition, you have the added benefits of not only learning something new, but the memory and the story of where you learned it; as well as the opportunity to become a participant in the culture, engaging with the locals. You immerse yourself further into your destination and rather than just being tourist "seeing", you become a traveler "doing".
 

It has been almost one year since my Turks and Caicos trip and I have been practicing yoga regularly ever since (well, as regularly as I can) and what I have found is a new passion, a routine that provides me energy, balance, stress-relief and the added benefit of the loss of a few pounds. And, on all of my travels since I have sought out yoga classes in my destinations where I can attend, interact with some of the locals as well as fellow travelers, and expand my ability learning from others.
 

What's next for me? Well, I have always wanted to learn to play the guitar....


What about you?