08/14/2024
Life comes in waves and in seasons... And for me this most recent chapter has been such a huge departure from the previous few years. Before I took maternity leave, I was coming off the heels of personally running 15 retreats for AYR in a 2 year period. From the Caribbean to Central America to all the way to Africa, Asia and Europe. ๐งณ๐
It was a whirlwind and a dream come true. I started Above Yoga Retreats in 2016, ran my first retreat in 2017 and then ran a retreat a year in addition to a "real job." Just a few months before the pandemic I quit my corporate job to run retreats full-time, and, well, that was a pretty rough next 18 months of going nowhere (the business and no travel). ๐ซ
Then things got moving in late 2021 and demand for travel was back and retreats were selling out left and right. Jackpot! A few years go by and now I have a new hurdle - how do I attempt to have kids and not give up this business I love so much now that it's finally taking off? Especially when I've been so hell bent on doing pretty much everything for the business myself. Well almost a year into hiring help (contracting and training new retreat leaders and outsourcing some admin) and I can say that it's all gone better than I could have possibly hoped! ๐ฅ๏ธ โ๏ธ
What brought all these deep thoughts on? I found my passport in a sad pile of junk in my closet yesterday... When for so long it's lived in a special spot because it needed to be at the ready almost monthly. ๐
Believe it or not, it's been almost a year since I've used my passport... But it's only a few more months until I lead a group to Kenya for our Yoga + Safari Retreat! And then I'll be heading to the beaches of the Dominican Republic and the beautiful old town of Cartagena, Colombia next spring! ๐โก๏ธ ๐ฐ๐ช โก๏ธ ๐ฉ๐ด โก๏ธ ๐จ๐ด
I know it'll be hard to leave my sweet baby for the first time, but being home with her these last several months has been and will continue to be an immense privilege. Thank you all for the continued support and loyalty as AYR has morphed and changed. And to all of my retreat leaders, yoga co-teachers, and partners worldwide! I truly truly truly couldn't do it without you! ๐๐๐ผ Thank you!