by Holly Beck, Pro Surfer & Adventurer | The scariest part of surfing big waves isn’t the wave you catch, but the wave that catches you. I was in Fiji recently surfing an offshore reef pass with a few friends. The waves were big. I’m talking about serious triple-overhead barreling monsters hollow enough for the male pros to stand up tall with arms out wide or straight overhead and still not touch the lip. The waves jumped up suddenly then stampeded sideways along the shallow, colorfully sharp reef. I’m a professional surfer, but I’ll admit that I was scared…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | Summer’s in full swing, and while that means lots of good things, it can also feel a little too hot sometimes. Most of us love the chance to get outdoors more often to enjoy warmer temps and longer days, but too much heat and humidity can feel oppressive…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | It’s a bit amusing what some people imagine Cowgirl Yoga to be when they first hear of it: visions of handstands in the saddle, hanging upside down off the horse, or wild arm balances at the gallop all seem to dance through their heads. The reality is, riding and yoga are separate practices on the physical level…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | I know some of you out there aren’t yoginis. You’d rather lace up your running shoes, hop on your bike, or do whatever other activity calls your name. I know your type well, and I must admit to having a part in bringing many of you to the yoga mat — even if it’s just for a few poses — because my philosophy is that yoga helps you do anything better, and it’s my mission to prove it. This is my attempt to get you to sprinkle some yoga into your workout, the quick and easy way…

by Adri Kaiser, Featured Athlete | Ever since yoga has been a part of my life I felt the need to learn more about this amazing tradition and way of life. To many of my friends and family members, it seems that I finish a training and then enroll in another one… Some think I am crazy; I like to think I am a student for life…

by Julie Peoples-Clark, RYT | Seven years ago, I gave birth to my daughter Ella. My husband and I were so excited to be having a baby. I had a wonderful full-term pregnancy. I ate right, exercised everyday, didn’t drink alcohol, and stayed away from anyone who was smoking. My due date came and went and I was two weeks overdue when I finally went into labor…

by Adri Kyser, Featured Athlete | I cannot believe we are already in the month of February. It seems like yesterday when we were waiting for the new year to come, ready to embrace it with new hopes and a new attitude. If you are anything like me, you like to write down your goals — or what I like to call MY INTENTIONS. It is never the wrong time to set your intentions…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | The return of ski season means sore muscles that are trying to remember all the right moves (you want me to do what?!). Many other activities emphasize the importance of what you do to warm-up, and while I’m not negating that for skiing, I’ve found that what you do après-ski is even more important in terms of managing soreness and maintaining flexibility…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | One too many glasses of bubbly at a holiday fête? Family desserts weighing you down? Don’t wait until the New Year to detox. If you take small steps to balance overindulging now, it will be much easier to get back in the groove in January. Yoga poses can help facilitate your body’s natural detox process…

by Margaret Burns Vap, Big Sky Yoga Retreats | We live in a culture that thrives on results. We like that feeling of accomplishment that comes from crossing items off our to-do list, and from achieving larger goals. It’s not all bad, but one place this drive to achieve backfires is on the yoga mat. There are many life lessons to be learned on the mat, and one of my favorites is being reminded to slow down and honor the three P’s: Practice, patience, and process…