Yoga is all about finding an oasis of calm within yourself, but your surroundings certainly help, the more remote the better. Hence the appeal of yoga retreats.

If you're going to retreat, you might as well do it properly. How about Guatemala, which is currently turning into a yoga and eco-tourism hotspot? The country is enjoying a stable economy (as of 1996) and is an ecological feast for the senses. Lake Atitlan is the obvious destination (shown above) - it's already home to a community of yoga enthusiasts. And who can blame them, with that view to lower blood pressure and foster inner tranquility.

Options abound. The hotel, restaurant and retreat center Villa Sumaya offers...well, it's quicker if you go here and look; the list is impressively extensive. There's just 16 rooms, all - to this writer's eyes - absurdly good value. (However, if you're there to be part of a specific retreat, the price rises.) Less expensive is the Lake Atitlan Hotel, an eco-tourism project offering rooms as cheap as $35 a night - here is Responsible Travel's write-up on Lake Atitlan.

A brief web-search unearthed umpteen yoga retreat packages for the area, all-inclusive and usually in excess of $1500 / week. However, if you're feeling adventurous, design your own: find some suitable accomodation, find a ...Read More

Mi Chiamo Luanne. Come tu chiami?

Those were the first phrases on the chalkboard in my 10-week intensive Italian class at Instituto Italiano Scuola in San Francisco. I figured I'd study Italian to prepare for my first trip to Italy in September per il mio grosso compleanno (for my big birthday).

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Did I bring too much?

Lately, I’ve come across a lot of hype about packing lighter. Our fellow eco-friendly sites and publications have accepted the stance that less of a load is somehow better for the environment and are touting the idea in all of their tips and guides to a greener existence.
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It's summer!

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If you’ve ever considered vacationing in Taos, consider staying in an Earthship for the night. Earthships are surprising constructions,  made mainly from old tires, ...Read More

School is letting out and I hate to think that high gas prices and fuel shortages will make the summer road trip a thing of the past, because there are some worthy reasons to load up the family and take a little drive to a pretty place where the kids might learn something valuable.

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Our National Parks are a precious sanctuary from modern life. Places where you can view an infinite number of stars, or enjoy a hike that is completely silent - save for the calls of birds and the rustling of grasses. Places where you might see wildlife like coyotes ...Read More

In the days of old and eco-oblivion, you could travel the world, sleep anywhere with 5 stars and be assured of a restful, luxurious, guilt-free experience. In the 90s, smaller "boutique" hotels began to crop up - but pampering, not green, was still the ...Read More

I’m all about product functionality, but if something doesn’t also look good, then forget it. I love designers who understand what it means to create an extremely stylish product without forsaking purpose, which is why I was drawn to Malcolm Fontier’s collection. ...Read More

If you happened to be driving through the desert outside of Joshua Tree California and suddenly came upon Noah Purifoy's 7 1/2 acres of desert sculptures, you might think you'd stumbled into Burning Man after a mysterious, mass alien abduction.

Strange structures emerge from ...Read More