Santorini Travel Guide

Santorini Travel Guide

One of my passions is learning about life through travelling and exploring new things. I absolutely love seeing new places and learning about different cultures, customs and areas of the world. As we all know, traveling has been very limited for the past couple of years. Santorini had been on my bucket list (and vision board) for ages. So when we finally made the decision to start our summer vacation with the trip, I was beyond excited to see this natural wonder of the world! And it definitely did not let me down. Santorini exceeded all my expectations with its whitewashed villages, blue domed churches, friendly people and delicious food.

Where we stayed

When we were researching hotels, we were really torn about which town to stay in on the island. We had seen many instagram reels of “instagram versus reality” with people in line to snap their sunset shots and did not want to stay in a crowded spot. We had read that the two main areas to stay are Fira and Oia, but that there were other much quieter towns like Imerovigli, with a more sleepy vibe. We opted to skip the hustle and bustle and chose Imerovigli and Caldera’s Memories as our hotel. This decision turned out to be PERFECT and I would highly recommend this hotel and location if you’re looking to relax yet enjoy the beauty of the island. Not only is the view jaw-droppingly beautiful, the service, vibe and hotel was impeccable. The hotel has a large pool area overlooking the caldera, delicious breakfast, clean and cozy rooms, free parking and the friendliest staff. Breakfast is served each morning next to the beautiful pool area (or your room for an extra fee) and you can choose your meal options for the following day and also at what time you’d like to have it ready. They had great attention to detail and would bring us complimentary snacks to the pool while enjoying our time, recommend activities and restaurants. I made sure to give them a shoutout on Tripadvisor as well, as I was truly impressed with their service.

When to travel

When planning your trip, it’s good to know that peak travel time is July and August. If you’re traveling during this time, you can expect certain spots to be jam packed with tourists, especially the ones you’ve seen on instagram. Even if our trip was in July, we were happy with it our trip and didn’t find the crowds to be intolerable at all. I guess part of this could be to thanks to our choice to stay in Imerovigli.

A buggy gives you the freedom to drive around the island as if you had a car and they can carry two people.

Getting around

Getting around Santorini is easy. Santorini is small and distances are short. We opted to rent a buggy and found it to be a comfortable and easy way to move around. The longest distance we drove was 40 minutes, but in general it took less than 15 minutes to get from one town/spot to the next. If you don’t want to rent a buggy, another option would be to rent an ATV or a scooter. But whatever you do, don not rent a car! It’s way easier finding parking with a small vehicle and besides it’s super fun driving around in a buggy or ATV. One advantage with a buggy compared to an ATV, is that you don’t need to carry your helmets around with the buggy, as you would with an ATV.

All places get crowded around noon, be early to enjoy spaciousness and empty streets!

What to see:

• Oia (pronounced Ia) is the most famous of all villages of Santorini and most surely worth a visit. I literally got goosebumps from its beauty and this is the place to get your instagram shots. That being said, it’s crowded and there are even lines for the most popular photo shot locations. These are the most famous “instagram spots” of Oia:

• The Famous Blue Domes Viewpoint

• Three Domes of Santorini Viewpoint

• Church of Panagia Akathistos Hymn

• Blue Dome Photo Spot

• Main Street of Oia

• Blue Dome with Orange Walls

• Fira (Thera) is the busy capital of the little island and worth mentioning. Shopping, nightlife, restaurants with great food with views over the caldera. Busy vibe and jam packed with tourists, yet offering absolutely incredible views and sunsets.

• Megalochori is a charming little village with narrow streets and rustic cafés. Without a doubt one of my favourite spots of Santorini and not at all as crowded as Fira or Oia. The village is located on a hill and offers an expansive view of the entire island.

• Imerovigli is THE spot to escape the crowds. It stands at the highest point of the Caldera and is located approximately 3 kilometers from Fira. Sleepy, breathtakingly beautiful sunsets and the best food we ate was in this town.

• Pyrgos is located on the highest spot on the island and the former capital. Picturesque & pretty everywhere you turn your head, however if you time is limited and you’d have to choose between whether to visit Megalochori or Pyrgos, I’d pick Megalochori.

In addition to beautiful views and whitewashed buildings, Santorini also offers plenty of beaches. The beaches are easy to get to and have plenty of amenities, such as sunbeds, umbrellas, bars, restaurants, and cafés. We visited Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos. Our favourite beach was Perivolos and our favourite beach club was Seaside Santorini, that being said it is on the more expensive side. We also saw the famous White beach and Red beach during our catamaran tour, yet did not visit them as we were only passing by.

Food:

In general the food was delicious, yet very expensive. Important to know: you should always make reservations in advance, especially if dining in Oia or Fira.

Below some of restaurants we ate at:

• La Scala: located in Fira, this restaurant has an impressive, panoramic view of the Caldera and the endless deep blue of the Aegean sea. The service is quick and the calamari was delicious, it’s not a fine dining experience and you should be aware that people gather in front of the restaurant to take pictures just before sunset. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐

• Dear Elie: okay this is your go to for brunch. The service was superb and everything we had was delicious. They even make their own bread and marmalade. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Avocado in Imerovigli: Hands down the best food we had during our entire trip was here. We were first a little hesitant to eat there, as the restaurant is not located on the cliff, meaning it doesn’t offer a view like so many other restaurants on the island. However, once we finally decided to give it a try (after three separate recommendations) we were AMAZED and did not regret our decision at all. If you go, you should have the Broken Mille-feuille as dessert (creme brulée, vanilla / chocolate ice cream, cocoa powder) and you’ll reach a state of Nirvana. You’re welcome. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Our very first lunch in Santorini was at the White Lounge Restaurant and cost around 170 euros (okay with a few drinks) but still, that is A LOT for a salad, some bruschetta and feta. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this spot, even tho the view was spectacular. Star rating: ⭐⭐

• Le Moustache in Imerovigli: this is your instagram paradise. If you follow me on the gram, you might have seen the reel where we’re first in the plane and then here. The ambiance is top notch and service very good. They even bring you wooden moustaches Food is quite tasty and I enjoyed my mango pie as dessert. Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Mavro Restaurant in Imerovigli: Fine dining & very expensive, this restaurant did offer us the best views of the trip, yet the portions are over-prized, small and unfortunately the service is poor. Star rating: ⭐⭐

• Terpsi N Oia: Terpsi N Oia is a traditional Greek restaurant in the heart of Oia. The views from this place were breathtaking overlooking the blue domes and the ocean and the food was quite nice. Star rating: ⭐⭐

What else to take into consideration:

🐛 Early bird catches the worm: the earlier you get up to visit each place the more quiet it’ll be. Every spot gets crowded around noon, so make sure to get up early and visit the towns before it gets busy. Especially if you’re looking to take pictures, and let’s be honest, that’s what everyone is doing there!

Do yourself a favour and leave your heels 👠 at home 😅. There are plenty of stairs and the pebbles streets make it impossible to wear heels. Trust me, I tried.

For how long should you stay? It’s a small island, 5 days or a week is plenty!

Enjoy your trip!

xx

Eva

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ESSENTIAL OILS 101: Essential oils to balance your 7 chakras

In collaboration with Puhdas+ use code EVA25 to get -25% off

ESSENTIAL OILS 101: Essential oils to balance your 7 chakras

If you’re into natural wellness, surely at this point you must have stumbled upon essential oils. The world of essential oils is vast and can feel somewhat overwhelming with so many different oils and usages. I decided to create a guide, that can help you navigate through the world of essential oils, using the chakras (energy centers of the subtle body) as your map.

Before me dive into these, let’s cover the basics first. An essential oil is a concentrated liquid made from parts of certain plants like leaves, herbs, barks, roots, seeds and rinds into a concentrated oil through extraction. The idea is to capture the flavors, scents, and overall beneficial properties from the plants into potent oils than can be used topically.

You can use essential oils, well, for a variety of things including; aromatherapy, treating skin conditions, soothing muscle inflammation, headaches and so much more. Another lovely way to use essential oils is using a diffuser. I use the Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser from Puhdas+ and absolutely love it, as it acts both as a diffuser and a humidifier, and is perfect drier climates (such as Finland).

The easiest form of usage, is to simply apply a few drops of the oil in your hands, rub your hands together and then inhale the scent. Even though I root for natural products, please note that even natural substances can be irritating or cause allergic reactions. Like anything else you put on your skin, my recommendation is to test a little bit on a small area and see how your skin responds.

Some of my favourites from Puhdas+

Certain oils, such as rose, ylang ylang, lavender (my absolute favourite 😍) help you relax and are good to use before going to bed when you want to wind down. Peppermint oil is great for treating headaches and migraine attacks, whereas ginger oil can help ease discomforts of the stomach and bowel. Lemongrass oil serves as a natural repellent for mosquitos and insects. Essential oils can also be used to freshen up things like laundry. Like I mentioned in the beginning, there’s a myriad of ways you can use essential oils and to cover them all would probably take a book or two 😅, for that reason, I decided to approach the subject through the Chakra System. Below you will find my favourite oils and which chakra they relate to.

Root Chakra

This chakra governs stability, security, your primal needs and feeling grounded and connected to Mother Earth.

• Color: Red

• Location: base of the spine

• Physical manifestation: kidneys, adrenals

• Essential oils to activate/balance: cinnamon (my top pick), myrrh, patchouli, cedarwood

Sacral Chakra

This chakra is related to your emotions, sexuality, pleasure and sensuality.

• Color: orange

• Location: just below the belly button (by the reproductive organs)

• Physical manifestation: reproductive organs

• Essential oils to activate/balance: sweet orange, ginger, jasmine, ylang ylang, clary sage

Solar Plexus Chakra

This chakra is about our personal power, will and courage.

• Color: yellow

• Location: stomach

• Physical manifestations: stomach (digestion), gallbladder, liver

• Essential oils to activate/balance: lemon, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass

Heart Chakra

This chakra is the expression of love, compassion and joy.

• Color: green (or a rosy pink)

• Location: chest

• Physical manifestations: heart, arms, hands

• Essential oils to activate/balance: rose, lavender, bergamot, thyme

Throat Chakra

This chakra is governs our expression, truth, speaking up but also our ability to listen to others.

• Color: blue

• Location: throat

• Physical manifestations: lungs, respiratory system

• Essential oils to activate/balance: eucalyptus, palmarosa, camomile ginger, lemon

Third Eye Chakra

This chakra is our wisdom center, connecting to the unseen, our psychic abilities and intuition.

• Color: indigo

• Location: between eyebrows

• Physical manifestations: eyes, head, lower brain, pituitary gland

• Essential oils to activate/balance: clary sage, bay, peppermint

Crown Chakra

This chakra is about our connection to the divine (source), unity, giving us access to higher states of consciousness.

• Color: white

• Location: crown of the head (above the head)

• Physical manifestations: brain, pineal gland

• Essential oils to activate/balance: lavender, sandalwood, frankincense

Make sure to take advantage of this generous discount code from Puhdas+ use code EVA25 to get -25% off your purchase!

That’s all for now,

Best,

Eva

Pictures by Jonna Monola

SUMMER UPDATE: What I've been up to lately + how to listen to your body

Dear reader, thanks for circling back to my blog even after this mini break that I’ve taken. The reason for the little pause is very simple: I’ve needed time to recharge, reset and relax. I definitely still believe in the practice of commitment and consistency with blogging, but what’s even more important than that (or more valuable than SEO optimising), is to truly learn to wind down when you need to. And I feel like this is something many of us can relate to. People (we) need to stop glorifying being busy and make room for, well, nothingness. Can’t we just please start a new trend where doing nothing is the coolest thing on planet earth 😅!? No but, jokes aside I feel that especially as a yoga teacher and someone who teaches people to unwind and tune in with themselves, I also need to practice it, not just preach it. And that’s exactly what I am doing right now, sitting in my summer cabin overlooking the Baltic Sea and simply taking it super chill without any schedule nor plans. Thanks to taking this time for myself I’ve now finally felt inspired and energized again to start writing and I started to reflect over how much I’ve actually needed this, to just be still without the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time here at our summer cabin, which is just an hour outside of Helsinki. We are in the midst of remodelling a small cute summer cabin (the sauna house) and making it into a space for me and my boyfriend. It’s been a bigger project than we first anticipated but I won’t go too much into detail right now as I am dedicating a full blog post to it very soon (with before and after pics, so stay tuned!!). In addition to spending time here, I’ve also been to a friends summer cabin celebrating midsummer and then enjoyed a fun and wild weekend in Hankoo (the most southern city in Finland) with an amazing group of friends. I’ve also taught a few yoga classes, gone to an amusement park (Linnanmäki), but other than that it’s been down time and laying low. And lemme tell ya, it’s been very needed. I feel like I am still digesting my new life of living back in Finland and trying to rejuvenate from the heavy winter and the busyness of it all (my day job as an event planner can be pretty hectic). Luckily, I am planning to escape this winter for at least parts of it.

At Linnanmäki, pic by Jonna Monola. Pants Vimma Company.

So how do we make sure to stay energized, healthy and balanced without burning out or over exhausting ourselves? What it all comes down to is learning to listen to your body and knowing when to slow down. I wanted to share some practical tips I’ve found to be useful as I’ve learned that my body is often way smarter than my head let alone my silly ego. The thing with your body versus your mind is that the body is continuously giving you cues and subtle messages on what is good for you and what isn’t, the problem is just that we a) ignore them or b) don’t see these messages in the first place. The mind loves to come up with excuses, distractions and falsities. Listening to your body or yourself is applicable to not just your health, but any other area of your life as well. If you just learn to tune into your intuition and gut feeling more than staying in your head, you’ll start noticing how things unfold in a very different way.

But what if you don’t know how to listen or you don’t know what actually works for your body, then a phrase like “listen to your body” can feel like nagging or plain useless. The truth is we are all different. Not only through our unique lives, patterns, relationships, circumstances, jobs, living situations, rhythms, eating & sleeping habits, we also differ in what our idea of health is. So where does one start? I made a few key notes that I feel that can be helpful on this journey towards becoming more self aware.

Pic: Chiara Hammerer Watch: Aarni Woods

1. Every day make sure to have a quiet moment just for yourself where you ask yourself these three questions: What am I feeling, physically? What am I feeling, emotionally? What am I thinking? Pay attention to what comes up. Just like with any new skill, this will be a process and some days you’ll get answers right away when at times you’ll think about your neighbours dead cat. Lol.

2. Journal first thing in the morning for 30 days straight. Commit to this practice and write two pages each morning before anything else. You’ll be astonished at how much will come up.

3. If you feel like you need to learn to listen to your body more think about the why’s. Why do you want to listen to your body. What is it, that is not working for you? Do you perhaps already have some physical symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, bloating, insomnia, lack of energy, a disoriented body image, relationship issues, lack of drive or direction. Or anything else that does not sit right with you. Think about your goals. What are you hoping to achieve? Is there a specific goal you want to reach, such as a more balanced relationship with food or better stress-reduction habits? Why is this important to you? Any goal is most successful when grounded in purpose.

4. Meditation, yoga or any other practice, exercise or hobby that helps you connect with yourself.

5. SLOW DOWN. Your health is your greatest wealth and priority. If you don’t know where to start or everything else sounds like gibberish, this one is pretty simply. Just clear your calendar, baby steps.

Pic: Chiara Hammerer

Towards a healthier, happier mind body connection y’all.

Happy trails and summer smiles!

Con amor,

Evita

PS. I will be posting more often from now on now that I am feeling energized again, pinky swear!

Boundaries & the art of saying no

Boundaries & the art of saying no

(Aka The Murican word that we also need to learn to incorporate into our lives here in the North)

Beautiful clothing by Finnish company Vimma and photography by Jonna Monola

Today I felt the need to write about boundaries. How do we inforce healthy boundaries in our relationships (personal, work and romantic) and communicate them to other people wisely. It’s a thought-provoking topic and something I’ve at times personally struggled with. I am still learning to draw the line in certain areas of my life and unfortunately more too often than I’d like to admit, I have a tendency of being just a little too floppy which will result in me feeling drained.

Firstly, if you’re unfamiliar with the word ”boundary” or wording ”having boundaries”, what this refers to are your personal limits and guidelines (your rules so to speak) that you establish to identify reasonable, safe and permissible ways for other people to behave towards you. It also refers to how you will respond when someone passes those limits. Think about them as your invisible fences you have around certain matters. These boundaries can involve how you want to be treated in a romantic relationship, how you wish to be treated at work or just with other people period. Your boundaries are not static and they are also constantly being shaped and created and tend to shift over time.

News flash: people cross our boundaries constantly.  What it basically means is that we are imperfect people living in an imperfect world with other imperfect fellow humans. Our boundaries will get crossed as at some point someone will do, say or ask for something that does not feel right to you. Despite the mundane nature of having boundaries, I had never heard of the expression before moving to Mexico and befriending a bunch of Americans/Canadians. It’s simply not a word that is used enough in our Scandinavian culture. Thus, I feel like it needs to be addressed more, hence today’s lil blog post. Because at the end of the day what it comes down to is having the balls/ovaries of saying no when we don’t feel like it. Why one might ask, well the truth is, people are sick and tired, and way too many people in our society burn out due to their boundaries being crossed over and over again. But this is not just in the world of biz, maybe you’ll notice it in your personal life or perhaps even in your romantic life. Just a tiny example is if when you feel obligated to for instance attend an event you don’t want to go to but you go anyways. What this comes down to is your lack of boundaries/ your lack of communicating them. As you start to see, your boundaries are part of your everyday life in many areas as they determine what works for you and what doesn’t.

Some argue that having healthy and clear boundaries has a dirrect correlation with your self-esteem. I agree to a certain extent, but I think it’s more complicated than that. It also has to do with self awareness, your communication skills and the idea of being a ”yes (wo)man” or plain simple, just being too darn nice. In the corporate world there might be a myriad of reasons why someone is allowing the workload to keep piling up. Perhaps the person is afraid of losing their job, perhaps they are hoping for a promotion etc. The thing is, it’s not just black and white.

So how do we create healthy, reasonable boundaries? Good question. I am no master as I honestly like I mentioned, still battle with this myself, but, I have gathered a few tricks and tips under my belt. Below shared:

1. Gain clarity and learn to check in with yourself. Watch your emotions, feelings, energy level, mood, thoughts. If you’re feeling exhausted or drained, the odds are something is sucking the life out of you. If you notice yourself feeling resentment towards someone or something, most likely you need to change something. Recap of step one: become aware.

2. When you’ve pin pointed a situation where you’re unhappy or feel like someone is taking advantage of you or doing anything else that triggers you, mark it mentally. Figure out what, exactly, you're comfortable with and what you aren't. Step two is about learning about and setting your limits.

3. Make self care your priority. I’ve said this before, but the most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one you have with yourself. Put yourself first. For realz. Step three is taking your power back and wanting to change things.

4. Communication (surpise surprise!). Once you get clear on what matters most to you, then you can take the bigger step of communicating this to others. As hard as it is, you’ll have to verbalize where you stand and perhaps even break it down for others to understand where you’re coming from. Be direct. Like we’ve seen on Pinterest and the gram, growth (and sometimes change!) happen outside of the comfort zone. Step four in a nutshell: take action.

5. Baby steps. Just like with learning any new skill, it takes practice and courage. Start small and be assertive when communicating what you’re okay with and what not. Step five is a reminder of how you can be strict, yet soft at the same time.

6. Reach out. Sometimes we need a lil push/kick or enouragement from our peers, friends or fam. Talk to them about your feels and perhaps you’ll gain some new insight or another perspective around your issue. At the end of the day, we are all different and how we perceive the world is our reality. By changing perspective, your whole situation might change. Step six is a reminder that you’re not alone, ask for help.

What’s important to understand is that everyone has their own set of boundaries and we are all responsible for holding them and also sensing and respecting other people’s boundaries. As I am typing this I am also realizing how nuanced this topic is and how it actually affets all areas of our lives constantly. We have boundaries in all areas of life: emotional, career, relationship, physical, sexual and the list goes on. Like with all things in life, it takes some time for your patterns of boundaries to develop, and it may take some time to relearn and practice something differently, consistency is key. 

Now, I’d love to hear from you. How do you communicate your boundaries without upsetting someone? Do you struggle with this issue? Do you find it easier to have clear boundaries in some areas of your life, but in others not so much?

With love and healthy boundaries,

Eva

10 ways to use tech for your wellbeing

Greetings dear reader,

Nice that you found your way here, if you’re a frequent reader, I am glad that I didn’t scare you off 😂😱 with my most recent blog text, which certainly was written from a place of fire. I think it’s fair to say I have some frustration around being judged for sharing my love for yoga and it showed in my latest post. Perhaps it should go on my own list of “things to work on” and what can I say, I’m simply a passionate opinionated yogini and sometimes I let the sharpness pour into my writing and my blog is a way to funnel it. Either way, no matter if you’re a new or old reader, I am glad that you’re reading my scribbles and today’s post definitely has a softer tone 💛, think unicorns, cotton candy, daisies and marshmallows 🦄🌸 🍭 (sorry I took it too far there).

Okay dokay, well today I want to touch on a topic that might interest our tech and gadget loving humans: how to use tech for your wellbeing. The digital revolution is here and as it seems, it’s here to stay. Every industry is getting digitalized and unless you’re jumping on the bandwagon, you’re basically gonna struggle, or worse, not make it. This is also true for the wellness industry and there’s already a bunch of apps and gadgets out there that you can use to improve, measure and enhance your overall wellness. YAY. It’s also true for us yoga teachers as many of us use for instance the gram, blogging and vlogging as a way to reach more people.

I personally think it’s pretty dang nice that there’s a bunch of trinkets out there we can now use to actually measure and get data from. One of the coolest aspects about even the wellness industry getting digitalized is that now that there’s actually data and proof that displays the benefits, it makes more sense to invest in your wellbeing. And this again means, that the digitalization of wellness can serve a gateway to reach people who perhaps normally wouldn’t be interested in mindfulness, yoga or wellbeing in a holistic way. All around ah-mazing.

Alrighty then, so there’s a broad range of variety out there in terms of what you can actually measure, use and do for your wellness, but I decided to gather some of the most well known tools and apps and then also a few random ones that I know of. I personally use the Apple Watch and let’s just say I’m more or less in love with it. It gives me data on my workout goals, reminds me to breathe (I mean deep breaths and breaks) and is awesome for switching music during yoga classes (I don’t have to use my phone). Here we go:

1. The Apple Watch

   Like I mentioned above, I use the Apple Watch for reaching my workout goals, reminders to take breaks to breathe, to measure how many steps I’ve taken per day, to change and adjust music during yoga classes and so much more more. Oh, and it’s also eye pleasing with its sleek black amazingness.

2. The Garmin Smart Watches

   Similarly to the Apple Watch, Garmin has also launched a line of their own smart watches that you can use for comparable purposes as the Apple Watch. These smart little devices are also eye pleasing and they help you track your activity, then save, plan and share your progress with others.

3. Yogaia App & Website

   Live and interactive yoga classes from anywhere. They have over 100 classes every week and a broad range of teachers and different classes. The cool thing is that you can actually turn your camera on and get live tips, feedback and cues from the teacher in real time.

4. Yogobe

   Take your practice with you anywhere at any time. This useful app and website enables you to basically practice anywhere at any time. All you need is your app and a connection to the world wide web. One of my teachers, Satu Tuomela, whom I did my first Yoga TT with has several of her classes on this site.

5. Neurosonic therapy lounge divan

   This is a new stress relief method developed in Finland that works through low frequency vibrations. There are three different programs you can choose from: recovery, relaxation and activation. It works kind of like a massage chair, but through vibrations, which are directed throughout the whole body. It has proven to be an astonishingly efficient method of recovery and there’s data on its efficiency. We happen to have one at our office, and it’s pretty damn stellar!!!

6. Yoga 15

   Yoga 15 is an rad app thats message is pretty simple: EVERYONE has time to do a 15 min workout or stretching session every damn day! I met the beautiful founder and yogini Abi when I lived in Mexico and I remember how passionate she was about her work and app. She’s definitely gone along way and continues to share the love for the ancient practice in a modern way reaching both men, women, yogis, cyclers, runners and other sportsmen and -women! You go girl! PS. She also happens to have a gorgeous instagram feed.

7. Headspace

   Unless you’ve lived under a rock, surely you’ve heard of headspace!? I’m KIDDING, no, but this app is pretty darn fantastic and so wonderful for taking up meditation as a practice. They have hundreds of themed sessions on everything from stress and sleep to focus and anxiety My good amiga Lucy (who normally perhaps isn’t that into yoga or the wellness hype) swears on this lovely app. Love you mama.

8. Period Trackers: Flo, M. Cycles or Clue

   YESSSS and yes yes yes. These apps are making life so much easier! Now you can use an app to track your “safe days”, ovulation and expected period. The apps will also give you insights throughout the month about how your body is working at specific times. It’s particularly good for those looking to be able to plan around their periods, perhaps if they're booking a holiday and would prefer not to be on, or for those looking to get pregnant. If you’re already expecting, there’s also an excellent app to track the pregnancy throughout its different stages.

9. Strava

   This one is for the ones who love to run and cycle! Strava is already one of the most popular activity-tracking smartphone apps out there and I use this as well. You can also use it on your Apple Watch, that adds to the convenience of recording movement from your wrist, so you can leave you phone at home.

10. The Moon

    This one goes out for moonchildren out there. This app is great for checking the moon phases as you can view the current phase of the moon, see the moon on the day you were born, share the moon with your friends, get notifications for upcoming moon events.

In addition to these, there’s actually an app that can track your dirty mouth and scold you for cussing and help you stop swearing. Obviously there’s ALOT of apps, tools and widgets out there and another topic I didn’t touch on is wellness related podcasts and inspiring instagram accounts to follow (later in life) but if you know of any other cool or useful ones, I’d love to learn more so please, do feel free to comment below.

An Apple Watch, Buddha, Zafiro jewelry, singing bowls and candles. What else do you need?

Alrighty then, let’s all now be tech-savvy wellbeing badasses and have a happy EASTER 🐣!!!

That’s all for now. Go eat them chocolate eggs.

Con amor,

Evita

Chakra 101 (Chakras for Dummies) and an infographic

CHAKRA 101 (CHAKRAS FOR DUMMIES) AND AN INFOGRAPHIC

Everything is Energy ✨ The thoughts you think, the words you speak, the actions you take, the food you eat...

Your physical body is just one layer, but beneath this 3D dimensional domain, lies a subtle body and a complex system of energetic centers, lines and sheaths.

I have always been curious about the unseen and into the energetic realm of things, which is why I am so passionate about the Chakra System. Energy does not lie and vibes speak louder than words. Think about it...Ever felt certain vibes of someone? Yup, that’s when you pick up their ”vibe”, I’m sure you’ve had moments you’ve for example felt someones bad mood, even if they didn’t express it in words.

Many are still clueless about what chakras are, how they function and what they govern. So, I decided to make an infographic (take it with a grain of salt and humor) and wrote this simple guide for you to get a basic idea and understanding.

Perhaps you’ve heard the term chakra but are still quite unfamiliar with the concept of it or don’t know what it does, how it functions, where it is (or where they are). Let’s dive in:

Let’s start with the actual word ‘chakra’. Chakra literally means wheel or circle and is a word from the Sanskrit language. What that refers to is the wheel like movement of the chakra.

So what is a chakra? A chakra is an energy center, a vortex and the focal point of subtle energy in your energetic body. Like i mentioned in the beginning: Everything is energy. How that energy presents itself in this physical realm, is what we call matter. But when we look at the body from an energetic perspective, there are certain ways the energy flows and certain places where that energy gathers and these are your Chakras.

You have seven primary chakras in your body. Each Chakra is connected to certain aspects of your life and certain areas or glands and organs of your body. Each Chakra is associated with a specific color, an element, a tone, a frequency and so forth. Below is a list of the seven primary Chakras and their elements, color and functions.

1. The Root Chakra (Muladhara)

Muladhara (“root support”) is located at the base of your spine. It is often depicted as a red four-petaled lotus, and it governs what are considered the four primal urges: food, sleep, sex, and self-preservation, but also money. It is the foundation of your being. Its energetic function is to help us maintain a sense of groundedness and inner stability.

Element: Earth

Color: Red

Affirmation: “I am here.”

Tone: LAM

2. The Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)

Svadhisthana (“her own abode”) is located at the pelvis by your reproductive organs. It is often depicted as an orange lotus with six petals, and it’s associated with creativity, sensuality, pleasure, fluidity, adaptability, emotions, sexual energy, and the unconscious. The second chakra’s energetic function is to help us regulate our emotions and desires, so as not to be driven by them.

Element: Water

Color: Orange

Affirmation: “I am a creative.”

Tone: VAM

3. The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)

Manipura (“city of jewels”) is located at the navel center. It is commonly depicted as a downward or upward-facing yellow triangle. This energy center is your personal power, your ego and it’s function is to navigate our lives with strength and determination.

Element: Fire

Color: Yellow

Affirmation: “I am strong”

Tone: RAM

4. The Heart Chakra (Anahata)

Anahata (“unstruck”) is located at the heart center. Anahata is typically depicted as a green six-pointed star surrounded by 12 lotus petals. On a spiritual level, it’s said to be the home of the higher “unstruck” or indestructible self. Anahata governs our joy, love (not just romantic love, more importantly self-love), compassion and openness. Energetically, anahata helps us tap into unconditional love.

Element: Air

Color: Green

Affirmation: “I am loving”

Tone: YAM

5. The Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

Vishuddha (“to purify”) is located in your throat. It is often depicted as a blue downward-facing triangle inside a lotus with 16 purple petals. This energy center is associated with speaking one’s truth. Its energetic function is to help us find authentic self-expression and honesty.

Element: Ether or space

Color: Blue

Affirmation: “I am honest.”

Tone: HAM

6. The Third-Eye Chakra (Ajna)

Ajna (“command center”) is located between the eyebrows and is.represented by a transparent lotus with two white petals. It is your wisdom center and the seat of the mind, your conscious and unconscious awareness. It is not associated with any element, as this chakra is considered beyond the physical elements. This is the center for intuition, vision, imagination, inner knowing, and self-assurance. The energetic function of ajna chakra is to help us learn to know ourselves on a spiritual level.

No element

Color: Purple

Affirmation:  “I am seeing.”

Tone: OM

7. The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

Sahasrara (“thousand-petaled lotus”) is located just above the crown of the head. This is the doorway into pure consciousness, it is often depicted as a thousand-petaled lotus with a pinkish aura, and in a similar way to the third eye chakra, nor is this chakra associated with a physical element. This chakra serves as a way of connecting to divine energy and is associated with our highest self. Sahasrara helps us function in a more enlightened way, cultivate self-mastery, and find a sense of connection with all.

No element

Color: White

Affirmation “I am connected”

Tone: MMM

Now that you have a basic idea of these energy centers, it’s key to understand that this energy is constantly changing. Energy flows in and out of these centers all the time and your chakras can either be balanced, unbalanced, over active, under active or even blocked (oh nooo!!). Luckily there are various methods to unblock, align and balance your chakras and these include nutrition, yoga, healing, rest, various activities, crystals, colors and so forth. This all depends on which of the chakras it is that is not in harmony. So how do you know if a chakra is inactive or blocked you might ask? Well, usually after getting an understanding of the chakras you might already have an idea in your mind. Perhaps you’ve gone through heart ache lately (maybe there’s a blocakge in your heart chakra) or did you just lose your job (first chakra) or maybe you never speak your truth and always hold your opinions to yourself, even if you should speak up (throat). But if you’re still completely clueless, there are ways to test your chakras and one method is using a pendulum or a dowser. The dowser is simply placed above your chakra and if the pendulum is spinning in a circular way, the chakra is in harmony, if it’s not moving at all or if it’s going back and forth, there’s a blockage or it’s under active, if it’s making a crazy big circle, yup you guessed it: it’s over active. Below a list of feelings that might be present if a chakra is overactive or under active.

Root Chakra

Overactive
Fearful, nervous, insecure, not feeling grounded; materialistic or greedy, resisting change

Underactive
Lacking a sense of being at home or safe anywhere, codependent, unable to get into one’s body, fearful of abandonment

Sacral Chakra

Overactive
Overemotional, very quick to attach and invest in others, attracted to drama, moody, lacking personal boundaries

Underactive
Stiff, unemotional, closed off to others, lacking self-esteem or self-worth, possibly in an abusive relationship

Solar Plexus Chakra

Overactive
Dominating, aggressive, angry, perfectionistic or overly critical of oneself or others

Underactive
Passive, indecisive, shy, lacking self-control

Heart Chakra

Overactive
Loving in a clingy, suffocating way; lacking a sense of self in a relationship; willing to say yes to everything; no sense of boundaries, letting everyone in

Underactive
Cold, distant, lonely, unable or unwilling to open up to others, grudgeful

Throat Chakra

Overactive
Overly talkative, unable to listen, highly critical, verbally abusive, condescending

Underactive
Introverted, shy, having difficulty speaking the truth, unable to express needs

Third Eye Chakra

Overactive
Out of touch with reality, lacking good judgment, unable to focus, prone to hallucinations

Underactive
Rigid in thinking, closed off to new ideas, too reliant on authority, disconnected or distrustful of inner voice, anxious, clinging to the past and fearful of the future

Crown Chakra

Overactive
Addicted to spirituality, lack of bodily needs, having difficulty controlling emotions

Underactive
Not very open to spirituality, unable to set or maintain goals, lacking direction

So, no that you have a basic idea about the chakras you can learn to work with these subtle energies and become more aware of your energetic body. If you want to study more, I highly recommend picking up the book “The Anatomy of The Spirit” by Caroline Myss.

You feeling aligned AF yet? ;)

Con amor,

Evita