The Fit Girl's Kitchen

Some of you may have heard, but I am hosting a Yoga Retreat in France this May! This is one of those incredible right place-right time, listen to your heart opportunities that kind of fell into my lap last year. And I've been given the opportunity to share it with YOU.


This retreat will take place May 21 - 28th at the beautiful Chateau Bardouly in the Dordogne region of France (i.e. wine country, castles, rolling hills and breathtaking beauty). This 400 year old chateau was built in the reign of Henry IV and has been restored into one of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen.

I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend at Bardouly with the owners and some other wonderful people last October, and it felt like I was living in Downton Abbey.

THE CHATEAU

The drive up to the estate is breathtaking, surrounded by large trees and nearby vineyards. Each room is meticulously decorated, the large windows open into a serene garden and we enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails in the parlor room each night before dinner.

CUISINE

And the food. THE FOOD. This is true farm-to-table. The caterer Bardouly uses is the most delightful woman who picks food from her garden and the local farms each day to prepare insanely delectable dishes every night. I ate SO much while I was there, and didn't gain a single pound. You can truly taste the quality of the food, the freshness. the wine...it's honestly my version of heaven.

Which is why I am so excited to host a retreat here in May!

YOGA LIFESTYLE

This retreat will not be about traditional cleansing, detoxing and deprivation. This retreat is about enjoying LIFE.

Loving our bodies, taking care of our souls and feeding ourselves inside and out. We will detox the mind of negative thoughts. We will cleanse ourselves of feeling guilty for having dessert. We will deprive ourselves of the mayhem and chaos of city life for a serene, relaxing week in the French Countryside.




Bardouly played host to last year's YTT for Yoga Works, and has recently partnered with The Travel Yogi (one of my sponsors!) to host yoga retreats beginning this year.*

*My 2016 Bardouly retreat is not affiliated with The Travel Yogi, as I am working privately with the owners.

ITINERARY

Each day will begin with tea, fruit and coffee, followed by a morning meditation + yoga class either in the gorgeous studio or brand new outdoor yoga deck.

After yoga, enjoy a fresh and local breakfast and then excursion of your choice:

• Day trip to famous Issigeac market
• Bike to a nearby French town (which are the most adorable places I've ever seen, we will be providing bikes!)
• Shopping and foie gras sampling in Bergerac
• Wine tasting at a local vineyard
• Canoeing on the Dordogne River
• Strolling the French Countryside
• Chill by the pool
• Trip to The Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac 
• Visit to The Caves of Lascaux  

Our afternoons will have an optional yoga workshop or restorative practice (napping is also welcomed and encouraged!), followed by cocktails in the parlor and the freshest farm-to-table dinner you've ever had. Every single night.

It honestly sounds like a dream and I thought I was in one while I was there. But it exists, it's real and because I am working directly with the owners, I'm able to offer this trip at a fraction of the cost that is available on most yoga retreats.

DATES:

May 21 - 28, 2016

PRICING: 

Double Occupancy : $1,250 pp
Single Occupancy :$1,790 pp

*Price increase after March 1, 2016 ($200). $500 non refundable deposit to hold your place.

Price includes:

• 7 nights accommodation 
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks) 
• Special wine tasting evening 
• Guided hikes 
• All taxes 
• Twice daily yoga with Kat 
• Not included: airfare, airport/train station transfers, additional excursions, gratuities

I honestly don't think I could find accommodations in Europe anywhere close to this for that price, especially ones that include food and wine! And we get to practice yoga together every day too.

So come join me! I only have a few spots left, so please email me if you are interested or have any questions - kat@fitgirlwellness.com. This will truly be the experience of a lifetime!

HUGE thank you to the owners of Bardouly for hosting me and offering this experience - you can see more on their website http://bardouly.com/ and learn more about my retreat here - Yoga at Bardouly.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this on my flight out of Chicago. The shift has started...

As I embark on my two week trip for Costa Rica, I am finally writing the update that I have been putting off for the last thirty days.

sunset // playa negra

I’ve written it a million times in my head, but have suffered the most aggressive writers block I can remember. I’ve felt guilty for neglecting the “blog” part of FGK, but am making peace with the fact that I cannot do everything. I WILL not do everything.

That is what this trip is for - to get away. To reconnect again to myself. To process. To feel. To manifest. To serve myself.

We cannot serve others if we are not serving ourselves - mentally, physically, spiritually, all of it. Some may see this as selfish, but I assure you with my experiences over the last year, I do not believe that is true.

beach path // playa negra

So we search. We unconsciously become dependent on others for justification, or for them to supply something we are lacking. And then it crumbles. Everything implodes. We are constantly moving through cycles, riding waves that we neither predict nor control.

The last few months have been tidal waves - my separation from my husband. The loss of my grandmother. Selling my house. Leaving the city I thought I might be living in for the long haul.

Moving away from beautiful friendships. Leaving the studios I worked SO VERY HARD to become part of - to start again. Single. 30. Jobless.

But these words are just words - not labels. We CHOOSE to label situations in a certain way - with a predisposed interpretation that we have manufactured on how we are “supposed” to feel. The most critical thing I have learned in the last year is how to be present in a situation by treating it as factual - with no labels or emotional attachment.


Maybe death is triumphant. Maybe divorce is radiant. Who knows - each situation is dependent on the person in it. When we can remove ourselves and let the experience be what it is - we can ride the wave, instead of being engulfed by it. 


I knew I was going to need time to process everything that had happened in the last three months. I knew I was going to arrive in Chicago with guns blazing, ready to take on the yoga world. I did not anticipate how ready the yoga world was ready to take me in...wow. The people, the studios, the auditions, the energy - I was welcomed in with open arms. I am humbled & grateful.

Not that the transition has been easy - logistically yes. Ridiculously smooth - which I keep saying enforces the fact that this path divergence, following my gut and my true self was right on. 


Emotionally easy - far from it. The barrage of feelings - unpredictable and raw - I have only begun to process.

So hence this trip - I need to reconnect to myself. Feel real happiness. Feel real pain and heartbreak - instead of plowing forward with the next move. To surrender to myself.

This can be awfully scary but I need it, I WANT it - to continue to heal and so that I may assist others in healing of their own.

// Truth - I secretly wanted to go completely off-grid for two weeks. But I knew that wasn’t realistic (bonjour, do you understand how much I love photography and my newfound obsession with snapchat video documentary?) - the universe had other plans, as it always does.


I will be spending the next two weeks volunteering at Peace Retreat, doing work and giving my time to others as a form of meditation. Some of this work is helping run Peace Retreat's social media. (Of course it is. #ihearyouuniverse)


Additionally, I was selected by the premium yoga brand prAna as a challenge leader for their February yoga challenge on instagram (read: daily posting of yoga poses for the next 30 days). Which is kick ass, and I am honored to be part of it.

Off gridding is not in my cards. But reconnecting to myself is - that is my #1 priority on this trip.

My mantra for 2015:     To Inspire 

My goal for 2015:          to write to write to write 

I have already shared this with some key people in my life, in my tribe, to help keep me accountable. Now I am sharing it with you - what is your intention for this year? What goals can help you manifest it? Who are key people in your life you can share that with? Or heck, share it with the world.

Be bold. Live your passion.  f e e d  y o u r  s o u l  |   xx

Kat

A little update :)

It's the evening of my third day here in Bali, and I feel like I could stay here forever. They call this "The Island of the Gods" and "The Island of Peace" - and I know why.



The people here are amazing. The pride they take in what they do, in serving food, preparing it, assisting people - it's so overwhelmingly lovely and peaceful. I haven't stopped smiling since I've arrived here.



I was able to spend a few days travelling around before beginning yoga teacher training, which was fantastic. Everything here is ridiculously cheap (by American/European standards) - most of my meals have been less than $5 - and it's easy to get around without a plan.

We found the most beautiful hotel near Ubud and booked it during our layover in Qatar (long layover = lots of wine) and got in late Monday night. They rang a gong when we arrived.




We were surprised to learn that it's off season here in Bali - most of their tourism comes from Australia and New Zealand - so we had this magical resort mostly to ourselves. Breakfast and a swim is a wonderful morning agenda.

I can't say enough about the beauty here. I honestly can't capture it with a camera. The sounds, the smells, the energy - and the COLORS - are like nothing I have ever experienced.

traditional offering - these were everywhere

I will admit - the 30+ hour travel to get here was...not for the faint hearted. My first segment was 13.5 hours, then a 6 hour layover in Qatar (with customs), followed by a 7.5 hour flight to Singapore (deplaned for 1 hour for customs) and then a quick 2.5 hour flight to Denpasar in Bali. Oh and the +14 hour time difference.

I was actually able to acclimate to the time difference quickly, thanks to sleeping on the plane (somewhat upright). After that, a horizontal bed lay down situation plus a hot shower was the most glorious thing I could ever imagine.





But it was so worth it. Ubud was the perfect place to kick off this trip - just the right mix of culture and action. The biggest problem I had yesterday was lack of appetite (it's hot and humid here). And I love to eat.

Our stop for lunch

That shouldn't be a problem now that I've arrived at Kura Kura to begin yoga teacher training. Our schedule will reflect that.

I will have so many more things to say about our yoga resort later - it is honestly the most beautiful place I have ever seen. And it was raining when I got here.

A sneak peek at Kura Kura

Now that I've gotten that out of my system - we begin with a day of silence tomorrow. Which for those of you who know me...will be an arduous challenge.

Chatty Kathy signing off - Selamat malam.

(SPOILER ALERT: I wrote this post two days ago so I have finished my day of silent meditation. And it was the most beautiful day of my life. Stay tuned for more...)

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So it's official! My last day of work was yesterday, and tomorrow I depart for a month long trip to Bali to get my yoga teacher certification. It barely feels real.


I'll be connected in Bali, but hopefully not as much as I normally am so I can fully focus on immersing myself in meditation, yoga and culture.

Follow my FitGirlsKitchen instagram account for the latest and greatest of my adventures! I'll be posting with hashtag #FGKbali



I'll try and share some updates with you all while I am away and keep you motivated with some guest posts as well!

Off to finish packing...


See you all again soon!

Namaste


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When I launched The Fit Girl's Kitchen in January of 2013, I had no idea what the next 12 months had in store for me. This blog was simply meant to be a creative outlet for sharing my healthy recipes and fitness tips.

Something amazing happened during that time - I found my voice, I identified my passion. To be perfectly honest, I was surprised that people actually wanted to hear what I had to say. I started getting asked for advice and guidance. Something clicked and I realized - I could help others and share my love for living a healthy, happy life as my JOB.  But how?


Suddenly, doors started opening left and right - and I began walking through them. A random interaction on twitter led me to a local group of like-minded, amazing women and I was introduced to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.


I will graduate with my certification as a nutritional health coach this spring and be licensed as a holistic healthcare practitioner.

Last August, my yoga instructor told me about a teacher training she was planning in Bali. Would I like to go?

Kura Kura

I leave for Bali in two weeks and will return mid-march with my 200 Hour Yoga Teacher certification.

So what does this mean for Fit Girl's Kitchen?

After I return from Bali, I will be focusing full-time on building my new venture, FitGirl Wellness. Leveraging the momentum from FGK, I will be offering nutritional health coaching and private yoga instruction through FGW. I am excited, scared, thrilled and nervous but confident that I am ready to begin this next chapter.



So yes, this means that I have officially quit my job (!!!!).

After eight years in corporate america - the last four at an absolutely amazing software company in Chicago - I have given my notice, hung up my hat and traded it all in for a MacBook, yoga mat and pure blind faith to pursue my passion.

As Steve Jobs so eloquently stated:

source

Well, I've found it. I know this is what I am meant to do and I am so unbelievably thankful that I am in a position with the freedom and support to take this leap.

FitGirl Wellness will launch April of 2014 and I will begin taking clients for my six-month health coaching program when I return from Bali. (more details on this later!)

Thank you for all of the wonderful support you have provided to Fit Girl's Kitchen! Don't worry the blog isn't going anywhere - if anything I will have even more time to post, update and fill your newsfeeds with pictures of kale.



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