I am a huge believer in yoga and its benefits. I think it is a great way to keep both the mind and the body healthy and improves mental wellbeing. It is gentle exercise compared to some other options, yet can do you so much good and should be encouraged as part of your 5 a day!

It's at this point I should admit I have never practised yoga. Not once. A chiropractor suggested I try a couple of positions a while ago and recommended it be something I take up but for whatever reason, I know not why, I have never been to a class.

So I am considering going on a yoga holiday to kick start what I hope will be a long and rewarding relationship with this ancient discipline. Holidays you see, I can do. I love the sunshine, the first night in a new, temporary home and the initial forays into an unknown town or village. But I get bored quickly, easily and often with no remedy. So a yoga holiday sounds perfect to me with the chance to add a bit of structure to my day that regular lessons provide.

Yoga holidays can be found all over the globe and for all different types of yoga. I know a bit about about Hatha, Sivananda and Bikram yoga and will probably go for one of these though I don't really mind as it's all new to me and I am sure I'll get a lot out of whichever I choose.

I would really like to go back to Thailand and take my yoga holiday there but am considering Fuerteventura, Spain or Italy too - the destinations look amazing! I am hoping that I come back refreshed and rejuvenated from being on holiday but also having been introduced to an activity that I can really feel the benefits of and carry on back home.

The final decision is who to take with me on my holiday course... at the moment I think I might just go alone and take a singles holiday to make the most of my time off and my first date with yoga. 

Continue reading Relax With A Yoga Holiday

According to the office of National Statistics projections to 2031 show that the singles population in England & Wales is set to grow by 31%, accounting for an estimated 45% of the total adult population.  And it’s not just the singles that are travelling solo; even those in relationships are choosing to pursue their own interests on holiday.

Some of the best singles holidays around are those where you can learn a new skill on holiday. Singles can meet like-minded people, have fun and pursue a passion for a hobby or skill. There's a host of solos holidays out there in anything from cookery holidays, language holidays, learning to surf, horse riding holidays, jewellery making courses, yoga holidays, scuba diving and much more.

The attractive thing about taking a course on holiday is that they are typically full of other singles like you but its not officially a singles holiday making so you get none of that 'herded' feeling or underlying dating which can happen on dedicated solos trips.

Take the plunge, solo holidays aren't just for singles they are for people who are independent, have a passion for learning new things and an energy and enthusiasm for a great holiday in a stunning location. The only problem I have is deciding what to do...

Continue reading Singles holidays not just for single people

Fancy making the most of all that nature has to provide on your next holiday? For those interested in all things natural, painting holidays from GoLearnTo.com which explore art forms in nature are the ultimate creative escape, and what better location than an eco-friendly carbon neutral guesthouse in one of Spain’s most beautiful alpine deserts in Andalucía, Spain?

Foreign travel has become something of a bête noire in recent years. As each holiday period approaches, politicians are criticised by the tabloids and environmental campaigners for travelling, and as more and more people jump on the bandwagon, ‘staycations’ in the UK have become increasingly fashionable.

However, you don’t have to stay at home and suffer the English weather to ensure that your holiday doesn’t have a negative effect on the environment.  More and more travel providers are looking at methods of providing travellers with eco-friendly options when travelling abroad, and nowadays going green doesn’t mean you have to compromise on either luxury or style.

Continue reading Go carbon-neutral on your painting holidays

Most of us return from holiday with our camera’s memory-card filled to capacity... or perhaps a suitcase full of photographic film begging to be developed for the more traditional among us. But do your photographs live up to expectations and reflect the beauty and vibrancy of the places you visited, or are they a mixed bunch of blurred landscapes and dodgy portraits accompanied by crys of ‘oh no, delete that one’?  If they are, they why not combine a photographic course with your next holiday? At least you can guarantee returning home with some decent photographs.

If you do decide to go on photography holidays, your number one priority is probably location. After all, what’s the point of learning to take beautiful photographs if there’s nothing worth taking pictures of? Bearing this in mind, we have assembled our pick of 5 of the most picturesque places to refine your photographic skills.

Essaouira, Morocco

Continue reading Top 5 Places for Photography Holidays

Spain is one of the most diverse and visually stunning nations of Europe. Home to dynamic cities, beautiful beaches, cork forests and dramatic mountain ranges. Spain attracts more than 50 million visitors each year, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but Spanish.

Here's our top 5 locations in which to learn Spanish in Spain...

1. Spanish courses in Madrid
The city that never sleeps. Madrid is a party town and bursts with energy and life making it Spain's headiest city and the perfect place to learn Spanish. Culture, art, great food, beautiful parks and great architecture and did we mention parties? What more could you want....

2. Spanish courses in Seville
Seville is the very soul of southern Spain. Stylish, confident and fun loving and set to the rhythm of Flamenco, Seville is a wonderous city with plenty to entertain.

3. Spanish courses in Granada
Winding streets giving way to cute squares housing beautiful architecture with distant sounds of Flamenco, Granada is a true taste of the 'real Spain'. Perfectly positioned at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains and not far from the beach, you can find yourself on the slopes in the morning and by the beach in the afternoon - perfect.

4. Spanish courses in Valencia
Any city that hosts Tomantina is a must visit in my book. Beautiful beaches, vibrant and city life with a laid-back feel sweetly scented by orange blossom, this home to paella is a fun place to learn Spanish and well deserves its place in our top 5.

5. Spanish courses in Barcelona
Forget your worries about Catalan v Castilian Spanish, Barcelona is a wonderful city to learn Spanish and each school teaches Castilian Spanish so you can be sure you'll be able to use your new found words not only in Barcelona but across Spain.  Bursting with life, bars and of course Gaudi architecture, Barcelona makes for a fun place to take a language course.

And why stop at just learning Spanish? Put the lingo to good use by combining a course with learning to cook delicious Spanish food, flamenco dance, surf and more for a holiday with a difference. Don't be a tourist!

Continue reading Top 5 places to learn Spanish in Spain