Bring 3 friends at full rate and receive your Retreat Package complimentary!

Put on your traveling shoes and prepare to get away with Best of Both! If you’re ready for a great escape with great friends, there’s no better vacation destination then the tropics.  So…get on the phone or e-mail your girlfriend and say let’s get away. It’s time to make plans, pack your luggage and have a great time together!

In order to take advantage of this special offer, you must book and pay in full no later than October 1st 2009. To receive the complimentary package, both the paid and complimentary bookings must attend the same retreat without cancelation.  Please note-This offer does not apply if you have already booked a vacation with us during 2009 or 2010. 

 

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5 reasons to start packing:

 

1. Best of Both Surf and Yoga taps your adventurous spirit in a active tropical setting.
2. Our retreats are designed for women by women. We organize every detail of your trip while you relax and have fun.
3. You will enjoy good company with like-minded women where you can be yourself and laugh. Relax or just be a carefree woman with no worries for 5 amazing days.
4. Enjoy the freedom to do what you want when you want. There’s no pressure or competitiveness, but plenty of support.
5. Retreats don’t change our lives as much as they change    where we stand in relationship to our lives—and our capacity to see the hidden possibilities there.”

 

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De-stress

 

De-stress, refresh and rejuvenate in a nurturing, empowering and supportive environment. Explore the transformative power of self-care and nourish your body and soul. Take time to slow down, nurture your inner life and emotional well-being and live in the present moment. Enjoy quiet reflection and get in touch with your needs and desires. Women of all ages are welcome! A Best of Both Surf and Yoga retreat is especially great for women in career or life transition.

Stress is internal, which explains why it can wreak havoc on your health. It feels awful…it’s the sense that you’re not in control. The easiest way to mitigate its effect is to take charge of the one and only thing you have the power to control…YOU, and let go of what you can’t control. The beauty of this recipe is that by taking control of your life, external or outside things will change in response to your internal changes. Here are 10 steps to de-stress for your present and future:

1. Heal yourself.
Dr. Bruce McEwen, who wrote The End of Stress As We Know It, suggests that eliminating stress comes right from your grandmother’s journal. He says the most effective steps you can take are the simplest: exercise, a healthy diet, regular sleep, moderate to minimal alcohol intake, and no smoking. This, he notes, is the most sophisticated, up to the minute, cutting edge science available!

2. Get organized.
Physical clutter reminds us of things that need to be done and that’s stressful. Remove your physical clutter and you’ll eradicate your mental clutter, plus you’ll feel energized. Please go to http://topten.org/public/AG/AG306.html for a simple organizing solution that will work on any space.

3. Set boundaries.
Boundaries act as a filter to keep you safe from the hurtful behavior of others while allowing in the love, support and nurturing actions we all need. Set your boundaries by: (a) determining what others cannot do to you or in your presence and (b) sharing this information respectfully with anyone who is stepping over one of your boundaries.

4. Take time for yourself.
Put together a list of all the things you love to do but haven’t regularly made time to do. Put your list in priority order and enter the top five to seven items into your daily calendar. Your list may include things as simple as journaling, reading a great book, taking a bubble bath, yoga, etc. You’ll be more successful getting to these activities when you give them a time and place on your calendar.

5. Be positive.
William James, the father of modern psychology said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind." In other words, what you say and what you tell yourself impact the present and create your future. Love yourself and use the power of positive words, pleasing thoughts and affirming beliefs to live the life you want to live.

6. Work in a career you love.
If you’re like most people, you spend the majority of your waking hours at work. You’ll know you’re in the right profession when: you wake up anxious to go to work, you want to do your best daily, and you know your work is important.

7. Surround yourself with a supportive community.
You are who you spend time with. Hang out with people who love and accept you just the way you are, are interested in you (not what you can do for them), lift you up (not wear you down), solve problems quickly, don’t gossip or complain, and know how to have fun. Anything is possible with the right support.

8. Learn to say, "No."
We’ve all been influenced by people in our life who tell us we should do this or we ought to do that. As a result, we may end up living a life that others have decided for us versus living the life we want. So, the next time you think of something you ought to do or someone else suggests you should do, take a breath and ask yourself if it’s something you want to do. If not, just say, "no" or "no thank you." When you say no to things you don’t care to do, you are saying yes to you and this will free up your time and energy for the things you choose to do. Bottom line – you’ll be happier.

9. Zap tolerations.
A toleration is something that irritates you and drains your energy because it needs to be done, fixed, removed, or changed. If you’re like most people you may be tolerating 100 or more things! Put together a list of all the things that bug you, e.g. a dripping faucet, money concerns, your weight, shopping and running errands, not enough time, computer files out of control, your hair, a room that needs to be painted, etc. When your list is complete, group like items and see if one solution will eliminate multiple tolerations. For example, if you have piles of clothing in each bedroom, dirty windows and dust bunnies on your floor, hiring a housekeeper will zap all three tolerations. Line up a housekeeper, today. Then, commit to spending a chunk of time each week to zap your other tolerations. If you have a toleration that you don’t have the skill or know-how to fix, consider calling an expert or seek out a skilled professional to trade services with.

10. Get your needs met.
A "need" is not an option, it is something you must have to function fully. It is differentiated from a "want" in that a want is optional. Unmet needs can drive you to distraction and worse. Determine what needs you have that aren’t being met, if any, and then take the appropriate action to get them fulfilled. Example: If you’ve taken a big hit and are going through a career transition, ask a good friend to call you two or three times a week to check in with you and give you support. Other options include calling your own voice mail and leaving supportive messages or hiring a coach who specializes in career transitions. When you acknowledge and satisfy your needs, you will be free to focus on other areas of your life.

If you want to be happier and more successful, focus on the things you have the power to control.

 

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Life has changed

 Life has changed dramatically for many in the six months as we have watched our economy lose stability. Many friends and family member careers have been put on hold while their homes have less value than they did last year at this time. A trivial gift seems unworthy of both giving and receiving. It is said that when we evoke abundance in our lives and open ourselves up to receiving what is offered to us, the cycle of giving and receiving continues in a virtuous cycle. Putting more thought into what we give will create abundance in what we receive.

Best of Both Adventures for women often sees friends, family and co-workers coming on trips together. A great gift in itself is the thought and planning that goes into committing to a trip that will bring fulfillment long after it is finished.

A great way to make the planning easier this year would be to let Best of Both plan your Puerto Rico Surf and Yoga Adventure. If deep down inside you know that this coming winter would be a good time to get away, then let the planning begin with restorative yoga, tropical beaches and surfing in warm Caribbean waters. Some of the contents of this Newsletter article are from BOB past newsletters.  All contents come from past, present, and future staff and friends. All new and past newsletter text and pictures and web design is copyrighted by Best of Both Adventures Inc.

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Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a bargain destination and vacation packages can really help you save while relieving the stress.

A Best of Both Puerto Rico Surf and Yoga package is a great way to go!

Additional reasons why:

Now airfare from the states is very reasonable to Puerto Rico. For example a plane ticket from New York to Aguadilla is around $278 round trip (about $320 with taxes and fees). From Chicago to Aguadilla would cost more like $348 (around $400 with tax and fees).

Transportation from Aguadilla to the Best of Both Adventures is included in the package. If traveling without the package you can expect a rental car to be $350 for the week, plus fuel at about $75 for a total of $425. But not with Best of Both that’s included

What about food? Everyone needs to eat! All meals are included in the 5 day – 4 night Best of Both Adventure. Gourmet meals prepared with locally grown products and a true taste of Caribbean cuisine. If you are traveling and need to eat out you can expect to spend for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Now, some people can come to the island and just be satisfied with sitting on the beach watching the surfers. But there are those of us watching who desire to give the sport a try. Let’s add in $100/day for surf lessons. We will then feel the need for a restorative yoga class at $20/class and how about a massage to work on the tired muscles from the surf lesson. That’s another $100. without tax and gratuity! Remember that’s all included in Best of Both

Traveling to Puerto Rico requires no passport. No long lines passing through customs. It is one of the most economical vacation destinations and you can see above the comparison of booking a trip with Best of Both Adventures vs. traveling on your own.

Off the top it is easy to see that you would save with the Best of Both trip. More to consider is that in the comparison the food you would be eating would be mostly restaurant meals. After 5 days of eating breakfast, lunch and dinner at a restaurant your body may be in need of a detox. Best of Both Adventure meals are carefully prepared in a healthy, delicious way to restore balance to the body. If a fair meal price comparison were to be done and you were to eat privately prepared meals you would need to add spend quite a lot

The daily yoga sessions are designed to target the muscles used in surfing and to help you develop your own practice to return home with. Our instructors are trained to personally assist your needs and to help you find a yoga routine that will fit into your lifestyle. This is not something you would get from just any class!

We could go on and on about the beauty and tranquility of our villas, the friendliness of the staff, etc. But most importantly we cannot put a price value on the relationships that develop from these adventures. Some travel with friends or family and some travel alone, but each and every surf and yoga trip, new friendships develop and much is learned from sharing this experience together as women!

There is a saying that the if the month of March comes in like a Lion then it goes out like a lamb. This can be said of the most recent Best of Both Adventures Puerto Rico Surf and Yoga Trips.  As the month started with tropical winds blowing in and stirring the energy to float through theentire month of adventures.

Owner Dez Bartelt flew in during the first trip on March 4th on her way to her round the world adventure.  She had time to meet the ladies and brief them on her next leg of her trip.
You can follow Dez on her travel blog at http://www.bestofbothadventures.com/dez.  Here is what the news has to say about her adventure!

PRESS RELEASE
Adventure Tour Leader Dez Bartelt to Document Women’s Travel Issues on World Trip Bartelt Seeks to Educate Females About Safety and Health Challenges with Six Month Trip

March 9 – Travel can be one of life’s most exciting, liberating and educational experiences.  Discovering new places, meeting interesting people and enjoying the pleasures of destinations are what make travel experience so rewarding.  Unfortunately, many women, from students to seniors, faceseveral health and safety challenges while on the road.

Dez Bartelt, founder of Best of Beth Adventures for Women, an adventure tour group for women, will embark on a six-month around the world trip to document the issues that women face while traveling and how to overcome
them.

“I have been traveling for more than 30 years, to some amazing and crazy countries,” says Bartelt. “I have dealt with just about everything, from men throwing stones at me in Pakistan to French men telling me to get off their mountain when I was climbing. I never let that stop me from traveling or doing what I wanted to do. If anything it made me stronger. However, it would have been a big help if someone could have given me a little more insight.”

Bartelt’s trip kicks off in Aspen, CO on March 31, 2009.  Then Tahoe on the 31st for 6 days .She will then head to the North and South Island’s of New Zealand, Australia, and destinations in Asia including Bali and Singapore. Bartelt’s itinerary also includes European destinations such as Scotland, Greece, Germany, England, Spain, Austria, and Italy. Her trip will conclude in Latin America, with the countries of Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Her tentative end date is September 24, 2009.

Bartelt will provide information and advice about topics such as using public transportation and credit cards, preventing jet lag, and handling sexual harassment. She will also interview women travelers such as Layne Beachley, a seven time world women’s surfing champion and Kay Kottee, who sailed round the world by herself 21 years ago.

Bartelt will document her experiences and advice on her travel blog, located at http://www.bestofbothadventures.com/dez, in addition to contributing original content to Colorado-based Womenof.com and Girls By Design, Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk and producer Kendra Voth’s website for empowering teenage girls. Bartelt also plans on releasing a book about the trip next year.

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It comes to be that each group of women traveling to Puerto Rico for an adventure creates their own bond and in the case of the tropical winds of March the energy blew in and created wonderful friendships and relationships that are sure to last a lifetime. Memories created together of morning yoga classes with the sounds of surf creating a cosmic voice to calm the mind. Splashing around in the water, paddling through that same surf to master the skills required for the sport of surfing. Sitting around the dinner table enjoying healthy, restorative meals and sharing life stories. This is the spirit of women as they connect and flourish in the environment.
As the month continued and the second trip attendees arrived the spirit was renewed by the hope of good things do happen in life. Winner of the Women’s Adventure Magazine and Best of Both Adventure Contest Kathy Nelson attended the March 18th trip. Kathy shared with the women the story of entering the “Get me out of Here” contest and all shared their stories of what led them to an adventure trip to Puerto Rico. Everyone leaving with the idea that winners are all around us! Despite the economic situation of the world.

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Best of Both Adventures knows that the economy  downturn has had an effect on women and their families.  As a Spring Stimulus Package, to encourage that trip to restore and renew what has been a long and hard winter, Best of Both is offering a $600 discount incentive on any new bookings for the next
trip. Here are the details:Best of Both Adventure Stimulus PackageSpring Break Special!   A deep discount to help stimulate the economy.$600 off the next trip April 8-125 days and 4 nights of Tropical Surf and Yoga Adventure.  Daily yoga classes, surf lessons, healthy meals, spa treatments and more!It is not too late to reserve your Spring Break Best of Both Adventure in Puerto Rico. Remember no passport required!

Best of Both is offering this substantial discount to encourage you to treat yourself to a restorative week of fun after the long, hard winter!

Call now to reserve your space! 787-823-0610

By Michele

Not long ago I purchased a t-shirt with a small acoustic guitar on the front with the words “pick me�? typed below. I thought to myself as I pondered the purchase that I often hear my inner voice saying just these words. “Pick me “ to win the vacation, new car or even a raffle at a non-profit fundraising event. “ Pick me “ to do something to change my course just a little bit, to make me feel special and rewarded for all the little things I do in life. Don’t we all have that feeling from time to time. That secret knowledge that we deserve a little break?

I met a woman recently who won a Harley Davidson motorcycle in a mayonnaise sweepstakes. Not just a little Harley, but a big one. I asked her what she did when she won and she said “I took a motorcycle driving course and learned to ride�?. She then went on to tell me that the motorcycle course was one of the scariest adventures of her life. Driving the bike in the pouring rain, knowing that if it spilled over she would not pass the course and then would not be able to drive the bike that she so deservingly won. Her tailbone ached for weeks as well as other muscles from holding on for dear life. Which leads me to how I met her as a student in my yoga class! The point was that she accepted the prize deservingly and went out and learned a new skill and felt proud of what she had done. Without being “picked�? for this prize her life would not have taken such a turn!

As I poured over the entries for the Best of Both Adventures for Women’s “Get Me Out of Here�? giveaway featured in Women’s Adventure Magazine, I was struck by the reality of what life is like for many of us right now. It is a bit tougher than it has been in awhile. We all deserve a bit of a break from the realities of life. We are experiencing a world of less jobs, more expenses, deteriorating health of our elderly loved ones. Just to mention a few of the topics that were touched on in the “reasons to get me out of here�? giveaway.

I want to take a moment to thank each and every entry in the contest. Your stories and hardships brought both laughter and heartbreak. One thing I know for sure is that the “sisterhood�? of women is strong. Keep reaching for the dreams and hold steadfast through the tough times. Keep practicing yoga, surfing, getting outside and making the most of life.

As I wear my “pick me�? shirt around I feel proud to have the inner voice printed on the front of my shirt. It is a chance to express my desire to be recognized for all that I do in life. Knowing that by expressing the reasons I should be picked, both internally and externally I am giving myself a great gift. The gift of realizing who I am and what I deserve. That is the first big step in changing the course of this road of life that we are on!

We still have room in our March and April Puerto Rico trips. Reserve your space now for a wonderful adventure!

“Congratulations Kathy Nelson from Yelm, WA” the winner of the Best of Both Adventures and Women’s Adventure Magazine “Get Me Out of Here” Giveaway.