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. 

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.”

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

Here are some helpful hints to keep your sanity during the countdown to the New Year!

1. Count to ten! Also known as meditation.

If you find yourself ready to scream in traffic (or at the kids or your boss) slowly count to ten while breathing in and out of your nose. Connecting the breath to your body will relax your mind. I guarantee it!

2. Sing! Also known as chanting! Holiday music can soothe the soul. Repeating soothing words also known as mantras or calming sounds like with singing helps us to get in touch with our life force and will balance our world in a time where we may feel quite unbalanced.

3. Volunteer! Also known as Karma! Give a little of your time without expectation of a reward. Put together some extras from your pantry and drop if off at a church or food bank to help those in need during the season. Giving will help you to realize all that you have and the selfless action will take the emphasis off of your “list�? of chores for a while.

4. Dance! Also known as energy! While that Holiday music is playing, get up and dance. Activate the chakras in your body by loosening up and awakening your inner energy, releasing blockages and creating positive vibrations through the whole body. Plus you will be burning a few calories and can enjoy more Holiday sweets!

5. Rest! Also known as relaxation! Play dead, literally. Lie down on a mat or blanket, let your entire body relax. Close your eyes, listen to your breath. Listen to the noises around you and then let them go. Let the thoughts of your mind enter and then release them. Try to spend just five minutes (longer if you can) within your own body. The effects will last into the New Year and beyond!

As women and humans in general, we tend to be hard on ourselves and when busy times like the Holidays arrive, where we are giving to all of those around us, we feel guilty for stepping out of our fitness, yoga or relaxation routine. The good news is that by practicing the hints above you are doing more good than you may realize.

As a yoga teacher I have learned that the principles of yoga are often simplified and the benefits far outreach the physical effects practiced in the classroom or studio. For example, by performing the rituals above you are in fact performing the essential practices of Hatha Yoga.

Beyond the physical practice of poses, or asanas, practiced in yoga these techniques teach us to relax and release physical limitations which automatically help us release our mental limitations and blockages. So by singing and dancing and breathing, we are practicing the essential practices of yoga and our mental and physical fitness just takes on a new look for a couple of weeks!

Happy Holidays!

Here are some helpful hints about your new outlook on the word exercise!

Yoga, Yoga, Yoga!

Yoga is the ultimate mind-body workout. The benefits are endless: it strengthens, tones and lengthens muscles. It improves circulation and promotes inner calm. Peace and cardio in the same move? That’s what makes it so great!

Sun Salutations can be performed anywhere you have room to hold out your arms! The Sun Salutation series is a total body workout designed to stretch, expand and contract all of your major muscle groups. Done daily (15 minutes will do) your body and spirit will show you the results! Feel free to email Michele at michele@bestofbothadventures.com for specific yoga postures and the sun salutation series.

Walking!

If gym classes don’t fit into your busy schedule a daily walk will do the job. Walking three miles burns as many calories as running three miles but with less impact on your joints. You can also use your walking time to clear your thoughts and renew your mind. A great stress reducer at hectic times like the holidays. If life is too busy to find time for a three-mile walk, start small by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking a little farther away from the door at the supermarket.

Remember, just a few minutes each day will make a tremendous difference in how you look and feel. Find time for yoga and walking and before long you will notice life feeling a little more peaceful!

8 Reasons to Get Away ‘08
By Founder of Best of Both Dez Bartelt

It’ll be 2009 before you know it. Time flies. Why don’t you find the time in 2009 to take a trip, better yet an Adventure like Best of Both Adventures Surf and Yoga!
Had enough madness? Then treat you to what you really want- an escape. An escape from reality with something you can bring back to the real world, a new or renewed yoga practice, the confidence built from learning to surf and the jumpstart on healthy eating for the new year! All can be found in an escape to Bali for our Surf and Yoga Retreat or one of many destinations.
2009 is the Year of the Rat. Why not sit out this rat race and relax? Book a trip now to have something to look forward to in the New Year! Take advantage of our last minuet deal to Italy save 10% http://www.bestofbothadventures.com/italy.htm
Sometimes less is more, even when it comes to family. A happy wife means a happy life. Take a bit of time for yourself. Best of Both Adventurers are women with families and careers. Share in the friendship with women who know how often others needs are put before ours! Recharge and renew your own health and spirit with a little time for you.
After all the long days in the office or at home, might you be craving something healthy? An adventure that recharges spirit and body may be just what the doctor ordered. Best of Both Adventures encompasses a renewing yoga practice with healthy yet delicious meals and the challenge of surfing all designed to provide you with a new charge on life! Take a look at some of our favorite recipes in the link below
http://www.bestofbothadventures.com/blog/
If you time your vacation just right, you might just avoid Spring Cleaning. Packing your bags and leaving the spring-cleaning behind to give yourself a cleansing experience. April in Puerto Rico is amazing. Join us for our spring deals Just $1900 per person www.bestofbothadventures.com
You can finish that ____________ (insert: novel, romance, project, etc.) you started last year so book your Best of Both Adventure today.
It will all be waiting when you get back.

Here are some Earth Wise Tips from the Best of Both Team:
By Juli Hydanus, Best of Both director Costa Rica Surf and Yoga retreats

1. Try using LED lights this Christmas. They consume about a tenth of the energy of regular lights and are every bit as festive.
2. Consider getting a live Christmas tree, even a small one, not necessarily an evergreen, that can be planted after the season is over. Find a special place for it as a reminder of a conscious and memorable holiday.
3. Gifts are fun to give and receive and even more so when they are handmade by yourself or some local artisan. If you are shopping for gifts, it?s always a good idea to shop locally and support local, owner-run businesses.
4. Also, when considering a gift, perhaps give some thought to giving your time. There might be someone who would greatly appreciate your skills to help them with a project around the house or something like that.
5. But, most of all, the very best gift you can possibly give to your loved ones, your self and our planet, is to VOTE, and that has never been more true then this year. While you are counting all your blessings, please remember that the freedoms we enjoy in this country bring with them responsibilities.

Uh oh – it’s that time of year again; the holidays are just around the corner.
By Sally Camara, Best of Both director of massage therapy

When many people think of massage they think of self-indulgence, but did you know massage has a variety of important health benefits?

When combined with traditional medical treatments, massage is used to reduce pain and promote healing. Scientific research proves that massage therapy increases immune function, decreases stress levels and reduces recovery time in many medical conditions. Additionally, other benefits of receiving massage on a regular basis include:

• reducing or preventing muscle pain, stiffness and spasm
• improving relaxation by reducing heart rate and blood pressure
• easing tension and anxiety, calming the nervous system
• improving circulation
• promoting healthy sleep patterns

“Often times people are stressed in our culture. Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians. What they require is someone to listen, someone to touch them, someone to care. That does not exist in modern medicine.

One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don’t touch their patients any more. Touch just isn’t there. Years ago massage was a big part of nursing. There was so much care, so much touch, so much goodness conveyed through massage. Now nurses for the most part are as busy as physicians. They’re writing charts, dealing with insurance notes, they’re doing procedures and often there is no room for massage any more.”

Joan Borysenko – Massage Journal Interview, Fall 1999

As part of a wellness routine, massage can help you maintain physical, mental and emotional well being, so go ahead – indulge. It’s for your own good!

New Contest – help us plan 2010!

People often ask how we decide what new trips to add. There are several ways (guide interest or knowledge, finding the right company to work with) but one important way is input from the women who travel with us. So this time we’re turning it into a contest, and there are two prizes: 1) a gorgeous new book called Ultimate Adventures, A Rough Guide to Adventure Travel. I was sent a complimentary copy that made me want to quit my job and spend the rest of my life traveling! (And then I remembered what my job is and realized I should probably keep doing it). Anyway, I think you’ll enjoy it. 2) 20% off the trip you suggest when we offer it in 2010.

So here’s the contest-send your suggestion for a dream trip to info@bestofbothadventures.com with the subject line “Contest”. Tell us why you think we should offer it and what time of year is best. Keep in mind that it has to be a trip that we think other women would also want to do, so it can’t be totally obscure, in the middle of a civil war, or require the physical condition of an Olympic athlete. When we have our annual guide retreat, we’ll pick the winner and let you know by December 31.

Where in the world is the Best of Both Team Currently Juli and Sally are in Santa Barbara working on our 2009 Costa Rica trips and getting ready to meet me for our Oct 11th trip to Italy, Michele is on her why to Rincon. Thank God To get ready for the big Surf and yoga season. I’m sitting in the office getting us all set for next year while making sure that this year continues to go well (is there something wrong with this picture?). We have three spaces left on our remaining trips (One space left for the Trip to Tuscany, Three spaces left in our November 5^th-9^th Surf and Yoga Retreat in Puerto Rico, and three spaces left in our Nov 26^th –30^th Puerto Rico Surf and Yoga retreat so give me a call if you want to grab one. And have a great fall!

Dez Bartelt, for all the Team of Best of Both Adventures for women

Tuscany (Toscana) is known mainly for Chianti, while Tuscany’s wine of greatest stature is Brunello di Montalcino.

Its climate, soil and very old traditions of viticulture make Italy a natural wine growing nation. The wines are as personal as a name, as different as the colors of the rainbow and as much a part of Italian life as almost 3,000 years of tradition can make them. The Etruscans of North-Central Italy, who created one of the peninsula’s earliest civilizations, left evidence of how to make wine. The Greeks who soon after established themselves in the South gave Italy the name Enotria (the land of wine).
For centuries wine growing has been the cultivation which used most of the labor of the Italian farmers; this is still true today; a large part of the population is engaged in the vine and wine industry Tuscany wine harvesting: September and October are grape harvesting time; vino novello and ripe figs are the flavour of the period. Spring brings wild poppies galore, bearable heat and thus good walking weather, but evenings chilly enough to light a real Italian open fire – fuelled by last years olive tree offcuts.

The olive oil in tuscany:

Italian olive oils, like Italian wine, has finally captivated an American audience. Perhaps our continuing fascination with foods from Italy and the possible health benefits of including olive oil in our diet have awakened America’s taste buds. Mediterranean countries have enjoyed the rich variety of flavors, aromas and delicious tastes that olive oils impart to food for at least 6,000 years. Italians take their wines and olive oils very seriously.The world’s most flavorful and elegant olive oils are produced in Italy’s northern province of Tuscany, where Chianti Classico wines are also produced. Olive oil has become a symbol of Tuscany and is known as “liquid gold” (probably due to its price). There are many different types of olives trees, the most common being frantoio, leccino, moraiolo, and divastro. Each of these trees determines the oil’s distinct flavor. read more…

The tuscan wine

Most of the time, wine with Italian origins have a lot of things one doesn’t understand:
Vino da Tavola is the lowest quality level. Here is not meant the colour of the wine, but it is a more simple wine whose grapes can even have various origins, in order to obtain a wine with a fruity-harmonious character. This quality level corresponds the English table wine.

IGT is the abbreviation for “Indicazione Geografica Tipica” (Geographical detail), which means that the region of origin (Tuscany, Emilia Romagna etc), the type of vine (eg. Sangiovese) and the year are indicated. The IGT corresponds the vin ordinaire.

After that follows the DOC, which is the Italian abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which means Wine with controled origin. One can find this abbreviation under the name of the wine. It is a wine of a determined area with certain characteristics, which are established and controled by the DOC-Consortium. The consortium doesn’t only establish the vine types and the quantity to produce, but also the processing of the grapes until the bottling of the wine as well as the storage. Before the DOC-wine is put on the market it has to undergo chemical tests. 

DOCG is the abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, which means Wine of controled and guaranteed origin. This nomination is destinated only for a wine of a particular good quality. In order to get the DOCG nomination, the wine should have been part for at least 5 years of the DOC-wine.

The DOC and DOCG wine corresponds to the so called wine of certified origin and quality.
The DOC- and DOCG-qualification system was developed in 1963. The first wine whose place of origin was controled was the famous Tuscan white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Afterwards were following the Chianti as well as the Brunello di Montalcino, both of Tuscan origins. From the 80’s on, many types of quality wine were put on the market as normal table wines (”Vino da Tavola”), but with prices as high as those of the DOC wines. These are new created wine types for which the producer wanted to avoid the long way through the Italian authorities.

Basic laws regulating yields

Grapes used for specific wines, area restrictions for growing, viticultural practices and maximum and minimum alcohol strengths were set forward at that time. Three categories were established:

Vino da Tavola , or table wine, typically, but with some exceptions, everyday wines-simple, pleasurable and inexpensive. Ironically, this category also represents the often not-so-inexpensive “Super Tuscan” wines.

DOC wines (initials stand for Denominazione di Origine Controllata ), a translation of the French Appellation d’Origine Côntrolée. There are about 250 DOC zones, and approximately 700 Italian wines bearing this classification. However, only a small percentage of these have any commercial viability. Twenty DOCs account for close to 45% of the country’s total DOC production.

DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines, first classified in 1980 with the intention of adding a quality classification to the top of the wine pyramid. The 14 DOCG wines indicate the highest quality (wines not only “controlled” but “guaranteed”). DOCG wines include such famous names as Barola, Barbaresco, Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Additional wines are petitioning for DOCG classification, so the existing group of 14 will continue to grow.

Chianti is a large wine zone extending through much of Tuscany. All of the zone is DOCG status, and it is divided into seven districts. Two of these have readily-available wines on the world market: Chianti Classico (Classic refers to the defined area–not to a reserve or superior bottling) and Chianti Ruffina. In addition to their district of production, Chianti wines vary in style according to aging. Reserve wines, often aged in French oak, may be released after two or more years at the winery.

Chianti is always a very dry red wine, with very concentrated fruit character, most often made entirely from the sangiovese grape. Chianti goes well with food, and can range in style from light to full bodied with tart cherry and violet aromas and flavors. Chianti can age ten or more years in a good vintage.

The second great red wine of Tuscany is Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, from the town of the same name just south of the Chianti district. Brunello is a local term referring to the grape variety sangiovese. These wines are of superior quality and limited production. Intense, concentrated and tannic, they tend to require long aging (up to 20 years), although some producers are now making a more approachable style. Rosso di Montalcino is a less expensive, ready to drink version from either young vines or slightly inferior fruit.

Three more Tuscan wines of note include:

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. From the town of the same names, these wines are made from basically the same grapes and same blend as Chianti, although the sangiovese clone in this district is Prugnolo Gentile. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano was the first DOCG, and there are some excellent examples.

Carmignano DOCG. This is a dry red wine made from Chianti-like blends, although Cabernet Sauvignon can also be used.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG. Tuscany’s best white wine, it is vinified from the grape variety of the same name. A fresh wine with an almond flavor and slightly oily texture, it is best drunk young.

What is a Super Tuscan ?

The Super Tuscan phenomenon began in the 1970’s when some producers decided to get attention by creating a new style of wine. The wines are called Super Tuscans either because they are produced outside the Chianti zone, or because their grape blends include varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc) that do not conform to the DOC requirements for Chianti, or because they are 100% Sangiovese which previously was prohibited in the Chianti area. Although the blends differ from producer to producer, what these wines do have in common is their expensive price tags. The most famous Super Tuscans, such as Sassiscaia and Solaia, can induce collectors to spend upwards of $200 a bottle in a good vintage. The wines can vary widely in style from Chianti-like to Bordeaux-like to California Cabernet-like, depending on the blend.

The purpose for embarking on a adventure journey is to have the opportunity to experience first hand, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is truth. The way we do this is by creating an environment that supports you and allows you to transend your rational mind and see the truth of our reality. By doing this you see for yourself that there is nothing to seek other than your own self-love and respect. The truth is there is nothing to be found outside of us. We have everything within us to create a dream of beauty, love and peace. But to do this we must learn to see the things within our own minds that are stopping us from doing so. I can assure you there is nothing, or no-one preventing you from being all you can be in this lifetime…except for your own mind and it’s fear-based beliefs. I encourage you to stop searching outside of you, and start looking within for the gifts and jewels you have been given that live within.

One of more interesting organizations to get involved with is Women for Women International. It supports and assists women who have been devastated by war and move from crisis and poverty to self-sufficiency. It is an incredible, heart-warming effort that is worthy of your attention and donations. http://www.womenforwomen.org/

Women for Women is one of Best of Both Adventures owner Dez Bartelt’s top organizations to donate to. We will soon have a link on our web site for direct donations. We will also be donating a % of the proceeds of Best of Both Adventures to Women for Women.

After recently spending five days with women who chose to step away from their daily routine of life I have been reminded that I am not alone in the quest to fill my cup to the rim.

These women set out to experience surfing, yoga and treat themselves to good food and a relaxing, re-energizing experience. I watched the transformation happen right in front of my eyes. There is confidence built by trying new things and great connections made with like-minded women as Yoga is practiced daily with the sounds of waves crashing nearby. Enjoying one another’s company and feeling free to just be is a gift we give ourselves when we stumble upon such experiences.

As the weekend ended and we said our good byes, I was reminded that part of our journey in life is to help others to first notice that spiritual and emotional cup we carry around inside of us and then when needed, to help fill the cups of those around us. We then discover that instead of reaching to outward sources when we are in need, we have all that we need within.

One fun way to nourish the soul is to share in some delicious food with friends. Here are some of the recipes from a recent Best of Both Adventures Surf and Yoga Camp:

Curried Chicken Salad with Dried Apricots – serves 4-6
12 ounces shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
3/4 cup light mayonaisse or salad dressing
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon curry powder
sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Place all ingredients in bowl and mix thoroughly. Serve on a bed of organic greens or as a sandwich filling on whole grain bread.

Yogurt Stuffed Pineapple – serves 6-8 large or 3-6 small
Large whole pineapple
16 ounces low fat yogurt/ vanilla or plain
1 cup chopped fresh fruit such as papaya, banana, kiwi, etc
1 1/2 cup favorite granola
Maple syrup or honey

Cut top of pineapple keeping it for display
Core pineapple, scoring with sharp knife
Gently pull scored pieces from inside and chop for use in recipe
Scrape out all excess pineapple from inside, drain any juices into a bowl to mix with fruit
Gently toss all of the above ingredients and place inside ‘pineapple bowl’
Serve on platter with top in place or on the side!
Roasted Vegetable Stack with Roasted Garlic Coconut Cream Sauce
3 Eggplant
3 Zucchini or Summer Squash
3 Acorn or large squash
(or any of your favorite root vegetables will do!)
Whole Head of Garlic
12 ounces Light Coconut Milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
Sea salt and Cracked pepper

Slice all vegetables lengthwise, place in baking pan and drizzle lightly with olive oil and salt
Cut top of garlic head, drizzle with oil and wrap in foil,
roast for 40-50 minutes
Roast all vegetables until soft

Take roasted vegetables from oven and place on a warm platter. Scoop out roasted garlic and place in sautee pan with butter, mash garlic down and then add flour, as pan heats slowly add coconut milk and stir constantly to prevent burning. When sauce is the right consistency add salt and pepper to taste and pour over vegetables.
Serve immediately with organic, short grain brown rice.
Enjoy!

I know so many females who deny the fact that they have intuition. So many that say they just don’t feel that inner guidance that we are supposed to have. The one big thing that separates us from the males is our female sense to guide us through life, to protect our children or to predict the next mood of our significant other.

In the early years of my life I knew it was there. I started to have a “feeling” something was going to happen before it actually did when I was about 11 years old. I began to test my theory of my so called “intuitive powers” and really tuned in to it until I hit puberty. Then boys, peer pressure and school overtook my interest and I just occasionally felt those twinges of intuitiveness for the next 20 years of my life.

So as you might expect, one day I woke up and thought “how did I get here”. Is this the life I want to be living? Everything from inside of me screamed “NO”!!! Of course, it did not happen all in one day, more like over the course of a few years. But, all I wanted to know was how to regain that intuitiveness that came so easily to me when I was a young girl.

That is when the decision to change direction, to tune in to a true way of living began. Many times in life we may try to make a life change. Mostly fueled by such things as desiring to lose a few pounds so we try a healthier diet or exercise. We start to feel good and forget what caused it and somehow end up in our old behaviors again. This may go on for years or an entire life-time. But if we are lucky we come across a life-style change that sticks! One that allows us to fine-tune the beautiful person that we are instead of trying to become something we are not. For me this life changing event has been Yoga!

I am not referring just to the meditative zen experience of Yoga. I am talking about the restorative power aspect of this ancient art. As an woman I have never found a more satisfying workout and instead of trying to change my lifestyle to fit in a “workout” I have discovered a workout that changed my lifestyle. Starting with practicing three times a week my athletic performance increased dramatically. My cycling friends started to ask me what type of training I was doing. I started to feel more calm and centered and the times in my day when I was about to “lose it” started to become fewer and far between.

The most notable physical change was discovered by my physicians office. It had been two years since my last physical and when the nurse checked my height and weight she said I had grown ¾ of an inch and lost 9 pounds since my last visit. Of course she asked what had I been doing to get taller and thinner at the age of 39? Yoga, I proudly answered.

Now on the eve of hosting a women’s Surf and Yoga retreat in Puerto Rico I find myself excited about the opportunity to ignite the spark of interest in these women who have already taken the first step by booking such a trip. As we do Yoga oceanside and they have an opportunity to eat healthy meals and soak up the healing sunshine I am overjoyed by the fact that I am going to be a part of sharing this with other women of the world!

“As human beings, we made it through the process of evolution because we’re flexible and adaptable, so we are wired for change,” says Shelley Weiss Cohen, a life coach in Northfield, Illinois, who works with people to make changes in their personal or professional lives. “When we’re in a rut, it’s another way of saying that we’re not experiencing enough change or variety. A rut results when we get into a fixed way or pattern of doing things that, over time, becomes dull or tedious. We may ask ourselves, Why am I doing this? Do even I want to do this? Why isn’t this working for me anymore?”

Mid-life is the most common time to slip into ruts. By then, the “newness” has worn off our careers, romantic partnerships, and friendships, and we’ve pursued our hobbies for years, if not decades. Patt Osborne, a life coach in Medford Lakes, N.J., says that once we recognize a rut, we may become immobilized out of fear of change. “It can be easier to stay with what feels familiar, rather than take the initiative to make adjustments,” says Osborne. “However, if you face your fears, experiment with new approaches, and then take consistent action, no matter how small the steps, you will feel a sense of empowerment and increase your confidence.”

Sometimes, we operate on cruise control without realizing it. Just ask Wendi Berkowitz and John Tennant who followed this weekend drill for almost 10 years: On Friday night, the San Francisco lawyers ate a quick meal and rented a movie; on Saturday, they started chores and saw friends; and on Sunday, after they finished their chores, they took a walk. But in 2002, Tennant, 41, won a Fulbright scholarship to study in France, and during the couple’s six-month stint abroad, they decided that weekends were meant for more than the mundane.

“One weekend a month, we traveled from Paris to Normandy, Provence, and Bordeaux, among other places,” says Berkowitz, a 40-year-old corporate litigator. “We had such a great time that when we got home, we turned to each other and said, ‘Why don’t we take weekend trips here?’” They do now–a drive to Napa Valley one month, a flight to Los Angeles the next. “We return from these mini-vacations feeling relaxed and more excited about our lives,” she says. “On the weekends we’re home, we look for interesting things to do, like attend a film festival or see live jazz.”

When hobbies become habits

Hobbies are another area that’s ripe for ruts. Not only can we lose interest if we do the same things over and over, but life also can interfere–to the point where we neglect what once brought us happiness. That was true for Dennis Mook, 53, of Newport News, Virginia. Though photography had been his creative passion since college, he’d become so consumed with his job as chief of the Newport News Police Department that he didn’t have time for it. Then in 2002, Mook challenged himself to create one photo each week that was interesting enough to email to friends and post on his website. He logged five hours a week behind the lens, snapping pictures on his commute and lunch breaks, and then he spent an hour on Sunday drafting a narrative about the picture and preparing it for distribution.

“The project forced me to experiment with subject matter,” says Mook, now a management consultant. “Before, I mainly focused on landscapes and railroad steam engines. Now I take more close-ups, informal portraits, and everyday scenes. I started seeing old objects in new ways.”

Sometimes, we need to see old friends in new lights, too. “You know you’re in a friendship rut when getting together feels more like an obligation than a joy,” explains Marla Paul, author of The Friendship Crisis. “A friendship develops certain habits, such as what you do together and what you talk about. If you’re always doing the same thing and talking about the same thing, your dates can feel stale, even though you still care about your friend.”

To keep friendships fresh, Paul recommends building new histories together, whether it’s learning yoga or attending a lecture. She knows this firsthand. Throughout most of their eight-year friendship, Paul and a friend took weekly classes–including one in pet telepathy–and those common experiences fueled discussions beyond families and work. Lately, the pair had lapsed into a pattern of monthly lunches, and when her friend suggested that they sign up for a women’s drumming class, Paul readily agreed. As she points out, “We needed to give our friendship a chance to grow again.”

Finding an escape route

What does it take to escape a rut? A combination of self-awareness, strategic planning, and perseverance. “There’s an old coaching mantra that says, ‘Nothing changes until something changes,’” Cohen says. “Talking about change isn’t enough, and thinking differently isn’t enough, either.” Here are five tips for
finding your way out.

Look inward. Some people may have a eureka moment that pinpoints their rut, but others will need to do some soul-searching. “Ask yourself, ‘If I could change anything I wanted about my life, how would it be different?’” Cohen suggests.”Think it through, and then put your response in writing. By translating our thoughts onto paper, we engage in a deeper level of concentration, resulting in more effective processing.”

Take a time-out. “Often, you gain a fresh perspective by taking a break from the very activity that’s driven you into a rut,” Cohen explains. “If you stood next to a boulder and someone asked you to describe it, you couldn’t answer with much detail. But if you stood back 20 feet, you’d see the size, shape, color, and texture. It’s the same with a rut. If you drop the hobby for a while, you’ll see it through fresher eyes and be better equipped to find a solution.”

Create a road map and follow it. After you’ve identified a goal, it’s time to set a strategy to reach it. First, gather the necessary information to make the desired change–in Aaron’s case, that meant buying new cookbooks and food magazines for inspiration, but someone in a diet rut might research weight-loss programs or someone in a career rut might network for job leads. Then, put yourself on a time-table that’s realistic.

Mook’s ability to stick to a strict schedule was the key to his successful project. But Aaron rediscovered his inner Emeril through a more laid-back approach. One night a week, Aaron devotes several hours to selecting new recipes, but he experiments in the kitchen just two weekends per month–producing enough new dishes to add variety to our diet, but not working so hard that it’s become a chore. As Osborne cautions, “If you try to pull yourself out of a rut in a way that’s too disciplined, you may fall into another one. Pay attention to your intuition and find a pace that feels comfortable.”

Stay fresh. Avoid ruts by adding variety to your life and pushing yourself in different directions. This year, Mook is concentrating on black-and-white photography. “Shooting in black-and-white is more difficult than shooting in color,” says Mook, who completed Photo-a-Week projects in 2002 and 2004. “I’m looking forward to the creative stretch.”

Get a pro’s perspective. If you’re feeling a general malaise, a life coach can help you determine what’s wrong and devise an exit strategy. But if you’re dissatisfied with a single aspect of life–work, exercise routine, or appearance–consult an expert in that area. A career counselor, personal trainer, or image consultant can offer guidance as you develop a game plan and support as you put it into practice.

And what of the old way of doing things? Actually, a little distance can make the old seem new again. Last weekend, for the first time in six months, Aaron prepared shrimp risotto with feta cheese, which reminded us why the entree had become a mainstay in our diet. So now our old favorite has resumed its rightful place in our menu rotation–albeit on a limited basis. We’d hate to tire of it again.Cynthia Hanson is a freelance writer in the Philadelphia area. She revved up her exercise routine to compensate for the extra calories she’s consuming now that she’s out of her food rut.