As a blogger, I occasionally keep tabs on my posts by glancing at the metrics provided by Google and my website builder. But for a really accurate reading, I’ve learned it pays to tally my spam. Like most people, I started small. Five years ago, the odd post would receive a random comment such as: “Your post is very insightful. To make your day even better, buy Viagra here!” Then a couple of years ago, my spammers became fixated on one particular post: Yoga for Travelers, published on May 12, 2016. First it was a comment or two every month, then every week, and recently it’s soared to several a day, sharing offers for medical marijuana and heavy industrial equipment (preferably not to be used at the same time). I’m getting exhausted just tapping the “Spam - Delete” button. I will say the comments are getting livelier. Last week I got this from Kajal Das in Bollywood: “Flames Web Series is an oh so sweet story that manages to reach that quiet place lurking within our hearts, even in the cacophony of today’s times. It’s that all encompassing feeling that sweeps us off our feet as we watch the story unfold on screen. And as Rajat and Ishita slowly get drawn towards each other, we find ourselves drawn into the story, until we’re totally into it, hook, line and sinker ! We start rooting for this syrupy love story, wishing with all our hearts for the misunderstandings between Rajat and Ishita to clear up, and for them to get back together.” Will Rajat and Ishita finally clear up their misunderstandings and find true love? If so, they’re going to have to do it without the assistance of my original Yoga for Travelers. I’ll soon be removing that particular post altogether, in hopes of freeing up my schedule from the boring chore of endless spam deletion. Besides, I have plenty of new thoughts to share on the subject. I’ve been doing yoga a long time — off and on since I was a senior in high school; that's when I signed up for an optional yoga class because I thought it would be hipper than doing actual athletics during the period assigned to PE (physical exercise). Since then, I’ve come to appreciate other benefits besides the coolness factor. The older I get, the more I rely on yoga to keep me strong and flexible and, when I’m on the road, to offset the effects of long bus rides, hard mattresses, and suitcases that require constant hoisting and hauling. Travel may keep our synapses young, but it can take a toll on our bodies, and Rich and I decided from the outset that during our Mediterranean Comfort Food Tour we would work to minimize our aches and pains by spending regular time on the mat. And when I say “on the mat” I am, of course, speaking metaphorically. One of the challenges of doing yoga on the road is that I don’t carry a mat with me. Yes, I know there are folding mats available, but as a minimalist packer, I don’t have even that modest amount of space and weight to spare. Instead, when I’m on the road, my yoga practice takes place on whatever rugs and/or towels I can find in our lodgings, and when confronted with an impossibly hard or grubby floor, I stick with standing postures and avoid floor work altogether. When I'm away from my regular classes, I practice with yoga videos. Maybe it’s a total lack of willpower on my part, but I find it’s a lot easier to keep going when someone is telling me what to do, how to do it, and why it’s helping. There are, at last count, some 549 million yoga videos online; as you can imagine, quality varies wildly. Yoga with Adriene is one of my favorites; she’s got an engaging personality, a dog that wanders on screen from time to time, and more than 500 videos ranging from a few minutes to an hour. On my recent trip, when confronted with dubious floors I often used her Hands-Free Yoga Workout for standing stretches. But that’s just 15 minutes long, and I usually prefer half an hour, so I also practiced with Maris Aylward’s 30 Minute Wrist Free Hands Free Yoga Flow. To mix things up, I selected other teachers’ videos more or less at random. Of course, yoga isn’t the only way to keep fit on the road. Rich calculates that we walked 735 miles on the trip, and personally, I think we should get extra points for all the crazy staircases we climbed, especially when dragging our bags up with us. Thanks to the walking, the stairs, and our yoga pracitce, we managed to eat our way through ten countries without gaining any weight at all. Swimming wasn't part of the program on this trip, but Rich likes to research public pools around the world via SwimmersGuide.com so he can keep up with his laps when circumstances permit. For those who like to work out with weights and machines, there’s been some buzz lately about the free smartphone app Zeamo that helps you find gyms anywhere; I haven't tried it, so if you do, let me know how well it works. Unfortunately the yoga world hasn’t yet organized itself properly with worldwide apps or websites, so your best bet is still good old Google. According to the International Yoga Federation, there are 300 million people worldwide practicing yoga, so there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to find a studio just about anywhere you go. Apparently the abundance of yoga practitioners creates an irresistible target for the world’s spammers. And no doubt before long they will notice this post and begin sending me comments about miracle weight loss pills and cheap hair transplants. But there may be some redeeming moments, too. Now that Bollywood has come out with season two of Flames, we can all look forward to finding out if Rajat and Ishita have finally managed to patch up their differences, realize they’re in love, and locate a really great yoga class in a studio near them. Stay tuned for updates. YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY Don't miss a single loony adventure, travel tip, video, or recipe.
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12 Comments
Faye
10/30/2019 09:37:23 pm
I gasped when I saw photo with yoga mat! Glad to hear you don’t really lug it around. My limit is one medium suitcase on wheels & a small to medium backpack & I never want to add to this! Idon’t trust the floors to be really clean no matter how clean they seem! I find the walking & climbing are enough to keep me from gaining weight when I travel. I will remember to do standup yoga positions until I get home, however, to keep all or most muscles flexible.
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Karen McCann
10/31/2019 05:42:21 pm
I really missed my yoga mat on the road, but I just can't see hauling one around, even one of the compact folding ones. And yes, thanks, Faye, our place in San Anselmo was spared, although we'll have to throw out the few things we left in the fridge, like condiments. The situation with the fires and power outages is terrifying and tragic, and I'm afraid it's only likely to get worse in the years ahead.
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10/31/2019 06:40:39 am
Hi Karen...your yoga article is inspiring! I never thought about Youtube videos, so I appreciate the idea. I do a weekly yoga class in SF and that’s enough to keep me ache-free until the following week. But when I’m on the road I’m too lazy. Having a video where someone tells me what to do (as you say) is what I need.
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Karen McCann
10/31/2019 05:44:09 pm
Good to hear from you, Bruce! Yes, the yoga videos are a great way to keep yourself limbered on the road or if you have to miss a class for any reason. If you try them, let me know how you like them!
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Denise Zeman
10/31/2019 01:14:51 pm
You always seem to write about topics that are relevant and inspiring! Thank you for this one. We're getting ready to embark on a long trip in January, and although I've only recently returned to a regular yoga practice, I have been meaning to research online yoga sites. Again, you've done the research for me and I plan to use your sites to keep up with my practice...at this age, one cannot stay active and flexible enough! Namaste🧘♀️
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Karen McCann
10/31/2019 05:45:42 pm
So glad you liked the post, Denise! You two are intrepid travelers, and I hope you do find the yoga videos help keep you limbered up for life on the road. Enjoy! And namaste...
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10/31/2019 05:44:44 pm
Thanks for the great article. You gave some great ideas. I never thought to look at YouTube yoga videos while traveling. I carry my iPad with me so that will be easy to do. And I never knew there was an International Yoga Day!
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Karen McCann
10/31/2019 05:48:44 pm
An iPad is a great way to view the videos, Linda. I've even used them with my phone once in a while, when I didn't have a bigger screen around, and that works OK too. Thanks for your sympathy; these spammers (or their bots) are incredibly industrious. If only they used their powers for good instead of annoying the rest of us!
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Paul Guerin
11/1/2019 11:34:27 pm
Right on guys but let me give you a tip on another way to stay trim and lose weight. Two weeks ago I had an emergency appendectomy and subsequently lost 13 pounds . I don't reccomend it for everybody but if you're really serious about taking off weight you might invevestigate this sure fire technique.
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Karen McCann
11/2/2019 05:48:00 pm
Good heavens — an emergency appendectomy, Paul?!?! That's a pretty drastic way to lose weight, my friend. Don't think I'm going to try that one if I have any choice in the matter. I know Jean is taking good care of you and hope that you're already back on your feet. No doubt there's a dramatic story involved and I look forward to hearing it next time I'm back in CA.
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Kitty
11/2/2019 04:45:08 pm
Harvey even does Yoga in Bodega Bay. I am in Nica now where the wooden Yoga studio is high on a hill, breezes free flowing as there are no windows and a magnificent ocean view. Maybe you have motivated me to take my 1st class!
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Karen McCann
11/2/2019 05:49:22 pm
Boy, that yoga studio sounds wonderful, Kitty. If you're ever thinking of taking it up, that would be the place!
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This blog is a promotion-free zone. As my regular readers know, I never get free or discounted goods or services for mentioning anything on this blog (or anywhere else). I only mention things I happen to find interesting and/or useful. Whew! I wanted to clear that up before we went any further. Thanks for listening. Winner of the 2023 Firebird Book Award for Travel
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I'm an American travel writer based in Seville, Spain and my home state of California.
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