Recently I had a chance to finally reconnect in person with a dear friend of mine of over 20 years, Lynda Schoberth, the owner of Bleu Yoga Lotus & Retreats. And as we at Rodina Botanicals are big on a little METime, I thought I ask Lynda a few questions about her two passions: yoga and meditation. So here is the result of our little chat while we were chilling in our hammocks during our yoga retreat in Costa Rica that Lynda organized.

Anita: Before we get into the nitty gritty, Lynda, I always like to ask folks about how, when, and why their adventure began. What is the origin story of your yoga journey and Bleu Lotus Yoga & Retreats?

Lynda: Well, I took a few yoga classes in my 20’s and immediately felt a shift in my moods after each class, but it wasn’t until my mid-thirties that I started to get more serious about the practice. I think it was because I found a great teacher who began to introduce more than just asana into each class I attended. After quitting my job in government relations with the Illinois Gaming Board, having a baby and moving from Chicago to Chesterton, Indiana (home of the Indiana Dunes), I was a bored stay at home mom when my son was six years old. That’s when I decided to take my teacher training. Much to my amazement, I learned so much more about myself.

`Photo: Most of our yoga retreat participants with some of the girls and volunteers from the Girls For Success Center.`

Anita: Even though I had no real expectations before coming to Costa Rica, our yoga retreat at Samasati was so much more than yoga and meditation. From hiking in the primary rainforest, being privileged to part-take in the cacao ceremony with one of the indigenous tribes, white water rafting and kayaking, immersing ourselves in sound bath with Dale from Imagine Yoga St. Kitts , visiting Jaguar Rescue Center and volunteering at Girls For Success Center, our week has been full of various cultural and outdoor adventures. Why did you decide to include these specific activities?

Lynda: I went on a similar retreat to this same location about eight years ago and loved the wonder and excitement of all that came with it. Most of the other retreats I see out there, just offer room, board, yoga & meditation and leave the extra excursions up to the participant. I love that the group does most everything together and I am so proud of all the friendships that resulted from our exciting time together. It’s a true yoga holiday and not boring whatsoever.

**Two Passions Combined.**

*Anita: I agree it is not your usual yoga retreat! What I like how we as a group get to explore and learn about nature, local culture and also have opportunity to volunteer.* *I especially enjoyed our time at* ***Girls for Success,*** *partnering up with DeeDee Helbig from* ***Ava Bella Day Spa*** *and sharing our passion for natural, organic skincare with the girls at the center. This experience combined two of my passions, love of natural skincare and volunteering.*

From Simple Kitchen Ingredients To Happy Skin

**Just Let Go…**

Anita: *Why did you include sound therapy as part of your retreat?*

Photo: Dale getting ready to start our sound bath.

Lynda: Well, I was very fortunate to connect with Dale Amory, a yoga teacher and sound therapist based in St. Kitts. Dale has been offering instrumental frequencies in her yoga classes and is now focusing more on offering sound experiences to ease, energize and empower people in new ways. Like massage therapy, which delivers healing through touch, sound is a form of sensory therapy, and it has been used by various cultural groups for centuries. The most prominent form practiced in the U.S. is music therapy, but the use of individual sounds from gongs, chimes, drums, singing bows and rain drums and even voice is a powerful, but gentle alternative or complement to other healing modalities.

Anita: I am so glad you decided to invite Dale and include her sound therapy into our retreat’s schedule. Every time I have the opportunity to experience sound bath, I feel like butter afterwards.

For me personally, 2024 is a year of intentionally letting go of what no longer serves me. One of the things that I decided to let go while in Costa Rica and you certainly helped me with was the idea of my personal pet peeves. I realized that they really do not serve me at all. You have done several of these retreats now, do you still leave with some new realization or transformation? If so, would you be up for sharing what you left behind this time or a new outlook that you are walking away with?

Lynda: I’ve been on this yoga journey for quite some time now, so I’ve built along the way some core perspectives and deeper awareness of how I can be a better person to me and to everyone around me. So each time I leave Costa Rica or a retreat that I’ve led, I'm just filled with joy when I hear the great feedback. I am also simply grateful that I can cultivate connectedness and help people find peace, joy and clarity through these yoga retreats.

Anita: During our time together in Costa Rica, I learned several new breathing techniques for times when life gets pretty stressful and overwhelming. One of my favorite ones is the “Box Breathing” technique. What is your go-to breathing technique when life gets a bit nutty?

Lynda: Well, I'm so glad to hear that box breathing resonated with you! This breathwork “box breathing” goes by several names and is considered to be the fundamental of all yogic breathing. This controlled breathing technique is meant to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is sometimes referred to as the “rest and digest” state. Personally, since I’ve been practicing pranayama for a while, my natural inhales and exhales, or respiratory rate, I have become pretty efficient, in that I breathe about eight breaths per minute (BPM), with the average between 12-20. Essentially this means that my parasympathetic nervous system is working well. I highly suggest everyone test their own BPM and perhaps get a stress test from their doctor.

Anita: That’s interesting! I have been practicing pranayama on and off for several years but now I will be more intentional to include it into my daily routine. I will be curious to find out how my BPM changes over time.

Along the same lines, I personally have several favorite yoga poses, depending on my mood and also depending on what my body allows me to do as each time on the yoga mat is different. What is your favorite yoga pose and why?

Lynda: I love this question and thanks for asking it. My favorite pose is the extended side angle pose, or in sanskrit, Utthita Parsvakonasana. I feel powerful, spacious both inside and out. When you open up horizontally, you no longer feel so separate. It took me a really long time, like eight years, to get to this point, so when I am in it fully and for a while, it feels really amazing. And it's such a beautiful posture with so many variations. This posture takes a lot of strength and flexibility and there are so many small details to fine tune.

Anita: I hear yah! This pose is still work in progress for me.

**Anita: What is your mantra?**

Lynda: Well, did you know that a **personal mantra** should always be kept a **secret**? A mantra is a tool for the mind to dwell deeper into the consciousness. So if we were to bring it to the surface, you become free of it. Just like the old expression, if something were bothering you, you should “get it off your chest.” That being said, there are also mahamantras that everyone can chant loudly.
My favorite is,
**“Om Mani Padme Om,”** meaning, **“Hail to the jewel in the lotus”.**

Anita: I learned something new today for sure. Thank you for sharing! So I guess I will not be sharing what my mantra is today:).

As a yoga instructor, how often do you yourself practice yoga each week?

Lynda: I now practice asana just once or twice a week at two different yoga studios. And do HIIT four or five days a week. I’ve found that I can’t live on yoga alone. It puts too much wear and tear on my body. Everything must be balanced. Even a beloved yoga practice.

Anita: I agree. Just like with everything else, balance is key!

If someone would love to start their yoga journey, what would you recommend how they should go about it?

Lynda: Go on a yoga retreat! How cool is it that you could put all of your householder duties aside for a week and focus on learning yoga both inside and out? They should also find a yoga teacher with the most experience, training and wisdom. If it’s a big class, then do some private lessons with that teacher. If they have been practicing for a long while, then consider doing a teacher training program. If they want to learn more than just asana, then buy some books, listen to podcasts or YouTube videos. A couple of my favorite books include, Inner Engineering, A Yogi’s Guide to Joy, by Sadhguru. Or, Revolution of the Soul, by Seane Corn.

Anita: Oh, I love Seane Corn!

On behalf of everyone that is interested in taking up yoga this year but is not sure how to decide whether a specific yoga class and teacher are right fit for them, in your opinion, what are some key criteria to keep in mind when one is looking?

Lynda: Start by asking friends and neighbors. If that is not helpful, look at the reviews of the studio or class on Facebook or google reviews. Someone who is fit or perhaps a runner will gravitate towards a hot vinyasa class. And someone just starting their fitness journey or who needs to slow down and be present, might be happiest in a restorative, beginner or yin class.

`Photo: Our yoga retreat teachers: Dale Amory, Lynda Schoberth and Amanda Barnes.`

Anita: To me, yoga is so much more than only the physical expression, as there is also the spiritual side of yoga. One of the main reasons that I like to practice meditation is because at times I have a very busy mind and meditation helps me to quiet it. Since we launched Rodina Botanicals, almost three years ago, many of our clients expressed interest in checking out meditation; however they find it either intimidating, or boring. What suggestions do you have for someone who is a total novice to meditation? Where and how should they start?

Lynda: The Calm app is fabulous and I highly recommend it. I also recommend trying a Kundalini yoga class. While it’s not meditation, you will get incredible breathwork which helps to develop the concentration needed for meditation. Also, try a sound healing or sound bath.

Anita: I could not agree with you more, Lynda. I typically start my day with one of the guided meditations on the Insight Timer app and finish my day with one. I have also enjoyed attending several Kundalini yoga classes; they helped me deepen my personal practice for sure.

If there was one misconception about either yoga or meditation that you would like to debunk, what would it be?

Yoga is NOT just stretching!

*—Lynda Schoberth*

Anita: I concur with you 100 percent!

Well, we are almost done, so just a few rapid fire questions, so here we go! If you were left on a deserted island where all your basic needs have been met, what would be one book that you would bring with you and why?

Lynda: Hmmm…. Autobiography of Mark Twain. Because its long (after all, I am on a deserted island) and it's filled with great humor and meaningful stories. I love autobiographies.

**Soft, Silky, and Delish…**

*Anita: We at* *Rodina Botanicals* are about overall wellness, and especially organic, plant-based, natural skincare. And I know you are very mindful about the skincare products you apply to your skin, I cannot help but to ask a couple skincare-related questions. In your daily skincare routine, are you camp facial oil or camp moisturizer and which do you prefer, liquid lotions, lotion bars, or whipped body butters? Do you have a favorite *Rodina Botanicals* *product? If so, what is it?*
Lynda: I am currently in the facial oil camp. My favorite Rodina Botanicals product is the Unscented Too Double Whipped body butter. It’s so soft and silky and smells delicious.

Enjoy Your Own Body Butter!

Anita: Aww, Thank you, Lynda! That means a lot to me. Glad you enjoy our double whipped body butter.

Before we wrap up our chat and get out of these comfy hammocks, if folks are interested to find out more about your yoga retreats, what is the best way to get hold of you, Lynda?

Lynda: Follow me on social media at Bleu Lotus Yoga & Retreats.

Anita: Ok, one more for the road! So, where are we off to next?

Lynda: Our Costa Rica trip will be held February 1-8th, 2025. I am also working on a trip to Peru in April of 2025 and a U.S. based one this summer as well.

Love to hear from you, feel free to DM us.

Until next time and in the meantime let’s be kind and live well,

Anita

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