Being a yoga brand ambassador is a trendy subject now, regarding what’s going on in the US between a huge yoga brand and a yoga teacher, and the repercussions it has on the brand ambassadors, so I’ve decided to share my own experience as a brand ambassador myself. (Not the same that is involved in the current drama, but a similar one).

A little more than 2 years ago I went shopping in a town near mine, where a store of a famous yoga brand I liked just opened. I used to shop for their outfits when I was in LA, but they were starting to conquer the European market and suddenly here they were at a reasonable distance from my place!

The staff was super nice and I immediately liked them. They asked if I was interested to give free classes sometimes in the store, and I said yes. (I liked their products and the girl I was speaking to was the sweetest).

I came back a month later to teach my free class, and that’s when they offered me to become an ambassador.

I was honored even though I didn’t really understand what being an ambassador meant for them. They didn’t ask me to post pictures on social media (although I did because I was just super grateful), I could wear other brands even when I was teaching in their stores (which I never did because, you know, it felt wrong), they said they would help me for whatever project I could have that would fit their image, and they gave me a gift card, so I can shop in their stores worldwide. (the amount was really REALLY interesting…).

When you’re an ambassador for a brand like this you are spoiled. They took us for some coaching week-ends in magical places, where we were doing yoga and personal development (I even taught a class to one of this event). They told us how much we were family, how it was more than a clothing brand, how they wanted t to spread the message of healthy living, we all shared very very personal stuff during those weekends, it was almost like a group therapy, but we felt safe because, yes they were family remember?

I’m not saying we were brainwashed, but you know, we were super spoiled and they sell us this idea of a dreamy life with them, and I started to believe that they were not only doing business, but that they had a higher purpose, that business was is just a way to serve their “higher goals”….

….Until the store that recruited me was shut down.

Just like that! In a month time, may be more, they closed the store. The staff was very sad, because they have created an amazing team, and because them too, have believed all the beautiful words they were told about being a family and stuff, and everything happened so fast. They told us that for us it will not change a thing, that we were still ambassadors.

We had another weekend scheduled, which some of us (including me) attended. But it was different, than the last one. Suddenly we had less attention, it’s like they were embarrassed we came.

After that week-end I never heard of them again. Except for one email saying they will call, it was months ago, they never did. Suddenly there were no more family, no more sharing, no more support. Only some dollars left on my gift card. And it made me realize (although deep inside I knew it all along the way) that the only thing that matters for them is money. They just try to wrap that in a beautiful healthy loving and caring package, but in the end there is no real humanity and it’s all fake.

I was suspicious during all this time, but you know, you always want to believe the good things people are selling you.

Don’t misunderstand me, I’m forever grateful for this experience, I’ve met good friends and good people (the staff from the store, some other ambassadors…), I was showered with gifts…

What I’m trying to say here is that when you get an opportunity like this one, never lose the idea that this is only pure marketing and business, a brand rarely become that big without doing pure marketing and business. And most of the times they have more than yoga pants hidden in their closets…

India stole my heart. Honestly, I had negative preconceived ideas about this trip, mostly because of all the people who tells you how much you will be sick or how many traumatizing stuff you will see. It’s also true that it was a yoga retreat pretty well organized and that we were not backpacking around. But for a first time it was exactly what I needed.

After Delhi and Agra, we went to Jaipur, the pink city, and it was the highlight of this trip. Yoga twice a day with Annie Carpenter, and many excursions. Everything was breathtaking. The city itself is incredible, we had lunches in some hidden gems where we forgot where we were, shopped in many different places from cheap bazar to high end stores, visited a local house, learned how to fly a kite (it’s a Jaipur favorite lol), and we’ve attended a private concert of Rajasthan traditional music (absolutely delightful). We also had the opportunity to watch briefly a polo game not with horses but with camels (one of the most ridiculous thing I’ve had the chance to watch lol).

The variety of vegetarian food is incredible here, and I was surprised by how they are ahead of us in terms of healthy food. You find superfood and many organic stuff super easily.

I highly recommend Jaipur modern kitchen for some healthy vegan/vegetarian indian inspired modern cuisine. And for a nice royal experience baradari inside the city palace, where you can eat or have a drink.

After a short week in Jaipur we headed to Rishikesh where I’ve spent a few days in an ashram. I’ll write about the ashram experience shortly.

If you have more questions about my trip, send me a message.

Namaste

We left Delhi for Agra, by train. An intense ride where the train rolled over a motorbike, a piece blew away the window of,my row, the train had to stop. I had pieces of glass all over my hair, a man was bleeding a little. India is always an adventure!

Did you know that the Taj Mahal is the Tomb of love? Built by Shah Jahan for him and his wife Mumtaz, who passed away while giving birth to their 14th child.

A love story that deserves a Hollywood movie. He met her when he was visiting a market anonymously. She was watching a necklace, he bought it for her. They’ve been married for 20 years.

Right before she died, she asked that when the time comes they will be buried together. So he built the Taj Mahal, where they are both still buried.

In Agra, pay a visit to the Red fort as well. Beautiful monument from the moguls era.

An interesting note for us yogis, it’s forbidden to practice yoga inside the Taj.

Honestly, we were expecting the worse for our first time in India. Everybody has something to say about it: rude people, dead bodies in the street, scary stray dogs, but also good things about how it is fascinating. And it really is fascinating.

Yes it is dirty but we were expecting worse, some part of the city are totally fancy and hip, we had lunch in a place name Social in a hip part of Delhi, amazing fusion food, and obviously in this country I can find many vegetarians options!

We started in the morning by visiting the biggest mosque of the city and a rickshaw ride in the old Delhi. I absolutely loved it. It is so typical with thousand of people everywhere, good and bad smells, so many colors, people honking everywhere, all your senses are awake. It could be overwhelming but so fun! I highly recommend the rickshaw ride in the Old Delhi.

People are nice most of the time. ( seriously the rudest people were the staff of our fancy botel). Our guide told us what kind of clothes not to wear (no short pants, no short skirt..) so we won’t be provocative.

Regarding stray dogs, one of our retreat mate was bitten the first day and had to receive a rabies shot… So I have to refrain petting every dogs I see, and it’s not easy as they are so cute and everywhere.

We left Delhi this morning to Agra, by train. A scary experience that I’ll explain in my next post.

Namaskar from India.

I would never have picked Dubai as a destination, but we had a stop there on our way to India, so we’ve decided to stay 2 days to check what was going on in that famous city.

Our first impression was that the airport was super crowded and the staff not super friendly. When you go out it’s a very interesting place that mixes tradition and modernity.

Some parts of the city might make you think of Manhattan but with more friendly and patient people. Speaking of patience, it is a quality you will have to have as everything is taking more time than in Europe.

What to do:

⁃ I’m not a shopper but if you’re into this you will find everything. They have big malls everywhere

⁃ The souks:: Gold souk, spices souk, old souk, they all are in the old Dubai, and if you’re in search of traditionnel stuff, I highly recommend it.

⁃ Enjoy the beaches: Ok let’s be honest, they are not the prettiest beaches in the world, but the water is clear, although polluted by all the boats, jet sky, tankers, that cruise in front of Dubai.

⁃ The desert: It was definitely the highlight of my trip, but I have to admit I’m a desert girl. The sand has a beautiful color, the dunes are pretty, the sunset is unbelievable…. But it’s dirty. It always makes me sad that most of people can’t do a simple thing as picking up their trash after them, it’s so simple and helps our planet to stay gorgeous…

You have many other things to do such as the dancing fountains at night anear the famous Burj khalifa ( tallest building in the world) or take a pick at the burj al arab 7 stars hotel, or indoor skiing, or sky diving… Everything is possible in Dubai.

A healthy living in Dubai

Food:

I have to confess, as a vegetarian, I was a little bit worried about the food. I was wrong. There are many vegetarians and vegan options in the restaurants (more than in my country), there are vegan and/or organic places as well such as:

– Comptoir 102 on Jumeirah street (also a nice concept store)

Yogawise I was thrilled to find this cute studio :

– Yoga la vie. A very friendly yoga place . I took an amazing swing (aerial yoga) class there with Gisele, a super sweet and talented Brazilian girl, the best aerial yoga class I’ve ever taken. The studio also has a few yoga clothes, yoga mats, and props on sale.

Yoga la vie is located at the Golden mile on Jumeirah palm (building 10 Galleria 2), you can check their schedule and book online at yoga la vie Dubai

I had a really nice time in Dubai, a destination I thought I would not like. As we didn’t stay long we took a tour the first day and were amused by the pride they have for their country, there is always something better, higher, stronger, or in the Guinness book of records, I would say that the only thing they are lacking of, is humility…..

Now, on our way to New Delhi, India, for, I assume, a total different atmosphere.