Lavender & Yoga & Girlfriends

I had an incredible experience Sunday that I won't soon forget and owe it to my girlfriends who took to their yoga mats beside me to share in a yoga practice. 

But this wasn't just a regular yoga practice. We attended a yoga practice outdoors on a beautiful, hot sunny day overlooking row upon row of the most coveted flower in the world (at least in my world), lavender. My all time favourite essential oil, the classic of all classics and the base note for so many famous perfumes and colognes in the world. It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes as well. I can't get enough of it actually and use it in almost all of my natural beauty product line for its amazing skincare benefits.

The English word “lavender” probably comes from Latin “lavare” meaning “to wash.” The origin of the modern name refers to the ancient tradition of using lavender in perfumed oils for bathing, as practiced in the times of the Roman Empire. Another possible interpretation stems from the earliest known English name for this herb –livendula. Livendula is Latin name for livid or bluish color, and bears a strong reference to the violet flowers of lavender.

I felt like I had arrived in Provence and couldn't actually believe the beauty I was surrounded by was only 35 minutes from my home and I never knew this place existed.  I was at Terre Bleu Lavender Farm in Milton, Ontario. A little piece of heaven. 

I am a Canadian girl and have to face cold blistery winters so when the warm summer days roll around I spend as much time outside as possible. But to have the honour of combining the sunshine with lavender and then add the best part, girlfriends. Glorious. 

Lavender. Yoga. Girlfriends. That's my kind of perfect Sunday.  If you ever have this opportunity to surround yourselves in nature and do something you love with people you adore, I urge you to take it. As I laid there on my yoga mat looking up at the blue sky today I felt incredibly blessed and happy to be alive to experience this day. 

Namaste.