A lot of people ask me how I can afford to travel so much. Or how I’ve used yoga to support myself on the road. I feel a lot of people are scared to travel. To chase their dreams. To go out on a limb. People are scared to be different. Even in a modern age when its cool to be different. There is always some excuse I hear or reason an acquaintance is using for not going after the life they truly desire. They have pets, or a lease, or a car holding them back. I’m lucky- I got out before I had anything weighing me down.  

My plan has always been to travel and make money along the way, walking the spiritual path, learning the art of yoga and eastern medicine. Shortly after graduating high school I went to Lake Attiklan, Guatemala for a 200 hr yoga teacher training. With my job at the ropes course I had saved up a little more than $1,000. It isn’t a lot. It isn’t anything to some. For me, going to Central America it was enough. I spent a month at my teacher training. Having all lodging as well as food included in the training. My only spending was a few dimes on taxi rides and maybe 25c for a good snack. I canceled everything I was paying for back in the US. My car insurance and cell phone (since it didn’t work out of USA anyways). A local SIM card for the month is only $10, so I can even be mobile.

While in my teacher training a girl told me about yoga trade. This is a website that post all different yoga jobs and opportunities across the world. I signed up. I saw tons of opportunities is Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the two countries south of me. I decided to call UNCW and tell them I would not be attending and started my journey south.

My first yoga teacher job was at Rancho Esperanza, Nicaragua. I got tons of great practice in as a new teacher. I taught every morning at 7am with sunrise on the beach. I got paid according to how many guest were in my class- usually 8-15. Not bad. I got room and food in exchange for 3 hours of work in the evening preparing dinner. In addition to this amazing opportunity the waves here were awesome. I was also offered a job as the surf instructor shortly after the owner had seen me in the water a few times. This was a great opportunity because I was able to have 2 sources of income while having all of my expenses covered.

After a few months of this I felt I saved enough for 1 month of free travel. I went to some touristy places around the country then ultimately spent 3 weeks on Little Corn Island. I fell in love with this little car free island. I stayed in little beach front cabinas for $7 a night and ate delicious cheap meals. Side note- I NEVER struggled finding cheap vegan food in all my travels.

I had another job lined up in Costa Rica starting in April. I was to teach yoga to guest staying at our off grid treehouse community. This was 460 acres in between two national parks in the Golfito area. I taught sunrise yoga, if you Cant tell I love morning yoga. By this point I had a good amount of experience teaching different styles of yoga to different people, different body types, different mindsets. I had my stay in a treehouse with delicious homemade Costa Rican food. Hiked with guest out to their tree house- usually 30 minutes. Got 3 meals plus any money made with yoga.

By this point my travels were going pretty well. I hadn’t even dipped into the money I had been saving since I was able to stay for free and make some with yoga. I traveled through Columbia and in Ecuador found a cute little hostel called misfits. They let me camp on their lot/ use kitchen and showers and gave me breakfast for 3$ a day. They were even kind enough to let me teach donation based yoga on their porch which again made money!!! Tons of people in hostels traveling love to do yoga but usually their is no teacher. I stumbled upon this blessing shortly after being robbed.

In Peru I had a yoga job in a studio lined up. I only got one or two privates out of this. I was randomly offered a job bartending at The Point. Although I do not drink I needed a job so accepted. It turned out to be really fun controlling the party from the outside. I got sick in Peru in late July. This ended my travels and I was back in America by August 2018.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be as affordable as you need it to be. Trust me I had many voices holding me back, telling me it was too expensive, impossible even. That college was the only way to live a comfortable life. I’m out here studying the world, making contact with culture, learning what makes us human. I’m here learning the ways of yoga. I am also now in school to become a licensed reiki and energetic healer. I am living my best life now. Putting in the hours and the work. Gaining countless amounts of knowledge about sustainable living, permaculture, upcycled houses, yoga, reiki, eastern medicine Building my empire.

If you wish to learn more or follow me through this dance of life, follow me on instagram @leaninglotuss or go to my website www.leaninglotus.com

Namaste,

Lila