Check out the posturing of any athlete and you might be able to identify the activity they engage in the most.  Road cyclists have developed calves and glutes.  Tennis players have one arm that is more developed than the other.  Horseback riders have developed hips.

What about mountain bikers?  A forward chest, developed legs and arms.   When I see a mountain biker's body all I want to do is help them adjust so they can stand in an upright position.  Like so many activities we engage in on a daily basis mountain biking requires front body strength which can create muscular imbalances among our front and back bodies.

Yoga is a practice of, first, establishing awareness of our postural habits.  A well trained guide will help you to become aware of the muscles you tend to contract as well as those you lengthen more often than others.  Consistently practicing engaging in complimentary movements or "opposite process" will help you to become more physically harmonious so that you can keep riding for the rest of your life.

You might not realize it, but you may be ignoring some of the most powerful muscles in your body while you're riding.  I find mountain biking to be incredibly challenging.  This is mostly due to my lack of upper abdominal strength.  My lower abs are really strong, but my upper abdominal muscles aren't quiet as powerful.  When I get on my bike I can feel this weakness. 

I've seen plenty of mountain bikers who rely on their arms to do the work on the bike.  As they climb they are pumping up and down like they're doing a push-up on the handle bars.  When they descend, they muscle the bike around corners and over obstacles.  Building strength in your core through a variety of Yoga postures is key to feeling more in control of your body and bike while riding.  It can help you to reduce the work in your arms so that you don't get fatigued and can ride longer and more challenging terrain.

Bike geometry has certainly improved over time offering more balanced bikes, more travel, increased wheel sizes and more.  Whether you are developing new skills or adjusting to a new bike balance can be what keeps you on the bike or dumps you off.  Developing steadiness in your body and awareness of your breath can help you to remain calm and focused while riding even when on a new trail, in tricky terrain or while getting comfortable on a new bike.

Lake Tahoe Yoga guides practices in RajaHatha Yoga.  What does that mean?  Every movement is combined with a breath.  Learning to breathe to move when going through poses on the mat can help you to do so while on your bike.  If you can keep a calm and steady breath while balancing on one foot or moving through a flowing sequence of postures, you can likely do the same while climbing over rocks or riding a log.

At the end of every Yoga practice we rest on our mats in savasana (corpse posture).  The intention is to offer an opportunity to "soak it all in."  Your body has been moved, manipulated, adjusted, engaged, stretched and balanced.  As you lay on the earth you get an opportunity to relax physically, energetically and, maybe, mentally.  

Translating this sense of tranquility onto your bike can help you to feel more calm and at ease while riding.  If you take the time to stretch and prepare before and after you ride, include a moment to sit or lay down and consider your ride.  What do you hope to accomplish?  What are you proud of?  What are you going to work on next time?

Want to learn more about mountain biking in Lake Tahoe?  The Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) brings the community together through rides, trail development and maintenance, mtb events and more.

Need guidance and gear for riding?  Tahoe Sports LTD is one of Tahoe's best shops staffed with local pros who know about mountain biking from tires to trails.

Are you a mountain biker who wants to try Yoga?  Lake Tahoe Yoga is a supporter of TAMBA and offers classes for you.

Do you travel to ride?  LocalFreshies.com features articles and videos about the best places to ride and how to "Be a local wherever you go."

Visiting Lake Tahoe during the Fall opens the door to places and experiences often too busy or inaccessible during the Summer and Winter.  Leaf your stress behind when you join Bliss Experiences this Autumn.

Why Yoga?

• Reduce Stress
• Maintain Mobility
• Improve Body Awareness
• Sleep Better
• Induce Relaxation
• Breathe Better
• Increase Focus

​There’s a perfect pairing for every meal, and Dare to Pair seminars will teach you how to find it, whether you’re craving a classic steak au poivre or spicy Thai takeout. In each interactive tasting event, learn the basic science behind food and drink pairings before experimenting with classic and innovative combinations. Discover the nuances of your palate, how childhood nostalgia affects even our most refined tastes, and learn how to create perfect pairings at home to suit any meal or event.

​Taking a walk in an unfamiliar forest, on new trails, with limited time
can be more stressful than relaxing.  
 
Join our guide; Felix.  He knows the way along the path and will manage time so you can wander the woods and truly enjoy our alpine forest.  Relinquish control over where and when you are.  Instead, bathe in the sounds, smells, and energy of the mountains.  Felix will share his knowledge of the outdoors while allowing you the time to reconnect with nature and your Self.

Reiki & Sound Healing is offered as a virtual experience you can tune into from anywhere.  With the provided link you can attend from the comfort of your home and don't need to worry about logging out.  If you drift away into a peaceful place you can remain there knowing you don't have to leave.  

Harpist Anne Roos, longtime resident of South Lake Tahoe, follows the Siddha Yoga meditation path and has improvised live music to accompany relaxing yoga classes. Each session includes mindfulness instructions followed by relaxing harp music, and then a closing reflection. 

​Confident Paddlers can enjoy the glassy waters of Tahoe all year long during our Stand Up Paddle Board Tours.  Private Tours are available as long as the winds and weather permit.  Experience Tahoe without boats and experience bliss on the water.

We Create Custom Curated Experiences for Renewal and Reconnection
 
Our mission is to connect you with the best small businesses and professionals we can find who are passionate about Lake Tahoe, nature, and self care.  Before you travel to the basin check out our curated experiences, customizable retreats, and connected providers.

We look forward to sharing Bliss Experiences with you.  

It's most likely that during your trip to Lake Tahoe you will be provided service by the people who work and live here.  Use these Lake Tahoe travel tips to help make your vacation the best one ever.

So much has changed in Lake Tahoe since the pandemic began.  Businesses had to close due to loss of income and staff.  Workers had to leave due to lack affordable housing.  Employees who used to travel from abroad were prevented from arriving.  We've had to learn how to provide the services and experiences we offer with fewer staff and supplies.

Be patient with us.  If you are attempting to reserve or book an experience allow us the time to get back to you.  It is likely that we are on another call or engaging with someone else when you call or email.  Assume that your food might take a bit longer to be prepared or delivered.  We're all doing our best to do all of the things that need to get done to make your vacation amazing.

The practice of six feet of distance and shifting to virtual engagement has put us all in a new mindset.  Lines appear longer and, with more people out and about, wait times have increased.  On-demand may have made some of us more demanding.  Many people are so happy to be freed from the restrictions of lockdown that they want to take advantage and make up for all that was missed.

Give us space to prepare your experience.  Whether you are dining or boating, attending a Yoga class or parasailing adventure, going for a bike ride or relaxing on the beach, we're gathering the materials and setting up the space for you to enjoy.

Make sure you read all the information given to you when you book or before you depart for your location.  Schedule additional time for travel and finding the business.  Arrive tend minutes early prepared to wait until they are ready for you.   Listen to all the instructions and directions.  Give us the space to create an incredible experience.

Many of the experiences offered in Lake Tahoe are offered by professionals.  Those that have survived over time are probably doing things right.  Although you might find someone offering something new and even cheaper be aware before booking.  

Did you know that charter boat captains on Lake Tahoe should be licensed by the Coast Guard?  Concession permits are required on public lands.  Massage therapists are regulated and all businesses should be licensed.  Although many are, some services offered in Lake Tahoe are not following the rules.

Before booking any experience do your research.  Make sure that you are receiving a legitimate service from a licensed company.  Reach out and ask questions beforehand.  Call around and compare answers before reserving or booking.  By doing so you not only protect yourself, you protect the businesses that have done things right.  

If you're traveling to Tahoe for a celebration we are ready for you.  Experiences like Tahoe Tastings, Tahoe Club Crawl, Private Yoga, Lake Tahoe Boat Rides, and Dare to Pair are designed for groups.  We want to help you have fun during your visit.

Help us help you have the best time.  You know your group better than we do.  It's important that you consider your group's dynamics before you book as well as before you arrive.  Make sure there is someone in the group who will step up and manage things before the situation gets out of control.  Be prepared to tell your captain or guide that your group can't go on.  When you take responsibility for yourself and your group you help us to focus on our job of managing the experience.

Before you called, filled out that form, or emailed to request your reservation time, energy, planning, and money went into creating your experience.  This blog is a representation of the constant work and attention that Lake Tahoe businesses put in to the experience you receive.

Yes, everyone providing a service should be tipped.  If you are being guided by the owner of the Yoga studio, led by the developer of the bar crawl, photographed by the owner of the company, it is a demonstration of their dedication to the business as a whole and their presence in it.  They are just as deserving of recognition for the work they are doing as the teacher, chaperone, or server that they hire to support their business. 

Around 15 million people visit Lake Tahoe every year.  That means we provide services to thousands of people.  By the time you arrive in the basin we have probably said the same thing thousands of times.  We have waited for thousands of minutes.  We have answered the same question with the same response a thousand or more times.  These repetitions can wear us down.

It may be your first time Forest Bathing.   Maybe you're a beginner paddle boarder.  This could be your first wine tasting.  Remember that you're not the first first-timer we've guided.  If the experience is not rated for beginners, don't sign up.  If it's clearly stated that beginners are welcome trust that your guide knows what to do. 

Your guide may not be all sunshine and rainbows when you arrive.  Their job is not to be your friend, it is to create an experience.  This could be the thousandth time they are doing it.  They may be fatigued from working the previous day.  Perhaps they are just having a tough go of it at the moment.  Before you judge them or write a nasty review take a moment to remember that you aren't the only one they've served.  If your service provider truly fails at their job be sure to let the manager or owner know how they fell short.

To learn more about what we offer and our providers at Bliss Experiences visit our website.  Request a private event or reserve your space for a curated offering.

There are so many things to love about Tahoe, and a few that are not so loveable.  Learn more about the things that bring us Bliss when we enjoy Tahoe and the stuff that we all could do without.

One of my favorite views is that of the sky in Tahoe.  The color changes daily.  I love it on a crisp Winter day when the tree branches are tufted in white.  During the Spring the flowering trees can make the blue seem even deeper.  In the Summertime the sky sometimes appears turquoise.  Daily, hourly, even by the minute, the color of the sky can change.

A noticeable effect of the Covid-19 pandemic was a reduction in pollutants due to decreased travel.  In Tahoe, it wasn't the air pollution that we noticed had decreased, but rather, how few vehicles were on the road and how quiet our town had become.

As the pandemic continued to limit activities in other places our town became more and more inundated with visitors in need of a mountain escape.  The traffic increased and, soon, the roads were as packed as they become on Independence Day Weekends.  Before you travel to enjoy Tahoe and a view of our beautiful blue skies take a moment to learn about how to travel safely to and around the basin.

Check out these resouces:
Tahoe Road Trip
Parking In Tahoe
​Winter Driving In Tahoe
​The Dangers of Parking for Snow Play

A fresh snowfall leaves everything blanketed in white.  It is one of the most quiet times to be outdoors.  Walks in the woods, cross country skiing, backcountry tours, and resort adventures are "in."  The forest colors and smells are a little different.  The beaches have a different feel to them.  It can seem like there is endless space for play.  It's just magical.

Now, I have only lived in Tahoe for a dozen or so years, but I have never seen what I have seen this Winter before.  The meadow near my home is a lovely place to enjoy a walk or snow play.  There is a small parking lot nearby that provides all you need including bathrooms and baggies for dog poop.  Instead of accessing these amenities visitors parked on highway shoulder to access the meadow and even created fires which could have easily gotten out of control and put our homes at risk.  Trash from broken sleds, packaging and food was picked up by the pounds.

It's important to look for signage before stopping to take photos, a walk, or play in the snow.  If there isn't a parking lot or sign that indicates you can park, don't do it.  If you don't see a fire pit you probably shouldn't have one.  If there aren't trash cans available be prepared to carry out that which you brought with you.  Look for and read the signs posted.  They are there to help you know how to respect and protect the area.

Living in Tahoe is not easy.  You have to earn the lifestyle.  We pick and choose our days off, where we play, what we do, and who we do it with.  Yes, we have secret stashes and hidden spots.  Sometimes we choose not to go to a place we love because it's better to allow those who can't always get to it to enjoy it.  Timing is everything.  We know exactly where to be, when, so we can experience Bliss.

Leave no trace is an important practice.  Like staying within the ropes at a ski resort or putting away your toys at home; leaving no trace is a way of demonstrating integrity.  Remember those big blue skies and fields of fluffy snow?  You can be the one who let's everyone else enjoy them when you leave no trace. 

It's simple:
-Carry out your stuff (and whatever else you find that doesn't belong)
-Leave stones, sticks, logs, etc. where they are (unless they are dangerous)
-Leave the snow as it was before you arrived
-Clean up after your pet

Bliss can be shared among all of us if we are all considerate of each other wherever we are.  Whether you are enjoying the views, playing in the snow, exploring a new spot, or spending time in your favorite place consider how your behavior could be effecting others.  Can you make the change to have a positive effect?

If you're seeking more information about planning a trip to Tahoe we're here to help.  From experiences to resources and classes to guides our intention is to shared Bliss with you.

​Tahoe is a wonderland.  Every season creates not only beautiful landscapes, but also new opportunities to get outside and play.  For those of us that enjoy playing in the outdoors there are some simple practices we can all engage in to spread cheer all year and everywhere.

In the show “The Crown” the queen educates Margaret Thatcher on proper behavior while stalking a stag.  She mentions the importance of dressing properly, speaking quietly, and avoiding wearing perfumes.  The same is true for spending time outside while visiting Tahoe.

Before heading outdoors consider your clothing; are you dressed practically for the temperature and weather?  Have you dressed up as though going out to dinner or spending time in snow, dirt, and potentially changing weather conditions?  Feel free to skip putting on scents that distract from those naturally occurring in the forest and you’ll be able to enjoy the smells of juniper, ponderosa, and sage.

There are so many magical sounds to hear while you are outside.  From unique birds to the whisper of the wind and the crunch of snow beneath your feet the opportunity to fully experience the outdoors includes listening.

Leave your personal speaker or stereo at home.  If you do choose to listen to music do so with one headphone only.  Not only will you be better able to hear the sounds of the next osprey or eagle that flies overhead, you will also be able to hear other people as they approach you.  

As you travel take notice of the naturally occurring flora and fauna around you.  Banana and orange trees do not grow in Tahoe.  Plastic bottles and wrappings do not grow on any of our plants.

Help to decrease litter in the basin by not only carrying out what you have brought with you, but also by grabbing any trash you find while outdoors.  In addition, leave the outdoors outside.  Building cairns, taking pinecones, or gathering other items from the forest impacts the basin.  Take only photos and leave nature in its place.  Leave the place you visited just as it was before you arrived.

Not all parking areas have parking spaces delineated.  When parking at a trailhead or in a backcountry access area take a moment to consider the shape, how other cars are parked and how your vehicle can fit while taking up the least amount of space.  

It helps to check out the license plates.  Look for a car with local plates and take note of how they parked.  They may know some unspoken rule and following their example is likely a good choice.  Remember to get out of your car cautiously when parking in outdoor access areas and be sure to keep your person, pets, and belongings out of the way of other vehicles.  Be considerate and aware of your surroundings at all times.  Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to turn off the “beep” sound that your car alarm makes when you lock it up.

You are unlikely to be the only person exploring Tahoe’s outdoors.  With every step you take, imagine that you are about to walk into a stranger’s home.  After all, you aren’t in yours anymore. 

​While adventuring into this new territory remember that all of the animals and plants call it home.  Not only are you likely the only animal in the area, you are probably not the only human.  Allow others to enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents.  

Show your respect for the wilderness and it will show you it’s magic

We're always happy to share Bliss with you!  Allow us to be your guides when you visit Tahoe.  Our inside knowledge and connections will make your trip blissful.

Travel might not be in the plans, or the budget, but that doesn't mean you can't have Tahoe while staying home.  Learn more about our virtual experiences.

Many of us are working from home.  With services like Slack, Zoom and Teams making it easy to do our work and connect virtually meetings, training, and team building is changing.

Virtual experiences are customized to meet your needs as a team.  We curate the best providers from Tahoe and beyond to help you to bring your team together no matter where you are.  We organize everything and host your event on our applications.  We can even record your sessions for future use and review.

Traveling is stressful.  The energy, cost, time, and frustration involved in trying to get somewhere can deplete your enthusiasm about where you were headed.  Virtual experiences eliminate travel time allowing you to enjoy experiences from home.  You can even spend time with friends or family who live internationally without the hefty price of an airline ticket.

Set up your lawn chair or hammock and get ready for guided meditation practices, experiential workshops, and engaging activities.  You can practice Yoga along with our guides from your living room, backyard or deck.  We'll create a list of materials you'll need to get creative and even cook along with our providers.

If you're not feeling quite your self, but you still want to join in the fun, a virtual experience is a great way to include everyone with reduced risk.  Virtual experiences can also be recorded and shared later.  Those who are unable to attend in person can watch at a later time.

A wedding video provides you with the opportunity to experience your special day for the rest of your life.  Our Virtual Bliss Experiences allow you to do the same with your bachelorette party, birthday celebration, milestone event, family reunion, and countless other reasons for coming together.   So, even that person who missed out while sick can feel virtually there.

As curators of experiences we have sought out some of the best spots from which to offer our experiences.  We have exclusive access to hidden meadows, cassidyboathouse.com/boathouses and on-water access.  We won't be sticking you in a conference room or office space.  You'll have the best views of Tahoe while you practice, learn and engage with our providers. 

We've become skilled at setting up the perfect shot and know how to adjust our sound and yours to create peaceful practices, engaging conversation, Q & A moments as well as quality workshops and lectures.  Your experience can be adjusted to suit the needs and desires of your group.

Our curators have chosen specific topics, experiences and providers that align with the needs of a variety of organizations and groups.

If you're interests lie in quality time and connecting with others on a more personal level then allows us to honor your requests and create a custom experience.

Ready to experience Virtual Bliss?  Take the next step and request your experience.