I’ve been strangely flooded with random images of Sicily as we come up on the 1-year anniversary of our trip there. I’ve been seeing vivid images of different vistas, ocean scenes, people and I’ve actually been getting some of the tastes showing up in my mouth. I’ve never had this happen to me before. I’m not exactly sure why it’s happening but as I have been thinking about the trip it has left me with a huge desire to travel again. We do have some upcoming trips – back to Costa Rica in December and then we will be leading 2 yoga retreats in Lucca Italy next year- but planning a trip to a completely new place is exhilarating. When we left Sicily, we both said that we had spent enough time there and were satisfied but a part of me feels a need to go back. Anyway, I say all of this because the episode today features Madeline Jhawar. She started a company called Italy Beyond the Obvious and helps people plan their trip to Italy. I’m not 100% of the exact events as to how we found her but she was a majorly huge help in our travel plans. She will plan your whole trip or help you plan with really great guidance. I think at some point we will do an episode about our trip to Sicily because it was a pretty epic adventure for us but for now, we can learn about Madeline and her company. Make sure to also find her here on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest:Facebook @italybeyondtheobviousInstagram @italybeyondtheobviousPinterest Italy Beyond The Obvious

Om Travelers

Episode 14- Madeline Jhawar

This episode is a little longer than some of the others but every minute is worth it. John Timmerman and Lyndsay Dillon started a blue jean company based on the shapes of fit bodies. As someone who goes to CrossFit classes 6-7 days a week, I can speak to the struggle to find pants in general but more so jeans that fit the right way. Well folks, this problem has been solved. 2 people with no background in the clothing industry aside from wearing clothes started this awesome company. From design, to R&D to doing the distressing live in front of their customers, these two bust their butts. It’s a really great story what brought them together to what they have created with this business. They both work other full time jobs so their extra minutes are spent ordering material, fulfilling clients orders and getting their apparel packaged and ready to ship.Find them @jaxonjovie and www.jjforthepeople.com

Episode 13- John Timmerman & Lyndsay Dillon

The first episode of what is now season 2 of Om Travelers is with the awesome LaJuan White. LaJuan is the principal of Lincoln Middle School in Syracuse. She is also a licensed funeral director and awesome person. She is a native of Brooklyn and made her way to Syracuse, NY a few years ago and instantly starting changing the lives of her students and the greater community.

Episode 12- LaJuan White

When I was in my twenties my mind was not focused on creating my own business. Looking back, I wish it had been but that's what hindsight does to you. Dan was chasing a dream of playing professional hockey when one day he realized that wasn't what he wanted. Through conversations with his friends, some supportive, many not, he decided that hats a t-shirts were where his future was. He has created a lifestyle brand that aligns with his idea of a life well lived. Check him out at www.seaculturebrand.com, on Instagram @seaculturebrand and Facebook.com/seaculturebrand. The company was formerly know as Leeway Clothing but that has recently changed and been rebranded. Its an impressive story that I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

Episode 11- Dan Tagliamonte

There are not many people that I have met in my life with a spirit and personality as big as Ashley Cox. She always greats you with a smile and genuinely cares about how you are doing. If you saw her every day, I am pretty sure you would never know when she was having a bad one. We sat down at Roji Tea Lounge in Syracuse and she shared her passion for music, her daughter and a career path that has always involved performing at some level. Check her out on Instagram @ashleycoxmusic and @professionalvictims. Her website is www.professionalvictims.com. Make sure to check them out at a show near you. Enjoy Ashleys story and as always make sure to give us a review on iTunes.

Episode 10- Ashley Cox

Ed's life, like many of ours, was often relatively unhealthy through out his younger years. He was a high level baseball player through out his teens and college years and attended college on a baseball scholarship. After one too many injuries, he left his bat and ball on the field and returned home to Pompey NY where is began working for his fathers construction company. After years of eating poorly and drinking too frequently Ed decided it was time for a change. He and his now wife gathered their belongings and headed down south. Ed started walking, then running, then riding. With each step out the door his distances became longer and his desire to not only help himself but also those around become healthier increased. Today Ed's job is to make people fit and live a healthy happy life. His business, Ultimate Health and Performance is transforming peoples lives. Enjoy his story and to find out more visit www.ultimate-health.net.

Episode 9- Ed Ten Eyck

Aliza and Derek come from pretty different backgrounds. Alize was born, raised and settled in Syracuse, NY. Derek is a native Brooklynite who has had various jobs all over the country. One common theme throughout their lives was their interest in technology and the way that ever changing world impacts everyone's daily lives. Throughout the course of their careers they have both seen the impact that the work environment can have on a persons happiness across all aspects of their world. Together they started Spark Orange in an effort to bridge the technology gap and also create a really cool place for their employees to come and work.

Episode 8- Derek Vargas & Aliza Seeber

Owning your own clothing store has always seemed to me to be one of the coolest things you could do! For my personality though, it has always seemed to risky to even begin to think about. I am a baby! Where to begin? It seems that is where all of my bright ideas begin and end. For Cliff Carey, where to begin leads to a stream of ideas and avenues on how to make things happen. Cliff isn’t from Syracuse but he believes in what our community stands for like he was a life long soul from here. After finding success in the hearing industry he walked away and started America Reserve Clothing. Initially as an online retailer and most recently as a stake holder in the Armory Square section of downtown Syracuse. If you haven’t been in, you need to stop by and at the very least say hello. He has stories to tell and you for sure will walk away inspired.

Episode 7- Cliff Carey

What if every pedal stroke was a dime that could help someone else? This is the way that Tim O’Sheas life functions. While he was out during a long-distance bike ride, he started thinking of ways that his passion for riding and running could somehow benefit others. From here a few close friends and he devised a plan to climb as many high peaks in the Adirondack Park as he could in 24 hours. About a year later, he rode his bike in -4-degree weather to Lake Placid, NY, then climbed Mt Marcy where it was -30 degrees all for a few brothers he had met one time at a bike race a year prior.Tims mind is busy but not in the scheming kind of way. He is constantly scheming on ways that he can involve himself in things that make his life more fun and more interesting, not necessarily in ways that will make him rich. From turning his love of running and biking in to a very successful coaching business, to creating energy bars for his athletes and nor everyone. My biggest takeaway from Tim is that he finds ways to help others through his passions. It isn’t always easy but he keeps formulating a way and his end result is doing good for our community.

Episode 6- Tim O'Shea

Inka is from Finland. Born and raised. She is what you envision- blond hair, fair skin and blue or green eyes. According to her, that’s the norm. Her story becomes very different from the norm after losing a job she loved while living in China. Her story takes her to Bali, Peru, back home to Finland, Guatemala and finally to Blue Osa in Costa Rica where we met her.Her Dharma is to share love and light through yoga and she lives her life always finding her highest excitement. She feels that if people don't live their life at their highest excitement, illness and unhappiness will manifest in their lives. 

Episode 5- Inka Tuononen

Todays episode is a very special one to me since it’s a bonus episode and recap of our recent yoga retreat to Blue Osa in Costa Rica. This was a special 10 days for Tiffany and I mostly because she and I led the retreat together and we had 36 amazing people around us sharing in the experience and emotions of the week. For some it was a healing time, for others it was a break from the regularities of life and a chance to find some peace. For some others it was just a chance to see a beautiful country and also mix in some yoga postures. All that mattered was that they were there.This episode we talk about why people choose yoga and yoga retreats and what their experience was.

Episode 4- Blue Osa Retreat Recap

Prior to having Kens name given to me, I had never heard of him. That’s because Ken is one of the many people in our lives doing good and living a positive life quietly. From the daily mandala on his website paired with an inspirational quote to his work supporting the arts in our community for both kids and adults. We spend time today talking about happiness, what it takes to live a happy life and also making an effort to enhance the lives of those around us. In my personal opinion, his greatest act is the scholarship of sorts that he has personally started to support the artists at Liverpool High school.

Episode 3- Ken Nichols

Eric has been known in the fitness community in upstate NY for many years now. He is an Ironman, CrossFitter, runner, biker and behind all of that a very accomplished businessman. Most people only know parts of Eric's story and although we don’t cover him cover to cover today, he does offer a lot of information about his path to following his dreams and continually creating the life that he see’s as his dream.

Episode 2- Eric Hinman

Joe Altier aka Just Joe, sits down to discuss where his music comes from, the path that he took to follow his dreams and where he see's his future.

Episode 1- Just Joe

Om Travelers brings the good that surrounds all of us to the front of your attention. Meet amazing, inspirational people who are chasing their dreams, helping others and inspiring those around us. The good in life can be found right under our noses brought to you by the person right next to you. Help us share the love and turn the tide on negativity that is so easily found in our world today.

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