Yogi dreams do come true as Yovada announces the winners of its first wellness yoga retreat giveaway. The promotion served as means to introduce Yovada to the yoga travel community and launch Yovada Life, the online publication focusing on health, wellness, yoga, and travel.

Winner of the $500 Yovada.com voucher is Deanna Dzybon from Winston-Salem North Carolina.

Deanna Dzybon from Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Deanna is a yoga guide, inline holistic coach and nature lover who has been practicing yoga for 12 years, and sharing her love with others through teaching yoga for 4 years. Her advice for people just starting to practice? “Find what works for you and your body and be kind to yourself in your thoughts, words and actions. Smile!”

The North Carolina yogini found yoga through her lifelong love affair with movement. She plans to spend her Yovada wellness retreat voucher on “a much needed relaxation retreat to reconnect with myself.”

Winner of the $1000 Yovada.com voucher is Barbora Plzakova from Melbourne, Australia.

Barbora Plzakova from Melbourne, Australia

Barbora is a yogini, wellness dork, and a traveller.  She has been practicing yoga for 11 years, and teaching for 5.

The Czech Republic native came across yoga initially out of curiosity. “I was always drawn to personal/spiritual growth and I kept looking for something as a teenager but didn’t really know what it was. I do wish I discovered yoga much much earlier – it would have helped me get through those tough teen years,” she says.

Yoga started to change Barbora’s life after she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training.

“On the personal level it helped me become in touch with myself, gain confidence, trust myself, and fight anxiety. Yoga helps me stay strong and healthy – both physically and mentally.”

Given the chance, Barbora would love to practice with Tara Stiles, Rachel Brathen, or Kathryn Budig. “These amazing women have inspired me over the years and I am grateful for how they influenced modern yoga.”

Her advice to students just starting with their yoga journey: “Be open-minded, patient, and try not to have expectations. The first few classes are always the toughest ones. It gets better with time. Don’t compare yourself to others and embrace your own journey. Listen to your body and stay connected to your breath.”

Barbora is planning to use her Yovada.com retreat voucher to embark on a romantic honeymoon with her husband-to-be.

“When we created the giveaway we were looking for a way to build and engage the community. We’re happy to be able to share this platform with others, and to see their dreams come true,” said co-founder David Lertsin.

About Yovada

Yovada is the leading booking platform for the global wellness, spa and yoga activity travel market. Yovada helps users find, compare and book the right experience for them whilst giving hotels and organizers the marketing tools to reach its audience to book wellness and yoga activities worldwide. Features of the Yovada site include live availability with direct booking, and instant updates on rates, deals and availability through a proprietary mobile app for partners.

Yovada prides itself on the sites form, function and design like no other platform of its kind. Combining technology with intuitive design, organizers can enroll for free and get their events out to the world. Yovada pushes the boundaries in the existing industry while demonstrating excellence on every level.