046: How To Travel For Free: The Ins and Outs of Work Trade Opportunities with Erica Hartnick of Yoga Trade

Have you ever wondered how you can combine your passion for yoga, wellness, and travel into a sustainable lifestyle? In this episode of the Transform with Travel podcast, I sit down with Erica Hartnick, founder of Yoga Trade, to discuss her inspiring journey and offer invaluable insights into the world of mindful traveling, seasonal work, and the vibrant global wellness community. Erica Hartnick is described as a connection catalyst and mindful adventurer, who grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California but now splits her time between Lake Tahoe and Costa Rica. With a life devoted to exploration, Erica facilitates nature-inspired yoga and mindful experiences. She co-founded Yoga Trade in 2012, driven by her devotion to regenerative living and connecting the global wellness community. We dive into Erica's journey, asking what about the practice of yoga led her to pursue a full-time career in the industry. Erica shares her path from being a mountain athlete to deeply immersing herself in yoga due to injuries. She explains that Yoga Trade was born out of a genuine desire to give back and a passion project without a formal business plan. This authentic sense of wanting to serve the world laid the foundation for Yoga Trade. The conversation transitions to the seasonal lifestyle that Erica has embraced. After college, Erica initially pursued a business career but quickly shifted to seasonal mountain jobs to fuel her passion for skiing and snowboarding. Over time, she developed a pattern of working in winter and summer jobs, and traveling for short periods during spring and fall. Erica reflects on how this lifestyle led to burnout and the realization that she longed for a stable community and purposeful life. We also discuss the profound impact of nature on one's well-being and the importance of mindful travel. Erica shares her belief that being in nature helps clear the mind, open the heart, and connect with the source of life. She speaks about the concept of leaving no trace and treading lightly on the earth. Erica emphasizes the need for awareness, non-judgment, and personal responsibility when traveling. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Meet Erica Hartnick of Yoga Trade 02:53 Erica's Yoga Journey and the Birth of Yoga Trade 04:24 Seasonal Work and Personal Growth 10:30 Advice for Aspiring Seasonal Workers 15:22 The Story Behind Yoga Trade 28:21 Favorite Work Trade Experiences 31:51 The Importance of Nature and Mindful Travel 38:11 Closing Thoughts and Rapid Fire Questions Resources in this episode: Episode 38: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4i3nOURhsh2EhnGnCWXvCq?si=qegyb60pTOObI3dqyjFIgw Connect with Erica Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogatrade / https://www.instagram.com/tahoeoutdooryoga/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaTrade https://www.yogatrade.com https://www.ericahartnick.com Connect with me Follow the Podcast on IG: http://www.instagram.com/transformwithtravel Follow Kelly Tolliday on IG: http://www.instagram.com/kelly.tolliday Transform With Travel Website: https://www.transformwithtravel.co Thanks To Our Sponsor: Anatomie: Head to Anatomie’s Website for more information. Use Code RISING20 for 20% off your first annual subscription. Follow Anatomie on Instagram at @anatomiestyle Website: https://transform-with-travel.captivate.fm/anatomie Byte & Coffee: Check out Byte & Coffee for delicious Aussie coffee located in Lighthouse Point, Florida. Mention TRANSFORM WITH TRAVEL at checkout for 10% off your order. Follow Byte on Instagram at @bytencoffee Website: https://transform-with-travel.captivate.fm/byteandcoffee