Following on from my last blog I thought I would share some of my experiences as well as my students and friends experiences of going on an actual retreat.
Many people often ask me for recommendations on yoga retreats therefore I hope these stories will inspire you to take some time out as well as use the opportunity to travel and see the world.
Finally it is my hope to organise and run a retreat in the near future so keep me posted with your thoughts and ideas for the type of retreat you are looking for and I hope to make the dream a reality very soon!
Silent Meditation Retreat in the UK
As mentioned in my last blog post I have been on a few silent retreats in the past. A silent retreat is a great way to take a break from ‘noise’. I refer to noise as anything from physically speaking and interacting with people as well as the visual noise we are constantly absorbing from advertising, social media and other outlets.
Also when you attend a silent retreat the ‘noise’ of your own mental chatter becomes clear and apparent. With the use of breathing and meditation techniques you can also work on silencing the mind to move into a space of deep peace.
The silent retreat I attend is organised by the Self Realisation Fellowship and you can find further details here http://www.srf-london.org.uk/retreats/
Obviously this is quite an intense experience and I would suggest this retreat for those who are regular yoga and meditation practitioners.
Yoga Retreat in Wales
By Hannah Durling
What is the name of the yoga retreat you attended?
Zest Yoga, August 2015
Where is the yoga retreat?
Anglesey, Wales
Why did you attend a yoga retreat?
It was my first retreat and I had nothing planned for the bank holiday weekend. I wanted to try something new which was why I chose the wild swimming and yoga retreat. As I was going alone and somewhere I had never been before I wanted a trip where there was plenty to do.
What did you do on the retreat?
We had one teacher throughout the trip teaching yoga twice a day and three people taking us on daily wild swimming excursions, one at sea and the other at lakes in Snowdonia.
How long was the retreat?
Three nights and four days
What did you gain from going on a yoga retreat?
I got to practice yoga in a beautiful location surrounded by woodland and fields away from the mayhem of London and I also met like minded people.
Who organised the retreat?
I booked directly through Zest Yoga. Laura is the teacher, organiser and she cooks all the healthy yummy food.
What type of food was offered?
Full vegetarian menu for breakfast, a picnic lunch whilst out swimming and dinner around the table with the group in the cottage.
What other activities did you take part in on the retreat?
Wild swimming, walks in the grounds as they are so beautiful and a masseuse came to the cottage daily.
What was your overall experience of the retreat?
Well worth it, it has encouraged me to book more retreats and a great place to meet people and make new friends. The teacher Laura is inspirational, she broke her back years ago and yoga has not only been part of her physio but now a way of life.
Would you go on a yoga retreat again?
Definitely!
Yoga Retreat in India
By Hannah Durling
What is the name of the yoga retreat you attended?
Bamboo Yoga, March 2016
Where is the yoga retreat?
Goa, Patnem Beach
Why did you attend a yoga retreat?
To relax, practice yoga, improve my technique, enjoy the sunshine and experience a new culture.
What did you do on the retreat?
There was a variety of yoga including; Ashtanga, Hatha, sun salutation, slow flow and restorative as well as meditation and workshops to improve specific areas such as back bends. There were four teachers throughout the time I was there who all had different specialities. I also got to sleep in my very own eco-friendly beach hut looking out onto the sea.
How long was the retreat?
I choose to go for two weeks because it was a long haul flight and I had time to explore Goa, but you can choose however many days you want on the yoga holiday.
What did you gain from going on a yoga retreat?
More yoga than I would ever be able to do in a week at home which led to increased flexibility. Also the Shalas looked out onto the sea which provided a relaxing environment and I also got the benefit of a good tan and got to eat lots of curry!
Who organised the retreat?
I booked directly through the bamboo yoga website.
What type of food was offered?
Full vegetarian menu which included a fruit breakfast, a veggi brunch at 11am as well as herbal tea and biscuits. If you choose the specific dates when the retreats are on a vegetarian dinner is also included.
What other activities did you take part in on the retreat?
We took a boat out to see wild dolphins, visited an organic spice farm and went swimming in the waterfalls as well as lots of shopping and Ayuredic massage treatments.
What was your overall experience of the retreat?
Amazing trip for some well-deserved me time.
Would you go on a yoga retreat again?
Definitely!
Yoga Retreat in Thailand
By Esha Harji
Whilst in India with my husband and his family, I decided that I would like to spend some time at a yoga retreat. My husband who has never really practiced yoga (except a few stretches and breathing exercises I had taught him) was willing to spend some time at a retreat with me. Although at the time I think he may have been more interested in just tagging along and seeing what it was all about, but not necessarily fully participating. I was concerned as to whether he would enjoy the experience however as he was willing to try it out so I went ahead with researching various retreats in India.
India felt like the right place to find a good retreat. It is the spiritual home of yoga and I was already there and had been there for the last two months. I looked around and the most impressive retreats were incredibly expensive. I was worried that the more budget options wouldn’t satisfy my normal range of comfort (i.e. cleanliness, air conditioning etc). I suppose I was being quite fussy about an experience that was meant to be more about tuning into my inner spiritual being than modern comforts. But I justified this to myself; it was my first time spending a number of days at a retreat. I’d also been out of yoga for some time and it may be tough on my body. So having a decent bathroom, air conditioning and a clean room was crucial. India being India, I knew that all these things would not be a given.
Something else I was looking for (starting to sound demanding here) was to be somewhere where I could also be with nature. I’ve always found the beauty of nature awesome and for me being in a place of natural beauty seems to automatically make me feel more spiritual. The beauty makes me gawp at the magnificence of a higher being or creator.
There were many different retreats I scanned through. Some in the mountains some by the sea. I couldn’t quite find one that ticked all the boxes. So I started to look at options in Thailand as that was to be our next stop. And there it was…. Vikasa yoga retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand.
We reached there on a rainy day, but we were refreshed by our greeting of fresh coconut water and the magnificent view of waves crashing against the rocks. The rooms were small and basic but comfortable enough. I was excited by the timetable… 3-4 different classes a day. The variety was great; Ashtanga, Hatha, flow, yin, pilates and a range of evening meditation classes including gong, candle gazing and singing bowls. The classes had descriptions of the intensity levels and most classes were suitable for all levels. I was a little worried that I would fall behind, however not everyone there was experienced at yoga and some of the teachers would give up to three variations of poses to support the different abilities.
I also really liked that the retreat yoga mats we used had to be cleaned with antibacterial spray bottles and wipes… so you never got a sweaty mat! They also provided insect repellent so we could spritz ourselves to keep the mosies at bay.
The 7am two hour classes were tough but it was easy to get into. The class included a warm up, pranayama, flow yoga and a relaxation. This was a great energising way to start the day. Also being able to hear the ocean crashing against the rocks as you sit in a pose or in relaxation was a real treat! Then you really felt that you had earned the delicious and healthy buffet brunch provided. There was always a lot of variety and something different every day. Fresh vegetable juice, porridge, chia pudding, fruit, eggs, seeded bread and sometimes vegan pancakes! You could also take your time to eat slowly whilst enjoying the ocean views. The dinners were equally pleasing.
I would typically go to two or three classes a day. In between there was time to swim, read or take a nap. It felt good to be in a routine. I’m sure my body thanked me for it. I liked that I could pick and choose what I wanted to do. There was no pressure and if I didn’t feel like doing the class that was absolutely fine. This worked out well for my husband as he did not always want to go to every class. He was happy with one to two classes a day. And by the way he enjoyed it. He felt inspired by our small community of yogis and actually enjoyed the healthy vegetarian food. He did not miss meat one bit! He is now trying to eat better and has found a new love for muesli!
Overall it was a wonderful experience… next time India… perhaps…?
Many thanks to Hannah and Esha for sharing their stories here. If you feel inspired to go on a yoga retreat then go for it! It will give you the opportunity to travel and see the world as well as connect to yourself in a deeper way.
Have you been on a yoga retreat? If so I would love to hear your story in the comments below. Sharing your story will also inspire those who may want, need or feel to go on a retreat too.
Please also share this blog with anyone you know who may be interested in going on a retreat.
Much love,
Jaina
