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Find your fl ow
GREAT ESCAPES
Roll out your mat, disconnect from tech and hit pause on your day-to-day life — you can’t beat a yoga retreat when it comes to holidays that cultivate inner peace
WORDS PAUL EWART
Sweat slowly runs down my face and the smell of incense wafting through the air hits my nose. I’ve contorted my body into the most taxing version of Warrior II that I can muster, and my quads are beginning to shake.
You might be one of the many who assume that the practice of yoga is confined solely to a population of young, impossibly flexible, inner-city dwelling, kombucha-drinking, Lululemonclad hipsters. But, when I wipe the sweat from my eyes and look around, I see the full Australian gamut: every age, gender and body type are represented. Clearly, yoga is for everyone.
As of 2016, yoga was ranked as the fastest growing fitness activity in Australia. One in 10 Aussies aged 14 and over now practise it, plus yoga and natural therapies combined are the fourth-fastest growing industry in the world.
Yep, yoga is big business. But then, considering its myriad health benefits (increased flexibility, and decreased stress and anxiety included) it’s not really surprising.
Yoga retreat 101
Use these expert guidelines to help navigate your way to the best yoga retreat for you Think it through
Before you stump up your hardearned cash, think about the level of commitment a retreat can involve. “You want to be experienced enough to know you are fully committed to what might be an intense process,” Power Living founder Duncan Peak says. “It can be exhausting, intense and uncomfortable. It’s an investment.”
Look at your end goal
Think about why you want to do the retreat and your ultimate goal. “There are so many yoga styles and types of retreat that you’ll be spoiled for choice,” Duncan advises.
Research as much as possible
Before signing up, it pays to do a lot of research. This might start at your local yoga studio as many teachers also run their own retreats. “Look for experienced trainers who walk the walk,” Duncan says. “A teacher who inspires you is a good place to start.”
Ask questions
Yogis need to ask plenty of questions — of themselves and to potential retreats: How many students will be on the retreat? What will you learn? What is the commitment involved? “Look at reviews,” Duncan says. “And make sure the retreat and the teacher(s) are properly accredited with an official association or governing body, such as Yoga Australia.”
Then there’s the fact that yoga can be done pretty much anytime, anywhere — especially thanks to the array of online options that have surged as a result of COVID-19-related lockdown. Case in point: Australia’s leading yoga school Power Living pivoted from its usual class schedule and regular retreats in Bali and Byron to live Zoom classes via powerliving.com.au.
“A daily yoga practice — including breathing and meditation — is always important, but even more so when times are tough,” Power Living founder and yoga retreat veteran Duncan Peak says. “And the many online class options have been one of the great innovations out of this crisis.”
Thanks to this yoga revolution — and rise in appetite for all things wellness related — many Aussies are forgoing their annual beach or city break in favour of a more meaningful and transformative yoga retreat.
After months of a harsh Melbourne lockdown I was eager to take my practice away from my laptop, out of my lounge room and into the real world. Cue a decision to enrol in a three-day program at the Byron Yoga Retreat Centre.
With an emphasis on relaxing, rejuvenating and reconnecting with yourself, my intimate group of fellow attendees and I quickly fall into a routine.
Days begin with a pre-dawn walk or morning meditation, followed by a sweaty flow class and a communal breakfast (as you would expect from a yoga retreat it’s all vegie, but yummy nonetheless), and later we dive into more than 5000 years’ worth of yogic philosophy.
Breaking for lunch we have free time to swim in the on-site mineral salt pool, soak up some sun or relax with an Ayurvedic massage, before
YOGA CUCINA TAS
Mozzarella with your mat and pasta with your pincha? If that sounds like the kind of yoga you can get along with, then Yoga Cucina is for you. A wellness getaway concept from a team of experienced yoga instructors and Italian chefs, Cucina is a marriage of wellbeing and delicious food made with the freshest Tasmanian produce. Expect energetic yoga in the morning and finely crafted feasts in the evening, plus a side of guided meditations, pastamaking classes, bushwalking, swimming and wine tasting. yogacucina.com
GWINGANNA LIFESTYLE RETREAT QLD
Set on 200ha of Queensland hinterland, the multi awardwinning health and wellness destination’s regular three-night yoga retreat programs are very popular with serenity seekers. Mornings start with breathing exercises followed by a range of yoga, while afternoons are all about exploring the stunning bushland and experiencing the Spa Sanctuary — aka the largest spa in the southern hemisphere. Here, you can indulge in a tome of spa ritual options, in addition to taking advantage of the complex’s meditation suites. gwinganna.com
BAD YOGI RETREATS NSW
Blending movement, meditation and mindfulness with a sense of pragmatism and realness, Bad Yogi Retreats promises a yoga experience without the fluff. The brainchild of two of Sydney’s most experienced yoga teachers, the retreat’s back-to-basics ethos is pretty simple: no spiritual lingo, no pressure and a “do what makes you feel good” philosophy. Retreats follow a structure of twice daily yoga and meditation paired with a dose of adventure, be it hiking or swimming. badyogiretreats.com
we return to ongoing wellness seminars, more yoga and then dinner.
Days are capped with a guided meditation or relaxing yoga Nidra session, which prepares the body for an evening of deep slumber.
By the end of the program I felt lighter, brighter and full of energy. And though not an intentional outcome, the schedule also means that I’m able to unplug from tech, allowing me to focus on my inner connection, rather than a Wi-Fi one.
“Yoga retreats create a safe place away from demands of everyday life where you can just focus on yourself,” Duncan says. “I try to do at least one personal retreat annually to give myself time to reflect, get some distance from my life, and come back with a new perspective. Also, hanging out with a community that share your values inspires the mind and warms the soul.”
For me, it was a journey of self-discovery. Dedicating hours on the mat meant my own practice came on in leaps and bounds. Plus,
Byron Yoga Retreat Centre
in this era of isolation and social distancing, connecting — not just with others, but with yourself — offers more of a recharge than a week spent poolside in some tropical location ever could.
BYRON YOGA RETREAT CENTRE NSW
For contemporary yogis looking to achieve some internal equilibrium, you can’t go past the Byron Yoga Centre. Operating for more than 30 years, the institution runs regular retreats over three, five and eight-day programs. A typical schedule includes twice daily classes, meditation, massage and workshops, covering everything from philosophy to mindfulness. A tonic for the body and soul, all abilities are catered for, so anyone can get their downward facing dog fix. byronyoga.com
