“Finding a little respite from the daily grind”…
Glints of sunlight shimmer from the ocean as I drive down Anzac Avenue to Long Reef Golf Club. I park my car, unload my yoga mat and breathe in the fresh sea air. It’s a crisp winter’s morning but the weather is forecasted to be warm and sunny – more like spring. I’m attending my first yoga day-retreat, one that was specially designed for stressed, frazzled, and busy people. I can relate to all three of those things so I signed up as soon I heard about it a few weeks ago. Lucky I did because places filled up very quickly. Gazing at Long Reef beach at the end of another crazy week, it occurs to me how perfect this spot is for yoga. I can already feel my worries lift away a little as I walk towards the retreat space.
I am first greeted by a sitting Buddha adorned with flowers by the door. As I walk in to the venue my eyes are immediately drawn to the large glass doors at the end of the room that frames the ocean and the sky. Francesca, the organiser of this retreat, welcomes me warmly and shows me where to put my things. I quickly realise that I didn’t need to bring my yoga mat – she’s prepared mats, pillows, bolsters and blankets which are artfully placed in a circle in the centre of the room, ten in total, one for each of the attendees today. Our yoga teacher, Rosie Caunt, greets us and invites us to sit and begin our practice.
The Yoga Rest and Restore Day Retreat is the brainchild of two friends and Northern Beaches locals, Francesca Morgante and Rosie Caunt. Francesca is the creator of My Yoga Lifestyle, the online company that designs the annual Yoga and Meditation Diary, and a yoga practitioner for over 10 years. Rosie is a yoga therapist with over 30 years’ experience, offering yoga classes to groups and individual clients in the Northern Beaches . People are drawn to yoga for various reasons but they both found that increasingly, people are seeking stress-relief and snippets of peace from their busy lives. So Rosie and Francesca decided to offer a day of yoga specially designed to relax the body and calm the mind.
Around the room there are people of different experience levels: from first-timers to those with a daily yoga practice. But most fall in between whom, like me, only occasionally practice yoga. What we all have in common however is our wish to find a little respite from the daily grind. The day begins with setting our intentions and breathing practice to the ancient mantra, “Soham”, a healing chant that stills the mind and brings feelings of protection and support from the Universe. Rosie is generous with her knowledge and imparts lessons that are wise and filled with life experiences. This first session is followed by a light and nutritious morning tea which we enjoy in the sunshine by the beach.
For the second session, Rosie leads us in asana practice or yoga postures that are gentle but challenging. Rosie is quick to remind us that today isn’t about range of motion as it is about moving our bodies in ways that allow the mind to settle. She says that when we overthink, our brain is simply doing what it’s supposed to do in order to protect us. We can be kinder to ourselves by letting it do its job, but in ways that are more helpful. Yoga helps unify the mind and the body through movement and breathing, giving ourselves a break from the patterns of thoughts that run our lives. We finish the session with a sitting meditation practice that again, isn’t about forcing the mind to focus but instead allowing it to return to the mantra, “Soham”, when we notice it wandering off. I usually struggle to sit still like this for long periods of time but for some reason today it feels easier.
When it’s time for lunch, we are invited to enjoy a nourishing and delicious vegetarian meal. Some share their meals with fellow yogis in the outdoor seating area while others choose to bring their plates out onto the grassy hill overlooking the water. After enjoying a second serving of the hearty meal, I sit quietly on the grass and watch the paragliders float effortlessly through the blue sky.
Lunch is followed by Yoga Nidra, a practice of deep relaxation by bringing gentle awareness to the body. Rosie’s deep and calming voice guides us expertly as we lay with bolsters supporting our legs, blankets over our bodies and lavender scented pillows over our eyes. I am so relaxed that I start to worry I might fall asleep! But I remember Rosie say earlier that if that’s what my body needs from this practice, then let go and allow it. The whole room is still with only the sounds of the waves and the gentle yoga music in the background. After lying like this for several blissful minutes, we are roused and return to a sitting circle where we revisit our intentions and share our experiences of the day. At the end of the day Francesca gives us the flowers that decorated the room to take home as we leave.
On most Fridays I am slouched at my desk in the office for hours writing emails with my brows furrowed. Although I’m totally engrossed in what I’m doing, I’m not completely present as my mind wanders to the weekend and the deadlines next week. Today however, Rosie and Francesca, with every detail thoughtfully crafted, invite us to be present for ourselves with acceptance and compassion. The one-day Yoga Rest and Restore Retreat delivers on its promise of leaving you feeling relaxed and less-stressed, amidst a tranquil seaside setting.
By Kriscia Tapia – Kriscia attended our very first retreat, she is a professional working mother and loves spending time in nature and with her family.
She kindly wrote this article as a way to show her gratitude and appreciation of her time at our retreat. We are grateful for her offering and giving her time to write this review. Many Thanks.
NAMASTE
To find our more about our next retreats simply click on the following link
REST & RESTOE DAY RETREAT
