Last month I hosted my second of two yoga retreats for the year in magical Woody Point – a quaint community located amidst the mountains in the stunning Gros Morne National Park.  Year after year, these weekends have proven to be wonderfully energizing yet restorative experiences in one of the most beautiful places on the island.  Call me biased, but I truly believe the gift of a yoga retreat is one of the ultimate self-care practices one can do for themselves.  It provides the opportunity to escape the day to day grind and truly focus on what matters most – YOU!

You may have heard the phrase “you cannot pour from an empty cup”.  A yoga retreat – whether it is for a day, a week, a month or more – provides the opportunity for focused self-care with individuals who hold similar values and come together for the purpose of filling up their metaphorical cup.  It is so important.  A retreat also allows students to create space to do the things they love the most; to experience freedom from their daily responsibilities and routines and to simply be.  Yoga retreats create an immersive experience for students to truly leave as much of life’s chaos and stressors behind and help restore those feelings of peace, freedom, joy and ease. 

I have often said that it is difficult to capture the magic of Woody Point in a single photo.  I truly believe that Woody Point is best described as a feeling that you have to experience for yourself.  There is something so wonderfully peaceful and inspiring with time spent in a small waterfront community surrounded by the ocean, mountains and incredibly dramatic skies.  You can’t help but lean into the slower pace of life which provides the perfect setting to disconnect from the day to day rush and (re)connect with yourself. 

Imagine a weekend where the only decisions you’ll have to make are what pair of yoga pants you’ll put on for the day and whether you would prefer to spend your free time curled up reading in your bed, wandering the town or sitting outside with your journal and a hot cup of coffee.  Blissful, right?  Next, picture a weekend full of mindful movement, lots of laughter, delicious food and most importantly – connection.  Retreat weekends not only provide the opportunity for connection with like-minded individuals, but also connection with yourself, your values and with what brings you joy.

One of my favourite things about hosting retreats is bringing students together to enjoy all of that mindfulness, laughter, nature, great food, coffee and wine.  I love the energy that retreats tend to create and I truly enjoy seeing visible signs of stress, tension and fatigue be replaced with genuine expressions of peace, bliss, happiness and joy over the course of the weekend.  

As I reflect on past retreats that I have been so fortunate to host over the last few years, I am looking forward to attending a retreat weekend of my own as a student later this month and I am also dreaming of the upcoming 2022 retreat season.  If you have ever attended a retreat or are curious about joining one in the future, I would love to hear from you!

Take good care and I hope to see you on the mat soon,

Megan