THE INVALUABLE BENEFITS OF
DOING A YIN YOGA RETREAT
If there’s one thing we can be quite good at, it’s making excuses.
However, our mental and physical health need to be treated with the utmost attention and as top priorities.
You might practise yin yoga and see its benefits translate into your daily life. Heading on a yin retreat is a fantastic way of not only unplugging from the everyday, but taking your practice to another level. Plenty of other inconspicuous yet invaluable benefits also unveil themselves along the way.
In August, Yoga High is thrilled to be hosting its fifth annual Yin Winter Wellness Retreat. Held at Hepburn Springs’ historic Continental House (affectionately known as ‘The Conti’) the verdure of the surrounding bushland gifts a serene setting for a long weekend of holistic recalibration. Of mind, body, spirit and soul.
“At the retreat, it’s all about slowing down. We reconnect with ourselves and with others,” says Anne Marie Riego, who spearheads the retreat with fellow Yoga High co-founder and husband, Mic Williams. “It’s about breaking those city shackles,” she says.
“Breathwork, meditation, yoga, sound healing and more. There is of course a fair amount of structure to each day, but there are times that we can be a little freer in what we do, too.”
“The yin retreat is for everyone. A beautiful mix of people join us – they could be training for a sporting event, injured, a parent, professional or a business owner.”
And most importantly, a yin retreat can accommodate to all levels of practice. “In yin, we hold postures for up to five minutes. Sometimes seven. That’s done to really release, create more fluidity in the body and create a better ability to perform in everyday life.”
If you’ve been eyeing a yin retreat, here’s why you should consider joining in.
- The opportunity to deepen your practice
Regardless of whether you are a yoga beginner or have been practising for years, a retreat allows you to challenge yourself in ways you might not tend to at home. Having the support of an expert instructor, 24/7, unlocks space to further the areas of your practice you’ve been wanting to.
- Going beyond the yoga class
The Yin Winter Wellness Retreat extends far beyond the yoga element.
Morning meditation and breathwork set the tone for days filled with both challenge and relaxation. People will also acquaint – or better familiarise – themselves with the power of sound healing, during daily sound baths led by Mic. Sound healing is a glorious form of musical therapy, designed to assist people in unwinding.
“Mic has an extensive musical background. He went to the VCA to dabble in opera, which means he brings a uniqueness to his sound baths, in how he plays the bowls and uses his voice.”
- The power of changing scenery
Research says you don’t necessarily need to go on a lengthy, five-week holiday to feel relaxed. Even a weekend away can be highly impactful.
Hepburn Springs calls for time spent outside. During the yin retreat, that comes in the form of long forest walks and an icy cold plunge in Daylesford Lake. A visit to the nearby Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa tops the itinerary, dedicated to healing bodies in the earth’s natural gifts.
As for The Conti itself, the incense will be burning and the fireplace lit. The accommodation is peppered with plenty of nooks to curl up with a book, meditate, have a drink or a chat all backdropped by bushland, birdsong and curious kangaroos.
- Fostering new connections
A change of scenery comes with meeting new people – in this case, like minds with similar interests. You may even spark the start of a new friendship.
A retreat also offers the chance to chat with people outside of your usual context, which can prove surprisingly refreshing – even if you think you don’t need any more friends.
One more essential thing to note – the food. The power of breaking bread is not to be underestimated. It’s that much stronger when food is cooked together, as it is during the retreat. Cooking together is a pure way to bond, and of course comes with a side of laughs when done in a group. Visitors to The Conti also have the pleasure of its abundant herb and vegetable garden to pick produce from.
- Taking what you’ve learnt home
This is undeniably the most impactful factor. Without even realising, you might be in a routine hindering your wellbeing.
Attending a retreat can be an antidote in breaking away from that routine, the rat race, the stresses we’re embroiled with. It’s a chance to unstick and create space. Even better, the chance to set a new routine upon the return home.
This could look like a few things – like starting to incorporate meditation into your day or making more mindful food choices. The beauty is, all of this is within your power, underpinned by new knowledge and experiences.
If you’d like more information on Yoga High’s Yin Winter Wellness Retreat, head here