Interview by Milda Urban, Summersalt Yoga finder

We’re so happy to welcome back the incredible SUP yoga teacher Rosie Markwick to our Summersalt for the 2 weeks of SUP yoga retreats in summer 2020. Besides the exciting classes on paddleboards, Rosie offers so much more – her deep knowledge of the practice, the inward journey and finding your own true voice. Enjoy this wonderful interview and come and meet Rosie this summer on our beautiful island!

Why and when did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

For a long time I didn’t think I would embark on a yoga teacher training, I loved the practice personally and I loved being a part of the yoga community where I lived but I sort of had this idea that it was something I wanted to ‘keep for myself’. As a psychologist and a natural ‘giver’ in lots of parts of my life I think I had this belief that yoga was going to be the one thing I would hold as a ‘me’ thing. Of course things change and I believe that most people, after they have been practicing for a while, crave a deepening of the vast study of yoga. A yoga teacher training is a great way to do this. I had also been called on in my work to teach morning classes to my colleagues and so in some ways the role of the teacher chose me as opposed to the other way round.

At a transitional time in my own life I found myself in Bali early 2016 where I embarked on an intense and deeply transformational personal development course (that happened to also be a yoga teacher training  ) and before I knew what was happening I had cultivated a deep knowing that I wanted to share some of what I had experienced with others. Roll on a really magical few years, a lot more trainings and countless humans met, taught and practiced with. I couldn’t have made a better non-decision decision I think! I will always think of myself as student first and teacher second and believe that this practice is meant to be shared. It seems funny that I would have once thought that teaching yoga would be anything other than a hugely rewarding and energetically giving experience. Now I believe it is me time, you time and us time!

What do you enjoy most about teaching yoga?

I love seeing the moment, or moments, when students realize how good it can feel to be really in your own body. For many of us we are lead to believe it’s not a place where joy, peace, love etc. can all be found and our default is to distract ourselves, allow our thoughts to take us somewhere else or even assume there is something wrong with us. Yoga, bodywork, getting outside, physical adventures are all incredible tools to explore what it is like to really be in your body. And the journey to embodiment really is a beautiful one to witness.

Potentially even more so though, I love the chats! Sounds odd perhaps, but teaching yoga means I get to have all these incredible interactions with incredible humans all day every day. Sometimes the chats are long, deep, sometimes quick, sometimes light, and at times they are heavy. And I love them all! Little moments of honest connection is probably what I enjoy most about teaching yoga.

Name your personal favorite benefits of yoga?

1. Refined Intuition. Yoga really helps me find a greater trust in my physical body and enables me to really listen and tune into my energetic body. Typically it is our thoughts that get in the way of our intuition (sure there is a quote in there somewhere?!) and so by honing these other parts of ourselves, just like we learn and feed the mind, we are able to drop more easily into that intuitive, deeply wise space that exists within all of us already.
2. Stronger core, stronger power center! I am a bit of a pelvic stability / core geek, I believe it is central for injury healing and prevention as well as improved posture, digestion and balance (to name just a few). In my own yoga practice I have seen big changes to my overall physical strength and have been able to heal old injuries through finding and maintaining a deeper connection to the core. And to take things off the mat and board, it was when working with the core in my own yoga and SUP practice that I began to notice shifts in my ability to live more fully in my power centre as well. Win win!
3. Authentic Living. My yoga practice gently challenges me to ‘meet’ myself. To get to know more about my body, find my edges, my resistance, to notice where I hold limits about what I can and can’t do to find my comfort zone and learn what I like am out of it. This regular check-in inspires me to get real, to get comfortable with my strengths and my vulnerabilities and keeps me on track in the pursuit of living a life authentic to me.

Do you have any advice for new yoga students and why they should not be afraid to start practicing?

Just start! There is nothing like the beginning and it is a place to be inspired within and not afraid of. If you need a more personal motivation – when I first began practicing, years of running meant that I couldn’t sit with my legs crossed as the teacher kept asking for, let alone touch my toes! The early yoga practice I think is fast and slow, all at once.

But I assure you before you know it the body will open a little, and even sooner than that you will notice how you can step away from the ‘you’ of your mind and find a little space between the thoughts. Find a teacher that you resonate with and that you trust and makes it feel like being with a good friend and most of all always hold true this simple truth; Yoga is for every single body.

Why do you think participating in a yoga retreat is a good experience?

Well firstly I think there are the more obvious reasons; you get to be somewhere most likely very beautiful, you get to have exciting, interesting experiences in that beautiful place and those experiences will make you feel really good!

On a practical level, retreats are a great way to deepen your yoga practice, the transformation that can be achieved through practicing up to twice a day everyday are huge. Even just a week on retreat has the potential to really up level your practice. So it is great if you are looking to depend your knowledge in this space.

Space I think is also a word that comes up a lot when I think about retreats. We give ourselves this space that might not normally be experienced in our day to day. Even with a schedule of yoga classes, adventurous activities, outdoor pursuits and all the other great things you get to fill your day with, a retreat really offers a (week-long) moment of space. Space out of our everyday lives to check in, take stock, figure out where we are at, perhaps become inspired again as to where we really want to go. Like a little roadside pit stop! And to continue the metaphor…

Think of it like this; on a yoga retreat the vehicle might be yoga, but the fuel is the environment, the steering wheel the sunshine, the windows are salty ocean swims and the seat-belts are the new friends and big chats. And the road is, well still the road. Only here you get to remember that it is your road, and there is a beautiful chance to pause and look at the map. All in a week!

Balance between healthy, “yogi” living and enjoying, indulging in life’s pleasures is often questioned by many. How do you think it’s best to reach that balance?

This is a really interesting one! And something that is certainly a continuity learning each day for me. But I think this is exactly how we should think of this concept. Balance to me is a choice, and one that can be made moment to moment. It is not something we acquire and then try to maintain.

Adding the wellness world here makes it extra interesting because so often we are told that the more exercise, the more green juice, the more yoga the better. And to a degree this is true. Having said that, this shouldn’t be at the risk of balance. In fact too much energy into our wellness routines can lead to injury and over stress on the body, not to mention the mental stress that can incur then when we miss a session of a tightly held routine. Too little, yes of course we won’t see development but too much and we run risk of overdoing it. What was once a positive intention becoming detrimental.

One of my favorite mantras to live by is… ‘follow your delight’. This derives from a concept called The Joy Current and this idea that one of the surefire ways for living happily and healthily is to find and follow what brings us deep, true, honest joy. Much easier said than done arguably and a practice in its own right. Complement this with the choice piece I mentioned above and these make my personal tools for reaching and continually choosing to be in balance. When I am truthful about what brings me joy I acknowledge that it is a beautiful mix of wellness, exercise, paddling, yoga, discipline as well as freedom, indulgence, rest and banana bread! And so in following all of these things I make a choice each day to be in balance.
To finish up this quote sums this idea of balance, choice and joy up perfectly;

‘If we do not push ourselves enough we do not grow, but if we push ourselves too much we regress. What is enough will change depending on where we are and what we are doing. In that sense, the present moment is always some kind of beginning.’ (Sakyong Mipham)

The post Our teacher Rosie: yoga practice gently challenges me to ‘meet’ myself appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

Why and when did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

When I started to steadily practice yoga I felt the most beautiful and unexpected changes in my mind and heart. I knew that this practice was changing my life, and I needed to learn more, so I signed up for teacher training in 2013. I didn’t go into the training thinking that I would teach – I simply wanted to deepen my knowledge and practice. During my teacher training, I felt immense connection and gratitude to the other students and teachers, to my mind and body, and to the ancient tradition. As we supported each other and shared conversation and discussion, I also became very aware of how much the practice had also benefited the lives of others. When I started practice teaching, I realized how rewarding it was to guide people to let go, tap into their inner wisdom, and be present. I’ve never been a comfortable public speaker, so this was something I definitely had to overcome. But sharing this practice is really something that comes from my heart, so though at first, I was very nervous, I learned to release that fear J I decided to start teaching shortly after completing the training because I knew the transformative potential of yoga and I wanted to share that with others. I feel honored to teach this practice and the gifts of self-acceptance, ease, and intuition that it can cultivate within our hearts and minds.

What do you enjoy most about teaching yoga? 

I genuinely love sharing something that has been such a positive influence in my own life! I love the community that naturally develops from regularly sharing a space with others, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect to each and every beautiful and bright soul. I truly feel the mind-body-spirit connection that this practice fosters, and from experience know that it can facilitate an incredible journey of self-discovery. It brings me joy to hold space, guide students into stillness, help them reflect and hear the whispers of their heart.  I love to see the changes both in my students and myself as we progress on our individual journeys. One of the greatest aspects of teaching yoga is the awareness of how much my students are teaching me. Teaching has opened something inside of me – I’ve grown immeasurably as a person, and have learned so much about myself by sharing this practice.

What are the biggest yoga benefits to you personally?

I can’t say enough good things about how yoga has benefited me personally, but everything points back to personal growth.

– Breathing: the connection to my breath, and my ability to use my breath as an anchor to steady and center myself. I can always come back to it in any situation and use it to control and unite my mind, body, and heart.

– Authenticity: being able to silence the inner critic and expectations of others, tap into my intuitive wisdom, and hear my truth. I’ve gotten to know myself through the self-study inherent in the practice and find it easier to make decisions that reflect my values and guide me towards living my best life. Yoga reminds me to live fully in the present, regardless of what arises.

– Body intelligence and self-confidence: I’ve experienced increased confidence through strength gained from my practice, watching my growth and my journey as I’m able to move into poses that I didn’t have the core stability to hold before, or that perhaps made me anxious (deep heart-openers!). I’ve gained body awareness, and a desire to take care of my health – both physical and mental.

Once I started on this journey and tasted the changes that it brought, there was no going back.

Yoga has helped me to live a more authentic, passionate, and peaceful life. I have learned tools that help me to ride the waves of life with more grace, wisdom, and acceptance – the lessons learned on the mat during practice definitely carry off the mat into my life.

Do you have any advice for new yoga students and why they should not be afraid to start practicing?

I’ll start with one of my favorite quotes about yoga:

“Yoga is a journey of the self, through the self, to the self” – The Bhagavad Gita.

None of this implies physical strength or abilities, but will instead occur through witnessing and connecting to your breath, and the gentle opening of your mind and heart. New students should never be afraid to start practicing – the hardest part is just finding the courage or desire to show up! Who you are and where you are at is already enough. Everyone practices for their own reason, and they’re focused on their own practice, and their own journey. If you are able to breathe, you are able to practice yoga J

My advice is to just get there! Find a style, a studio, and teacher that feels right to you – you will know pretty quickly if they don’t. Explore the journey one day at a time, and allow it to unfold. Trust yourself. And if it doesn’t feel right, don’t force it – yoga will find its way into your life if and when you need it.

What changes do you notice in students after some time practicing yoga?  

Increased concentration, flexibility, strength, acceptance, and well-being are some of the major changes. I sometimes see the removal or healing of emotional, mental, or physical blocks with time. I notice students who initially have difficulty finding stillness or comfort in Savasana will over time find comfort with themselves and look forward to this silence. I see increased body intelligence and confidence as students find and play their edges. They are able to settle into stillness much quicker, often settling into meditation and tuning into their breath as soon as they arrive, before class starts. As their practice progresses, students learn to honor their bodies and energy levels, meeting themselves where they’re at that day for poses where modifications or different levels of challenge are offered. I always feel good if someone feels comfortable enough to take Child’s Pose instead of the pose I’m offering, or instead of taking Child’s Pose as they normally would, feel ready to challenge themselves to try a new pose.

Why do you think participating in a yoga retreat is a good experience?

Being away at a yoga retreat gives us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in a different space for a while, removing distractions and responsibilities like work, school, family and social obligations. I think of it as a much-needed pause from day-to-day life, which can sometimes be very fast-paced and overwhelming. Taking a week to focus on yourself and your own wellness is self-care. By hitting pause and breathing deeply, there is healing that can occur simply by taking time to process and feel. Spiritual growth, new friendships, self-confidence, and joy are also great side effects of retreats and travel

Do you have any examples of how to find the balance between living a healthy life, but still indulging in life’s pleasures?

Yes, balance is so necessary in life to avoid burnout and fill our own cups!

I’ve learned to reward myself for effort, not outcome. Like having a celebratory mimosa and delicious brunch after finishing my first half-marathon (regardless of my race time)!

I try to eat healthy 70-80% of the time, but realize if I deprive myself and don’t indulge sometimes I’m missing out on some of the joys in life, and setting unrealistic expectations that I can’t possibly meet. I’ve also learned to not feel guilty about slowing down in life and savoring the moment, not needing to be busy or always doing something. I allow myself to sit down in the sunshine, read a book and enjoy the view, or close my eyes and nap in the warmth. I like to set goals to give myself direction and purpose, but I also want to be present, enjoy the little things, and celebrate life!

The post Our teacher Sarah: Once I started on this journey, there was no going back appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Leah Sugerman, Summersalt yoga teacher

Yoga, above all else, is a practice of balance: a balance between effort and ease, a balance between strength and flexibility, a balance between power and surrender, a balance between yin and yang, and a balance between practice and theory. So, above all else, my classes manifest as practices of balance.

Yes, sometimes that means balancing in Tree Pose but, more often than not, that means balancing internally. My classes focus on balancing energy centers and chakras, balancing thoughts, balancing temperaments, balancing breath, balancing reactions, balancing physically but, mostly, balancing mentally.

My teachings and my practice are both firmly rooted in a balance or at least striving toward equanimity. Meditation and the physical asana practice both emphasize this balance in many different ways.

My meditation teachings are simple and open-ended. I invite my students to explore the inner workings of their own minds, to become observers of their thoughts and thought patterns to be able to more clearly see how their minds work. This simple understanding can lead to infinite possibilities, allowing for both control and surrender over the power of the mind, which, in turn, creates a more balanced relationship with oneself.

My asana classes focus equally on balance. I do offer many balancing asanas (as most yoga classes do) to build strength, power, and, of course, balance in the physical body. But these physical changes manifest and grow into emotional and spiritual balance in many different ways as well, whether we recognize that or not. Tiffany Cruikshank eloquently expresses this transition and transformation from the physical to the mental practice: “Yoga is a powerful vehicle for change. As you build strength, you start to believe in your own potential.”

My teachings are very precise. I carefully instruct the alignment of the body to promote a healthy physical practice and I continuously invite my students to explore beyond the physical, noticing how their minds may react to a certain posture (or a certain hold of a posture) or how their breath fluctuates throughout their practice. I invite my students to work toward equanimity on all accounts in their movements, their breath, and their thoughts: striving toward a greater sense of overall balance.

Balancing the seven major chakras of the body is a great way to move toward physical, mental, and emotional equilibrium. The seven major chakras are energy centers that travel from the base of the spine up through the crown of the head that is said to harness and contain all the significant energy of the physical, mental and spiritual bodies of a person. These centers each represent a different physical part of the human anatomy that, in turn, correlates to a different emotional and/or spiritual part of a person’s being. Imbalances, blocks, or hyperactivity in any of these major chakras are said to completely imbalance and destabilize a person.

What better way to spend a week-long retreat (in paradise, by the way!) than focusing on these energy centers, striving to balance these seven whirling vortexes of energy to bring balance and peace into your life?

Each day we will examine a different center, both meditating upon this area (and its respective color, mantra, symbol, meaning, representation, manifestation, and sound) as well as physically practicing asana that correlates to the specific epicenter that we’re working with.

The balance of these chakra centers is crucial to finding balance both on and off the mat, so we will work to target these areas with playful asana and in-depth breathing and meditation techniques.

Every morning we’ll begin our journey through the seven chakras with a deeply restorative and peace-invoking meditation practice. Using different techniques and practices, we’ll each adapt our meditation practice to find one that suits all of our own individual needs.

We’ll then spend some time working with different pranayama (or breath work) practices to ignite our inner fires or to soothe our tired bodies and minds, depending on what we may need in that moment.

From here, we’ll move on to the physical practice of asana, playfully syncing movement with breath while carefully aligning our bodies to blossom in each posture in our own individual manifestations of these delicate and graceful poses. A vigorous (but accessible) Vinyasa Flow class will awaken our bodies and minds each morning as we journey up the spine to explore our chakras filled with different energies and power.

Each evening, we will join together in a deeply restorative Yin practice to relieve tired muscles, restore fatigued minds, and rejuvenate as a whole.

With the specialized practice of working with different chakras in each practice, we will have the opportunity to explore and awaken our Kundalini spirit, allowing energy to flow freely throughout our bodies, spirits and minds as we connect to our highest selves.

The practice of both yoga and meditation are practices of balance that are continuously evolving. As we work with these different techniques, we are all striving toward the same goal: finding balance within and without. Energizing, awakening and clearing the channels of the seven major chakras will help us to move toward greater balance in our bodies, minds and souls. I hope that you will join us on an in-depth journey through the seven chakras and across the depths of our souls in a playful and explorative retreat as we release stagnant energy and awaken the dormant all to find a greater sense of overall wellbeing and balance.

The post Yoga: A Practice of Balance appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

By Rosie Markwick, Summersalt Yoga teacher

SUP yoga is a fairly new craze that is hitting the US, Asia and slowly creeping its way over to European shores.

It is essentially yoga on a paddle board. That’s right – a yoga class on a large, 10ft long floating platform in the middle of the water.

Sound bonkers? It does a little yes. As SUP teacher often the first question I get is; really you do yoga on that? On the water? IS that even possible?

The answer is YES YES YES!

Stand up paddle boarding is currently the world’s fastest growing water sport and has been established in the last 5 years especially, as a fun and accessible way to get fit and spend some time on the water.

So perhaps it isn’t surprising that SUP related activities are popping up left right and centre. SUP touring, SUP racing, SUP surfing, SUP fit, SUP angling (for reals) and SUP yoga. Turns out there are lots of things you can do on a paddle board in addition to standing and paddling.

My own discovery was random and brilliant and the love affair that took my practise and teaching out to the water was fast and furious. I remember my first ever SUP class coming to a close and feeling so present, focused, strong and deeply relaxed. And on top of this it was almost as if my body and subsequently mind had fused and blended with the environment, no longer separate entities. Wholeness in its complete form. It was, magic.

Needless to same I am a convert. Having said that I am aware it is still a relatively lesser known practice and so we thought it would be helpful to compile a few of the reasons you might want to give SUP yoga a go this year…

CORE CORE CORE! I cannot stress this enough, SUP yoga is amazing for developing stability and strength in the core. And stability and strength in the core = injury prevention, spinal health, self-confidence, finding your centre… and the list goes on and on.

Essentially akin to being on a floating Pilates plate the balance required means that you have to activate the core just to stay on the board. SUP yoga will help you to connect to this part of the body like no other. And because the core isn’t just activated with repetitive movement here but the entire time i.e. you breathe whilst it is activated, it is a real game changer for improving strength and balance. You will leave the board feeling stronger and more stable in your mat practice and beyond.

The 2^nd chakra, Svadhisthana is located in the pelvic area. And the element associated with this chakra? WATER. When I first started practicing and teaching SUP yoga I realised I was really drawn to poses that got deep into the hips and legs – lizard lunges, pigeon, half hanumanasana, even full splits (side note: the latter is not a pose I am normally drawn to AT ALL) After a bit of exploring it appeared that students typically also felt more openness in these shapes when on the water. It’s a bit of a theory of my own but I believe there is something about being on the water, the element of Svadhisthana, that inspires the body to move as the water does – fluidly, thus mirroring the element of the chakra and promoting a depth in the related body parts that might not be so easily reached on land.

When you practise SUP yoga you get to be outside. Take your practise out of the confines of a studio and the sky becomes your ceiling, the water your ground and the air / sun / rain / wind your walls. There is just something about water that is so good for us humans and now the science is backing this up as well. Research has shown that being on, near and in water has been found to release Serotonin and Relaxin. The hormones associated with happiness and relaxing. How delightful! Nature is SO good for the soul and trust me floating away during savasana out on the big blue is reason enough alone to try SUP yoga.

I have taught SUP on lagoons in Indonesia where sea turtles come and say hello and canals in east London (no sea turtles but a lot of ‘urban charm’). The environment changes but a few things remain the same; we are outside, learning to let the water hold us, allowing ourselves to wobble (inevitable), to fall (highly likely) and then to get back up again. The ego literally gets washed away (pun intended) during SUP yoga whether you like it or not and the best thing you can do is laugh, clamber back aboard and keep on trying – now what a lesson for life that is.

Plus it will make you feel a bit like a mermaid for a morning and who doesn’t want a bit of that.

The post What is this SUP yoga thing? appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

Why and when did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

I came to yoga from a dance background, and had been a dance teacher for a while. I was first drawn in for the physical benefits of gaining more strength and flexibility, but when I realised how much calm it brought into my life, I knew this was something I wanted to share. As I had been teaching movement for a long time, I knew I would love teaching yoga, so I went to India to complete my 200 hour teacher training in vinyasa and ashtanga yoga.

What do you enjoy most about teaching yoga?

I love that I’m able to encourage my students to explore not only what their bodies can do, but how they can be the best versions of themselves. It is not about teaching people how to make perfect shapes with their bodies, but how they can do things that make them feel good, both on and off the yoga mat.

Name the top 3-4 benefits of yoga to you personally?

One of the main benefits for me has been how it has shaped my mindset. I’ve always been a positive person, but yoga constantly reminds me that happiness is our true nature, and it always guides me towards that state of mind. It has also brought such a feeling of calm into my life.

Living in a busy city like London can be stressful and yoga reminds you to be present and live in the now, rather than the past or the future. I’ve also always had a big passion for self-development, and yoga continues to teach me things about myself, and reminds me to always be open to personal growth.

I’ve realised that all the benefits I’ve mentioned so far are mental benefits, but there are plenty of obvious physical benefits! One of the main ones for me is that I’ve built a lot of strength through yoga. Yoga has the power to help you build strength in such a graceful way, and it can make you feel so light, and as if you are floating. What once took so much effort eventually becomes more effortless with practice, and that is such an amazing feeling!

Do you have any advice for new yoga students and why they should not be afraid to start practicing?

Yoga is for everybody! The young, the old, the flexible, the inflexible. The most common excuse people give me is that they are not flexible enough to do yoga. But this is in fact the reason to start! If someone is dirty we tell them to take a bath, so if you’re inflexible you should do yoga, it’s pretty much the same thing

What changes do you notice students after some time practicing yoga?

The obvious changes are increased flexibility and strength. But the more exciting ones that I often see are people being in a better mood, feeling less stressed, having more love for themselves and their bodies. Basically people seem to be happier after they do yoga. If this isn’t a good enough reason to start, I don’t know what is!

Why do you think participating in a yoga retreat is a good experience?

I’ve been on a yoga retreat myself and it is the perfect way to give yourself some time to recharge and reset the mind and the body. Imagine how much you need a week of mindfully moving the body, eating delicious healthy food, and being surrounded by amazing people. You come back home with a refreshed attitude, and a feeling for what’s really important in your life.

The post Our teacher Sabi: yoga constantly reminds me that happiness is our true nature appeared first on Summersalt Yoga Retreats.

This summer our team has welcomed two yoga teachers. One of them is the smiling Rosie Moreton from New Zealand. She’s a teacher, a Thai massage therapist and a happy soul who we’re happy to have! 

Rosie will be teaching at Summer Yoga retreats this June and oh summer – can you come fast enough? 

Why and when did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

I never really decided to become a yoga teacher, it was just a series of fortunate events and a matter of following my nose towards the things that make me happy. I was working on yoga retreats doing work exchange and volunteering around Europe, and I just met a series of inspirational people who taught me a lot, and I learnt a lot about yoga, and I knew I wanted to learn more. I wasn’t even sure if I would teach from there, or if it was just for me, but now its both. 

What do you enjoy most about teaching yoga?

I love seeing the difference in a person between arriving at the mat, and leaving it. I also love to see the difference between arriving at a retreat and when they leave. This practice, on and off the mat, can change your life, if you are open to it.

What are the biggest yoga benefits to you personally?

Strength – I think physical strength makes me feel more emotionally and mentally capable.

Stress Response – I think learning how to breathe properly has changed my response to stress. I used to get all tied up in knots in stressful situations but yoga teaches me to stop, take a deep breath, and respond rationally and efficiently. Proper breathing has changed my body’s biomechanics and taught me a healthy way to deal with stress. Rather than getting sucked down into an anxious state, I can rise to the challenge of a stressful situation.

Noticing the little things – I find I am much more aware and I am constantly noticing little coincidences, that I think about people and then they turn up in my life somehow, I see patterns in my life, I see little connections between people, I can read people a little better and trust my intuition. These are the things you start to notice when you drop your guard and start to trust the process.

Body Awareness – I feel I am much more in touch with my body and when it is trying to send me signals. And it’s a work in progress – I still ignore those signals sometimes! But I am always reminded that my body is my temple and I have to honour it and listen to it, and that if I treat it well, it will treat me well. We are one and the same.

Do you have any advice for new yoga students and why they should not be afraid to start practicing?

The hardest thing is getting to your mat! I like to joke about setting your expectations very low, just lying down on your mat, and once you’re there you will probably do at least 10 minutes, and a little is better than nothing. Also, don’t be scared to attend a class. You will find that everyone is so involved in themselves that they don’t even notice what you’re doing.

What changes do you notice in students after some time practicing yoga?

Something I have noticed more and more is a students ability to let go and surrender to the things they cannot control. People start practicing yoga and they buy all the yoga clothes and the fancy mat, and they want to know when they will be able to touch their toes, they fidget through all the restorative poses, and they leave in the middle of savasana because they have places to go and things to do. Over time, as a teacher I can see them physically relax as soon as they arrive on their mat, they become much more curious about their body rather than demanding of it, and they surrender to the experience rather than thinking about what comes next. This is something that can be applied to everything in life. Its a beautiful thing to see, and I think sometimes its much easier for a teacher or a friend to see this gradual change than for the student to see it in themselves.

Why do you think participating in a yoga retreat is a good experience?

I think its such a wonderful way to immerse yourself fully in your yoga practice. So many people I have taught on retreats are curious about yoga and maybe do a class every week, but giving yourself the gift of a full week is the best way to fully experience the benefits of regular yoga, maybe kickstart a life-long practice, and also meet lots of interesting people from all walks of life. I always say that a group of people on retreat are brought together for a specific reason, and its always so interesting seeing the relationships and connections that develop over the week.

Do you have any times on how to find a balance between living a healthy life, but still indulging in life’s pleasures?

This is my motto in life. I am all about the balance. I believe that a yoga retreat should not be all about cutting out all of life’s little indulgences. If we spend a week practicing yoga and being 100% pure and virtuous, of course we will feel physically good, but we will leave that space and go home and its impossible to maintain that kind of lifestyle, so I think a yoga retreat should be about cultivating balance – practicing yoga, drinking wine, laughing with good people, learning about a new culture, and bringing more colour into our lives, rather than stripping it away. A balanced life is so much more than just eating well and moving our bodies. Then we go home and we don’t beat ourselves up about living a life full of exciting and unpredictable things. Sure, sometimes we need to take a break from the indulgences, and sometimes we need to visit an ashram and be devoted to a certain way of life, but my kind of yoga retreat is about learning how to live more fully. I think there is no need to leave your full life to go to a cave and meditate – becoming aware of your actions, your intentions and your habits are much more challenging in this time, and we can only learn this when interaction with the world and its all temptations.

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With our 2017 yoga retreats coming up we are very excited to re-introduce our lovely yoga teacher Vanessa Fleming. We’ve asked her a few questions to get to know her better!

Why and when did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

I’ve always been connected to movement, but I was very disconnected from my mind. I suffered and struggled with anxiety and depression most of my life, and it was starting to overtake me. My doctor prescribed yoga.

I started going, and it was very difficult. But, I didn’t want to half-ass it. I didn’t want to find the easy way out. It was the first time I showed up to something and found myself taking a journey inward to get to the bottom of why something was difficult. And then one day, after a few years of practicing, I felt myself crying on my mat, because I was connecting to something deep inside of me, something I had pressed down over and over again. I had awakened something in me, and it was then that I knew, I wanted to share this with others. Yoga had brought me out of a very dark place many times over, and I wanted to share that and do my part to help others connect with themselves.

What do you enjoy most about teaching yoga?

My students. The “aha” moments that I see them have. The questions they ask, and the bond that we create. When they come up to me after class and tell me what they experienced, or they learned something new, or something finally “clicked” for them…that’s what makes it worth it.

Name the top 3-4 benefits of yoga to you personally? 

The deeper I get into my practice, the more in tune with my body, the universe, and my being I become. Physically, I’m stronger and healthier. Mentally, I have more clarity. I’m far more conscious of the decisions I make, whether it’s what I consume, who I surround myself with, and the like. Those are my top reasons.

Do you have any advice for new yoga students and why they should not be afraid to start practicing?

For someone who is new to the asana (physical) practice and might be a little scared to approach for any particular reason, the most important (and hardest) part is showing up. Once you’re on your mat, you are on your way. Still not convinced? Think about the last selfless thing you did, or the smile you gave to a stranger…guess what. That’s yogic. So you’ve already started the journey, and that counts tremendously.

What changes do you notice students after some time practicing yoga? (physical, mental, spiritual – any)

The “shift.” Certainly the physical aspects are there…more strength and flexibility. But what I start to notice with students is how they start to become more connected with their own bodies, and start to really understand how they work, especially in conjunction with the strength, and using the breath. Most people don’t realize they know how to breathe until attention is paid to it. Sounds silly, because we all have to breathe to live, but most of us are just breathing enough to physically stay alive. When students start to take the journey into breath exploration and control, all kinds of changes start to develop.

Why do you think participating in a yoga retreat is a good experience?

A yoga retreat provides special attention and immersion that a classroom doesn’t  always provide. A classroom allows you to practice and learn, but a retreat allows you to connect with others, go deeper on a physical and spiritual level, and it shuts out the “noise.” A classroom is usually a break for an hour or two from your normal busy life. A retreat starts to pave the way to really let go towards serenity. Environmental factors are a big part of the journey. Immersing with nature, like-minded souls, and the energetic space and place to transcend are what retreats are all about.

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Why and when did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

About seven years ago, I first came to yoga as a means to heal an injury and I was quickly transformed by the practice far beyond the physical benefits. I felt so deeply impacted by yoga that I decided I wanted to share the practice with others so that they might have similar experiences to mine. It has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

What do you enjoy most about teaching yoga?

I love to witness the transformation, in any form. I love watching a formerly inflexible student touch their toes! I love watching a student who has recently experienced a great loss feel the cathartic release of the practice. I love experiencing the transformation inside myself as my students affect me much more than they could even realize.

Name the top 3-4 benefits of yoga to you personally

Personally, yoga has changed my life in many ways. Since I have started practicing, I have become a calmer and much more centered person. Little things no longer get to me and I can withstand greater things with more ease because of what my practice has taught me. My practice has also greatly increased my self-awareness. Not only physically, but mentally as well. I am much more in tune with my body and my emotions. I feel that yoga introduced me to my own inner being. Yoga has also created counter effects within me. The practice has both greatly increased my confidence while simultaneously humbling me. That is what is so special about yoga. As I built strength and awareness in my practice, I began to believe in my own potential. But as I built strength and awareness in my practice, I was also knocked down more times than I can count. I learned that the journey is the practice, not the end results. I learned to have humility and confidence at the same time. A practice that I try to apply to my daily life. So finally, yoga has changed my outlook on the world. I live my life a little bit different each day as I grow and learn in my personal practice. Each lesson learned on my mat translates to a million different scenarios in my everyday life and I am eternally grateful for all that it has taught me.

Do you have any advice for new yoga students and why they should not be afraid to start practicing?

Yoga is not scary! It is a practice solely of the mind. If you can breath, you can practice yoga, all the rest is just circus tricks.

In all seriousness, the physical practice is quite simple. All you do is make shapes with your body. And if one shape feels wrong, then it is wrong for your body. So don’t do it! Do what feels good in your body. And over time, as you build strength and flexibility, more and more poses will feel good in your body. And you can take all the time in the world to reach that place. Most people never do. And that is totally fine. The practice of yoga is reflecting about how your mind reacts to the body’s movements. And that is all. THAT is what yoga is. So if you can tune in to your mind, then you are more than capable of practicing yoga. And enjoying it!

What changes do you notice in students after some time practicing yoga?

Many physical and many mental changes seem to occur after practicing yoga for some time. The body begins to gain strength as the muscles simultaneously elongate and relax creating a greater flexibility through the body. Internally, people seem to find greater self-awareness. Emotionally, people relax deeply and seem to live life in the present moment. It is a beautiful and transformative practice.

Why do you think participating in a yoga retreat is a good experience?

I think a yoga retreat is the perfect setting to remove all distractions so that you can completely focus entirely on your practice. It is a luxury that we often cannot afford in our daily lives, so this isolation allows us to retreat deeper within ourselves. I think it is the perfect setting for both beginners and advanced practitioners to deepen their practice while enjoying travel and relaxation and adventure all mixed into one!

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