Up to four sessions a day of yoga, sound bath meditations, and workshops were facilitated by extremely knowledgeable teachers, and after each session, they were happy to chat with us to share their wisdom and experiences. Apart from yoga, we could go for bushwalks, enjoy a swim in the pool, or use the steam room, enjoy a massage, read a book in the library, or sit and reflect outside staring into the beautiful gardens. Wooden fireplaces in the dining area, the yoga room, the library, and outside (weather permitting), provided the cosiness required on a cool evening. Snuggling up next to the fire whilst enjoying listening to sound bowls playing was certainly one of my highlights.

As a solo traveller, this was the perfect opportunity to meet other people on their journey, many of whom had arrived on their own for the same reason – to unwind, to learn, and to step away from the daily grind. Many of us shared the reasons we had chosen this retreat, and my newfound acquaintances have since turned into friends, exchanging numbers upon departure, and I am looking forward to catching up with them down the track. As I was leaving, rejuvenated and relaxed, the next batch of stressed Sydneysiders had just arrived. I am sure I looked just like them when I arrived!

The teachers and staff of the retreat are very empathetic – meeting every arrival and providing a quick orientation prior to the 4.00pm yoga session (the time the retreat begins). Due to traffic, I missed this yoga session, and without prompting, the staff very thoughtfully offered me a replacement class on the day of my departure. The retreat is also home to a community of volunteers (karmic yogis), who all live and work on site, and who mainly come from overseas. For me it was like reverse travelling – the world came to me! Such a privilege.