These days, we live hectic lives in which technology has clearly surpassed us. If going on a yoga retreat has ever crossed your mind then you may have felt the urge to press the pause button and cut yourself off from all “digital” connections. A yoga retreat offers a unique chance to disconnect, let go and gain a new and balanced perspective. However, the sad fact is that with so many yoga retreats on offer, it is not easy to find something that stands out from the pack. That said, if you are lucky enough to find one with the right crew of organizers and participants, this could be an excellent opportunity to meet inspirational people that you wouldn't otherwise cross paths with in your regular life.
We rarely get
to know the stories behind the organizers of these retreats. Yes, we might read
about their multiple certifications and achievements, but we don’t really know
about their life experiences which, in most cases, are fascinating. Those who
dedicate their time to create these kind of experiences do it for pure pleasure
and are fully engaged in what they do. This is not like working in a bank, and when
reaching a certain point, you ask yourself: How did I get here?
This is an
interview with Nathalie de Haaij, a professional in the communications industry,
who, at one point in her successful career decided to give a “Zen” lifestyle a
try, and went to train as an Ashtanga yoga teacher. Here, she tell us how
she ended up following her heart, which led her to organize retreats in Bali,
and how, on this journey, she met other women with amazing stories just like
hers.
Yoga is my personal journey of self-discovery and I encourage a similar process for my students. Most people have a tendency to start their yoga journey by focusing on the physical benefits because they want to get fit and flexible. Often our egos get in the way and we get competitive with the people around us and even with ourselves. I teach my students, especially those just beginning yoga, the principle of ‘Ahimsa’, which transmits the idea of ‘non-violence’ - being kind to ourselves, and especially to our bodies, when practicing yoga. It is about listening to the subtle changes within us, this means not only our bodies, but also our breath and mind. If it doesn’t feel right, then it is time to stop and take a break. For me, this is the beauty of yoga and why I love teaching it: the ability for us to dig deep and find out what feels right for us at that specific moment in time. We will all have good days, when everything flows, and then some not so good days, when our “monkey mind’ takes over and we cannot concentrate. With regular practice, we begin to learn how to quieten our busy minds. People often forget that yoga is preparation for getting into the state of meditation.
So, after my yoga training in India, I traveled to Bali,
which had always been top of my list of places to visit. The first time I went to
Bali, I treated myself to a Balinese spa. I was so impressed by the whole experience;
I decided to train as a qualified masseuse. I was honored and blessed to be
taught by some of the top masseuses on the island. They showed me the sacred
art of traditional Balinese massage and handed down their expert knowledge of well being. Learning the different bodywork techniques was an incredible
experience. I spent hours every day practicing and perfecting the different
hand strokes under the watchful eye of my strict teachers. For the Balinese
people, wellness is an integral part of their daily lives that has been part of
their culture for 100’s of years. They taught me the importance of using
natural products, such as coconut or almond oil, often scented with essential
oils like invigorating lemongrass or sweet-smelling jasmine, depending on your
mood. They also taught me the importance
of taking a great amount of care to create the most relaxing environment for
the massage so that people can fully immerse themselves into the experience.
For me, Balinese massage is a beautiful sensory ritual and I often describe it
as a dance, where the recipients can completely surrender and let go of their
stress.
As a yoga teacher and masseuse, the ability to channel
negative energy and blockages within peoples’ bodies is a healing gift, and one,
which I’m both grateful and happy to share.
You’ve lived in Bali for extended periods of time on several occasions. What is it about Bali that keeps bringing your back there and making you want to stay?
It is full of traditions and customs that form part
of island’s Hindu heritage. Three times a day, every day, you will witness
offerings of some kind being placed outside peoples’ homes and temples. There
are countless ceremonies for different types of Gods so it is quite normal to
have up to three or four ceremonies a month. Many of these ceremonies are a
feast for the senses, beautiful colorful costumes and headdresses alongside
synchronized traditional dances and music.
I also fell in love with the geography of the island;
its location near the equator accounts for its tropical warm climate and its stunning
landscape of lush rice terraces, palm tree jungles, volcanoes and waterfalls,
and not forgetting its incredible coastlines. For me, it is a true slice of
paradise.
I have now visited and lived in Bali a number of
times and each time I discover something new about the island, its people and its
energy. The Balinese are warm, gentle and welcoming folk and over the years I’ve
been going there I’ve made a handful of close friends that now I call my Bali
family. You can feel the energy on the island, especially during the full moon.
It is hard to describe but you sense there is a feeling of calm and a very
close affinity with nature. It now has become my spiritual home. These are all the wonderful reasons why I
thought Bali would be the perfect location for our new retreat.
We all know that retreats are a great way to escape our busy lives, but personally I wanted to create a retreat that offered more than just a place to disconnect. I wanted to make it highly personalized and inspiring, focusing on a small group of people. We want to really get to know each of our guests and understand what their aspirations are, not only for the retreat but also in life in general. With this knowledge, we want to offer a more tailored service that makes them feel empowered.
As organizers we each have our specialized professional
skills that we will share, whether this is surfing, yoga, wellness or
photography, but we have also traveled and experienced a great deal in our
lives. We want the "Bali Surf, Yoga & Wellness" retreat to be an open and relaxed space where we can connect
as a group - both the guests and the organizers -, share our stories and learn
from one another. Ultimately, our aim is for our guests to leave the retreat
with a new lease of life.
What makes this type of retreat different from other regular holiday packages on offer?
In my personal experience,
there is a real difference between going on a retreat and booking a regular package
holiday. On a retreat you are more
likely to meet like-minded people with common goals. There is more of a sense
of a shared purpose and because of this, I believe you tend to create closer
bonds with the people you meet at retreats. Whilst on a normal holiday, there
is tendency for people to keep themselves to themselves and do their own thing
and generally disengage.
However retreats have a
reputation for being more expensive, and while this is often the case, I think
the end benefits makes the investment very much worthwhile. The main benefits are having a clear focus and
purpose for your time away, forming closer friendships and a partaking in a more
customized experience.
Nowadays, there are so many
different retreats to choose from all over the world. On the whole, each one is
offering pretty much the same kind of program. With this in mind, we wanted to offer
something that was both different and memorable. This retreat will be a unique experience
because as I mentioned before it is tailored for a small group of people (max
of 8 people). It is for both beginner & intermediate surfers looking to
improve their skills. With the information we gather from our guests we will combine
daily surfing guiding sessions (with video coaching) and give them the tools to
excel and take their surfing to the next. Similarly, with the yoga and mediation classes
we will have a good understanding of what level they are at and what they hope to
achieve during the retreat, again focusing on the areas they want to improve.
We will also offer wellness treatments and will educate our guests about the
positive benefits of these treatments. Also, with the healthy food that will be
available, we aim to cater to our guest’s specific dietary requirements and intolerances.
The retreat will be held at the luxurious and tranquil Ombak Villas Bali
accommodation, situated 5-minutes ride from beautiful Balangan beach on the
Bukit peninsula. As part of their stay, guests will be able to explore the island,
but two highlights of their trip will be a visit to the famous Uluwatu temple
for a magical evening of Balinese dance & music, and the opportunity to explore
the spiritual market town of Ubud. To ensure all these memorable moments are
captured, our professional surf & travel photographer will be on hand. She
will also provide a workshop on handy photography tips during our stay. So the real difference is, unlike most Bali packaged holiday, this is a highly-personalized retreat catered to a small intimate group of guests, hosted by a passionate international professional team, a team that is keen to get everyone to connect, share and inspire.
You’re collaborating with other women in this retreat, what can you tell us about them and how these collaborations are important for the event?
I have found that on my travels doing yoga and massage I have met and connected with some incredible, like-minded women. As we often share similar ambitions; we swap stories these and brainstorm about collaborating together. This is how this retreat came about. And it is an exciting collaboration of four inspiring women. All of us have a passion for adventure and the ocean and together we wanted to share what we love and encourage other women to do the same. As a collective we believe that … “Life is for living to our full potential. Through travel we not only discover the world but our true selves. It allows us to find what we are passionate about and inspire people that we meet on the way”
I feel blessed to work with these three women:
Concha Rossler (co- founder of Seasoul Shelter) originates from
Germany, her love of surfing and the ocean is reflected in the fact that she spends
most of the day in the water catching waves. For almost a decade now, she has
been teaching surfers of different levels. She has a number of certificates in
“Outdoor Adventure Management”, “Outdoor Education” and also has a Bachelor
degree (Hons) in “Sports Coaching and Performance”.
Killa Schuetze (co-founder of Seasoul Shelter), has Peruvian roots
and is a passionate sea soul, traveller and photographer. After finishing a
design degree and working in the industry for a few years, she started to let
go and focused on her personal journey to live a more balanced life. Surfing
truly changed her perception of the world, she has now been living in Portugal
for over 10 years, working with Algarve Surf school,
where she was one of the first female surf teachers.
https://www.seasoulshelter.com
Ale Romo (Founder of From Where I’d Rather Be) comes from
Mexico and is a Photographer, Blogger, Surfer, Ocean lover and an avid
Adventurer. After working many years in PR, managing international projects for
Surfrider Foundation Europe; she realized that her place was behind the camera
documenting the good life, surfers and the joys of the ocean. http://www.fromwhereyoudratherbe.com
I think this collaboration will be of great benefit to our guests. Together we bring our own unique professional skills, expertise, personalities and life experiences, but share a common goal of connecting and inspiring the people we meet at our retreats. It is this shared passion that makes this retreat truly unique.
More about the Bali Surf, Yoga & Wellness retreat here
For inquiries and more info write to: info.malekai@gmail.com
