Treat yourself and a loved one to a yoga and meditation retreat, and receive 5% off your booking
Just enter promo code FRIEND at checkout when booking 2+ spots on any retreat

Share the love – 5% discount – enter promo code FRIEND at checkout when booking 2+ spots on any retreat.

Yoga at Its Source: My Ashram Experience in India

What happens when you spend ten days living in a traditional yoga ashram in the sweltering heat of South India?

There’s 6am meditation, chanting, two yoga sessions a day, karma yoga and philosophy — along with 37° heat, sleeping on two mattresses, a skinny little cat to feed and a troop of monkeys who have somehow turned the dining hall into a giant human cage.

I’ve been returning to Sivananda ashrams for more than 20 years, ever since my first teacher training in India in 2002. This time has reminded me again why I keep coming back — for the yoga, the simplicity, the people, the humour and that mysterious quality of India that is impossible to quite put into words.

Come inside the ashram with me…

Can a Meditation App Really Teach You to Meditate?

Can a Meditation App Really Teach You to Meditate? Yes – and no. A meditation app can be a very good place to start. You can explore different teachers and methods, try a short meditation without making a big commitment, and build a regular habit in the middle of a busy life. But learning meditation […]

Are meditation retreats worth it?

For many people, a meditation retreat becomes a turning point in their relationship with meditation. Not because they learn a secret technique, but because a retreat provides something that’s very difficult to create in everyday life: uninterrupted time, expert guidance and an environment that supports genuine learning.

I’ve Never Been On A Meditation Retreat Before — What Should I Expect?

man meditating

Many people arrive at their first meditation retreat feeling curious, excited, and a little nervous. If you’re wondering what actually happens on retreat, whether you’ll fit in, or if meditation is something you can learn, this article will help. Discover what to expect from a meditation and yoga retreat and why so many people find the experience deeply restorative and life-changing.

The Pull to Open Spaces

After a tumultuous first 3 months of the year I find myself at the beach in Kaikoura. Miles from the mountains and desert of Wanaka I find myself on the edge of the island between new mountains and the big wide open ocean. The ocean! Such a treat to see the ocean. Such a treat. […]

India – Inner peace, outwards chaos

I’ve just spent 6 weeks of high-speed, low speed journeying across the north of India. India, the land of the big full-on. Meditation retreats and hiking in the Himalaya were some of the highlights.

Meditation for beginners

What exactly is meditation?
What are the benefits?
Is it for me and how do I start meditation as a beginner?