Reflections
on meditation and yoga

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…

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.

Not all meditation retreats are the same. Learn what to look for in a retreat, how to choose the right teacher, and what factors matter most when selecting a meditation retreat in New Zealand.

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.

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’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.

Susan’s account of attending a 10 day silent meditation retreat in the Himalayas, India.

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