It is slavery to live in the mind unless it has become part of the body – Kahlil Gibran

What is so special about going on retreat?

The word retreat gives you an inkling of what is all about. To retreat; to move back, to step back. It gives you a space in which to step away from the usual and observe. Far away from everyday demands of family and work, and with no domestic or social duties to perform we can listen, feel and see with sparkling clarity.

You may be thinking “I go to yoga class to stretch and strengthen, to breathe and chill out and I'm happy with that. I’m not seeking anything more.” No drama! That’s exactly the way I started and I confess it's only over the last few years that I am ready and willing to delve deeper. The physical (asana) part of yoga brings many fantastic benefits and on its’ own is enough to bring plenty of positive change. But do you notice how yoga class affects more than just your body? So often, new students report with great excitement and pride how good they are feeling since they started yoga. Life is a little easier. Let’s call it beginner’s yoga luck. Then after a while the initial flush of insights slow down and change happens more gradually. This is the point where many people stop doing yoga and turn their attention to some appealing new activity. It’s like the flush of new love, the high of those golden months when the new lover can do no wrong and you feel fantastic! We all know that sooner or later the gold begins to tarnish and then you either look for a new piece of gold OR the polishing must begin.

Would you like to be less of a slave to your habits of mind?

For an instant I am absent, myself and my problems, my anxieties, my troubles; nothing but this wonder exists – Krishnamurti

We have all experienced moments of wonder that Krishnamurti speaks of, and it is these moments that the path of yoga is leading us towards. Moments of ease and peace. MORE moments of ease and peace. Moments when the small self is silent and we are free from petty desire, delusion, fear and suffering. Not something outside of our self but that which we already have and is patiently waiting to be uncovered. (In a yoga pantomime the audience would all call out, “IT’S INSIDE YOU!”)

It has always puzzled me as to why it is that humans seem to be hardwired towards making life so damned difficult. Beating ourselves up, judging, criticising and constantly trying to become what we are not. At our winter solstice celebration listening to everyone talk about what they were ready to let go of, it was so evident that we all suffer from very similar unhealthy patterns. Why have we evolved in such a way? Why have we been given such an incredible intellect when it so often turns against us? I don’t have an answer for this, or so many questions, BUT, dear reader, I am happy and willing to keep inquiring as best I can, and I hope that you continue to join me on this journey…