Have you ever experienced a really amazing moment in your life and wondered how you got so lucky to be able to have something so wonderful?
That's how I feel as I look back at this yoga retreat in Ibiza. It was by pure chance that I met Sophie, the woman I partnered up with to make this retreat happen, and it worked out perfectly. The people we welcomed to our Spanish finca venue were funny, and kind and full of love. I honestly feel like I've made friends in new parts of the world, and feel so honored to have been a part of this week.
While I enjoyed an afternoon at the beach, spent a little time by the pool and got to watch a gorgeous sunset over Es Vedra rock, I mostly tried to stay on top of my work. I was here to teach, and I put a lot of thought and energy into prepping my classes, wanting to deliver memorable, unique yoga practices with teachings that would translate into life off the yoga mat. I wanted each class to build upon each other and focus on different things. We started each morning with a different meditations and breathing classes, and I was so thankful to be with people with such open minds, willing to try anything - even Lion's Breath, which is where you cross your eyes, stick your tongue out and make a HAAAA sound. Then we'd have an asana class, followed by breakfast, free time, lunch and an evening asana class before dinner. If you're interested, this was the yoga program:
Day of arrival: Evening yoga flow class with the intention to stretch and lengthen after a day of travel.
Day 2: Music meditation and ujjayi breath pranayama, Groove power yoga with a focus on alignment, and an evening arm balance workshop.
Day 3: Aum meditation and full yogic breath and nadi sohana pranayama, followed by groove power yoga heart opening back bending flow. In the evening, a gentle restorative yoga with props.
Day 4: Breath awareness meditation and sheetkari pranayama followed by a groove power flow with a focus on binds. In the evening, a yin yoga class - super, super slow and restorative.
Day 5: Silent meditation and pranayama with kapalabhati followed by a power inversions class. In the evening, a gentle blindfolded yoga class.
Day 6: Lion's breath pranayama and meditation followed by a vinyasa class with balancing focus. In the evening, a gentle yoga class ending in a deep guided meditation of yoga nidra.
I had a lot of fun designing the yoga program, and am looking forward to tweaking a few things to make future similar classes even better.
I also managed to get in a few self practices. On Thursday, I snuck into the yoga dome (what an unreal yoga space, right?!) in the middle of the afternoon for a short 30 minute practice. It was about a hundred degrees in there but it felt so good to sweat. Below, you can watch the practice, and if you're interested, here's a yoga time lapse from earlier in the year in Mallorca, and last summer in Florida.
I'm looking forward to sharing more pictures and details from the Ibiza yoga retreat when I get back to the US (this weekend!). If you're in California, I have a few workshops and a yoga retreat weekend in Santa Barbara coming up - I'd love to have you!