The 5 Intentions Behind Yoga at Nefeli Nine
Nefeli Nine isn’t your standard yoga retreat - although yoga is very much at the heart of the experience. If you’re thinking of joining us but are new to yoga, or don’t feel particularly confident in your practice, we thought we would explain a little more about what our sessions involve.
As with everything on our retreats, our yoga practices are intentional, shaped around your needs, experience and the demands of the day ahead. And, like everything else we offer, they’re entirely optional. How much yoga you’d like to include in your day is entirely up to you.
Our daily yoga practices are guided by five key intentions:
Activating
Sometimes the day needs a running start. Sun salutations, standing sequences and a little heat to wake up the body before the day gets going. The goal isn’t to exhaust you before breakfast, but to get the blood moving, mobilise your joints and bring your mind out of sleep mode and into the day ahead.
Protecting
This is the practical side of the practice: sequences designed to prepare the hips, hamstrings, ankles and shoulders for the demands of the trails. Think of it as preparation for the hikes, helping you feel more comfortable and ready to make the most of your time outdoors.
Restoring
After a day of physical effort, the body often needs the opposite of what got it moving in the first place. Slower holds, supported postures and longer breaths- essentially, what helps you settle rather than strain. The aim is to ease the tension that a day of movement can leave behind and give your body a chance to recover.
Replenishing
A hike can ask a lot of your body, so it’s important to give something back, too. These practices focus on the breath and gentle, flowing movements that help you unwind and reconnect with your energy without adding to the day’s physical demands.
Cultivating Mindfulness
One of the joys of a retreat is having the space to slow down and be present. This might mean a seated practice, a period of stillness, a restorative sound bath or some simple breathwork, with nothing to prove and nowhere else to be.
It could take the form of a full yin yoga practice, or it might simply mean spending fifteen minutes sitting quietly, noticing your breath or resting your gaze on the nature around you.
Built for every body in the room
None of this depends on knowing what a chaturanga is. We teach to the people in the room, rather than assuming everyone has the same experience or ability. That means a session can welcome someone who has never rolled out a mat alongside someone who has been practising for twenty years.
So, if you’ve been putting off joining one of our retreats because you’re worried you won’t be experienced enough, we hope this puts your mind at ease. You don’t need to keep up, prove anything or be anyone other than yourself. There’s a place for you here.
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