Far from the madding crowd, days like Sunday become a memory of blissful calm in our frantic world of hurry, stress and constant activity.
“A spiritual retreat is a valuable experience where genuine restoration is achieved. This is possible because we are not simply relaxing (forgetting) but exploring and practicing the methods needed to lead healthy, balanced lives.
It is a time to become reacquainted with (remember) our inner selves.” -
www.satyanandayoga.com.au
Our meet-up group yoga day was one of the most relaxing and fulfilling events that I have enjoyed. If anyone needs a day or two to refill the peaceful places in their hearts and minds, this is the place to visit and stay and stay. Our lovely hosts were Jayatma who has been there 17 years and Gyan who came for a few months has now been there over 2 years. I had trouble getting Alison back in the car at the end of the day, she said to Gyan “I don’t want to go home” and he replied “Well don’t, stay”.
Gyan & Jayatma
Getting to Satyananda is a journey in itself, I Googled it and then using the little white hand, kept pulling down and sideways to backtrack along a winding road until I reached Old Northern Road. I had a vague idea it was about an hour’s trip. Alison drove up to my place from Canberra that morning, some people are really keen! We picked Ivette up at the station and figured we had enough time to make the 10.30 morning tea. Winding roads, glimpses of green pastures and country homes were shattered by motorbikes roaring past us. Was there some kind of Rocky Horror Convention on that we didn’t know about?
And then water glinting between the trees, crikey we had to take the ferry too! Alison was very excited (I don’t think she gets out much). Ivette was just excited to be with us. I was not excited – it was 10.45 and we were late. An ambulance came past and was taken over on the ferry before us. The winding road carried on after the ferry and we passed the Rocky Horror bikies, about 6 of them standing around a mangled bike frame.
After much winding we arrived at 11.45. Gyan recognized us immediately, I was amazed. Until I realized he was looking out for 3 ladies that were late and carrying a big box of smoothie bananas and another big box of salad leaves (specials from EB Organics). He told us to hurry into the yoga nidra session. We took off our shoes and padded into a large wooden paneled room filled with supine bodies breathing gently covered with multi-coloured blankets and resting on brightly patterned cushions. I lay flat on my back and let the winding trip unwind.
- Satyananda Retreat
After the session Jayatma was surprised to hear we came the long way. There’s a short way? I only saw one road in when I googled. Sigh, I had hoped that raw food would kick start my illogical brain into thinking outside of the square but obviously 80% raw is not enough for total clarity. Of course there is another way! It involves a freeway and less time to get there.
- Gyan, Greg, Jayatma, Ali, Greg, Ivette & Susie - raw lunch
We lunched under the shady trees, a magnificent raw feast. Jayatma started coming to our raw potluck picnics last year and had spent the morning in the kitchen preparing our food. The normal fare at the retreat is mainly cooked vegetarian. In case any of our 80-10-10 raw foodies were coming she had thoughtfully left the onion and salt in separate bowls. Two large salad meals prepared with fresh produce from their gardens including raw okra which I never realized could be eaten raw, it was delicious and purslane which Victoria Boutenko had recommended at her talk, served with spiralised zucchini, a big bowl of creamy sauce, pesto, nut cheese and sweet pineapple. The advantage now for us attending retreats in the future is that Jayatma is able to offer raw food if notified in advance and for a nominal extra $10 per day.
Other tables under the trees were filled with a group of yoga students who had been there 3 weeks, families with children running around and people who were there for the different retreats. The tinkling of a bell marks the transition from one part of the day to another.
- in the Bookshop
After washing our plates in the kitchen we browsed around the bookshop filled not only with books but also CD’s, gifts, colourful yogic clothing in oranges, yellows, pinks, greens, whites. Gyan then took us on a tour around the buildings and to the vegetable gardens. Enclosed with strong wire mesh to keep the friendly possums and wallabies out, the gardens are raw food heaven. We picked purslane and tried wasabi, marveled at the okra plants.
- indigenous wall mural
- fresh salads - Ali and an okra plant
Back to the tranquil paneled room for our yoga session with Gyan, some good stretching and meditation. Afternoon tea was another raw delight, fluffy banana coconut mousse piled on top of a chocolate almond base with fresh bananas. We thanked Jayatma & Gyan for a perfectly wonderful day, walked down to check out the creek where people were swimming and reluctantly started the trip home. Sigh. Next time a weekend would be good, maybe the next retreat could be here Grant?
- afternoon tea.
