Ananda Yoga Adventures

Have you ever wondered about Iceland? Thought about visiting one of the world’s most northern countries? Hoped for a closeup view of the awe-inspiring Northern Lights?

Ananda Yoga Adventures is excited to announce that we are going international with our retreats! With the world on hiatus for the last couple of years, we are “busting at the seams” to go on an off-the-beaten-track adventure and explore a world still largely untouched. Will you join us?

WHERE: Reykavik and Akureyri, Iceland
WHEN: September 2023 – soon! 6-7 days/nights

September is just past the main tourist season so more quiet and private. The weather is still great (averaging 8-10 degrees Celsius during the day) and it’s when the Icelandic ponies and sheep are brought down from the mountains for the coming winter. An amazing and beautiful sight!

Here’s a sample of what we would like to do in Iceland:

• Explore the famous Golden Circle in a small group tour
• Take an exciting northern snowmobile ride
• Head out for a Northern Lights Hunt at night (hunting for the wonders of the Aurora Borealis up close)
• Explore a stay in the Icelandic back country (hotel included – no you don’t have to sleep in a haystack!)
• See what it feels like to do a hike and a yoga practice on a Glacier
• Explore the famous Blue Ice Cave
• Catch another glimpse of the Northern Lights by boat (option by Super Jeep as well!)
• Soak in the healing waters of the famous Blue Lagoon
• And other options such as whale watching, Icelandic food tours or exploring the lava tunnels, see the famous Troll Mountains – and much more! You can pick and choose any other options to compliment your full Iceland adventure!

We are offering a complete retreat package for you and are excitedly in the midst of exploring options and learning more about this amazing destination.

We are starting to build an interest list (singles and couples). Please let us know if you are ready to have the adventure of a lifetime. We will take care of all the details, and take care of you – body, mind and spirit as we take our yoga in the air, on the road, up the mountains, on the glaciers, and over the water. Life is short – we are going for it!

Please send us an email: [email protected] to be added to the list so we can keep you updated. ✈️

If you would like to be see photos and a short daily video of my recent yoga retreat to the Bahamas please check out the posts on my Hummingbird Yoga page. Any questions please direct message me. 🌴⛵️🧘‍♀️

https://www.facebook.com/hummingbirdyogastudio?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Hummingbird Yoga Studio Susan is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teach that offers private and group adult and youth Hatha yoga practices.

Are you interested in a different type of YOGA RETREAT where you can soak up the sights and sounds of nature while living on the translucent blue waters of the Bahamas?
If you answered “yes” you are INVITED to join me (not an ‘official’ Ananda Yoga Adventure with both myself & Wanda) and a maximum of 3 other guests on a 40’ catamaran in the Bahamas JANUARY 22 to 29th, 2023.
Our small group will enjoy a customized itinerary of 2 daily gentle yoga practices bookending sailing, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and hiking deserted islands around Elizabeth Harbour in the Exumas.
For this inaugural trip, I’m pleased to offer an introductory price of $2,500/person OR $3,500/couple CANADIAN DOLLARS ** not including your personal alcohol and flights to George Town (weekly flights are available with both West Jet and Air Canada)
We will be in good hands with Rod Morris the owner of the boat. Rod is a Canadian, experienced boater with over 30,000 miles of sailing, and has been cruising in the Bahamas for over 5 years. You can learn more about Rod and view photos of his catamaran at https://cloudstocoral.com.
I hope you will join me and other like-minded people as we start 2023 with being the “captain of our own ship”.
Please message me if you would like to get more details. **Please note other dates may also be available with another yoga teacher.

As we begin to move forward into post-pandemic mode, we are excited to begin planning our next Ananda Yoga Adventures all-inclusive retreat. After our fabulous stay there in 2019, we have decided to return to Kingfisher Resort & Spa. It was a success with all our guests and since then, they have done an amazing cosmetic upgrade which will enhance our experience even more. Three nights of fun, food, adventure and yoga!

Ananda Yoga Adventures Brings You:
SAVE THE DATE
For our 4th Annual All-Inclusive Getaway!!

Where: Kingfisher Resort & Spa Courtenay Vancouver Island BC
When: 3 nights Sunday Nov 7 - Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Cost: TBA - gourmet meals, luxurious accommodations, twice daily yoga and meditation plus exciting activities exploring the area. Optional activities of spa treatments, group transportation to the resort and guided hikes and shopping.

Interested? Please drop us a note back with your thoughts and we'll be sure to keep you on our distribution list.

We are very excited to be returning to these fun retreats and see everyone in person! 🙏
Namaste,
Susan and Wanda

Thank you to everyone that attended our first virtual yoga retreat yesterday. We feel blessed that you trusted us with 2 hours of your precious time! If you have any interest in Meditation or Ayurveda please contact us and we would be pleased to share the recording with you. Namaste 🙏

A REMINDER about our upcoming virtual "Create Your Own Home Retreat" on Saturday, Jan 16th - 10:00 to 12:00 noon Pacific.
Designed to help you establish a routine of natural health and wellness, we will be exploring how to start a daily meditation practice, and provide information on Ayurveda - the world's oldest holistic healing system.
Please drop us a message to register, and to have the Zoom meeting link sent to you in advance.
Namaste

SAVE THE DATE for your Home Yoga Retreat!
WHEN: Saturday January 16th, 2021
TIME: 10 a.m. - noon
WHERE: Your home, our home - and together on the screen through ZOOM.
COST: We are planning this home retreat as a karma offering. This means there is no fee to you, however we would like to do something to benefit our community. When we later send out the final invite to those wishing to join us, we will include a list of worthwhile charities that support women's health-centered needs and then do a poll (available on your ZOOM screen) while we are online together.
Our itinerary:
1. Meditation: Explore the different meditation techniques and the shared benefits of mindfulness, concentration and insight when you develop (or establish) a daily meditation practice.
2. Ayurveda: The sister science to Yoga. How do you integrate the simple wisdom of this ancient holistic healing system into your life? And what does it have to do with your specific yoga practice?
3. Yoga Practice: A nourishing and rejuvenating gentle practice to help keep you grounded, release stress and tension in the body and mind and keep your joints and muscles happy and healthy.

P.S. If you have friends or family whom you feel would enjoy and benefit from this Home Yoga Retreat, please share and know that yoga experience is not necessary - this is for everyone interested in pursuing a healthy, happy and balanced 2021!

To be added to our mailing list:
CONTACT: [email protected]
OR call 778-350-4370

As the long-term forecast continues to be grim with predictions that COVID cases will continue into 2022, we are officially cancelling our annual yoga retreat for November 2020.

In place of our away trip, and to allow us the ability to still gather together, we are in the early stages of planning a short 2-hour virtual retreat for this fall. With the possibility of further isolation periods ahead, we want to present some information that will help nourish, replenish & fortify the space in your home. Content will potentially include Ayurveda, meditation and a discussion on how to sustain a home yoga practice.

We hope that you will find this of interest, and join us as we share ideas on ways to cultivate new self-care rituals during these difficult times.

While we fine tune our plans, please ask how you can join one of our many online Zoom yoga practices. Namaste

🧘🏼‍♂️What is Yoga and why do we celebrate it?

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. 🧘🏼‍♂️

Namaste

Wine, whiskey and yoga? Our wonderful group of ladies just going with the flow...

Ananda Yoga Adventures at 40 Knots Winery

An enthusiastic game of Heads Up with some wild actions to describe “changing a baby’s diaper” and “wagging your tail”

It’s never ‘just’ yoga on our retreats. Took a nice easy hike on the Royston Shipwreck Seaside Trail.

Great start to the long weekend with 16 lovely yogi friends at Kingfisher Resort & Spa

Great start to the long weekend with our 16 yogi friends at Kingfisher Resort & Spa in Courtney.

On August 28th, we left Canada for a South American journey. We are all seekers in life and we began in Cusco, Peru for two days to adjust to the altitude and then headed for the Sacred Valley. A destination for many yoga lovers as the valley has a unique and soul healing energy. We stayed at a jewel of a resort in Urubumba - Willka T’ika (translates in Quechua to Sacred Flower). We can’t say enough about the magic of this place. And if course we spent a couple of days at Macchu Pichu which far exceeded our imaginations on the size and mystery of this holy archaeological site.
It was hard to leave 9 days later - some homeward bound, Susan and Wanda on to the Galápagos Islands for another week. Enjoy these pics from beautiful Willka T’ika. This is the glorious studio and a few of the 7 Chakra gardens on the resort.
We plan on returning to this special place - join us for the true experience! Please let us know if you’d like to be on our email list as we plan ahead 🙏

Home - Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa, Courtenay Comox, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Get Ready, Set, GO for our annual 3-night Girl's Getaway - TASTE OF THE VALLEY at the luxurious Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa in Courtenay. Friday November 8th to Monday November 11th, 2019.
From the moment you walk through the door of your oceanfront suite, you will breathe deeper, clearing your mind and gently stretching your body as whales cruise by and eagles soar across the sky.
This adventure will take you away for that much needed recharge we all look for during the short days of winter - body, mind and spirit.....explore, rejuvenate, rest, enjoy the laughter and camaraderie of like minded women.
This all-inclusive adventure includes: Beachfront Suite, all meals (except lunch on travel days), wine and cheese reception on arrival, twice daily all levels yoga practice, and a full day Comox Valley artisan culinary tour - a gourmet taste bud adventure!
This amazing retreat package is offered for $1,250.00 per person (double occupancy including taxes & gratuities). * $1695 for single occupancy.
SPACE IS LIMITED to 12 people so register early to avoid disappointment!
To register, email us at [email protected] OR contact Susan Shepherd 778-350-4370 OR Wanda Lambeth 250-888-0558.

kingfisherspa.com

5 Reasons to Go on a Yoga Retreat

5 REASONS TO GO ON A YOGA RETREAT.

A very timely article to read! We have just announced the dates of our next yoga retreat - Friday, November 8 to Monday, November 11.

doyouyoga.com Need that extra little push to go on a yoga retreat? Here are 5 awesome reasons to go on a yoga retreat this year, and make it the best year yet!

SAVE THE DATE for our 3rd Annual All-Inclusive Getaway!!

For the last 2 years, we have had such a great time at Galiano Island that we have decided to stay with the same long weekend in November for our upcoming Fall retreat.

This year, we are considering other Gulf Island options and the possibility of exploring some other resorts that can also offer all the things we like. Three nights of fun, food, adventure......and of course, some delicious yoga!

Where would you like to go? Poets Cove on Pender Island? Mayne Island Resort? Let us know if you have any alternatives you would like us to consider.

When: 3 nights Friday Nov 8 - Monday Nov 11, 2019
Cost: TBA - includes return ferry transportation, meals, accommodation and twice daily yoga and meditation. Also included will be a special evening event. Optional activities of spa treatments, guided hikes and shopping.

Another adventure in the books! We could not have asked for better weather, better food, or better company! Thank you ladies for your laughter, your friendship, and your beginner minds! Namaste

Along with yoga and hiking adventures this November long weekend we had an interesting afternoon discussion with award winning Galiano author Audrey Thomas. Before coming on the retreat our yogis enjoyed reading one of Audrey’s 17 books called “Intertidal Lives”.

Oh yes... we are here on beautiful Galiano for some yoga too. Actually twice daily in a beautiful studio surrounded with big windows that make you feel like you are practicing outdoors. Namaste 🌲🌞🌺

Decisions decisions - go left up the hill or straight to the pub? Sigh.... up the hill we go! I must say though... the view was worth the effort!

Here we go! Off on our most excellent 2nd annual Galiano Girl’s Getaway. Namaste 🙏

Interested in participating in our upcoming Galiano Yoga Retreat but don't have time for a 3-night getaway? To fill the last 3 spots, we are offering the opportunity to come for 2-nights. Please message either myself or Wanda to discuss what days/nights work best and we will work with you to accommodate your schedule. Namaste

Our November 9,10,11 Galiano Girl's Getaway is selling out FAST! We have one lady looking to share a room and availability for just 2 others. If you are interested in sharing or wanting to bring a friend/family member with you please decide ASAP. This is a quick and easy trip with amazing food and service! Not to mention the yoga, spa, hiking, meeting an award-winning author, etc, etc. Namaste

Registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Galiano Girl's Getaway!

This all-inclusive 3-night adventure includes walk-on ferry from Victoria, all meals (except lunch on travel days), Meet and Greet Wine & Cheese on arrival, twice daily yoga practice, Evening With An Author Event with Audrey Thomas (book provided in advance of retreat for guests) and optional hiking for the low price of $1,125.00 per person (double occupancy including taxes & gratuities) or $1,495 for single occupancy.

Not included are transportation to and from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, alcoholic beverages, optional activities such as treatments in the spectacular onsite Madrona del Mar Spa, shopping, kayaking or golf.

Space is limited to 12 people so register early to avoid disappointment! To register - contact either Susan at 778-350-4370 or Wanda at 250-888-0558 or Email [email protected]

Ananda Yoga Adventures - your Om away from home.

SAVE THE DATES - Friday, November 9th to Monday November 12th (Remembrance Day long weekend).

Ananda Yoga Adventure's 2nd Annual All-Inclusive Galiano Girl's Getaway. Price (TBA) will include return ferry transportation, meals, accommodation and twice daily yoga & meditation. Optional activities of spa treatments, guided hikes and shopping.

A BIG thank you to Victoria Double Tree Hotel & Suites that has selected United Way to be their charity of choice for their June yoga classes. Here is the deal:
• 1 hour yoga by donation
• 4 Thursdays - June 7, 14, 21, 28
• 5:15 - 6:15pm Double Tree Atrium - 777 Douglas Street
• Taught by a lululemon instructor donating her time
• Some mats provided but maybe bring your own

6 Easy Exercises and Stretches You Can Do in Economy

Just in time for your summer vacation - some basic stretches that promote blood circulation and alleviate lower back and neck pain.

thepointsguy.com Experts agree that one of the only ways to stay safe (and comfortable) while flying is to keep the blood flowing.

These 6 Preflight Stretches Are The Secret To Ache-Free Travel

Whether you practice yoga or not, there are some great stretches to incorporate into your travel plans.

mindbodygreen.com All TSA-approved.

Come join us on our next journey to Peru and see what you learn about yourself.

This Airline Is Offering In-Flight Yoga & Travel Will Never Be The Same

Research has shown that too much time spent sitting has a direct correlation to the risk of early death. In fact, sitting is now considered the new smoking!

Whether or not you are travelling, there are many yoga postures that can be done while seated. Simple moves such as rolling the shoulders, stretching the arms and twisting, help tone your muscles, make your spine flexible and relieves stress and anxiety.

mindbodygreen.com

In a few short months, we will be packing our bags for Peru to experience the opportunity of a lifetime and soak in the culture and spirit of the Sacred Valley, including 2 days at one of the new 7 Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu! Our stay there will be further enhanced by our stay at the luxurious Willka T'ika Essential Wellness Resort. Our fully guided and all-inclusive trip is the comprehensive Lucuma Yoga Retreat as outlined below.

All efforts have been made to find the most accommodating flights available and we just received some preliminary pricing therefore felt it was time to reach out and see if this unforgettable trip stirs your heart and spirit and you feel the call to this ancient, soul-opening phenomenon on our Mother Earth. Come sit in the circle of peace and comfort beneath the 1000 year old Lucuma Tree at Wilka T'ika, embrace the colourful culture and ceremonies of the Quechua people, meditate at the pinnacle of Machu Picchu, shop the world famous Pisaq Market, hike, dine on gourmet vegetarian fare, relax in the spa or wander through the magic of the 7 Chakra Gardens on the expansive grounds of the resort.

Your Time Is Now!
Welcome to the Lucuma Yoga Retreat in Peru 🙏
This all inclusive, fully guided retreat is open to age group 45+ men and women.

When: August 22 – September 2, 2018 including 2 days travel time
Total Days in Peru: 10 days / 9 nights
Cusco: 2 days / 2 nights in Cusco
Machu Picchu: 2 days / 1 night at Machu Picchu
Willka T’ika: 6 days / 6 nights at Willka T’ika - Luxury room shared accommodation, single avail
Guides: 9 days guided service with local guide and your group leader
Transport: Return flights Victoria to Cusco, all transfers. Quality buses and tourist train in Peru.
Included:
• Use of Chakra Gardens, multi-purpose studios, fire pit and meditation shalas
• Organic gourmet vegetarian meals daily when at Willka T’ika
• Twice daily gentle Hatha yoga practices when at Willka T’ika
• Guided tour around the Seven Chakra Gardens
• Authentic Andean offering and fire ceremony with Qero Pakko healer
• Visit to an Andean Mountain School
• Hiking the P’isaq ruins, ceremony, and shopping in the famous market
• Visit to Urubamba’s authentic market, Seminario Pottery Studio, and alpaca factory store
• Tour to mystical Moray circles
• Guided hike to Maras salt farms
• Option to hike to the peak of Machu Picchu Mountain
• Option to experience guided meditation on a Machu Picchu terrace with your group leader
• Andean farewell music celebration
Cost: This all-inclusive journey $6695 pp shared (Single add $1200)
What’s Not Included: Transportation to and from departure airport in Victoria, personal tips, sundries, alcoholic and bottled beverages, laundry, spa services, travel day meals, one breakfast and 3 lunches on personal time days.

Reserve your spot now with a $100 non-refundable deposit by February 15, 2018. Only 10 spots available! Email for further details: [email protected]

SAVE THE DATE(S)!!

Planning is currently underway for three retreats in 2018 - 1) Okanagan (women only) - Sunday June 3 to Wednesday June 6; 2) Peru (men & women) at the beautiful Willka T'Tika resort in the Sacred Valley (will also include a tour of Machu Picchu) - Wednesday Aug 22 to Sunday September 2; and 3) Gulf Islands (women only) - Friday November 9 to Monday November 12.

Details of the resort, transportation, optional activities and all-inclusive pricing will be published shortly. If you are interested and want to reserve your spot(s), please let us know ASAP as these trips do sell out quickly.

25 Benefits of Going on a Yoga Retreat - Travel Stories About Group Trips And Yoga Retreats | WeTravel

As 2017 comes to an end and you contemplate your 2018 goals, consider joining us on our next yoga retreat. This article outlines some of the many benefits of a wellness trip.

wetravel.com Wondering why yoga retreats are so popular? Because of all the amazing benefits that come from going on a retreat of course! We love yoga retreats here at WeTravel. Actually, we love any type of retreat and wellness trip! If you’ve noticed the signs that it’s time for a yoga retreat but you’re...