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There’s something my retreat guests don’t see behind the scenes.
Before I ever bring a group into a retreat space, whether that’s the Himalayas of Nepal, the villages of Bali, the backwaters of Kerala, or a quiet sanctuary one hour out of Sydney, I spend time there first.
A lot of time.
But for many women, it’s not just the weekend. It’s the weeks, the months, the invisible emotional labour that comes with decades of caregiving, career demands, or as women very often do, putting everyone else first.
There’s a quiet fatigue that builds up. A sense that, somehow, you've lost touch with the woman you were before all the lists, the roles, the “shoulds” and “should nots.”
But what if a few days away could actually change something?
Let’s be honest. Most weekends go something like this… race through the laundry, do the family big food shop, half-watch a documentary you’ll never finish, while you scroll Instagram for 20 minutes (okay, 40), and wonder where all the calm people live.
But for many women, it’s not just the weekend. It’s the weeks, the months, the invisible emotional labour that comes with decades of caregiving, career demands, or as women very often do, putting everyone else first.
There’s a quiet fatigue that builds up. A sense that, somehow, you've lost touch with the woman you were before all the lists, the roles, the “shoulds” and “should nots.”
But what if a few days away could actually change something?
There was a time in my life when everything in me was burnt out. Not just tired, but soul weary. I had nothing left to give. My mind was noisy. My body, exhausted. And my spirit... quiet. Too quiet.
I had given everything to others and left little for myself.
Maybe you know that feeling?
And why the answer is usually a gentle and joyful “Yes.”
Over the years, I’ve heard so many women say something like, “I’ve been wanting to do something like this for years, but…”
That “but” is usually followed by one of these very common questions—and I completely understand each one.
Joining a retreat, especially when you don’t know what to expect, can feel like a big step. So I wanted to take a moment to answer the top six questions I get asked the most—honestly, simply, and from the heart.
If you’ve been sitting on the fence, wondering if this is for you, read on…
Every year on 8th March, voices around the world unite to celebrate International Women’s Day—a time to honour the achievements, resilience, and power of women in all their diversities. It’s a day to recognise how far we’ve come, acknowledge the challenges that remain, and recommit to the collective vision that women's rights are, and always will be, human rights.
But beyond the global conversations and activism, this day is also an invitation to pause and reflect: how do we, as women, honour ourselves? How do we reclaim our inner strength, find our voice, and step forward with confidence and clarity?
Holidays are great for unwinding, but Yoga For The Soul Retreats offer a truly profound reset.
With meditation, yoga, breathwork, chanting, sound meditation and more…, these retreats do more than just relax—they leave you with a sense of calm and connection.
Research shows that retreats focused on mindfulness have lasting benefits up to 12 weeks beyond the experience, delivering rejuvenation from the inside out.
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, a retreat may be calling you:
In the fast-paced rhythm of life, it's easy to find yourself dancing to the beat of stress and anxiety.
If your days feel like a never-ending playlist of sleepless nights, a mind on overdrive, and perhaps the occasional reach for that unhealthy snack, trust me, you're not alone.
Let's embark on a journey together, exploring three keys to unlock the door to tranquillity in the midst of life's chaos.
Life has a peculiar tendency to lead you down unexpected detours, leaving you feeling disconnected and lacking motivation. As women, we frequently find ourselves juggling countless responsibilities and commitments.
The challenge lies in striking a balance between our careers, caring for parents and managing our homes, often causing us to stray from our genuine passions and sense of fulfilment. However, there is no need to fret! It is never too late to rekindle your zest for life and embark on a voyage of self-discovery.
In this blog, we will explore why having life goals and purpose is essential and delve into five practical ways to refocus on your goals and passions.
International Women’s Day is upon us once again, which gives us a chance to reflect on the progress made and challenges remaining when it comes to women in society. But it’s also a chance to reflect on your own well-being.
As 2023 approaches, you may have mixed feelings – I know I do! On the one hand, it’s a time to celebrate with loved ones and welcome a symbolic fresh start. On the other hand, with the new year comes the quickly approaching end of the holiday season and diving back into your usual busy routine.
The good news is that no matter what your 2022 was like, you have a chance to start 2023 in a meaningful way to set the course for a calmer, happier, and healthier year ahead.
When you get caught up in the day-to-day busyness of your life, it can feel impossible to find the time to step back, reassess, and figure out what is and isn’t going well.
Every once in a while, it’s crucial to ask yourself if you’re truly living the life you want. After all, before you can make changes, you need to understand what’s not working!
Whether you’re looking to make big changes or small adjustments to your life, read more…
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t like a holiday once in a while? Probably not. But I’ll bet that even though you may love the idea of taking a trip, you may not realise when you desperately need to take one!
That’s why I want you to be aware of these five signs that you need a holiday and give you some ideas for a holiday that can leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised.
If you feel like you need a bit of extra help to reap the benefits of forest bathing and are ready for a more profound and powerful experience, I have the perfect thing for you…. A yoga, meditation and walking retreat
If you practise yoga or meditate regularly, you probably know what hand mudras are. However, do you understand the subtle ways in which practising them can positively influence your life?
Keep reading to learn how exactly mudras can benefit you both on and off the mat, and four particularly powerful mudras to incorporate into your daily routine.
If you had to post your relationship status with yourself on Facebook, would you be able to happily say “in a relationship”, or would it be closer to, “it’s complicated”? If the latter, you likely have some work to do on nurturing your relationship with yourself.
It’s easy to focus on your relationships with others- your romantic partner, children, friends, and coworkers. But there’s another extremely important relationship that you might be neglecting. The longest and most important one of all: your relationship with yourself.
What are you living for? This may sound like a bit of a strange question, but when did you last think about what matters most to you? Keep reading to find out why this can be a powerful exercise to help you live a happier, healthier life.
What Does It Mean to Live A Life with Purpose?
Sometimes life gets so busy that it feels like you’re just going through the motions. Running here and there to accomplish tasks on your to-do list, you may lose touch with the reason behind all you’re doing.
Have you ever found yourself so stressed about work as your perfectionist streak keeps you pushing through, putting in extra hours to ‘get more done’, even though you’re exhausted? Or maybe it’s the constant worry about your grown children, and the extra care you find you’re needing to give to your elderly parents – your not alone!
In today’s world, we’re constantly overstimulated, being bombarded with information and spending far too much time looking at screens. The pandemic dealt another blow to our wellness, leaving many of us feeling isolated, fearful, and maybe even helpless.
Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time for yourself? Or maybe you feel disconnected from others in your life. Taking intentional steps to take care of your well-being has never been more important.
If you’re wondering how to cultivate a healthy, balanced life that has you feeling good physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, then keep reading to learn where to start.
Have you ever felt like you have so many thoughts racing through your head that you have trouble falling asleep? Or perhaps you have difficulty focusing on certain tasks because of your busy mind.
Having a mind that is constantly busy can have harmful effects on both your physical and mental health. Keep reading to find out why, and to learn three simple yet powerful ways to take back control of your thoughts. For more help with doing this, register for my FREE 3-part video training on 24 – 26 October.
Have you ever noticed that you treat other people with a lot more compassion than you do yourself? When someone we care about is suffering, our instinct is to comfort them. However in contrast, many of us are unnecessarily hard on ourselves instead of showing ourselves that same kindness.
Women, in particular, may be less likely to show self-compassion. Read on to find out why, and how you can develop a habit of being more self-compassionate and how you’ll benefit.
I’m sure you’ve faced challenges during the past 18 months. Life is hard enough as it is without having a global pandemic adding to feelings of frustration, isolation, and anxiety. Luckily, there are evidence-based ways to nurture your well-being.
"I have been fortunate to have travelled to many countries, over many years. I have hiked, biked, trekked, toured, back-packed and 5-starred the length and breadth of most continents.
Yoga for the Soul Retreats with Chetana at the helm has been one of the most wonderful travel experiences of my life!…”
“I felt so connected to the world” - Pip’s Experience on Retreat in Nepal
About this time last year, I saw a promo for Yoga for the Soul Retreats’ Nepal retreat. I had been attending yoga classes for my mental health whist in a challenging time of my life. I had brought up a beautiful family but had lost myself on the way; and was suffering from anxiety caused by burnout from work and family life. And BING! — the pamphlet for the Nepal and Bali retreat landed on the yoga class table.
Burnout. It’s sometimes spoken about in hushed tones, especially at work. But how can you avoid it — and how can you get better if it’s happened to you?
Sahasrara — the crown chakra. It’s known as the seventh chakra, but it’s not really a chakra at all. It is the culmination of the six chakras together:
• Mooladhara
• Swadhisthana
• Manipura
• Anahata
• Vishuddhi
• Ajna
Sahasrara connects us with divine, infinite intelligence.
We’ve all heard that yoga and meditation are good for our mental health.
But does science really support those claims? And how does it all work?
During this uncertain time, more than ever, our yoga practice has a LOT to offer us. The challenges we’re facing are various and different people will, of course, be suffering in different ways and to different degrees.
But if you practice yoga, or are interested in it, now is a really good time to find new ways of taking your yoga off the mat and integrating it into your way of life. Really, that’s what yoga is — it’s never just postures on a mat. Sometimes, we need the motivation of new challenges to make us see that.
Home-working brings all kinds of benefits — but it has its downsides too, and it’s vital to take good care of your mental and physical health.
Actually, I happen to be a bit of a pro at this; as a business-owner who works from home a lot of the time, I’ve picked up some wisdom along the way.
The world is changing fast at the moment, and our lives are changing with it. And change isn’t always easy — especially when it comes with uncertainty about how the future’s going to look, and worry for the most vulnerable people in our lives.
Life has its ups and downs, and there are moments when you can feel so disconnected, unmotivated, and in serious need of a spark to reignite your passion for life.
If you find yourself in such a phase, feeling adrift and seeking mental clarity, let me assure you that you're not alone. Many of us experience these sentiments, and particularly at this time of the year, when we hit the mid-year point and reflect on our accomplishments and reassess our goals.
In this blog, we'll explore the concept of a mid-year reset and its benefits in bringing balance to your mind and reigniting your