Eight months into 2018, much has been accomplished, much is yet to commence, and the stress and pressure of the grind at work, school and daily life is wearing many folks down.
One needs a getaway to clear the tension and cleanse the mind, but also something to restore and revive one’s energy levels to tackle the last stretch of the year with renewed vigour.
Enter the delightful Karoo village of Prince Albert, which is home to Simply Saffron’s 4th Karoo Forrest Yoga Retreat, presented by Forrest Guardian Sandra Robinson.
Why yoga?
Everyone has heard of yoga, but many are still unclear on what exactly it is. Yoga is a 5,000-year-old Indian discipline that involves various stretches and poses combined with breathing techniques. It offers the physical benefits of exercise (and more), but is also intended to unify the mind, body and soul to promote greater spiritual and mental wellbeing.
There are various styles of yoga that vary in intensity and skill level. Yoga is gentle on joints, bones and muscles and can therefore be performed by almost anyone, regardless of their fitness level, age or experience.
The benefits of yoga
For those feeling run down from strain, there are few remedies as effective as yoga. The practice is well known for its ability to alleviate stress, by allowing the mind to let go of whirring thoughts and focus on the breath in the moment.
Furthermore, yoga can actually help you perform better in your chosen arena of exercise – gym or sports. It targets specific muscles and promotes better blood flow which increases flexibility, thus mitigating your chances of injury. It also improves balance and stability, which has a big impact on your overall level of athletic performance. The fact that it increases body-awareness (not vanity) means that it can actually enhance physical prowess via an increased sense of strength and weakness.
Lastly, yoga’s strengthening of the muscles means that it also corrects bad posture. In a modern world where many spend the bulk of their days hunched on office chairs behind desks in front of computers, back problems and other physical ailments and imbalances are becoming more and more common. Yoga’s efficacy in combating the side-effects of a sedentary lifestyle is almost unparalleled.
Simply Saffron’s 4th Karoo Forrest Yoga Retreat
Simply Saffron in Prince Albert boasts a restaurant that serves dinner with wholesome, quality local ingredients on Fridays and Saturdays, a healing room the offers massages and reflexology sessions and – last but not least – a yoga studio that offers Kundalini and Yin yoga classes for groups and also private sessions.
“The yoga classes have become much more therapeutic in nature and are individually focussed, even in a class environment,” say owners Ridwaan Lockhart and Hermon Coleman. “ Our yoga retreats are now in their fourth year and boast international attendance, due to being conducted under the guidance of Forrest Guardian Sandra Robinson from the UK.”
The 4th Forrest yoga retreat in the Karoo will take place from Thursday, 20 to Sunday, 23 September. Attendees can look forward to four days of yoga, coupled with locally sourced and prepared vegetarian food. The cost is R5000 per person, excluding accommodation. Contact Ridwaan on simplysaffronprincealbert@gmail.com, or on 0 (+27) 71 932 8382.
But where do I stay?
Prince Albert is a popular destination with discerning tourists due to its accommodation options, local farms, restaurants, galleries, activities and events.
For more information about the village and to book accommodation, visit Prince Albert Tourism’s website at www.princealbert.org.za. Plus, check out Facebook (@PrinceAlbert.WesternCape), Twitter (@prince_albert_tourism) and Instagram (@PrinceAlbertZA).
