Here is the itinerary draft (there may be some small changes due to weather and such, but this should give you a good idea):Day 1 WELCOME FIRST DINNER Opening Ceremony with cuencos ‪Day 2Sunrise yoga Breakfast Tour to Muyil ruins and lagoon Packed lunch for this trip Sunset yoga (we might skip yoga if we get in from Muyil late) Dinner Free time Sweet dreams Day 3Sunrise yoga Breakfast Free time, bike to the beach, go to the small jungle secret ..read more

The curriculum is built around six main topics, each of which is designed to give you a comprehensive and practically-applicable understanding of essential subjects related to the teaching of yoga. The main style of yoga taught during this 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training is Hatha Yoga, which offers an opportunity to explore each pose in great depth and create a solid foundation for practicing and teaching yoga safely and appropriately. We will also look at other styles of yoga including Vinyasa Y ..read more

ATTENTION TRAVELING YOGISHelp is required!30 March 2023 - 20 April 2023NOTE - THIS OPPORTUNITY IS BEST SUITED TO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THE AVAILABLE DATESThis is your opportunity to join a small private retreat for work exchange. I am seeking applications from yoga teachers or someone who enjoys the yogic way of life and is willing to help for availability for selected dates (above)One of the things that makes WHY Retreat great is our program of hosting visiting yoga teachers ..read more

Honey massage is a type of therapeutic massage that involves the application of honey to the skin, followed by a gentle massage. This form of massage has been used for centuries in various cultures, including ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese civilizations. We use natural hand harvested honey from our own hives. A spa before to relax and warm the muscles, and  a sauna afterwards to open the pores for additional absorption of the honey enhance the experience.The Benefits of Honey MassageH ..read more

When we excavated for our house, we came across 5 huge rocks that could not be moved. These now form a stone circle around the building. They correspond to the 5 elements in the way they are placed. The wood element rock is located at the base of a large Norfolk Pine tree. When I was digging around it I found a piece of amber here, petrified Kauri gum. The wood element signifies new beginnings, and happens to be at the entrance to the studio. The Fire element rock faces to the sunrise. It signif ..read more

Our logo began with a design from a Maori artist who gave us our own Manaia. We stylized this and turned it on its side, so it became a resting manaia. Putting it in a circle brings to mind the yin/yang symbol and also the symbol for infinity. The triangle represents the mountain, our house, and the healing properties of a pyramid. Visitors will be reminded of the mists that swirl around Mt Manaia in the mornings, and the full moon rising over the mountain at sunset.Manaia - Spiritual Guardian ..read more

One of the best things about WHY RETREAT is the food! Not only do you have all your meals prepared for you to your individual dietary requirements, but they are often made with fresh ingredients from our garden and always made extra tasty with a generous helping of love. We are happy to share our recipes with guests, and here are a few of the favorites ..read more

The onset of winter means more colds and flus. Here is my prescription for fending off the dreaded lurgy. 1. Keep the bugs out2. Support your immune system3. Catch any invaders early1. Keep the bugs outIt’s basic - Clean Hands stop the spread of germs. Make sure your hands are clean when touching your face or food. A friend’s daughter did a cool school project using glitter gel to illustrate how easily germs are spread, especially in public places.2. Support your immune systemThis is more co ..read more

WHY RETREAT has an award for Top 25 Most Popular Health and Fitness Services for 2020 from Health4You. Moving up from second, fifth and tenth spots in 2017 we are now one of the top ranking Health and fitness services in New Zealand!Here is how we ranked:#1 Most Popular Health and Fitness Service in Whangarei (0110)#1 Most Popular Health and Fitness Service in the Northland Region#1 Most Popular Health and Fitness Service in the Whangarei Region#7 Most Popular Health and Fitness Service in New Z ..read more

The following article appears in New Zealand Yoga Scene Magazine.One of my yoga teachers said “Yoga was once practiced by men in India to achieve spiritual enlightenment. Now it is practiced by Western women to improve their physical fitness and appearance”. As a Western woman, I would agree that my yoga practice began with the physical, to help me change my posture and allow me to participate in pain free physical activity. But the physical Asanas are only one of the eight limbs of a f ..read more