Seaside Retreat Offers Rejuvenation and Hope for 2016

(Newswire.net — January 23, 2016) Franklin, TN — The tranquillity of yoga and its power to change lives is being truly embraced in Papa New Guinea. Port Moresby is ranked as one of the world’s most dangerous cities and in a recent ABC report it appears that many of the youths behind bars are propelling this yoga revolution.

There may not be the lycra leggings or mats, but those behind this growing grassroots yoga campaign say its practice is changing lives, including those of hardened criminals.

The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health and long life, and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise which has since spread throughout the world. The word Yoga means “to join or yoke together,” and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience.

In a world where we always seem to be doing, it is a daunting task to take the time to connect with and ground our bodies and spirits; there is always so much to do. And to spend time ‘not doing’ on some level feels ineffective and almost feckless to us.

“Our mind sometimes plays tricks on us but our body never lies and has much to teach us.” says Annabel Broom, proprietor and teacher at Annabel Yoga (www.annabelyoga.com), in East Sussex, England.

“For me, yoga is about learning to listen to our own body and increasing our self awareness, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional. This awareness then increases our range of choices; we need to be aware of something before we can have any choice about what we do with it. Although all yoga classes use the body, there are only a handful of people worldwide teaching yoga with mindfulness and embodiment” continues Broom.

If awareness helps us to perceive more choices in our lives, perhaps it also helps us to make better choices. This week we hear that Emma Watson, Bono, Kevin Spacey, Leonardo DiCaprio and many others are on retreat in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. Here, they will collaborate about a better way to do things. Strategies to engage men and boys in a movement toward gender equality from Emma Watson. Or Will.i.am, the frontman for The Black-Eyed Peas, met with reporters to talk up his interest in teaching tech to children. 

It is in taking this time away on retreat that we increase our self-awareness and return to our lives with more clarity and vision. And maybe even more courage to speak up about the things that really matter to us.

“The benefits to allowing oneself to retreat from a busy life and take some time to oneself, to unwind and settle the mind and relax the body cannot be highlighted enough.” says an enthusiastic Broom who is busy putting the last minute touches on her yoga retreat weekend which takes place in Seaford, East Sussex, England. Along with accommodation for two nights, this replenishing weekend offers yoga, massages and spectacular beach walks.The focus will be on relaxation and all the activities are suitable for all levels of physical ability and yoga experience including beginners. 

When we take a moment to recall the benefits of a yoga environment, It becomes clear why the incarcerated youth in Papa New Guinea or the world leaders and entrepreneurs on retreat in Davos, Switzerland derive such benefits from the quiet time to restore and revitalize the mind and body. And we have a feeling of certainty that those who take the time to strengthen and fortify themselves in this way, have many beautiful gifts of wisdom and good judegement to share with the world.