Breath ... Relax Yoga Retreats Mafia Island Marine Park - Tanzania
Written by Leila El Krekshi
We live our lives surrounded by so many distractions that we forget the beauty of simple life and slow living! This journey on Mafia Island gave the opportunity to completely unplug from the day to day reality of our stressful lives. How liberating is that?
It has been couple of weeks now, enjoying the silence of the relaxing and balancing retreat on the intimate tropical paradise Mafia Island Marine Park - Tanzania and unpretentious vibe of Pole Pole Bungalows. Orenda had its first round of Yoga retreats here and wanted to give a quick glimpse of this wonderful and serene experience.
Our main focus was on breath, in its highest form as a manifestation of a universal energy: Prana. the purpose was to quiet our minds through the control of our breath, feeling the flow of prana or life force as a wave of consciousness, as breath flows through our sacred body. We combined it with sequences of asanas (yoga postures) to shape energy, and build a good foundation of purification, stability and balance. A simple detox practice, called Jal neti, was then introduced to our guest, to clear the flow of their nostrils and feel invigorated and energized.
What's more? there s no better way to celebrate silence than to enjoy a sunrise sail to the sandbank for yoga flow practice, opening our heart to the sun to receive its first rays of vital power.
Waiting for our boat to take us to the sandbank for sunrise yoga flow and picnic
When experiencing such a breathtaking light slowly rising, all i can do is close my eyes, bow, feeling one with this sacred place
After going for a walk to collect some beautiful flowers, to prepare the flower mandala on the sand for our sunset meditation, the beautiful design was gradually blown away, within minutes, by the wind, teaching us detachment and impermanence in life: What was yesterday is not today and what is today is not tomorrow. We are in constant change... no expectations, practice pratipaksha bhava, by turning to positivity, peace, love and compassion.
Sunset mandala meditation
A flower mandala whisked away by the wind... a symbol of impermanence in life
This experience at the heart of Mafia Island Marine Park and getting back in touch with the elements of nature: empty beaches with gently swaying coconut palm trees, sailing and other adventures , including Thai massage surely left our guests feeling more relaxed, and grounded.
Being surrounded by different elements of nature, from the coconut trees to the soothing scent of frangipani flowers. From the fresh salty breeze of the Indian ocean and its staggeringly beautiful and varied display of marine life to the playful squirrels in the trees going about their little lives.
Chatting and sharing with each other different insights about our lives and experiences; good laughs while having delicious food prepared with so much love and dedication. The smiles of the Swahili staff that warms our hearts every morning at Pole Pole are among the reasons this makes Orenda - Holistic Retreats a wonderful journey to experience!
The breeze at dawn, the sound of the sea and swaying coconut trees have secrets to tell us…Breath slows down to the rhythm of nature.
