YFG Annual Retreat 2024 through the words of our participants
As the echoes of the 2024 Yoga For Good Annual Retreat fade, we are happily reflecting on an event that exceeded our expectations, creating lasting memories for all who attended.
Set against the serene backdrop of nature, attendees embarked on a journey of self-discovery and collective insight. Instead of just recounting the event ourselves, we are excited to share the experience through the voices of our participants.
Moira Nirvana Gordon, our dedicated director, has gathered these heartfelt reflections along with her own to provide a detailed review that highlights the transformative power of yoga and the joy found in our shared moments.
“Practice makes perfect,” says Moira Nirvana Gordon. “As this is our third gathering, we are continuing to learn about ourselves as an organisation and how we can better connect with others to strengthen our community.”
Moira’s journey of rediscovery
For me, having the retreat at Swamis Retreat in Kenthurst, NSW, provided a sense of completion. I first discovered this wonderful place when I arrived in Australia over 30 years ago, and it has remained largely unchanged since then. Although Swami has passed away, dear Sanjay now manages the venue and continues his mother’s mission of promoting yoga in Australia.
During the retreat, we paid tribute to all the past and present teachers from the Yoga lineages who have brought us together. Upon arrival, we dove into Restorative Yoga and Meditation, the first of many opportunities to practice various styles throughout the days.
From our participants:
I loved having Shankadev and Chetana as the main teachers. I really value learning from such senior teachers.
I enjoyed reconnection with Satyananada, learning new mantras and Kirtan, deep meditations.
Great yoga, meditation and kirtan.
Perfect for the first-time experience, but some yoga required.
Embracing warmth, nature and connection
A welcoming spirit greets you upon arrival at the Retreat. It has the essence of an Ashram but with a lighter, more playful atmosphere.
Nestled within 60 acres of bushland, the Retreat embraces a strong sense of country for which we respectfully acknowledged the Dharug people as the traditional owners and paid tribute to their Elders past, present and future, as well as to the collective ancestry that brought us all to this place.
More thoughts from our participants:
The activities and location worked really well.
Great to have Fires inside and out in the beautiful spaces of nature.
The spa, steam room, bush walks and delicious food were excellent.
Great time out, space to be free to do what works for you.
Absolutely fantastic! Value for money and variety was great. Small group size allowed time for real connection. I hope to continue. Venue very accessible to where I live.
It was really beautiful. I got a lot out of it even though I’m not a yoga teacher.
Glamping and Fires were excellent.
A celebration of grants and values
Our welcome ceremony celebrated our successful grant awards and YFG’s core values of Nature, Practice, Discovery, Self-Enquiry, Community, and Connection. We expressed our gratitude for being custodians of this collective legacy.
There was significant interest in our grant work that supports yoga in the community.
Loved hearing, meeting and buying the book by Adele Vincent.
I like YFG for supporting people to do yoga for good in a wide range of ways.
Love the fact that it is about doing good – the grants, and connecting all styles of yoga.
Wonderful grant system spreading the word.
Our playful introduction formed a circle to bring us together, honouring the elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether. We dedicated our most enjoyable activities and our visions for the days ahead to Lord Shiva, asking for his guidance. This symbolic act created unity within the group, which we reinforced by closing with the group’s values and aspirations, aligning beautifully with YFG’s mission and encouraging a stronger sense of community in future retreats.
Things our participants were truly grateful for:
Thank you for having us connect with each other.
Bringing like-minded souls together for good intentions.
That YFG exists and truly helps spread yoga.
Helping people through yoga.
Meeting interesting people, especially Chetana with sound yoga.
Connection with like-minded Souls through singing.
Companionship with other women.
It is lovely to meet like-minded people.
A magical evening under the stars and a day of enriching activities
We were lucky to have a clear night for an outdoor fire to complete our first evening. It was magical under the stars, with Kirtan, music and fire gazing. The morning began with Gentle Dru Yoga and a bushwalk, followed by the main events of the day.
The enjoyment of these activities was high, with Dr Shankardev’s excellent talk being well received, as were Chetan’s Yoga sessions, including Nidra, Sound and Meditative practices. All the program activities blended well to create a fulfilling experience.
I felt all the sessions worked and flowed well together.
A variety of yoga sound, movements.
A rare opportunity to experience deep yoga, meditation, mantra and philosophy.
A Healing retreat for Healers, high standard of techniques to learn, networking opportunities and genuine loving people.
A great example of many different practices.
I enjoyed the music, relaxation, exercise, knowledge of food and longevity.
Acknowledging contributions and finding connection
Our team—Leerah, Melina, Chetan, Anandavati, and Clare—made great contributions to the event. I am so grateful and look forward to having you all back next time! It was spectacular to see the planning come together, and the best part was watching everyone mingle, engage in conversation and exchange interests.
Some beautiful compliments from participants:
Time out, loved the wholesome nutritious meals.
Peace, relaxation, creativity.
A beautiful stillness.
Enjoyable, relaxing, nurturing, lovely.
Welcoming, restorative weekend.
Very uplifting and centring.
Beautiful.
You experience yoga and meditation in its true sense.
Mandatory! Not to be missed, it is Soul food.
Very comfortable, wonderful food, wonderful teachers.
Peaceful, well-rounded, something for everyone, cost-effective.
It was so worthwhile.
Time to unwind and connect.
Beautiful nurturing yoga retreat.
It is an honour to be part of YFG and witness the restoration through our work following the closure of the previous organisation. We asked attendees what they liked best about the Yoga For Good Foundation and its work in the community, here’s what they had to say:
Fundamentally a sound, effective form of NFP for bringing capable healers to the community.
It’s just pure goodness and so generous in supporting good yoga projects.
Moira’s love and support and innovation.
Being a Teacher of Yoga.
Retreat and variety of service.
It is generous, kind, giving and knowledgeable.
Fantastic organisation, that’s all I can say.
Overall, I like the YFG Communication and Zoom classes.
Generosity.
Connect with your true self through the transformative power of yoga
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this transformative experience in nature. For those who couldn’t attend our retreat in 2024, we look forward to welcoming you next year as we continue to spread the joy and transformative power of yoga, connecting with our true selves and each other.
At Yoga For Good, we host free community classes every month. Don’t miss our next one, book your tickets now.
For additional insights on yoga, meditation and self-mastery, explore our Yoga For Good Foundation articles.
Community yoga classes
We are passionate about sharing the joy of practising yoga and offering you an opportunity to connect with your true self on a regular basis.
View previous classes or book now for our next class.
Free
Tue, 22 Oct, 9am - 10am PST
Yoga for Good Community Class with Amy Brooks
Join Amy for a trauma-informed gentle flow Community Class with a particular focus on noticing internal sensations and making choices.
Amy Brooks is a qualified social worker, mental health clinician and yoga facilitator certified in Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) based in the Shoalhaven, NSW. She has been practicing yoga for over a decade and passionately believes in its healing qualities for the mind and body, making it an effective adjunct therapy for mental health work. Amy completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Om Sweet Om Milton in 2022.
She is offering yoga classes to the community, combining her professional training and lived experience as a source of strength to guide others on their own journey towards recovery.
Free
9th November 2024 - 11:00am to 12:00pm
Suze Male - Transformative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Join Suze from 42 Yoga for a transformative yoga class focused on balancing the sacral chakra, the centre of creativity and passion. She believes yoga is the key to body, mind wellness and healing. After practicing for many years and teacher training in Bali and India, she is using these skills with children’s and trauma-informed yoga.
Her new book, a yoga-for-kids adventure called Ursula the Roly Poly Unicorn, helps children develop strong self-esteem, through story and yoga as a positive and empowering tool.
In this class with gentle flows, breathwork and mindful practices, we will cultivate energy, release blockages, and ignite the creative spirit, as well as explore the profound connection between body, mind, and creative expression.
Free
22nd January 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm
Reetu Verma – Transformative Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Meeting ID: 859 1833 4994
Passcode: 171949
Join Reetu for an immersive meditation session into the depths of our energy centres. Nourish the systems of your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, ready for the year ahead. Be guided by her inspiring voice to relax into meditation and reconnect with and balance the subtle energies within.
Reetu Verma has 25 years of experience as an academic, teacher and coach, providing support, help and guidance to thousands of people from all walks of life from all over the globe.
During a traumatic near-death experience, she experienced pure light and pure love and embarked on a transformational, personal healing journey. Inspired and totally committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others, helping them on their healing journey to live a healthier, happier life.
She founded Healing, Health and Happiness to expanded her teachings of personal development, into finding life purpose and spiritual growth. Reetu has developed a systematic, practical approach to bring more harmony and a sense of joy into life.
Free
22nd October 2024 - 12:00 to 1:00pm, Tuesday
Amy Brooks – Trauma Informed Yoga Community Class
Online Yoga Community Class Link
Join Amy for a trauma-informed gentle flow Community Class with a particular focus on noticing internal sensations and making choices.
Amy Brooks is a qualified social worker, mental health clinician and yoga facilitator certified in Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) based in the Shoalhaven, NSW. She has been practicing yoga for over a decade and passionately believes in its healing qualities for the mind and body, making it an effective adjunct therapy for mental health work. Amy completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Om Sweet Om Milton in 2022.
She is offering yoga classes to the community, combining her professional training and lived experience as a source of strength to guide others on their own journey towards recovery.
Testimonials
Our sole mission is to create opportunities to do good for others through yoga.
And we’re making an impact.
A huge thank you to the Yoga For Good Foundation...
…for their incredible contribution to our Life Now Yoga and meditation programs!
This generous donation will mean we can buy new yoga equipment, run a new yoga class in Broome, and enhance our meditation program for cancer patients and their primary carers.
Cancer Council Western AustraliaSending out gratitude to the Yoga for Good Foundation.
Their grant is enabling me to offer FREE trauma informed therapeutic movement and relaxation to frontline mental health and social services staff in Bega.
Participants are really valuing the time out for themselves and experiencing integrated poly vagal theory. And I get to be in a teaching space, yay!
PremKranti CounsellingThe generous grant we've been awarded from the Yoga For Good Foundation...
…allows us to reach more underserved and vulnerable community groups who can benefit from a trauma-informed yoga and embodied mindfulness practice at zero cost to the participants.
Some of the community groups we’ll be serving in the current months include 000 Foundation, Men’s Walk and Talk and WAGEC.
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