Just Breathe - My Chakra & Yoga Retreat Experience
I was raised Hindu - and I have always been fascinated by the spiritual world.
I love the colours, the flowers, the sounds, the smells & the community that going to temples bring.
I love being able to stop, think and reflect in a quiet, peaceful place, dedicated to prayer and simply being.
But life gets in the way.
So when I came across a Chakra & Yoga Retreat - I had to say yes please!
Nestled away in beautiful Dundee, Carole van Dijk has created a sanctuary for Territory women (& men) looking for a place to reconnect with themselves, their bodies, mother nature & the universe.
Having given up her corporate career in vocational and adult education & training, just over 3 years ago, Carole has immersed herself in helping individuals in a different way - a way that has certainly changed the way I live my everyday life.
Chakras (cakra in Sanskrit) means ‘wheel’ and refers to the possible existence of energy points in our bodies. They are spinning wheels of energy that should remain open and aligned to ensure our physical and emotional wellbeing.
1) Root Chakra - Physical identity, stability & grounding
2) Sacral Chakra - Sexuality, pleasure & creativity
3) Solar Plexus Chakra - Self-esteem & confidence
4) Heart Chakra - Love & compassion
5) Throat Chakra - Communication
6) Third Eye Chakra - Intuition & imagination
7) Crown Chakra - Awareness & intelligence
Over 3 days, we explored each chakra in detail.
We danced, did breath work, practiced yoga & hummed.
I left more relaxed, more open to listening to my own desires and needs, & committed to exploring meditation further.
My Highlights
Chakra Dancing
On day 1, as we all stood out facing the ocean as the sun set, dancing to beautiful music, and in our own worlds of reflection - it was nothing short of magic. Women from all walks of life, coming together to have a shared spiritual experience. To put the past behind us. To put aside our worries. To simply reflect on the here & now. The waves crashed around us, the beautiful ocean breeze overcame us & the spectacular colours of the sunset shone upon us.
Sound Healing
I had never experienced sound healing before, and I did not know what to expect.
We all laid down in a circle - in the centre, a beautiful collection of instruments - singing bowls, rain sticks, drums - all illuminated by candles.
As the session progressed, different instruments were introduced - the calming sounds of the rain stick reminded me of those perfect wet season days where you’re cuddled up inside and listening to the world around you. The ringing of the bells reminded me of those Friday nights I spent at the temple growing up - a sound that truly takes you to a different place.
I found meditating to different sounds to be so peaceful, moving & healing - and somewhat easier!
Tibetan singing bowls were placed on our bodies, the vibrations coursing through us as they were hit - reminding us of our connection to the vibrations all around us.
Mandala Drawing & Fire Ceremony
Mandala symbols and designs have been used for thousands of years as a spiritual guidance tool - a way of representing the universe.
One of our sessions included all of us being given the opportunity to draw a circle and create our own mandala - based on whatever we felt & desired.
It was such an exciting and calming exercise that reminded me of the recent trend of adult colouring books. There is something to be said about being able to sit down and focus on nothing but shapes, and colour. All of our designs were completely different - and like year 7 art class, what you put in of yourself, is what you got out.
Tied into our own mandalas, was an incredibly powerful fire ceremony.
On the first day of the retreat, we were all asked to write down something or multiple things that did not serve us anymore - things we wanted to let go of.
My list was long, complicated & somewhat sad - but on the last night, we had the opportunity to ceremonially let go of these things - through a fire ceremony.
We went around in our circle and individually lit our pieces of paper on fire - as I looked around, you could visibly see weight lifting from people as they lit aflame everything from failed relationships, jealousy, self-criticism & aspects of themselves so personal to them.
We all carry so much baggage. So many burdens of the past and the present. Aspects of ourselves we’re not proud of. Experiences we wish we could simply move on from. And there was something so wonderful about tying in that want and need to let go - to a physical act in the material world.
As the ashes flew away in the wind - so too did some of the worry, pain & hurt we had all been holding on to so tightly.
I’ve always struggled to find the time to meditate or do mindfulness exercises.
The retreat reminded me that sometimes all it takes is one minute - of slowing down - stopping - reflecting - and taking stock.
The Food
Words cannot describe how delicious every single meal was.
From spicy lentil curries and freshly made bread, to homemade falafels, every meal was a flavour explosion of health and goodness. So much thought & love went into every dish - and there’s a reason someone said “I come for the food!”.
5 minute Breathing Exercise
The following breathing exercise can, and will change your life.
Benefits include: reducing stress & anxiety, boosting your immune system, improving your brain functions, & promoting weight loss (yep! Higher levels of oxygen in your blood increases blood flow. Faster blood flow helps to speed up your metabolism, helping your body to burn calories at a faster rate).
Step 1. Sit down in a comfortable position or lie down
Step 2. Take a deep breath in for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Step 3. Breathe out for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Step 4. Repeat for 5 minutes.
If thoughts come into your mind, let them float in, and float out. Try and remain focussed on your breathing - the air entering your body and reaching every single part of you.
My weekend in Dundee was absolutely life-changing. I had wanted to connect more with myself & with my spirituality and the weekend allowed me to do exactly that.
Carole’s dedication to helping women be the best possible versions of themselves is nothing short of inspiring.
Not very spiritual?
If you don’t see yourself as someone who is very spiritual - all I would say is, you don’t have much to lose by being open to new experiences. Next time you’re out in nature, feel the earth that grounds you. Reflect on the beauty of our natural world. Think about every sensation that runs through your body. You may discover something new about yourself - and the world around you.
Experience it for yourself!
This is not a sponsored post. Here at Her Territory, we value honesty & integrity and will only ever share our genuine feelings & experiences.
That’s why I am so confident about recommending a retreat with Carole - because if you like the sound of my experience, you will not be disappointed.
Carole offers a variety of day and weekend retreats and the best part is, if you can get a group of 6 or more friends together, she’ll customise your retreat just for you.
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