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focusing on our busy lives to fully immersing ourselves in our
practice, creating a wonderful space for development. In most cases,
I’ve found the more the retreat takes you out of your comfort zone,
the greater the reward. And sailing certainly does that, however there
are so many advantages both as a teacher and pupil. The physical
and emotional escapism, into nature, encourages a steadiness of
mind and body, and an appreciation of the immediate.
On deck
That first morning, I awoke early and rolled out my mat on the deck. I
sat for a few minutes, drinking in the morning air and then let my body
move in time with my breath. There’s nothing quite like practicing yoga
outside: you lose all sense of time and find yourself moving much
more with the ebb and flow of your own inhale and exhale.
In yoga we often focus on opposing forces; the beauty of
staying grounded and strong, yet being flexible. Responding to
the movement of the boat really brought this home. Balancing
passionate discipline with non-attachment helps us to stay
motivated without getting competitive, and remain accepting without
becoming dismissive. Through mastering Abhyasa (practice, passion)
and Vairagya (non-attachment, dispassion) the key to quieting the
mind and controlling the Vrittis (mental whirlpool) can be found. Here
on the boat, this philosophical idea was physically represented in our
asana practice. If we gave in to the stirring waters below and moved
in harmony with the swaying of the boat we remained balanced, calm
and fluid. The external factors simply brought greater focus.
Shifting equilibrium
I taught my students to zone in on the small movements of the
hundreds of muscles and bones in our feet and hands, keeping us
grounded and allowing our bodies to take on the rhythm of the
boat, so we could adapt to the shifting equilibrium, rather than fight
against it. As a result, our physical development after a week was
notable, along with a deeper connection with nature and stillness
of mind.
The live-aboard experience created a strong bond between this
unlikely crew. We slept and practiced on the boat, dropping anchor
off the coast whenever the mood took us. Cooking and cleaning
were shared tasks and through these everyday jobs, done in the
least mundane of surroundings, the shared sense of experience
encouraged a wonderful comradery, an acceptance of others and
the opportunity for self-reflection. By becoming an essential part of
the crew, it was wonderful to gain that deep connection with
my students.Unique experience
A sailing and yoga retreat brings together two activities which at
first seem unrelated and yet share many similar and complementary
qualities. In harmony, they offer a wonderful space for both personal
and communal growth. There’s no time for vanity and no need to
check your phone. The only distraction is the view. As the horizon
stretches out before you it is impossible not to surrender control
and go with the flow.
This experience was truly unique, I can’t wait to teach more
retreats and bring this sense of connectivity into my weekly private
yoga sessions and workshops. Practicing on the deck of a boat
offered a complete break from our normal routine which enhanced
both our physical and emotional wellbeing. Rather than being
like ships passing in the night, it is a way to deeply connect
with others..Corrie McCallum set up Stretch Breathe Smile in 2011, focused on
health, fitness and wellness services from her boutique home studio
in London and online (stretchbreathesmile.com)