Explore Byron Yoga Retreat Centre in NSW

Sponsored by Byron Yoga Retreat Centre June 18, 2019

With its amazing location, nestled in a forest clearing yet so close the beautiful beaches of Byron Bay, Byron Yoga Retreat Centre offers the unique choice of seclusion or exploration. You can choose to relax at the eco sanctuary, enjoying the mineral salt pool and lush gardens, jump on a bicycle and head into Byron Bay or take a road trip into the rainforest hinterland.

The experience

Byron Yoga Retreat Centre offers guests affordable wellness programs with accommodation to suit your budget. While this is not a luxury resort, the rooms are clean and comfortable. The simplicity and focus on the natural surrounds fosters a deep sense of peace and tranquillity, allowing guests to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with nature, and with themselves.

Byron Bay has long been synonymous with healing and wellbeing. The iconic destination has become home to many amazing yoga teachers, wellness experts and treatment therapists. Byron Yoga Centre has carefully selected its retreat hosts, teachers and bodyworkers so that guests benefit from the exceptional quality of this vibrant community.

This affordable retreat centre is truly unique. You are offered an authentic retreat experience, surrounded by trees and totally secluded, but it’s just a 20-minute walk to the centre of Byron Bay.

The hub, or the heart, of the eco Byron Yoga Retreat Centre is the indoor/outdoor dining area. The communal tables and delicious food (guests all rave about the food!) serve to bring guests together and create a congenial atmosphere. The other major draw card of the site is the 20-metre mineral salt swimming pool. Refreshing in summer, solar heated in winter and a welcome aid to soothing yoga-stretched muscles all year round.

The accommodation rooms are basic, clean and comfortable, most with views of the glistening pool, or lush tropical grounds and organic veggie garden. You can choose the option to suit your preference and budget, with quad share cabins, twin share with share bathrooms, or private and en-suite rooms upgrade offers. There are several yoga spaces to accommodate both the retreat and the teacher training groups as well as plenty of comfortable spaces to relax and read a book.

The yoga

Byron Yoga Retreat Centre is celebrated for its accessible style of yoga and high quality yoga teachers. As Australia’s leading teacher training academy and retreat centre, it has attracted (and taught) an incredible array of national and international yogis. The experienced teachers are adept at making their yoga classes suitable for all levels. Those new, or fairly new, to yoga will find they gain a solid foundation and quickly grow in confidence.

The style of yoga taught was developed by the founder John Ogilvie who began teaching over 30 years ago. Purna Yoga is a classical alignment-focused hatha yoga with intelligent sequencing. Purna, meaning integrated or complete in Sanskrit, represents Byron Yoga Centre’s holistic approach to yoga – integrating the physical asana postures with yoga philosophy, meditation and pranayama.

Retreat programs offer the option of up to three yoga classes each day, with a morning flow, a mid morning alignment-based class and an afternoon restorative or yin session. These nourishing afternoon classes help to deeply relax the body, balance the nervous system, release fascia and improve joint mobility and flexibility and calm the mind.

Retreat programs

Byron Yoga Retreat Centre has an abundance of retreats, so you can choose exactly the dates that work for you. Most weeks of the year there is a choice of three-, five- or eight-day programs, plus some special retreats such as the Women’s Weekend Retreat and the New Year Retreat.

The programs are flexible so you can opt out of sessions if you prefer more relaxation or more exploration time. To experience the full spectrum of workshops, including the popular cooking demonstration and garden tour, the eight-day retreat is the smart choice. This would also give you enough time to fully unwind and recharge. You would also have time to include some of the additional activities offered such as a surf lesson or kayak trip. Best of all the eight-day retreat includes three complimentary treatments. The five-day program has the key workshops that will help you refocus on your wellbeing and includes two massages. The three-day weekend retreat offers the program highlights and one relaxing treatment.

Each retreat also includes a walk up to the world-famous lighthouse, where you will often see dolphins and whales (during their migration season). The main workshops covering wellness, yogic philosophy, nutrition and meditation are held after breakfast and after dinner. The afternoons are kept free for you to relax by the pool, read or journal, or head to the beach or further afield. This is also the best time to schedule your complimentary treatments. The specialty Women’s Retreats follow a similar program, with a focus on workshops and sacred rituals to honour the feminine. All of the programs are designed to allow you to slow down, rest, recharge and develop healthy habits to take home.

The retreats are all inclusive including meals, accommodation, yoga and treatments – the three-day retreat includes one massage or treatment, the five-day includes two and the eight-day includes three. Optional extras such as an extra night before or after the retreat, an additional treatment, naturopath appointment, or activities including surfing, kayaking or a Crystal Castle Tour can be added to your booking for a fee.

The food

Feedback from guests rates the food as a major highlight of staying at Byron Yoga Retreat Centre. The organic vegetarian food is not only delicious, but also nutritious. Prepared using the freshest ingredients, either from the onsite permaculture gardens or from local suppliers (organic where possible). The Retreat Centre follows the principles of SLOW food: Seasonal, Local, Organic and Without processed foods of any kind.

All of the meals are vegetarian, following the Ayurvedic principles of sattvic cooking with lots of digestive herbs and spices that promote detoxification and healing, and lighten the body, mind and spirit. Vegan, gluten and dairy free options are available, and allergies can be catered for. Retreat guests are offered a fresh cold pressed juice during the morning break, and coffee, hot drinks and ‘healthy’ sweet treats are available for purchase.

Getting there

Byron Bay is just a 20-minute drive from Ballina Airport, 45 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport, or two hours from Brisbane. All three airports are serviced by frequent shuttle buses that can be booked in advance and will drop off (and pick up from) Byron Yoga Retreat Centre. If you are coming from town, it is a five-minute taxi ride.