A retreat for body and mind
Imagine getting up in the morning in England and be reclining by a sun soaked swimming pool in Morocco by the early afternoon! This is exactly the experience I encountered when heading away on a retreat with Satvada in late February. A short and inexpensive flight with EasyJet whisked me off to Marrakech, where my group transfer was waiting to drive us to the retreat location high in the Atlas Mountains.
In the last five years or so the popularity of short-haul travel has soared, due to smaller budgets, increased coverage of destinations in the UK and Europe and of course the shorter flight time! I’d been to central Marrakech the year before, and although I thoroughly enjoyed it I was after a longer and more immersive experience, far away from the bustle of city life.
Less of a hotel, more of a home
The host Kasbah (or castle) certainly fit the bill. Perched majestically on top of a mountain, the Kasbah is modelled on traditional Berber houses, and was built by local villagers using authentic methods.
With 360 degree panoramic views, you’re never far away from beauty, and the peace and quiet surrounding the property is quite astounding, especially early morning when bird-song is the only sound you’ll hear.
Early mornings don’t come naturally to me but I found myself wide awake when my alarm went off at 6.30am, looking forward to the morning yoga session which started at 7.45 after an optional coffee and fruit stop. The morning yoga is held in a studio which overlooks the sleepy villages below, a peaceful setting with a faint echo of the call to prayer the only background noise.
Yoga was crafted so that the classes suited all levels; our group was a mix - some of us used to a regular practise and a few beginners. A gentle flowing morning practise using plenty of props and restorative breathing set us up for our day and we felt ourselves start to unwind from the very first session together.
Gentle walks through majestic scenery
Walking through the Atlas Mountains
An avid yogi, what surprised me about this retreat was how much I enjoyed the daily three hour hikes throughout the mountains.
After a plentiful breakfast of fruits, eggs, pancakes and freshly made bread we were fueled up and our local guide, Abdul would take us on a different route, weaving through forests; winding rivers full of the recent rainfall and small villages with friendly locals who waved as we ambled past. We returned each day with tired legs and lots of great photos.
Lunch was a bounty of local vegetable dishes, buffet style but we made sure to make room for the afternoon tea and cake that was laid out late afternoon each day. If you worry that going on retreat means abstaining from tasty meals and the odd glass of wine then let me alleviate that - there’s plenty to go round and a healthy attitude to enjoying the local cuisine.
Solo travel, with welcome company
Yoga breakfast
Over the week the group started to gel, with plenty of time on the walks to chat and get to know one another. I found it fascinating to discover why each person had decided to come away, we were all solo travellers apart from a lady who had travelled with her daughter for some quality time together.
Solo travel can be daunting, but also hugely enriching and I found myself very open to chatting when with others in the group, but also appreciated the free time I had in the afternoon where I could just relax in my room, take a stroll round the grounds or curl up near the fire with a good book.
Dip in and out as you wish
Kasbah accommodation
Five days flew by, with our routine providing a welcome structure but with the benefit of knowing that all walks and classes were optional, if you fancied an extra lie in or day by the pool there’d be no problem at all - in fact we were encouraged us to listen to to what our body needed each day.
Evening classes were a group favourite, focused around gently stretching our bodies after walking and incorporating mindfulness meditation to generate a feeling of calm which would last until we rolled into bed that evening.
Props, blankets and pillows were all provided, and by the last day we were experts in creating our own personal nook in which we could relax and let our minds float away for ten minutes or so - sheer bliss.
I returned from retreat feeling more relaxed than I have ever been after travelling, and thrilled that I had gone solo. Time out from everyday life and the chance to relax, breathe and walk through the mountains had revived my frazzled brain and body and I felt sad to leave my group of new friends behind.
Satvada run retreats to the Atlas Mountains throughout the winter and spring, please check the schedule for dates and details.
“It only had to do with how it felt to be in the wild. With what it was like to walk for miles for no reason other than to witness the accumulation of trees and meadows, mountains and deserts, streams and rocks, rivers and grasses, sunrises and sunsets. The experience was powerful and fundamental. It seemed to me that it had always felt like this to be a human in the wild, and as long as the wild existed it would always feel this way.”
Cheryl Strayed Wild
Blog written by Emma Pryke