Summer is the season of abundance, creative expression, power and strength – and the perfect season to stretch out on a seaside yoga escape to Peppers Salt Resort & Spa. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is when the fire element is most prominent in the body giving us access to our inner strength, power and a calm still mind.

The retreat is designed for all ability levels from beginners through to experienced.  Based on Ryoho yoga therapy combining traditional Indian Hatha poses with the meridian based healing arts of China and Japan, the Spring Retreat will address specific issues relating to the heart, blood pressure and circulation, whilst at the same time improving our ability to assimilate food, relate to other people and express yourself creatively.

The aim of the retreat is to be a relaxed weekend away in beautiful surrounds with the opportunity to enjoy yoga classes, an indulgent spa treatment and wholesome food. It’s not a ‘hard core’ yoga boot camp’.

Priced from $490* per person twin share, the all-inclusive escape includes two nights accommodation, full buffet breakfast daily, six yoga classes with yoga teacher, author and TV host Kris McIntyre, a yoga mat, Golden Door workshops and demonstrations, a 50 minute Golden Door Spa treatment, wholesome meals inspired by The Golden Door cook book and prepared by Roughie’s Restaurant & Bar, full use of resort leisure facilities, unlimited in-room movies and more.

Non-residential packages are available from $351* per person including all yoga classes, mat, Golden Door Spa treatment, one dinner and two lunches.

Featuring all the luxuries you would expect of one of Australia’s leading resorts, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa offers multiple pools including a large tropical beach lagoon, a network of walking and bicycle tracks, an unspoilt surf beach patrolled 365 days a year at its doorstep, the indulgent Golden Door Spa and award-winning Roughie’s Restaurant & Bar.

Providing the ultimate beach break on South East Queensland’s doorstep, SALT is located just 20 minutes from Gold Coast Airport, 60 minutes from Ballina Airport and less than 90 minutes drive from Brisbane through the new Tugun Bypass.

For bookings or further information phone 02 6674 7777. For more information visit Peppers Salt Resort & Spa.*Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

Spring is a time for fresh new beginnings and the perfect season to stretch out and relax at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa.

The Spring Retreat is designed for all ability levels from beginners through to experienced.  Based on Ryoho yoga therapy combining traditional Indian Hatha poses with the meridian based healing arts of China and Japan, the Spring Retreat will address specific issues including detoxification, flexibility, joint problems and eyesight.

The aim of the retreat is to be a relaxed weekend away in beautiful surrounds with the opportunity to enjoy yoga classes, an indulgent spa treatment and wholesome food. It’s not a ‘hard core’ yoga boot camp’.

Priced from $474* per person twin share, the all-inclusive escape includes accommodation at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, six yoga classes with me, yoga mat, Golden Door Spa treatment, wholesome meals inspired by The Golden Door cook book and prepared by Roughies Restaurant & Bar, full use of resort leisure facilities and more.

Non-residential packages are available from $340* per person including all yoga classes, mat, Golden Door Spa treatment, two dinners and two lunches.

Featuring all the luxuries you would expect of one of Australia’s leading resorts, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa offers multiple pools including a large tropical beach lagoon, a network of walking and bicycle tracks, an unspoilt surf beach patrolled 365 days a year at its doorstep, the indulgent Golden Door Spa and award-winning Roughie’s Restaurant & Bar.

Providing the ultimate beach break on South East Queensland’s doorstep, SALT is located just 20 minutes from Gold Coast Airport, 60 minutes from Ballina Airport and less than 90 minutes drive from Brisbane through the new Tugun Bypass.

For bookings or further information phone 02 6674 7777. For more information visit Peppers Retreats & Resorts.*Conditions apply. Subject to availability.

In the heart of the World-Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, I discovered an unexpectedly unique spa treatment combined with an authentic Aboriginal eco-tourism experience.

At the start of Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa’s guided rainforest walk our Aboriginal guide, Juan Walker, tells the story of how his grandmother escaped the plight of being part of Australia’s ‘Stolen Generation’.  With news of men on horseback traveling through the area looking to remove Aboriginal children from their families to be placed in state custody, Juan’s grandmother was hidden in a woven ‘dilly bag’ and hung from a tree as the officers passed by.

It’s just one of the fascinating stories that Juan shares about his ‘bama’ (people), country and tribe, the Kuku Yalanji, that have lived in this part of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest for thousands of years and are claimed to be one of the oldest intact surviving Indigenous communities in the world.

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa’s site is important in local culture. The property was occupied by forefathers of the Kuku Yalanji tribe and used as a resting place as it provided spring water, an abundance of edible, medicinal plants and bathing holes, including a natural waterfall that to this day is still considered to be sacred to women. Read more …

Class 1 – Blood pressure and circulation
Class 2 – Circulation and energy 
Class 3 – Flexibility and hormones
Class 4 – Hearing, eyesight and awareness
Class 5 – Heart and blood pressure 
Class 6 – Balance and confidence
Class 7 – Confidence, strength and vitality

Buy online at my Shop. 

I love Daily Addict … so that’s why I’m offering a special offer for readers. Join me for a super start to the weekend – bending and stretching in Rushcutters Bay Park every Saturday morning.

Ryoho is a form of Japanese yoga therapy that changes with the seasons and to deal with specific issues including back and neck pain, weight loss and flexibility.

Daily Addict has 10-class passes (worth $100) to give away.  If you’re not one of the first 10 to email us I’m also offering a free trial class to all Daily Addict readers (bring a copy of this along to class before the end of January).

Bending and stretching in beautiful Rushcutters Bay Park is a great way to start your weekend. Now you can join our Facebook page for regular updates on class changes, programs and retreats. You can also connect with fellow yogis! Join here.

SOLD OUT: Winter and Spring Retreats coming up

Looking for a perfect excuse to kick start an autumn cleanse or just enjoy a relaxing weekend away in beautiful seaside surrounds? My autumn yoga retreat at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff NSW (just 15 mins drive from the Gold Coast Airport) will be on the weekend of 12-14 March 2010. The weekend retreat will include accommodation, all meals inspired by the Golden Door Cookbook and prepared by Peppers executive chef Reuben Radonich, yoga classes. talks and seminars by the Golden Door and treatments at the amazing The Golden Door Spa.

About the Weekend
In nature, Autumn is a time of letting go. Trees shed their leaves and drive their roots deeper into the earth, animals make preparations for hibernation and that which is useful is broken down and used for future life cycles; and that which is useless is discarded or eliminated. We are creatures of nature so in the same way, our physicality allows us to ‘grasp’ what we need and let go of what we don’t need. This applies to all aspects of our lives including food, digestion, relationships, concepts and ideas.

We also have our ‘autumn’ period where the body naturally lets go of the old. This is the reason why autumn is a good time to ‘clean out’ and if we don’t do it consciously (through fasting or a safe cleanse) our bodies will step in and do it for us through a cold or flu.  This is the perfect time of the year to deal with digestive and respiratory problems, shoulder aches and pains and heaviness in the thighs and buttocks.

The weekend is designed to give you the option to kickstart and cleanse for Autumn or just enjoy a relaxed weekend away with your partner or a group of friends. It’s not a ‘hard core’, boot-camp style yoga retreat, but you’ll have the opportunity to work hard if you wish to.

The weekend is open to beginners through to advanced practitioners. Non-residential and non-yogi packages (for accompanying companions) are also available.

About Ryoho Yoga
Ryoho (translated as ‘appropriate’) is a unique form of yoga therapy developed by renowned Australian practitioner, Andzrej Gospodarczyk. Ryoho is Andzrej’s interpretation of his studies with Indian yoga guru Iyengar, Japanese Oki-do sensei Masahiro Oki, Zen Shiatsu master Masunaga and founder of the Macrobiotic movement Mishio Kushi. Combining traditional Indian Hatha poses with the meridian-based healing arts of China and Japan, Ryoho uses specific postures and food advice appropriate to the time of the year and to address common health issues. The style also aims to be fun, playful and unconventional in its approach to the body. The classes on the retreat will be suitable for everyone from beginners through to advanced practitioners.

About the Golden Door Spa
The Golden Door Spa at Salt Village is a haven of relaxation and healing located at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff. Being one of the largest day spas in Australia, The Golden Door boasts 21 treatments areas and offering a large range of spa services including facials, body treatment, healing treatments, massages and hand and pedi spas.

Enjoy our spacious relaxation lounge before or after your treatments and take advantage of our complimentary steam room and spa bath. While you relax, sip our Golden Door signature herbal tea and refreshments on offer.

Included in your Yoga Retreat package is your choice of a 50-minute treatment at the Golden Door Spa: Aromatherapy Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Kahuna Style Lomi Lomi Massage,  (Facial) Facial a la carte, (Body) Aromatic Salt Glow or  (Feet) Pedi-spa.

The Program:

Friday 12 March 2010
6.30-7.30pm    Yoga
8.00pm            Dinner

Saturday 13 March
6.30am              Morning ‘joggle – not a run’
7.00-8.00am   Yoga
8.00-9.00am    Breakfast
9.00-11.00am  Free time & Golden Door treatments
11.00-12.00     Yoga
12.00-1.00pm Health Cooking Demonstration – Presented by David Hunter, Executive Chef at The Golden Door
1.00-2.00pm    Lunch
2.00-3.30pm    Free time and/or Golden Door treatments
3.30-4.20pm   Women’s Health Workshop (& relaxation time for the boys!) – Hosted by Shirley Kalnins from The Golden Door Health Retreat
4.30-5.30pm    Free time and/or Golden Door treatments
5.30-6.30pm    Yoga
6.45-8.00pm    Dinner
8.00-8.45pm   Massage Workshop hosted by Amanda Varlow from The Golden Door Spa at Salt
8.45- 9.00pm   Relaxation/ Meditation with Kris

Sunday 14 March
6.15am               Morning ‘joggle – not a run
6.30-7.30am    Beach yoga class
8.00-9.00am    Breakfast
9.00am-noon   Free time & Golden Door treatments
12.00-1.00pm  Yoga
1.00-2.00pm    Lunch (Lagoon Poolside, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa
2.00pm            Departure or relax at leisure

Pricing #

# All-inclusive package price per person.
* Non-residential package excludes accommodation and breakfast.

Bookings:  phone Louise Anker on 02 6670 5027 or email louise@conferencesandeventsatsalt.com.au

A couple of years after filming YOGA TV, I furthered my yoga study by studying Ryoho Yoga with the amazing Andzrej Gospodarczyk and Lisa Foster. Then I had the chance to shoot this DVD for Team Unity Fitness. The DVD has two classes: morning/ beginner (for energy and good digestion) and evening/ intermediate (for stress and lower back release. Nils Vesk from YOGA TV also makes an appearance (Barbs moved to a beautiful place by the sea and had babies!) You can now buy it through my shop.