Located on the shores of beautiful Port Stephens just over 2 hours drive from Sydney and 40 minutes from Newcastle, Peppers Anchorage is the perfect place to relax and unwind for a weekend yoga retreat.

Friday 23-Sunday 25 March 2012: Autumn Retreat
Themes: Autumn cleansing, respiration, elimination, improved digestion.

Friday 17-Sunday 19 August 2012: Winter-into-Spring Retreat
Themes: Spring detox, back strength, flexibility, eyesight and stress release.

Designed especially to suit beginners and intermediate levels of experience, each weekend varies to suit the changing needs of the seasons according to Ryoho (a form of yoga therapy combining traditional Indian Hatha poses with the meridian based healing arts of China and Japan). Yoga, meditation, food talks, beach and bush walks are all part of the weekend.

The weekend yoga escape at Peppers Anchorage isn’t a yoga ‘boot camp’ and we don’t have any ‘rules’. We instead provide a platform for attendees to get as much as they want out of the weekend.

From $536 per person, twin share the weekend retreat package includes two nights accommodation at Peppers Anchorage Port Stephens, six Ryoho yoga and meditation classes, a yoga mat, morning beach and bushwalks and a healthy wholefood menu prepared by Peppers Chefs. Optional treatments (at additional cost) available at Shayna Day Spa.

When not stretching out on the yoga mat, guests can enjoy massage and beauty treatments at the onsite Shayna Day Spa and full use of the resort’s leisure facilities including a swimming pool, sauna and the adjacent beach.

For bookings contact Delise McLean at Peppers Anchorage Port Stephens on (02) 4984 0364 or email delise.mclean@peppers.com.au.

Read about Newcastle Herald journalist, Anita Beaumont’s experience on a recent retreat here.

at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff
with Kris McIntyre & Michele Chevalley Hedge
Friday 28-Sunday 30 October 2011

Nutritionist and author, Michele Chevalley Hedge, will co-host this special weekend for mums and daughters on 28-30 October. The weekend will include luxury accommodation at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa Kingscliff, morning and evening yoga and meditation classes with Kris, sessions on food and nutrition with Michele, healthy and nutritious meals planned by Michele and prepared by Peppers chefs,  pampering at the Golden Door Day Spa* and plenty of mother-daughter bonding time.

Mother & Daughter weekend packages include:

• 2 nights accommodation for Mum & Daughter
• All meals
• 5 yoga classes with Kris
• 2 food & nutrition sessions with Michele
• 1 Zumba class with the Golden Door
• 1 x 50-minute Spa treatment for Mum at the Golden Door *

Prices start at $1,076 per package ($538 per person). Please note that additional Golden Door Spa bookings can be made at a special retreat rate at the time of booking. Conditions apply.*

For bookings contact: Jolene Napper at Salt Conferences & Events, Phone: (02) 6670 5009 or email jolene.napper@conferencesandeventsatsalt.com.au

* Minimum age for bookings at the Golden Door Day Spa is 16 years of age, unless in the same room as a parent or guardian. Bookings at The Golden Door will be taken on a first in, best served basis.

The program

Friday 28 October 2011
6.30-7.30pm     Yoga (The Pavilion Room, Mantra on Salt Beach)
8.00pm               Dinner  (Season Restaurant, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa)
8.40-9.00pm     Welcome & introduction with Kris & Michele (The Pavilion Room)
& Relaxation session with Kris (Bring a pillow, shawl, sarong or blanket)

Saturday 29 October 2011
6.30am                Morning ‘joggle’ with Kris – not a run’ (meet Kris on the beach)
7.00-8.15am      Yoga with Kris: The Pavilion Room, Mantra on Salt Beach)
8.30-9.30am      Breakfast (Season Restaurant, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa)
9.30-11.00am    Food & nutrition session with Michele (Pavilion Room)
11.00-12.00        Zumba with the Golden Door (Pavilion Room)
1.00 -2.00pm     Lunch (Lagoon Poolside, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa)
2.00-5.30pm      Free time and/or Golden Door treatments
5.30-6.30pm      Yoga with Kris (Pavilion Room, Mantra on Salt Beach)
6.45-7.45pm       Dinner (Season, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa)
8.00pm                Free time

Sunday 30 October 2011
6.30am                Morning ‘joggle – not a run’ (meet Kris on the beach)
7.00-8.15am      Yoga with Kris: The Pavilion Room, Mantra on Salt Beach)
8.30-9.30am      Breakfast (Season Restaurant, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa)
9.30-11.00am     Food & nutrition session with Michele (Pavilion Room)
11.00am               Check-out (Lobby Lounge – NB. Luggage can be stored at Reception)
12.00-1.00pm     Yoga with Kris (The Pavilion Room, Mantra on Salt Beach)
1.00-2.00pm       Lunch (Lagoon Poolside, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa)
2.00pm                 Departure or relax at leisure

Spring foods
Spring is the time of the year when your body naturally wants to cleanse itself. So it is a good time to allow your body to let go of all the stuff that it doesn’t want including toxins, bad habits and old aches and pains. It is a good time to allow the body to cleanse by eliminating toxins including dairy, sugar, bread, fats and oils, alcohol, coffee, tea and other stimulants including spices. Ten days is enough time to allow the liver to cleanse and rejuvenate.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians are most prominent at this time of the year. The best foods to support the Liver and Gall Bladder are leafy greens and lightly cooked foods (steaming, light frying and par-boiling).

 Have lots of:                                                                                                            

• Leafy greens and sprouts
• Asian greens – Bok Choy, Chinese Cabbage                                                     
• Spring veges – broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, parsley, daikon (white raddish)
• Barley, quinoa, wheat, rye
• Wakame (seaweed), umeboshi, lemon, sauerkraut (occasionally)

Try to avoid:

• Overeating – especially eggs, meat, cheese and icecream
• Alcohol and drugs
• Chemicalized foods (preservatives, additives)
• Coffee and chocolate
• Sugar and honey

I asked Zen Shiatsu practitioner and fabulous macrobiotic cook, Linden Brooks to offer some of is favourite Spring recipes. Here’s three yummy Spring side dishes to serve up with grains or vegetables. Enjoy!

Soybean sprouts – Boil sprouts in salted water for 2-3 minutes, then rinse & drain.
Slice a young leek thinly.
Heat a wok or pan and add a little vegetable oil.
Sauté sprouts and leek for 30 seconds.
Serve with a drizzle of dark sesame oil. 

Spinach (or greens) – destalk a bunch of spinach and blanch for 30 seconds in hot water, drain and rinse in cold water.
Mix some soy sauce and sesame oil with a dash of mirin (3:2:1/2) and coat the spinach leaves in the mixture.
Heat a wok or pan and add a little oil, sauté spinach for 20 – 30 seconds on high, then serve. Sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds.

Daikon / Radish – slice a small young daikon into matchsticks and blanch in hot water for 30 seconds.
Finely slice a young leek and mix with a little sesame oil and pinch of salt, just enough to lightly coat.
Heat a wok or pan and add a little oil, sauté radish 1 minute, add leek and sauté 2 more minutes. Serve with a drizzle of dark sesame oil.