When you stop searching is often when you find what you seek. ⁠
⁠
I went on a gorgeous yoga retreat at SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm without many expectations in mind, but excited to deepen my yoga practice and learn from Manduka's legendary founder, Peter Sterios. While I expected challenges and poses that would push me to my physical limit, I didn't expect us to focus so much on softness. I mean literally softening our shapes in yoga asanas and what Peter would call "softening your bones." ⁠
⁠
As much as I wanted to come out of this retreat with a new arm balance trick or up-leveled flexibility, by the end of day 3, I realized this was not what the retreat was about at all.⁠
⁠
It was about resting, healing through nature, taking saunas and cold plunging in the ocean (only if you felt up to it), pushing yourself in asanas (optionally), breathing, reviving yourself with teas, tinctures from Anima Mundi, and fresh foods - many grown and all prepared on site. ⁠
⁠
For me, slowing down can sometimes feel suffocating. Pausing can be hard. Softening is not a term I am familiar with. But all are exactly what I needed. Slowness, stillness, and softness allowed my body and mind to rest enough to come back to equilibrium, calm, and peace post-retreat.⁠
⁠
Sometimes when you stop pushing, you’ll find what you’ve been searching for all along.⁠
⁠
-Lindsey, Social Media Manager at Manduka⁠
⁠
Comment in the caption if you've ever been to a yoga retreat, and let us know what you learned!⁠
•⁠
•⁠
•⁠
Manduka mats I took with me: eKO® Lite in Full Bloom (link in bio) and the Shala Yoga Rug.⁠
⁠
#PracticeOn #Manduka #SCPMendocino #SoulCommunityPlanet #LittleRiver #VisitMendocino #NorthernCalifornia #NorCal #FarmtoTable #SustainableHotels #EcoHotel #YogaRetreats #YogaRetreat #USYogaRetreat #YogaOutside #Sauna #HotColdTherapy #ColdPlunge #OutdoorSauna #VisitNorCal #ShalaYogaRug #gravityandgrace #Nature #PeterSterios #LEVITYoGA #RetreatsinNorCal #WellnessRetreat #RetreatsinCalifornia #YogaCommunity #YogaInspiration