A FABULOUS day was had by all participants at the July bank holiday Wild River Yoga and Nature Retreat set under the ancient ash trees of the Cladagh Glen.

Lead by five local women with a passion for the great outdoors, they combined their expertise to offer a wonderful blend of yoga, food and knowledge of local flora, fauna and folklore.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed with tea, coffee and homemade granola pots, before launching into their first yoga session of the day, set by the banks of the Cladagh river.

This was followed by a talk on local folklore by Amy, before everyone braved the river for a cold water dip.

Warmed up post-swim by hot soup and a power yoga session, everyone was then ready to enjoy a delicious lunch.

After this, they were led on a slow amble through the nature reserve with Clare, while she shared her knowledge of the local ecosystem.

This led nicely into the last long yoga session of the day, which culminated in a relaxing meditation session, nestled underneath the canopy.

Meditation

When participants stirred from their meditation, they were greeted by a crackling fire and a berry-burst mocktail. The day drew to a close, with a letting-go ceremony by the fire.

“The theme of the day was ‘connection’ – to people, place and ourselves,” said Shauna McMorrow, of Aurora Yoga Studio NI. “One of greatest pleasures we get out of our retreats is seeing the effect a day in nature has on people; there is genuine contentment and gratitude for the experience they have just shared with others,” she added.

One participant commented that they were “delighted” to be a part of the Wild River Yoga Retreat at Cladagh Glen.

“It was a healing and relaxing day for me. Plenty of yoga, talks and walks, plus fine food at regular intervals, not to mention the mocktails round the fire to finish off. I’m looking forward to the next one!”

To find out more about Aurora Yoga Studio NI and its upcoming outdoor retreats, just look out for @aurorayogastudioni on Facebook and Instagram, or email shauna@aurorayogastudio.co.uk.