From the farm, our group travelled to Te Anau for the beginning of our free travel. For our first activity, we hiked a portion of the Kepler Track that led to one of the highest peaks bordering Lake Te Anau. It took all day but the view from the top was completely worth the strenuous walk. The first portion of the hike ended at a hut near the summmit where we took a break and ate. From the hut, a majority of our group soldiered on and made it to the top. The next day, we we continued with our exploration of the outdoors by embarking on a cruise of the Milford Sound, which is said to be among the most beautiful places in the world. After our cruise we went on another hike around the Milford Sound where we kayaked to the beginning of the trail. Despite the constant attack by swarms of sandflies, the scenery was breathtaking and we kayaked amongst a pod of dolphins on our return which made a great grand finale for a beautiful day. From Te Anau we continued to our next destination of Queenstown. We were in Queenstown over Guy Fox day and many people in the city celebrated by shooting off fireworks. Our group discovered a new love: Fergburger- a famous and memorable (as well as positively delicious) burger venue on the main street, so much so that everybody ate multiple meals there. In Queenstown we did one group activity known as jet boating. We rode on a jet boat through the Shotover River with beautiful scenery and rocky features. After a few days in Queenstown we boarded a plane and left New Zealand, a country we have grown to love over the past month, to depart for Sydney. We had a day to explore the city where many of us took advantage of a free city tour as well as went off to explore on our own. Next we went to the Mangrove Satyananda Yoga Ashram for our retreat. Every morning we woke up at 5 to start our 5:30 yoga class, which included learning how to “salute the sun”, chanting, and various other exercises. After breakfast we practiced karma yoga for an hour, a practice where one selflessly gives their time to serve others while retaining a yogic attitude. Our group became a constant presence in the kitchen where we helped to chop vegetables and do other various jobs. Another part of our daily routine was Yoga Nidra, which is basically where you lie down in a sleeping position for 30 minutes but attempt to retain consciousness while your body rests. It is commonly known around the ashram as “nap time” and we all loved it. Our other activities varied from day to day- one morning we all used neti pots to clear out our nasal passages and improve balance and breathing… we drank the most amazing chai ever produced on the porch of a farm before a havan ceremony, which involved chanting mantras and giving thanks to nature over a fire. There was a huge thunderstorm during the ceremony and the rain perfectly coincided with the practice. We also went on an Om walk, a bushwalk to the caves on our last day, practiced singing kirta, and every night we participated in mouna (complete silence) until the end of breakfast the next day. Needless to say, it was an eye-opening and amazing experience for all of us and we all left with new knowledge and an appreciation for the practice of yoga.
Love from Australia!
Catherine and Nick
