Day Retreat at Cullen Bay - Restorative Yoga (1)

Meditation

No matter what your age, meditation is one of the easiest ways to improve your health. Research at the Medical

College of Georgia found that meditation lowered blood pressure and reduced the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Additional studies have demonstrated meditation can reduce chronic pain, decrease levels of stress and pain in

cancer patients, and reduce symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia.

Other studies have indicated meditation may reduce the levels of cortisol, a hormone that in high levels can weaken the immune system and slow down healing. Results from a small study conducted in 1998 with patients suffering from psoriasis lesions indicated meditation can speed up the body’s natural healing process. Some studies have even suggested meditation can help in the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Carole is a qualified Meditation Teacher. Her teaching methodology is to ‘keep it simple’ starting at

the basics and then progressing at an achievable pace.

What is Restorative Yoga?

Restorative Yoga gives us the time in asana (pose) to open the body with the use of supportive props and correct

energetic action.

Classes also include pranayama (breathwork) to encourage an even deeper state of awareness.

Benefits:

• Balances the hormonal (endocrine) system
• Soothes the nervous system
• Replenishes our energy system
• Tones reproductive organs (both for women and men)
• Promotes healthy menstruation, pre and post menopause
• Calms the mind and encourages mindfulness, helping to relieve mild anxiety
• Nourishes the digestive system
• Restorative poses will leave you feeling nourished and well rested. These classes are a means of allowing you to just ‘stop and be’.
• These poses support us and allow us to relax our grip on whatever our minds and bodies are holding tightly, so that we can rest, renew and build vitality.
• From my Yoga teaching experience – the less you do the more powerful and transformational your practice will be.

What is Sound Therapy?

Sound Baths are an ancient form of deep meditation that includes various ambient sounds played by an instructor. Your instructor, during a sound session, uses a variety of different traditional instruments to create repetitive sounds. These sounds are notes at different frequencies that help enhance and guide you through your whole meditative experience.  While most people lay down in savasana (a yoga pose where one lays flat on their back) on mats with pillows or blankets during the duration of the sound bath it is up to the particular individual on how they would like to practice their meditation.  Here is what we believe to be the best benefits of sound baths.

Heals your body by reducing stress and anxiety

The sounds created by the particular instruments used during a sound bath are meant to activate the alpha and theta brain waves which are associated with deep meditative and peaceful states. When one is able to access these brain states it develops a more conducive space for healing the body, heart, and respiratory rate.

Additionally, new research has been done on the benefits of binaural beats, which is when two tones at slightly different frequencies are played together, and its effects on anxiety levels and mood states.  One study by Padmanabhan, Hildreth, & Laws found that binaural beat audio has the potential to decrease acute pre-operative anxiety while another study by Le Scouarnec et al. discovered that listening to binaural beat tapes in the delta and theta range may be beneficial in reducing mild anxiety.

Impacts the human nervous system and decreases blood pressure

One previous research, Landry, J.M., studied how Himalayan singing bowls, which use similar healing vibrations used in modern sound baths, in meditation practices could enhance certain physiological and psychological effects.  This study measured blood pressure and heart rate before and after exposure to a Himalayan singing bowl meditation session and found that exposure enhanced both blood pressure and heart rate responses. Listening to the various vibrations and frequencies in a sound bath have the potential to help restore and enhance one’s respiratory system.

Helps tune out your thoughts and tune in your meditation

The healing sounds and vibrations created by the various instruments helps give you something else to focus on other than your thoughts which enhances and improves your meditation.  While there have been multiple scientific studies proving the healing benefits of meditation it can sometimes be very difficult for individuals to completely clear out their mind and concentrate. However, by having the added benefit of different sound frequencies surrounding you during your meditation you can clear out your thoughts and focus your mind on the sounds and vibrations, making it easier for you to clear and reset your mind.

Allows you to open up and reconnect with one’s self

Since this is a deep form of meditation, sound baths can allow one to completely reset their body and then reconnect with their own intentions.  Much like regular meditation, sound baths have similar benefits of allowing one to free their mind of daily thoughts and nerves while also restoring their body and stimulating their mind to take on the next day. The healing sound instruments produce vibrations that help to promote not only the expansion of your consciousness but also your inner peace.

Makes you more relaxed, balanced and focused

The environment created in a sound bath class provides a soothing and safe space to relax and rest.  Since you are lying in savasana, a comfortable and restorative pose, it allows your body to become more relaxed and balanced as well as helps to realign and connect your mind and body.  This deep meditative process includes active breathwork and listening. Combining deep breathwork with the soothing sounds and healing vibrations from the collection of instruments completely envelops you into a relaxing experience where you can let your mind go, recharge, and then refocus in on your daily life after the session.

Sound baths can be a great help for anyone who wants to hone into a moment of relaxation and meditation.

Special Breathwork Practice:

This is going to blow your socks off......if you choose to read our TripAdvisor Reviews you will get a feel for what to expect.

Itinerary:

10:00  Welcome Juice & Opening Circle

10:30  Restorative Yoga & Guided Meditation

12:15  Sumptuous Lunch

1:15    Laughter Yoga

2:00    Special Breathwork

3:15    Afternoon Tea/Snack

3:30    Sound Healing Journey

4:15    Closing Circle

Itinerary and times are subject to change.

What to Bring/Wear

Loose Yoga or similiar clothing, Yoga Mat, Drink Bottle, 2 x Towels - plus a belly full of laughs

Food for your Soul

Lunch on this day retreat is sattvic - meaning it brings peace and enhances the wellbeing of the body, mind and spirit. Your lunch will be colourful, beautiful in flavour with aesthetic appeal and plentiful.  We believe food should be sustainable, pure and real - supporting and nourishing your body and mind to cleanse and heal. 

Om Shanti

Carole x