Local Yoga Retreat Review

Local Yoga Retreat Review: A Transformative Chakra Journey

I recently co hosted the Chakra themed Align and Awaken Yoga Retreat with Ma Akash of Shakti Yoga. It was truly a rejuvenating experience. The retreat was thoughtfully designed, seamlessly integrating yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices to balance and activate the chakras. Each session built upon the last, creating a profound sense of alignment and inner connection.

Imbabali Retreat & Venue located not far from Johannesburg and Pretoria provided the perfect venue. Surrounded by dams, hiking trails and beautiful gardens, it allowed participants to fully immerse themselves into the weekend program.

Day 1: Grounding & Foundations

The retreat began with a warm welcome and grounding breath work, setting a peaceful tone for the weekend. The eating meditation at brunch, focused on the Root Chakra, was a unique and enlightening experience, reminding us to be fully present with our food and cultivate gratitude.

Grounding and breath work for Root Chakra

Later in the afternoon, the Sacral Chakra Yin Yoga session was beautifully introspective. The long-held postures encouraged deep release, both physically and emotionally. The evening wrapped up with a talk on the Chakra system, providing valuable insight into how imbalances manifest and how we can work towards restoring harmony.

Sacral Chakra Yin practice

Day 2: Activation & Expression

The second day started with a dynamic Vinyasa flow centered on the Naval Chakra, awakening inner strength and confidence through powerful core work and fluid movement.

Vinyasa warm up for Naval Chakra

After breakfast, the Heart Chakra meditation was a deeply emotional and healing session, inviting us to open our hearts with compassion and self-love. The afternoon Throat Chakra yoga class and mantra chanting were both liberating and empowering—chanting proved to be an incredible and fun way to clear and activate our voices.

Heart Chakra Meditation

The evening discussion on incorporating chakra work into daily life provided practical tools to maintain balance beyond the retreat, making the experience even more impactful.

Throat Chakra  Click link to view Chanting of mantras video.

Day 3: Reflection & Integration

Sunday morning’s walk and Brow Chakra meditation in nature was the perfect way to conclude the retreat. The fresh air and mindful movement prepared us for the final Pranayama practice, which helped integrate all the weekend’s work. The retreat ended with a reflection session, allowing space for shared experiences, questions, and personal insights.

Breath work included the practice of Nadi Shodhana

Final Thoughts

This retreat was a holistic and immersive experience, blending movement, mindfulness, and spiritual exploration in a way that felt both accessible and profound. The carefully curated sessions provided a balanced mix of theory and practice, ensuring that we left not only feeling rejuvenated but also equipped with practical tools to maintain chakra balance in daily life.

If you’re looking for a transformative retreat that nourishes both body and soul, this is an experience you won’t want to miss!

The inclusion of full body massage and acupuncture sessions further enhanced the magic and holistic offering of the weekend.