In 2016, I decided to participate in a winter yoga retreat that unknowingly shaped my life most profoundly. It was my 50th birthday, and I lived alone in a rental apartment in Molde, Norway. I had recently broken up with my boyfriend and was still nursing a broken heart, feeling the weight of loneliness far away from my family and friends. However, healthy and independent, I yearned for a more profound sense of fulfillment and healing. I knew I wanted to celebrate this milestone by doing something meaningful, something I’d always dreamed of. And that’s when the idea of a winter escape, a mix of skiing and yoga, crept into my mind.
I’ve always loved the snow. Skiing and snowboarding have been my favorite winter activities, though they were mostly out of reach for me financially, so I’d usually enjoy winter locally. But for my 50th birthday, I was determined to give myself the experience I’d always wanted. So, I started Googling “ski and yoga” and found a retreat in France. I didn't even know what the word retreat meant. You can click here to read more about the meaning of modern retreat.
It looked magical: yoga, skiing, snowboarding, healthy food, community, and the beauty of winter all woven together. But when I saw the price, my heart sank a little. At that time, investing in a retreat was a big stretch. Yet, something deep inside urged me to leap. I started saving, giving up a few small comforts here and there, and eventually, I booked my spot in a shared room.
Despite the excitement, I was nervous. Going on this adventure alone felt daunting, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made the right decision. Besides, I was struggling with back pain at the time, and the thought of keeping up with a yoga practice in the mountains was intimidating. But I reminded myself that this was a gift to myself—a chance to try something new and maybe even learn something I could carry forward. And so, I set off to France, hopeful and a little scared.
The Life-Changing Moments of My First Yoga Retreat
The moment I arrived, I knew the trip would be something special. I was welcomed by the crisp mountain air, towering snow-capped peaks, and a group of like-minded souls who shared my love for winter and my passion for yoga. We started each day with yoga in front of the fireplace, moving our bodies in ways that soothed the aches, awakened muscles I’d long forgotten, and brought an incredible sense of calm.
Days were filled with skiing and snowboarding, and my love for winter sports felt renewed. With each downhill glide, I felt the worries of everyday life fade away. The joy, the freedom, the laughter—everything I’d longed for and more.
In the evenings, the magic continued. After exhilarating days of skiing and snowboarding, we’d gather for a soothing yoga session in front of a crackling fireplace, letting our bodies unwind and melt into relaxation. Then, we’d slip into the warmth of the outdoor jacuzzi, surrounded by snow and stars, letting the hot water ease any last traces of tension.
And then came the dinners—the genuine cherry on top! Each night, our talented chefs crafted healthy, vegetarian three-course meals. The variety was incredible, bursting with flavors that felt both nourishing and indulgent. A glass of wine with new friends was the perfect finish, leaving us all feeling restored and ready for another day of adventure.
Opening Doors to New Possibilities
That retreat wasn’t just a holiday but a spark that lit a fire inside me. I felt a renewed sense of purpose for the first time in years. I saw how impactful this experience had been for me and started dreaming of creating similar experiences for others. I wanted to share the transformative power of yoga and nature, of stepping away from the everyday grind and immersing oneself in the beauty of the present moment.
Since that retreat, I’ve devoted my life to creating these retreats for others. I built my small business around this passion, designing yoga retreats in incredible locations worldwide, from Alaska to the fjords of Norway. Now, I guide people from all walks of life, sharing the magic that sparked something inside me on that snowy retreat.
If You're Unsure, Go for It
My first yoga retreat taught me that taking a chance on yourself is okay, even when it feels uncertain or scary. Usually, the most rewarding experiences come from stepping out of your comfort zone and permitting yourself to embrace something new.
To anyone considering their first retreat or longing for a change, my advice is simple: go for it! You never know what gifts await you on the other side of that decision. As I discovered on my first yoga retreat, it might just be the experience that changes your life forever.
Discover the winter yoga retreat in Italian Dolomites by clicking here.
You can find a variety of summer retreats by clicking here.
Yoga retreats are temporary breaks from the daily routine that typically last from the weekend to a week or more. They allow yogis to deepen their practice without the distractions of life and are an amazing opportunity to meet others who are passionate about yoga.
The yoga and hiking retreat combines yoga and physical activity outdoors. A retreat starts and ends on a specific date, meaning you will be with the same group of people every day. You go to the same classes, have meals together, and spend a day outdoors hiking together. This allows you to get to know them and develop a friendship. A yoga and hiking retreat is not just another vacation; it is a powerful experience.
A yoga retreat will help you:
- disconnect and reflect,
- deepen your yoga practice and knowledge,
- step outside of your comfort zone,
- improve your health.
If you are a beginner or not very passionate about yoga, a yoga and hiking retreat will offer you the opportunity to start with regular practice and discover how yoga can help you find balance in your everyday life.
Why yoga and hiking retreat?
"Going back to nature is going back to the origin of life, to the origins of ourselves." The philosopher Henry David Thoreau said this about connecting to your inner self. There is plenty of time for self-reflection during the long hours of walking. Being far away from home and out of our comfort zone will present some obstacles, but we might also realize what truly matters to us and what the purpose of our lives may be.
"Who am I?" is the ultimate question in yoga philosophy. This is precisely why connecting with nature and practicing yoga simultaneously form a perfect combination. Both will help you learn about your true self. The yoga and hiking retreat is a simple way to reconnect with your inner self and understand yourself better.
Read more about our yoga and hiking retreats in Norway.
Hiking versus walking the Camino de Santiago
Walking the Camino de Santiago has been and still is on a bucket list for many people. Yoga and hiking retreat is like walking the Camino but it is a softer version of the Camino way. You know where you will sleep every night and always have wi-fi when needed. You will also prepare your body for a long day outdoors with morning yoga sessions, stretch and relax your tired muscles every evening, and eat healthy and nutritious food during the journey.
However, yoga and hiking offer many of the Camino walk's benefits. Additionally, spending days in the fresh air will prevent you from becoming infected with viruses and strengthen your immune system.
Top 3 reasons why people walk the Camino de Santiago
Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in Spain.
Spiritual reasons
Many pilgrims walk to connect and discover the deeper meaning of life, spiritually connect with nature or themselves, or find answers to deep questions.
Disconnect to reconnect
Many of us have become disconnected and disillusioned in a world of busyness with too many obligations and long workdays. We all say we would like to disconnect a bit but typical vacations are anything but answering e-mails at the pool and watching or reading the news after dinner, we seem never to have the opportunity to truly "get away from it all". At first, it may seem strange to not constantly think about what is happening in your country or not check your phone every 15 minutes but soon you find peace and silence in the journey. Adjusting takes a few days, but the reward is clarity and peace.
Exercise and well-being
Most people have little to no experience walking long distances over many days. A popular saying is, "Your Camino begins when you sign up." You begin to research what shoes to bring, how to train and prepare your body, and what you should pack. Many people start training to become healthier and more fit for the trip.
Randonee skiing, also known as Alpine Touring, is a form of skiing in which people ascend the mountain under their power through the use of specialized bindings and skins. Skins are held onto the bottom of the skis with a sticky substance. They were originally made of animal skin, such as sealskin, but are now made with artificial materials that have fibers to hold the skis from sliding back down as the skier glides forward up the hill. Once the skier reaches the desired altitude, the skins are removed and the bare skis are used to descend.
The boots have two settings: 'walking' and 'skiing'. The same choice applies to your bindings. When you're going downhill, the bindings are set to 'ski'. And when going uphill, they're set to 'walk'.
When you reach the top and remove the skins, it's a good idea to set the back bindings to 'ski' so the stoppers are on. That way you'll be able to keep up on the way down. Obvious perhaps, but when you're worn out and it's your first time, anything can happen.
The heel lift function means you lose a little grip when doing slalom (turning in a zigzag pattern). It seems that if you use the highest heel lift you'll go too fast. The mountain slopes generally start at around 25 degrees. If you go straight up an incline, you'll see the gradient signposted. If it's your first time, it may be worth testing out a gentler slope, to begin with.
Compared to cross-country skis, touring skis are sturdier and easier to maneuver in steep terrain. They are comfortable and the ski skins provide a good grip for the climb. On the way down, it's very similar to skiing in regular downhill equipment, i.e. in skis and boots.
The contrasts between the fjords and mountains are breathtaking.
Randonee skiing in Norway, Trolltind 1347 masl, Rysdalsnebba 1618 masl, Åbittind 1396 masl
From Molde, where we live, it takes about 1,5-2 hrs to drive to Jordalsgrenda. We started at 08.30 on Sunday morning, and it was worth it! The weather was dry and chilly but the clear sky was promising. We saw the sunrise over the mountains on our way up. In November, there is not much snow in the mountains yet, but it was enough to enjoy the day on skis. We were walking up to Åbittind for approximately 2-2,5 hrs, eating our sandwich on a "best view restaurant" and skiing down in a powder 20-30minutes.
We spent a beautiful day outdoors; I am so grateful to my partner, to nature, and my own body for being able to afford such luxury.
Today we were on the way to Blånebba, 1322 m.a.s.l.
It rained a lot in the morning but at 8 am the rain had stopped and we desided to go hiking. Unfortunatelly we didn't reach the top of the mountain because the days are very short now and it's getting dark by 4 pm already. But it was a beautiful day in the fresh air, approximately 10 km walking up and down and another amazing view to admire.
Takk for turen, Lisa!
The life of a freelance yoga instructor, self-defense teacher, and adventure sports writer involves a lot of free time. I used to devote an embarrassing amount of that free time to trawling the Yoga Trade website. The secret to using the site well is to know when to daydream about an opportunity, when to seize it, and to love what you find. So when I saw a listing looking for yoga teachers to assist hiking retreats in Norway, I knew it was time to pounce. I just didn’t know that pouncing would change my life.
I’ve always wanted to visit Norway but it’s notoriously expensive and I’ve never had the money to go. I’ve lived above the 60th-degree latitude so I knew what I was getting into. I’ve worked as a hiking guide, I’m a natural history nerd, I have wilderness first responder training, I’ve been teaching and practicing yoga for over 30 years. I knew I was perfect for the job. I just had to convince the woman running the retreats that I was perfect for the job.
I was at a yoga retreat in Bali when I saw the listing, so I had limited internet access and no cell reception. I crafted a carefully worded letter of introduction, gathered my CV and a few yoga photos, and tried to send them off. The message didn’t appear to land, so I bombarded this poor woman at every portal I could access: YogaTrade, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and her personal email. I don’t know if she was impressed or annoyed, but she called me within a day. After a week of communication, I was able to convince her to stop looking at other applications and bring me to Molde for the month of August.
I neglected to research my remarkable hostess. Pille Mitt was born in Estonia when it was part of the USSR. She grew up under an authoritarian regime that denied the most basic freedoms I often take for granted- the ability to choose where I want to live, travel, and pursue an education or career. With the collapse of the Soviet Union Pille was able to offer exercise classes and eventually open her own gym. Online dating brought her to Molde, Norway, where she lost the guy but found a new home. A yoga teacher training in Rishikesh opened new windows, and now she teaches at both yoga studios in town and offers yoga and hiking retreats in various locations throughout the year. “I have to stop having such a good life!” she jokes. “Time flies when you’re having fun, so my life is passing too quickly!”
I also neglected to research the hikes. The first day we warmed up with a casual stroll out of town which led to the ascent of a nearby peak. Then we hiked a mountain overlooking the next day’s destination, with the option of climbing a nearby twin summit. One day saw us ascend steep muddy slopes to the Troll’s Church, a limestone cavern with a 40 ft waterfall inside. We traveled by ferry and car, climbed mountains, crawled through caves, jumped in alpine lakes, and swam in the frigid Atlantic. Each day brought stunning vistas, the option to picnic and relax or hike as hard as we could. One day was a glorious road trip up a series of hairpin turns to a precariously perched restaurant and café. We dispersed like a flock of birds and came back together to meditate on a quiet ridge.
The first group was all female, and we bonded like the loving family I never had. Two Lebanese women and an Israeli woman broke bread together every day; they are not allowed to travel to each other’s homes and would probably never have met otherwise. We pushed each other to hike harder and relax more deeply, comforted and inspired each other, learned from shared stories of triumph and failure. I’ve led groups from southeast Alaska to Southeast Asia and never experienced one with more authentic love or less bitchy drama.
Over the following month my life fell into a simple rhythm: wake up, meditate, plan yoga classes, do yoga, eat breakfast, hike all day, teach yoga, eat dinner, fall asleep, wake up and do it again. Rainy days invited a road trip, a philosophy discussion, an extended yoga class, a shorter hike. After the first group left, Pille and I had two half days free. We scheduled an outdoor community yoga class, shopped for food, and went for a hike. When you’re doing what you love, you never want a day off.
Pille and I cried when I boarded the bus for Oslo. We are both intense athletic tomboy powerhouses and were afraid we wouldn’t meet another kindred spirit until our paths crossed again. Fortunately, that won’t be long. We plan to lead yoga and hiking retreats together in Alaska, Norway, and California in 2020. Guests from last August have already signed up, eager to hang out with us again. We are considering offering yoga teacher training together in 2021. The only bummer is I don’t have time to daydream about opportunities offered on Yoga Trade anymore. I’m too busy living them! Love what you find!
Read more about our yoga and hiking retreat in Norway here.
Yesterday we celebrated the World Mental Health Day with a small hike (6 hours) to Åbittinden.
Åbittinden rises with his 1396 meters above sea level and is located in the middle between Trolltind (1347 m.a.s.l.) and Blåfjellet (1192 m.a.s.l.). Driving from Molde (where we live) to the starting point of the hike takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The peak is less known than the neighboring peak Trolltind and is not much visited. There is not even a decent trail to the top, not to mention directional signs. We found our way and reached the top after 3,5-hour of walking, hiking, and climbing. The weather was beautiful and warm and the view amazing.
All those long hours I spend climbing to the top of those mountains, I practice yoga in different ways. The sixth limb of yoga is concentration. You have to be 100 % present and focused during your climbing. The trail is often steep and some of those stones move under your feet. The fourth limb of yoga is pranayama, the breath control. I would lie if I said I was never afraid. I am afraid of heights and climbing steep cliffs, but then I practice my yogic breathing and pranayama. Meditation is the seventh limb of yoga, conscious management of thoughts. Being here and now.
Maybe you have heard about "Forest bathing"? It is the practice of spending time in the forest to promote physical and emotional health, very popular in Japan right now. And there is a reason why. When we are outside in nature, we experience ourselves, the world around us and feel there is something greater than us. We feel more connected to ourselves and others. Maybe we should start using a new trendy term here in Norway "Mountain Bathing"?
Research tells us that spending time in nature alleviates stress, anxiety, depression, while it boosts creativity and sharpens focus. Next time you take a hike, try deepening your experience, making it a meditation.
So, here I am, walking around, and sweating a lot because of the hot weather and tension. I have decided to take some yoga photos here, but the place is crowded. Tourists from all over the world with selfie sticks, professional cameras, phones, taking pictures of the temple, each other, and yourself. I feel sick, embarrassed and I want to give up my plan. I sit down in the shade and remain myself of my purpose. It is to take advantage of social media to promote yoga and to advertise my yoga holidays in Norway Nobody knows me here, they will never see me again and I just have to pretend that I am alone. Repeating my mantra, walking around, and trying to find a place with fewer people and good light is not an easy task. The sun is almost at the zenith, the ground is burning and people are pushing around. Whatever, I start to assemble my tripod. I dare not to look around. Suddenly I see people also want to take photos exactly from the same place and ask me to take a photo of them...hmmm...maybe I was looking professional...lol
WOW!!!!
The Golden Bridge is a 150-meter-long pedestrian bridge in the Ba Na Hills, near Da Nang. It is designed to connect the cable car station with the gardens and to provide a scenic overlook and tourist attraction. The bridge loops nearly back around to itself, and has two giant stone hands designed to appear to support the structure. The bridge opened in June 2018. Ba Na Hills is located 1489 m high on Nui Chua mountain, is a famous hill station and resort. The station, founded in 1919 by french colonists, was intended to build it as a leisure destination for French tourists.
There is a French village, flower garden, 100 years old wine cellar, Pagoda, 27-meter tall statue of Buddha, and Fantasy park. Interesting combination of new and old.
Short summary is: another wonderful day I will remember for sure!
