Sue Hawkins is the founder and Director of Byron Bay Yoga now Yoga Health Retreats and was one of the early “pioneers” who started operating Yoga Retreats in 2001. Since then Sue has been successfully operating retreats, teaching yoga and meditation and sharing a wealth of experience on many retreats for 11 years in Bali and Byron Bay Australia. Sue has continued to develop her retreat program with a unique and inspiring combination of Yoga, Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Yoga Philosophy and Pilates.  The retreats are designed with an holistic approach offering a range of  Ayurveda Treatments, Spa Treatments, Nutrition, Detox and cleansing, Massage therapy, Reiki and healings, Cooking classes, Traditional Cultural activities, Guided Nature walks and more for a complete body, mind and soul experience.  The Yoga Health Retreat facilitators are carefully selected offering a high standard of expertise and dedication. The retreats attract a wide range of students from total beginners to more experienced participants. The classes are taught in a safe and practical way with each group level taken into consideration so that participants can feel comfortable attending each session.

Sue discovered yoga 27 years ago and has been teaching for 12 years. She studied Iyengar Yoga in Sydney and completed a teacher training course in Byron Bay in Ashtanga and Hatha yoga. She decided to further her studies and traveled to India to study with BNS Iyengar in Mysore. Practicing Ashtanga and deepening her understanding of the spiritual aspects of yoga. This also involved a Mantra Initiation with a Vishnava Guru to deepen her connection with spirit and to move her life path even deeper in the direction of teaching Yoga and healing. Sue was given a spiritual name “Sudasi” – meaning Servant of God. Sue also trained with Dharmavirsingh Mahida in Pune studying yoga asanas, Ayurveda and yoga philosophy and has studied with other renowned yoga teachers.

Sue and her family have been living in Bali or the last 3 yrs but has traveled extensively to Bali for over 30 years. “Bali has always been a special place in my heart and has always drawn me back year after year”. When I decided to hold retreats here it seemed the perfect location and with the addition of the rich Balinese culture and warmth of the Balinese people it is a perfect haven for yoga retreat vacations”.

The Yoga retreats are based upon a unique and carefully designed retreat program with all levels of experience fully considered. Sue has been practicing yoga for over 27yrs and teaching for 12 years studying Iyengar, Astanga, Vinyasa, Yoga Therapy, Partner Yoga, Yoga Nidra. The style of yoga accommodates beginner to general levels of experience.  Morning Yoga classes are a Vinyasa flow where we move through each posture using breath awareness to open and cleanse the body. While we hold some of the postures it brings strength, flexibility and alignment. Props are integrated throughout the class to open up the body and give support when needed. Warm up poses are done in the beginning to set up a safe foundation for each student to explore the deeper asanas as we move through the practice. We give modifications of the postures so students can practice according to their experience. The yoga sessions are taught with the level of each individual group taken into consideration so each student can practice to their ability in a safe and inspirational environment. Yoga adjustments and personal attention is given in each class by our highly skilled and dedicated Yoga Health Retreat facilitators.

When you attend one of Sue’s “yoga health retreats”, it’s an opportunity to reflect and re-evaluate your life from a different perspective. At times it is a journey to the heart of quiet and other times it’s an experience of freedom in a spontaneous expression of inner joy, or a sense of connectedness. Not only do the retreats offer detox and healing treatments, but they encourage students to continue their yoga practice with a new vigor and inspiration while feeling relaxed, mentally refreshed and uplifted.

Testimonial

“A life changing, transformational awakening. Thank you so much. I am forever grateful to have been given this opportunity. May you continue to offer this wonderful program for years to come”.

Meg, Advertising Accounts Manager

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Yoga Health Retreat Teachers & Facilitators

Facilitators: All our teachers and facilitators are highly qualified, with a wealth of experience. We invite our facilitators to share their skills and expertise with you providing healing and guidance on our retreats. Following are the primary facilitators. From time to time we invite other guest facilitators and healers to the retreats.

Sue Hawkins is the founder and director of Byron Bay Yoga now Yoga Health Retreats and is a Senior Qualified Yoga Instructor who has been practicing for over 26 years and is registered with Yoga Alliance at the highest level E-RYT500. Sue has studied Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra Yoga, Therapy and Partner Yoga. She furthered her studies traveling to India to deepen her knowledge of yoga asanas, pranayama, Ayurveda and yoga philosophy.  Sue has instructed on teacher trainings, retreats internationally and continues to develop her knowledge and understanding of Yoga and Meditation. Sue is currently undergoing a Pilates Teacher Training which she will bring into the retreats to teach core strength, precision, control and flow of movement. Yoga and Pilates compliment each other enhancing alignment and core strength in a safe and practical way.

Sue’s vision is to reach as many people as possible from all backgrounds to provide the opportunity for wellness, personal growth and a life changing experience.

Rachel Hull, Senior Qualified Yoga Instructor, has been practicing for 24 years and teaching for 14 years. She currently runs her own teacher training courses in Bali and India and is a student of herbal medicine. Rachel’s style is focused on alignment and yoga therapy with a fusion of yoga styles which she has studied for many years.

Judy Leane, Qualified Pilates Instructor, physiotherapist, exercise scientist and personal trainer. Judy brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to her classes teaching in a fun, yet precise way, catering to all levels. The fusion of Yoga and Pilates will give you tremendous body awareness, creating core strength and stability.

Josie Cain, Co-ordinator, is an experienced Yoga and Pilates instructor. Josie co-ordinates all the retreat schedules and assists participants during the retreat with any requests, no matter how big or small! Josie is an important team member and effortlessly provides support for the retreat to run smoothly.

David English, Massage Therapist. “Sugata” is a very experienced massage therapist who has been practising for over 19 years. His style is deeply nurturing, offering remedial and relaxation sessions using a highly intuitive method which is extremely popular! Yoga Health Retreats provides a 1hr complimentary remedial massage session with Sugata and he is available for more bookings during the retreat. Bookings in advance are recommended!

Grant Hawkins, Reiki/Intuitive Healer, has been giving Intuitive Readings for many years, completing Reiki Training Levels 1 and 2 and maintaining a regular spiritual and meditation practice. He has a natural ability to tune into each individual in a profound and healing way. The support Grant provides is thought provoking and invaluable. Bookings in advance recommended.

Rachel Stoltock, Angel Psychic, Healer, Reiki Master. A reading session with Rachel can bring about enormous shifts in your outlook & energy. With a focus on healing Rachel tunes into your Angelic guides to gain an overview of your situation using Angel Oracle cards, and her own clairvoyant and clairsentient ability. You will be given guidance as to how to move towards that which you want and also assisted in understanding the deeper aspects of your journey. Each session culminates in an energy clearing whereby you are released of limiting and painful cords that may be blocking your progress.

Alex, Healer, works on body tune navral healings. Metaphysical, holistic and shamanic combining Indian, Chinese and Hawaiian energy healing principles to rebalance realign and strengthen your body’s energy system. This in turn will settle the emotions and quieten the mind, build the physical body in a very subtle level. The result is a very nurturing process.

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