Yoga Health Retreats

“A Life Changing Experience”

Sue Hawkins is the founder and Director of  Yoga Health Retreats and was one of the early “pioneers” who started operating Yoga Retreats in 2001. Since then Sue has been successfully offering retreats, teaching yoga and meditation and sharing a wealth of experience 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 and more.  The unique retreat program has been designed to address each individual with lifestyle and health fully considered before the retreat begins adding an holistic approach by providing a range of  Ayurveda Treatments, Spa Treatments, Nutrition, Detox and cleansing, Massage therapy, Reiki healing, Cooking classes, Traditional Cultural activities, Guided Nature walks and more for a complete body, mind and soul experience.

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 as well as other renowned yoga teachers.

Sue and her family have returned to Byron Bay after 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 offer yoga 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”.

About The Yoga The retreats are based upon a unique and carefully designed retreat program with all levels of experience fully considered. Sue has studied 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 totally replenish your body, mind and soul. More than ever we need a place to go to for time our to reflect and re-evaluate your life from a different perspective.  Not only do the retreats provide pampering, healing and detox treatments, but they encourage students to continue their yoga practice with a new vigor and inspiration while feeling relaxed, mentally refreshed and uplifted.

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Yoga Health Retreat Teachers & Facilitators

The Yoga Health Retreat Teachers and facilitators are highly qualified offering a high standard of expertise and dedication. Personal attention and care is given to guests during all yoga classes particularly for those with previous injuries or special needs. Be expertly guided and instructed to practice correct alignment in a manageable way that suits all levels of practitioners. From total retreat beginners to more advanced students.

Sue Hawkins is the founder and director 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.

Steve Hall Senior Qualified Yoga Instructor. Steve has been teaching Yoga in Bali for 9 years, being certified in India as an Ashtanga Vinyasa Instructor and RYT200 Yoga Alliance. Steve has also studied with senior Iyengar teachers, Yin Yoga, Bikram and Hot Yoga and completed several Vipassana and Silent Meditation Intensives. He has a smooth and inclusive teaching style which encourages the individual to a deeper sensitivity of their movements and awareness.

Geri Jones Yoga Instructor. Geri was born in India and moved to Australia when young. Shesubsequently has returned to India many times and studied classic Vedanta Philosophy. Geri has always included yoga into her personal training programmes. She is also a qualified gym instructor. Qualifying in India as a yoga teacher with RYT200 Yoga Alliance, she brings her 20 year personal practice to the mat encouraging students to discover yoga as a complete health and fitness discipline for body and mind.

Kirsty Nugent, Yoga instructor has a breadth of experience having studied Ashtanga & IyengarYoga and practiced with master teachers around the world. She was a student of Yoga Synergy and Dharma Shala in Sydney for 10 years before moving to Byron Bay in 2008 to teach yoga full-time. She is RYT 500 qualified and loves to teach a variety of dynamicvinyasa, essential hatha, yin yoga and restorative class styles.

Avril Rose Intuitive Reader and Intuitive Healer will help you to discover and unlock your inner direction and souls’ full potential, which is innate within each of us. Her greatest joy is to help you reconnect with your inner self and aspirations. Avril is rated the Number One psychic with Australis Top 10 Readers. Avril’s clarity, insight and self-realisations are both spiritually inherent and grounded with Diplomas in Reflexology and Aromatherapy. Offering intuitive readings and energy healing, Avril is in high demand teaching Metamorphosis and Soul Awakening. A reading with Avril will shine light on your soul’s purpose, encouraging you to create your life from a heart center, releasing reactive unconscious pattern

Avril approaches each reading with vitality, compassion and the joy that comes with new beginnings as old patterns melt away.

David English, Massage Therapist. “Sugata” is a very experienced massage therapist who has been practicing 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. Guests usually book additional massages during the retreat.

Ranil Sharma, Core Energetics Facilitator,  is highly trained and studied in Australia and USA  for over 15 years and has been fortunate enough to learn from  the original founders of Core Energetics.  This is a method to work through key stages of your development with understanding at every level – emotional, physical and spiritual bringing a firm and grounded foundation to the inner self.

Natalie Purcell, is one of Australia’s leading detox specialist. She has a Bachelor of Naturopathyspecialising in Detox, Nutrition, Phytotherapy, Homoeopathy, Reiki and Massage. She is an Internationally Certified Colonic Hydrotherapist with 18 years of personal experience in Colonic Hydrotherapy, Cleansing and Detoxification.

Josie Cain, Co-ordinator, is an experienced Yoga and Pilates instructor. Josie co-ordinates and facilitates in the Byron Bay Yoga Retreats. No request is ever too big!Josie is an important team member and effortlessly provides support for the retreat to run smoothly.

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