Croatia 2025 Surviving a Yoga Retreat in a heatwave 

This year both Gill and Phil Ansty joined Bryan ( my hubbie) and I, for a week in Croatia. As you probably know they are both yogis, and teachers and were happy to lead some of the sessions this year, which made for a lovely and relaxing week for me.

We spent 2 nights in Trogir as tourists before catching the ferry from Split, to the island of Brac,, to practise and share yoga.  We were a group of several married couples of a certain age, a friend of mine, an Irish girl who lives and works in Europe and a Spanish girl from Barcelona.

It was a heatwave, as it was in the UK, and in most of Europe. We stayed in a wonderful villa with great AC and the most fantastic vegetable garden between the villa and the sea. Our meals were prepared by Flippo who had flown in from the countryside near Munich to prepare the most appetising, and nutritious vegetarian meals.  In his younger years he had run many restaurants and bars in Germany, working late into the night until one day he realised that he was about to burn out and he discovered yoga and although he is now 60, he follows a personal Ashtanga practice.

We were naturally waking very early and our first practice was 8 – 9.30 followed by a wonderful brunch of porridge and fruit and yoghurt with chia seeds and home made sourdough bread and omelettes and cheese and so it goes on………amazing food!

I wanted to subtly introduce the 5 koshas to the group. There were a fair number of health issues and as always very differing physical shapes and sizes. Gill worked with “finding comfort” sthira and sukha in asana and then, if you think of the koshas that will also be finding comfort, mentally, spiritually and in life.  The group were very open in receiving new ideas and always willing to listen to our suggestions.

We also had a great social time with an outing to an olive oil museum with tasting and dégustation…..a chance for the meat eaters to sample some prosciutto. A visit to the highest point of the island Vidova Gora and a visit to Bol. Another day we had an exciting speed boat trip to Hvar island and Pakleni islands where we met another group who had just arrived for a yoga retreat here and we shared wine together. 

Our evening practice was more relaxing as it was very hot. We talked a little about meditation and explored a short session. We listened to inspiring words and music. We practised nidra.

Dinner was served around 7.30 pm and we experienced the most amazing sunsets every night. My contact in Croatia is Sasha who is now beginning to explore Montenegro to see if she can find suitable locations. She is the most wonderful host and delightful personality and will be coming to London in November to stay with me for a weekend with her mum and little cousin Rocco. I feel truly blessed to have her in my life and I extend great gratitude to all those who come to these really wonderful retreats.

Alison Francis YHET Trustee and Event Organiser.