yoga adventures

Arctic aurora and snowy adventures

Join Zephyr Wildman & Reclaim Yourself Retreats for a winter yoga retreat on Senja island in Norway. Located in the Arctic Circle this remote destination offers a deep experience in wild nature with its dramatic mountains, crystal clear waters and beautiful fjords. You’re invited to spend a magical long weekend practicing yoga, kayaking around the fjords and snow shoeing in the mountains. In the evenings, soak in the hot tub and enjoy your toasty apartment. The untouched wilderness and minimal light pollution here makes it the perfect place for star gazing and aurora viewing.

Our yoga retreat destination is the north west coast Senja island, an incredibly beautiful part of Norway where steep, majestic mountains dive straight into the sea and arctic beaches line a small archipelago of uninhabited islands. At this time of the year it will be mostly dark with some gentle light mid-morning and usually plenty of Northern Lights – maybe you’ll even see them while you’re having your breakfast!

You stay in stylish apartments set around the harbour of an old fishing village with uninterrupted views out to the surrounding islets and snowy mountains. Immerse yourself in a dynamic yoga practice with twice daily classes and enjoy delicious Norwegian meals.

Between classes relax in your cosy apartment and enjoy the views, book a hot tub spa experience or get active and explore the wild nature all around. Included in your yoga retreat is an aurora snow shoeing experience, where you’ll explore the mountains under the Northern Lights.  You can also book a kayaking experience, explore by boat and, for those with experience, we can book ski touring.

To book, click here.

Accommodation & Menus

We have 16 places available on this retreat. Our retreat location is in beautifully designed, toasty apartments set around a harbour and surrounded by mountains.

You’ll stay in two or three bedroom suites. All the bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and you’ll share living room with floor-to-ceiling-windows and amazing views.

Our local chef will be creating Norwegian style meals with a buffet breakfast , light lunch and two course dinner. Meals will include some fish but vegetarian and vegans can also be catered for on request.

What’s included

• 4 nights accommodation
• 3 meals a day & soft drinks
• Twice daily yoga sessions
• 1 aurora snow showing experience
•  A payment to offset your travel carbon emissions
• An additional 20% payment for tree-planting through Ecologi

What’s extra

• Return flights to Tromso
• Return ferry to Finnsnes (around £35 return)
• Return transfers to the retreat (around £30 one way)
• Hot tub and sauna experience (around £25 for two hours)
• Kayaking (around £90 for three hours)

Travel to Norway

Our retreat takes place on Senja island, which you can reach from Tromsø. You can fly to Tromsø from UK via Oslo, Frankfurt or Bergen with Lufthansa, Wideroe or SAS. Wizzair and Norwegian also offer direct flights to Tromso from the UK on some days.

From Tromsø you need to transfer to the ferry port (less than 15 minutes by taxi) you need to take the Express Ferry departing to Finnsnes. Get ready for a beautiful 1 hour boat journey through the fjords!

Transfers: We will organise a group transfer from Finnsnes to the retreat, meeting the 15.00 ferry. The cost will be around £30 per person each way, depending on final numbers.

We will send recommend flights and ferries when you book.

If you have any questions, contact Reclaim Yourself Retreats

To book or find more information, click here.

£1,495 – £1,995

Take a few days for yourself. Join Charlie Polizzi and Zephyr Wildman for a wonderful week of yoga, walking and pranayama/breath work this October at The Star in Alfriston. Alfriston is a lovely village set in the foot of the East Sussex Downs. On the banks of the Cuckmere River, the sea and the magnificent Seven Sisters chalk cliffs are within walking distance.

The Star is a 15th century inn, with additions from the 1930s and 1960s, located in Alfriston, a traditional downland village with medieval roots. The Star, housed in a mixture of new and old buildings, has been totally rebuilt, with new roofs, new wooden windows, many trees planted and its 30 bedrooms and bathrooms remodelled and newly decorated.

We will be offering 2-3 hours of guided walking each day on the beautiful surrounding South Downs. Not for the faint hearted. You will need good walking boots/shoes and possibly wet weather gear as we plan to walk come rain or shine.

Every evening Charlie Polizzi will be teaching 45 minutes of pranayama/breath work. To breathe consciously is to become utterly present, calm the stress system and gain mastery over the mind. When we deliberately choose to become aware of the breath, we can use it like a tool to anchor and bring stability to body and mind.

The breath work is not suitable for pregnant women or those who have had surgery in the last two years unless you have consent from your doctor.

Full Board
Buffet or cooked breakfast to order for those who want it, a vegan buffet lunch of a soup and selection of salads and a three course dinner. There will always be a vegan option and a fish/white meat option main course. No one will raise an eyebrow if you feel like having a glass of wine or cocktail in the evening however, all alcohol will be charged separately.

This is your week to relax and recharge.

From £1968 based on a Classic Juliet room single occupancy.

To book please contact The Star 01323 870495

9-13 October 2023

Join our Norway yoga retreat with Reclaim Yourself Retreats and myself to experience an amazing landscape with great mountains, vast valleys, deep fjords, and historical Norwegian farmland. Combine twice daily yoga and delicious Norwegian meals with invigorating hikes to breathtaking peaks and spectacular viewpoints. Between activities, enjoy captivating views, rejuvenate in the bath house, rest and savour the peacefulness of our nature filled location.

Our family owned and run retreat location is on the northwest coast of Norway, around 1.5 hours from Ålesund and in the middle of the famous Norwegian scenic route. On our doorstep is Reinheimen National Park, several nature reserves and Tafjord, a hidden UNESCO world heritage fjord.

You’ll stay in beautiful, award-winning rooms, designed so that you feel deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. With sumptuous beds and wonderful views, each room blends seamlessly into the surrounding natures and offers complete peace and privacy. At the heart of the retreat is a 100 year-old restored farm building, where the old the cow byre is now a dining room with an open fire, and the old hay store has been turned into the lounge area.

Yoga will takes place in a large riverside room, where glass walls look out onto the river and mossy woodlands. Nearby is the bath house, a tranquil and refreshing spa built into the land by the river, where you’ll find a steam sauna, hot tub, a silent room, showers and our treatment room. You can book massages and breath work sessions with our therapist Amanda Tizard.

The area around us is a paradise for off the beaten path hiking in quiete and peaceful surroundings. You can explore lovely peaks, ancient mountain farms and wonderful viewpoints.

Your retreat accommodation

We have 15 places on this retreat, sleeping in beautifully designed “landscape” and “birdhouse” rooms, along with 2 farmhouse rooms.

Our seven award winning “landscape rooms” are cubes on stilts, with glass walls that offer a striking view of the valley, the forest or the river below.

Every room has one or two walls that are entirely built in glass and every room gets its own exclusive view of the landscape. No room looks into another, so the rooms are private even though curtains are not an option!

All the rooms have a dark interior to avoid stealing focus from the scenery and include a double bed and a small bathroom. For those sharing these rooms as twin rooms, a very comfortable but smaller second bed will be added to the room.

Our two “birdhouse” rooms have a minimalist architectural style and resemble a traditional Norwegian log house. The rooms are 8 square metres in total, but provide a comfortable double bed, a small sofa bench and a toilet.

The interior is light, with large windows designed to let nature in and smaller windows that provide extra glimpses of the world outside. From the bed, you can look out on the mountainside. The rooms have a tiny bathroom with only a small handheld shower, but the nearby bath house is available for showering around the clock.

Your retreat menu

Our resident chef team create resplendent meals with traditional Norwegian recipes and ingredients.

Brunch: We start the day with good bread and freshly made jam, cereal, homemade scrambled eggs and smoked salmon prepared in the traditional style. In addition to freshly brewed coffee and tea, we offer locally sourced apple juice from the valley. Guests are welcome to make their own packed lunches from the breakfast table if they are heading out hiking!

Dinner: Our three course dinner is enjoyed family style at a long table in the cow barn. Meals are home cooked and hearty and will include some meat or fish. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available on request.

What’s included

• 3 nights accommodation
• 6 yoga classes
• Unlimited time in the bathhouse
• Brunch, dinner and soft drinks

What’s extra:

• Return flights or trains to Ålesund
• Transfers to our retreat (prices tbc)
• Guided hikes (from 899 – 1399 NOK pp)
• Massages and breath work (£85 an hour)

Travel to Norway

Travel to your retreat (mail us if you’d like advice on travel options from your home location)

Why not take the train?

Taking the train from London: For the slow travel option to Oslo, take the Eurostar to Brussels, spend a night there and then take the train the following day. Details are here. Either stay a night in Oslo and take the train below, or join the night train to our retreat.

Taking the train from Oslo: Our nearest train station is Åndalsnes and journey time is 5.5 hours from Oslo. You leave at 8am and arrive in time for a late lunch. There is also a night train option which takes 9 hours and gets you to the retreat in time for brunch.

The drive from Åndalsnes to our retreat location is 40km and takes about 45 minutes, assuming the Trollstigen is open. If it is closed (for winter time) the drive takes about 1 h 45 minutes and it 125 km via Sjøholt.  We can organise shared taxis at an additional cost.

Flying from Oslo: Our nearest airport is Ålesund Vigra (AES). You can reach here in less than an hour from Oslo with SAS and Norwegian. The drive from Vigra is 100kms and it takes about 1.5 hours. We can organise shared taxi for you at an extra cost.

Flying from UK: You can fly to Ålesund in less than 5 hours, including a 2 hour stopover is Oslo.

To Book contact Reclaim Yourself Retreats directly.

£1495-1995

Azaren

Azaren is a private 20 acre (8 hectare) estate nestled in the shadows of the High Atlas Mountains just 30km from Marrakech. It is an oasis of calm, beauty and luxurious surroundings; everything you would imagine your own private Moroccan paradise could be. Snowcapped Mount Toubkal (the highest peak in the Atlas) just to the south of Azaren, has provided year- round irrigation for the lush gardens of the Ourika Valley that have fed the region for centuries. The hospitality of the Berber people is world-renowned and at Azaren, that welcoming of visitors is on full display. Whether you would like to experience a traditional hamam, find yourself at a tea ceremony in a mountain village or sample the famous Moroccan Tajin, Azaren is truly an immersion into an exotic culture nurtured in luxurious comfort. You will fall in love with the people, the traditions, the food and most of all the facilities of this desert hideaway. But don’t forget, this is a Yoga retreat after all. The purpose built Yoga Shala on the property is one of the most beautifully designed and situated of any of Zephyr’s retreat locations. With the backdrop of the mountains and the stunning garden laid out in front of you, you’re sure to find a bit of bliss and serenity both on and off the mat.

Yoga & Meditation with Zephyr Wildman

The foundation of Zephyr’s teaching is built upon an extensive study of Yoga anatomy and physiology to Asana, laying the groundwork for students to be lead into a contemplative path inwards. This approach to Yoga is an integration of Yoga philosophy, psychology and creative sequencing, provides a wholistic and practical weaving of Asana, Pranayama, Mudras, Kriyas, Mantras and more, to deepen the student’s experience in finding their own path to the state of Yoga. 

For more about Zephyr visit ZephyrYoga.com

Garden & Grounds

The grounds and gardens were conceived by renowned French landscape designers Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières. The blend of subtle plantations of fragrant flowers and sculptural cacti with local crops is stunning. On the property, Azaren has the Jardin de l’Ourika, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, supporting local Berber women employed to cultivate and nurture the botanical ingredients to Yves Saint Laurent cosmetics. Yves Saint Laurent was a lover of Morocco and his former residence in Marrakech can be visited which is a great tour to understand his connection to the country and that continuing legacy of Moroccan botanical cultivation for the company. Visits to the garden on the property at Azaren can also be arranged.

Architecture & Interiors

Azaren was designed by internationally acclaimed architect Imaad Rahmouni in a style which combines exceptional volumes with the simplicity of Berber architecture. The buildings include the main house extending over 1,200 sqm, six garden villas (about 100 sqm each), a pool house, a tennis club house, a fitness centre and a Yoga shala, all surrounded by formal gardens and a labyrinth of pathways to explore it all.

The main house is arranged on either side of an impressive corridor which leads to the living rooms, dining room, spa, billiard room, television room and four suites. Furnished and decorated by Themes & Variations, London, the interiors are a striking combination of vintage and contemporary with a Moroccan flavour.

Amenities 

Pool, Spa and Tennis Courts – all exclusively for our use.

Azaren staff includes a house-manager who speaks English, German and French, a butler, a cook, three chambermaids, a head grounds-keeper, a team of gardeners and a night watchmen. 

Specialist staff can be arranged for Massages & Hammam 35 Euros per treatment. Bookings will be closer to the time of departure.

Food

The cuisine is delicious Moroccan-French fusion and extensively uses Azaren’s home-grown vegetables, fruit and olive oil. Traditional bread is baked daily in an outdoor wood-fired oven and the home-made olive tapenade is usually smuggled home in Zephyr’s luggage by the kilo. It’s delicious.

Vegetarian diets and other dietary requirements can be catered for.

Meals can be served in a variety of outdoor locations and picnics can be prepared on request.

Included: 

• Accommodation at Azaren with access to all amenities and gardens
• High speed wifi in all buildings, pool and Yoga shala
• 2x Yoga & Meditation sessions per day with Zephyr
• Yoga Mats, Blocks, Bricks, Straps, Bolsters, Eye Pillows are supplied for use
• Group Transport to and from Marrakech Airport (RAK) to Azaren and return
• Pool towels
• Snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks
• Brunch and dinner daily

Not Included:

• Flights (£160-£300 round trip during September return London/Marrakech)
• Transport outside the recommended flight time to and from airport and venue
• Transport outside group activities
• Laundry 
• Alcohol – beer, wine and spirit list available 
• Staff Tips at your discretion – all tips go directly to the women and men who work hard to make your retreat clean, enjoyable and offer any help need (£10-15 a day per guest)

Azaren Accommodation

Azaren’s accommodation comprises 4 suites in the main house and 6 garden villas (about 100sqm each) each with a walled patio, outdoor (and indoor) shower and private terrace. For single occupancy the beds will be made as a double. For two guests sharing the beds will be separated as singles.

Single Occupancy: £2950

Sharing Occupancy: £1950 per person

Master Suite (Occupied)

Double Bed with Ensuite

Coral Suite (Occupied)

Double Bed with Ensuite

Blue Suite (Occupied)

2 Single Beds with Ensuite

Purple Suite (Occupied)

2 Single Beds with Ensuite

Red Villa

2 Single Beds with Ensuite

Saffron Villa

Double Bed with Ensuite

Orange Villa

2 Single Beds with Ensuite

Lavender Villa

2 Single Beds with Ensuite

Turquoise Villa

2 Single Beds with Ensuite

Olive Villa

2 Bedroom Villa, 2 Single Beds with Ensuite & 1 Double bed with Ensuite

To Book Retreat

Contact: Zephyr Wildman & Adam Martin,  to book

Please send £1000 non-refundable and non-transferable deposit or full payment to reserve your place. The balance will then be due by 20th August, 2023 via bank transfer. Cancellation after 20th August 2023 will result in forfeiture of 50% of total payment (minus deposit), cancellation after 1st September 2023 will result in 75% forfeiture of total payment (minus deposit). Email me if you have any questions.

Highly recommend that you invest in travel insurance for your trip to ensure peace of mind.

Look forward to another wonderful retreat together.

Beaming you all blessing, laughter and future Yogic adventures!

Zephyr Wildman & Adam Martin