Wild at Heart: A Yoga & Writing Retreat at Huzur Vadisi, Turkey

Join Hilary Brown and Geertje Couwenbergh for a week of fearless fun!

Join us for this week-long opportunity to uncover your naturally wild and compassionate heart! Under the guidance of two dedicated teachers, explore how the paths of yoga, writing and meditation can wake you up to your life. Expect two yoga sessions most days, afternoons and evenings sprinkled with writing opportunities, guided meditations, heartwarming workshops, delicious veggie cuisine and lots of free time to relax, write and wander around the beautiful landscape. In early October, the warm sunny days in Turkey offer the best time to enjoy the great views all around, and open your heart all the way from the mountains to the sea.

Feeling more like doing yoga than writing, or vice versa? No problem. In addition to the main program, Hilary and Geertje will offer different activities and workshops like dream exploration, mindful walks, writing adventures, dancing & dharma talks. This way you can flavor your retreat just the way you want.

Huzur Vadisi
This holiday retreat will be hosted at Huzur Vadisi, a beautiful retreat centre situated in the region of southwest Turkey known as Lycia. Mountainous and forested with a beautiful coastline of deep bays and islands the scenery is quite stunning, with limestone cliffs and panoramic views of mountains rising from the turquoise sea. Meaning 'peaceful valley', Huzur Vadisi is built around a traditional restored farmstead with a natural stone swimming pool and a spacious outdoor yoga shala. Accommodation is in comfortably appointed yurts (shared with one or two persons for most) scattered among the olive groves and the beaches are only 15 minutes away (by car). One day the group will venture out of our cocoon at the retreat center and enjoy a beautiful boat trip on the Mediterranean Sea where we can swim, shop, play, sun and relax. Of course we can take our notepads with us! (day trip=extra fee). In addition, you are welcome to book one or more massages with a superb masseuse who lives in the area, or take an afternoon for yourself at the beach or town. Give yourself the opportunity of spending a full week in a beautiful surrounding, doing nothing except opening up to wildness of this One Great Life.

Yoga and Writing program
All parts of the program are suitable for all students and levels of experience. If you are new to yoga, this retreat is a great opportunity to be introduced to a vinyasa practice and to gain a direct experience of its great benefits on your body and mind! No writing experience required, as we look for a ‘Beginner’s Mind’. Feel free to bring one!

Yoga
Hilary’s yoga sessions will be offered every morning and most afternoons. Since our Wild at Heart program is so varied, expect guerilla yoga moments to pop up when you least expect it! Vinyasa is a term that means “breath–synchronized movement”. It is a principle that when applied with intent and intelligence, can create a powerful experience of opening your mind and heart.
Morning Yoga sessions will be deep, challenging, healing and full of life. Hilary’s approach on retreat will be to help you nurture yourself, exploring your own personal boundaries, both inside and out, and on exploring vinyasa-based yoga that is both relaxed and stimulating, restful and energizing. She will be working at a slow but deep pace, asking you to feel each step of the way, working your way towards new edges of both body and mind. Evening sessions will be more restful, restorative, yin and with focus on the breath (pranayama) and meditation. In both yoga sessions, Hilary will emphasize the themes we are exploring during this retreat; uncovering your creative, wild and tender human heart.

Writing
Geertje’s writing sessions will be offered at different times during the program. One time you will be writing first thing in the morning to capture your dreams and another time you can find yourself writing in a yoga posture. Through writing walks and guided meditations, she will introduce you to a approach to writing that can truly rekindle your lust for life. Writing practice offers the possibility to connect to writing as a practice with few rules and lots of free-flowing creativity and meditative elements. During this week, you have the opportunity to learn to write from your bones, instead of your brain. You don’t have to be a writer to participate in the writings parts of the retreat. You won’t have to create an end product or read something out loud –unless you want to. By moving your body and pen, you open your heart and mind to the magic of simply being alive.