Paradise Found Yoga: Retreating For The Soul
When I walked into my room at Sat Guru Nomi Lyons’s Paradise Found, there was a spray of orchids waiting for me. They’re my favorite flower. Lyons knew because it was one of the questions asked in the pre-retreat questionnaire, designed to facilitate a personalized experience in Paradise.
It takes a special being to concoct a delicious recipe for a nourishing yoga retreat. Sat Guru Nomi Lyons, the proprietor of Paradise, is one of these. She has created an intimate getaway at her part-time home on the largest of British Columbia’s pristine Gulf Islands, Salt Spring.
With the trifecta of Easter, the vernal equinox and a full moon hovering over the long weekend, I ferried from Vancouver, British Columbia to Salt Spring Island to spring clean my soul. The energetic vibrations of these influences were palpitatingly present throughout the retreat as I watched the moon rise from the property’s hot tub, experienced a gusty windstorm during an outdoor pranayama (breathing practices) session and slept through a downpour that left the morning air bracingly fresh for an herbalist-led hike through a native sanctuary.
Paradise Found, which is situated on a tree-fringed lake, is by no means a fancy resort experience, nor is it an ascetic ashram. (What ashram serves warm brownies?) Rather, it is “real” and a manifestation of what this busy householder would want when taking the time to pause, breathe and nourish – a beautiful and comfortable space to focus on yoga, the self and frankly, the joy of someone else cooking vegetarian meals, not to mention the complimentary foot rub/reflexology session.
Lyons, grew up on Salt Spring. She transformed Paradise Found into a blend of practical, secular Western living with healing Eastern influences; an ideal setting for retreat and renewal. While I participated in a relaxation retreat, she also hosts silent, cleansing and women-only retreats, anchored in Yogi Bhajan’s Kundalini Yoga, of which she is a certified instructor.
The gracious and down-to-earth Lyons, who left Canada to pursue a career as a vocalist in Los Angeles, discovered Kundalini Yoga in California and instantly knew it was her path. Singing is still integral to her practice, particularly since Kundalini features frequent chanting. Her career as a vocalist continues as she is currently producing a chanting CD showcasing her phenomenal voice.
It is no wonder then that the retreat incorporated the powerful practice of chanting. I was especially moved by the guru mantra, which we recited before dawn. If Lyons has the refined princess voice, I have the croaky frog one. Despite my initial reluctance, I found myself captivated by the rhythmic simplicity of the chant, which completely absolved my mind of any chatter, and washed through my body, awakening it as the first streams of sunlight peeked through the curtains.
The morning schedule organically flowed into a series of Kundalini yoga sets followed by the drawing of Angel Cards, an intentional, tarot-esque deck from which inspiration and magic sprung, all before breakfast. The caterer, Elly, a combination of Amélie and a sparkling-eyed wood sprite, is an alchemist in the kitchen, whipping up dishes like nutty breakfast bread pudding, avocado soup and a chocolate pear torte that all contained a sattvic (peaceful) resonance.
Excursions to the small town of Ganges or island exploration via hiking, kayaking, seasonal swimming and beachcombing are available, yet I used the the downtime between yoga sessions to journal the reconnection and re-design of my daily sadhana (practice), that Paradise Found had inspired.
I especially found the simple and often “green” steps for self-nourishment comforting and was inspired to replicate them at home. They make me remember Paradise Found, so when retreating isn’t possible, I remember what it feels like to be renewed and nourished on the island.
For more information on Paradise Found and Sat Guru Nomi Lyons, who also teaches classes and workshops in L.A. and Vancouver, visit www.paradisefoundyoga.com.
Amy Wong is a writer, yoga teacher and food lover currently making her own ghee in Vancouver.
By Amy Wong
