My experience at Akasha Retreat

How about enjoying an amazing wellness in Transylvania, ‘accessorized’ with yoga classes, meditation, massage, hot tub, sauna, healthy food and the perfect environment for digital detox?! Another strength of this place is the location, it is very close to Bran Castle- the Castle of Dracula, one of the most famous touristic attraction of Romania. Moreover, the view from this place is breathtaking, the air and water is fresh and pure, and the food is unbelievably good and healthy.

We arrived here on a Friday evening. No kids, just me and my hubby. That’s something that happens rarely, since our kids are still too young to take long trips without them. First, we were embraced by the fresh air and the view. It helps you to get disconnected from your daily routine and to relax, rest and sleep throughout the night without any “wake-up” calls of a hungry or other babies’ needs, a great perfect place to escape from a crowded city or a stressful routine.

Around 17:00 was the first yoga class and then we enjoyed our vegan dinner and got the chance to know each other. Normally, at this kind of retreat, there is a maximum of 10 couples that should join it, or 20 people, if they agree to share the rooms. The length of a retreat is 6 days and has different themes: ‘Pre-Holidays Yoga Retreat’, ‘Yoga and Ski Holiday’, ‘Wine tasting and Yoga’ and other weekly theme events.

Next day we woke up by a gong sound at 7:00. At 7:30, there was a yoga class called ‘Yoga Hatha/Slow Flow’. The perfect way to start your day. These classes are suitable for everyone. Even my hubby practiced it and he admitted he felt better afterwards. Do not take it too seriously, in case the word ‘yoga’ sounds to frightening to you. Yoga and meditation is the best way to align your thoughts with your body and to have a perfect start of the day. There are so many misconceptions about this practice, so I would like to highlight some of the benefits and to clarify this concept in a few words.

Yoga practice is about:

– asana (which is the movements you make during this practice),

– being a better person

– honour your body

– eat healthy

– bring in just positive thought

– be grateful for what you have

After this class we enjoyed a healthy breakfast and then we did a long walk throughout the village. For hiking lovers, this is a great place to be. The next yoga class was held at 13:00, called ‘Intro to meditation’. If this sounds strange to you, it’s only because it’s something new for you, but trust me everyone can attend this kind of class, just give it a try! The long walk and meditation made us hungry, so we joined the big oval table where we sat together for lunch. Great time to learn more about each other and to make new acquaintances in a room where gadgets were forbidden and of course Wi-Fi too, the environment for great stories and reading is all set. 😉

Between lunch and the next yoga class called ‘Yin Restorative Yoga’ , there was enough time to either continue our discussions with the other participants of the retreat week, to have visit Bran Castle, to relax while getting a massage or simply just read a book and detoxify from all digital equipment’s and all the information and social media news that’s never ending. After the following yoga class, dinner was served, so we went straight to the ‘digital detox’ room. Then we relaxed in the hot tub and sauna. It felt great after yoga classes and helped me well to fell asleep.

Next morning almost the same ritual: gong sound at 7:00, wake up, 7:30 ‘Hatha/Slow Flow’ yoga class and then breakfast. After breakfast, we had to return to our kids. Unfortunately, the host had some surprise classes that we missed. For example: ‘Silent morning’, ‘Movie documentary’, ‘Pranayama+ Chanting’ and some other classes.

It’s a great experience to visit Transylvania for two weeks if your schedule allows it: one week to join the Akasha Retreat and one week to explore the surroundings: Viscri, Crit, Cincsor, Sighisoara, Cartisoara and Sibiu (check these lovely places where you can stay; just click on the villages or city’ name above). I bet it will be an experience you won’t forget to soon.

How I got the chance to find out about this retreat?!

I was researching on a great place to stay in Romania in autumn, winter season too and where I have the chance to practice yoga as well. This place seemed a great choice, so I wanted to write about it and share my experience with you too. If my words were not helpful enough to picture this place and experience, I am sure the video and the photos below will have a bigger chance, so enjoy it! 😉

At the end, I would love to quote the yoga teacher, because these words ‘blink’ in my head every time I remember Akasha wellness experience.

‘May joy surround you,

May peace surround you,

May love surround you,

Namaste!

Lots of love,

A.