Wellness Vietnam recently organized a 10-day Yoga and Cultural Retreat for a group of twenty Americans.  The group came to Vietnam to study under Lynne Minton, an instructor with more than 20 years teaching experience, and also for the opportunity to personally experience Vietnam, a country they’ve only read in history books and seen on television.

The retreat took place at Amiana Resort in Nha Trang, chosen for its five star facility and secluded pristine location at Turtle Bay. The 10-day program offered a balance of intensive yoga practice with time for exploring the surrounding environment and local culture.

The schedule for most days began with an optional morning meditation followed by a 2-hour yoga workshop (morning and evening). The workshop included lectures on some days but on most days, it was practical instructions with each day focusing on a particular pose. As most participants were above fifty-five years of age, Lynne incorporated the use of props such as chairs, blocks and straps to assist in aligning the poses. While modern day yoga can be competitive in nature, Lynne reminded her students that yoga is not a contest but a practice to bring unity to the mind, body and spirit.

Apart from doing yoga, participants had some time to explore Nha Trang.  They spent a day visiting villages and observed the making of local handicrafts, such as the conical hat and woven straw mat.  They also visited popular religious attractions such as Long Son Pagoda and Po Nagar Temple which gave them insight into the diverse Vietnamese culture and history.

After days of intensive yoga practice, participants were treated to some R&R. They spent an afternoon at the I-resort where they soaked in tubs of mineral mud known for its therapeutic benefits for skin conditions and muscle pains. After washing off the mud, they all had fun splashing in the hot spring pools and waterfalls. It was a refreshing and recuperative way to finish their yoga retreat.

Yoga is a lifelong practice and while they may not have perfected a particular yoga pose by the end of the retreat, most felt they gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the country through the people they met and the places they visited. They leave Vietnam with lasting memories of fun, discovery, new friendships, and a renewed sense of wellbeing.

The Yoga & Culture program was organized by Wellness Vietnam Holidays (www.wellnessvietnam.com) specialists in wellness travel based in Ho Chi Minh City.