Page 87 - Port Douglas Magazine 41

YOGA
“Petra guides us through a meditation and
breathwork session, which done in the landscape
of nature, the sounds of the water gushing in the
background, only enhances what is already a
deeply profound and beautiful ritual. “
FINDING YOUR
FLOW
IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, YOU’RE
A WALKING CONTRADICTION. AN
EXTROVERT WHO LOVES TO BE ALONE.
ENERGETIC BUT LAZY. UBER ORGANISED
YET SEEMINGLY COMPLETELY CHAOTIC.
WORDS BY LISA KELLER
IT’S NO SURPRISE THEN, that my holiday plans tend to be
exactly the same. I want adventure, I want excitement, I want
to explore... but at the same time, I want the peace, serenity and
wellness-focused energy that comes with an escape to a tropical
paradise. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I found a
tour right here in Port Douglas that encompassed all of the above.
It was the name that caught my attention first. Yoga and Waterfall
Hike. Simple and straight to the point - you don’t need to be a
word wizard to work out what this tour might involve and my lazy
holiday brain was very grateful for that.
We meet at an unassuming car park just south of Port Douglas. If it
weren’t for the small wooden sign reading ‘waterfall’ perched high
on a tree, the path would be easily missed. It’s here we meet Petra,
owner and operator of Yoga in the Tropics and my zen master and
hiking buddy for the day.
While we trek, eagerly following the aforementioned sign, Petra
explains that our day will be a combination of walking, yoga and
mindfulness with a refreshing swim and (my favourite part) a
healthy snack which she had prepared herself. As we chat, I get to
know more about her and the story behind Yoga in the Tropics. She
tells me how the idea was an evolution from her usual studio classes
with the aim to offer something a bit more unique and encourage
visitors to explore parts of the region they might not otherwise see.
She also explained the power of nature and its healing benefits - a
sentiment I truly felt during my experience. I’m no stranger to a
downward dog, as I’ve been practicing yoga for years but doing
it amidst the symphony of nature’s soundtrack in the background
takes the experience to a whole new level.
The hike itself is manageable. A few steep hills get the heart going
but nothing unachievable, and knowing that a natural swimming
pool fed by a healthy flowing waterfall is what waits for you at the
end, is all the motivation you need to push through.
Nothing says serenity like a waterfall. There’s something so
humbling about standing before the raw power of Mother Nature.
The water is refreshing - a cool reprieve after walking in the heat of
the tropics and Petra’s homemade snacks are the exact nourishment
my body is calling for.
Petra then guides us through a meditation and breathwork session,
which, once again, done in the landscape of nature, the sounds
of the water gushing in the background, only enhances what is
already a deeply profound and beautiful ritual.
The whole experience takes only half a day yet I feel like I’ve
accomplished so much and I return to Port Douglas a perfect
combination of enlightened, enriched and exhausted. If you’re
looking for something different to fill your days on your tropical
getaway, this could be the answer you’re looking for.