Page 48 - Port Douglas Magazine 44

Yoga on the Beach

A story of connection and the
magic of Four Mile Beach

IT ALL BEGAN WHEN RIA MOUNTFORD,
founder of Yoga On The Beach, took a
holiday in Port Douglas — a five-day escape
and a chance to bask in the sun and tropical
warmth. She planned to join a yoga class but
soon realised that retreating indoors didn’t
quite fit with the spirit of her holiday in “Maybe it’s the sensation of sand beneath your hands and feet, the sound
paradise. Instead, she headed to the beach, of the waves and the rustling palm trees, and the endless expanse of sky
where an hour of doing her own yoga under that creates an atmosphere like no other.”
the open sky sparked an idea: Yoga On The
Beach.
Fast forward 21 years, and what started as a feet, the sound of the waves and the rustling people have begun their yoga journey this way,
simple idea has blossomed into a beloved Port palm trees, and the endless expanse of sky that with us on the beach.”
Douglas tradition. Every morning at 8 AM, creates an atmosphere like no other.
dedicated yogis, enthusiastic newcomers and In a world that often moves too fast, Yoga On
absolute beginners practise together against Yoga On The Beach is far more than a class. The Beach is a tonic for the soul. It invites you
one of the most beautiful backdrops in the It’s a moment to reconnect with yourself and to slow down, to listen to the quiet beneath life’s
world. nature. A most cherished memory is a moment noise, and to embrace the natural rhythm of the
Over the decades, Yoga On The Beach has with two visitors from USA. “Two women earth. Each session is woven with the elements of
nature—the shift in morning light, patterns in the
approached me after the class absolutely
welcomed locals, Aussie holidaymakers, and beaming with excitement and told me that for sand, the fresh sea breeze — making every class as
travellers from all over the world to come and years their yoga teacher would finish each class unique as the day itself.
experience the magic. Some make the daily by asking them to imagine lying on the sand,
classes part of their own yoga retreats, while feeling the sun on their body, listening to the And so, the tradition continues. Every morning at
others embrace the class as a once in life-time movement of the waves. ‘Today—we actually 8 AM, on Four Mile Beach. Here’s to 21 years of
experience. For many, it becomes an annual lived it! It was the class of a lifetime.’ “ movement, connection, and community — and
ritual, planning their holidays around the Yoga to many more mornings on the sand of Four Mile
On The Beach teaching season. “And for those people who have never done Beach.
There’s something undeniably special about yoga before in their lives, there is something
about being able to see the class in action on
starting your day doing yoga and even, more the beach that sparks the confidence to give
so, doing it on Four Mile Beach. Maybe it’s it a try – ‘I reckon I could do that!’ So many
the sensation of sand beneath your hands and

50 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner