YOGA
RETREAT
he smell of home-made Welsh “Many people, including myself, liveBy Nichole Sarra
cakes greeted me as I very busy lives, and the manyT
entered Awelfan, a yoga techniques and tools of yoga can be
retreat tucked away in one of very beneficial to counteract the
Pembrokeshire’s coastal villages. chaos.”
Square and Compass near Mathry Since opening her retreat in 2006
is home to the four-star bed and and setting up a website, Karen has
breakfast and yoga retreat set up by received calls from across Europe
Karen Saunders, a qualified British from people keen to learn more about
Wheel of Yoga teacher. her yoga haven.
Karen has been practising yoga for Karen has hosted a range of
more than ten years and as well as groups, from mothers and daughters
being a qualified teacher has recently on a girly break to city workers keen
completed a diploma in teaching the to get away from the hustle and
system of philosophies that originated bustle of London life.
in India over 5,000 years ago. As well as the retreat and B&B,
She decided to set up the retreat Karen also runs regular ten-week
two years ago after enjoying the yoga courses with each class running
benefits of yoga herself over the past for 90 minutes.
decade. She hopes to be able to Having taught yoga to a wide range
share those benefits with others. of ages, from teens to an 86-year-old
“Personally, I don’t think I could pensioner, Karen says that yoga is for
have done the things I have done as a everyone, regardless of age, sex and
single mum without yoga. ability.
“It has been a strength to me so I Classes are available for beginners
can continue my journey and also in to intermediate level and she also
setting up the retreat.” runs a gentle class for people
The 44-year-old is also quick to suffering with any particular ailments.
dispel myths surrounding the art of A novice at the art of yoga, I was
yoga and keen to stress that the keen to find out the benefits for
‘tools’ of yoga can hold many benefits myself, but before I did I got a guided
to those leading hectic and busy lives. tour of the retreat set in the
Karen said: “Yoga is not about welcoming and homely property of
getting yourself into weird postures it Awelfan.
is much more about developing body, All the bedrooms are light and
breath and mind awareness, and comfortable with all the mod-cons
bringing about balance. you’d expect from four star
36 Pembrokeshire County Living
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