UQ Yoga &​
Meditation Club
Christmas Creek Retreat
The 24th to 26th September is indeed a special period for UQYMC – it was our 3-day yoga retreat of 2018! This was the second retreat since the establishment of our club and this year, we went to the Christmas Creek located about 2-hours’ drive away from UQ. As a big crowd of 40 members/executives + our yoga teacher Niru and her son, we stayed at the Christmas Creek Café & Cabins. We were warmly welcomed by our lovely hostess Katy on arrival.
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As we arrived at noontime, everyone was starving and we had lunch after unpacking.
Yummy vegetarian/vegan burgers from the UQ Main course and fresh fruits!
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After lunch and a short free exploration time, it’s time to get to know more about our retreat-mates (?) so here we go ice-breaker games!! We had Human Bingo, Bang Bang and Blindfolded Guiding, and not to forget the Human Statues! Our members came up with really creative group poses and everyone definitely deserved a prize!
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This would not be a yoga retreat without a yoga session – and – with all the greenery, gentle breeze and slowly setting sun, what’s better than Partner Yoga under the trees! We were also joined by a few moo buddies – hello there!
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Our yoga teacher Niru also led us to a yogic massage session after the stretchy Partner Yoga. How therapeutic it was to have these sessions during dusk!
The weather started to get chilly after sunset, so it was just perfect for a cup of steaming chai and authentic Indian curry for dinner! Yum yum!
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It was a full moon that night which brought us to Moonlight Meditation and Yoga Nidra. Our members, muffled by their blankets, slowly eased their mind under Niru’s prompt. You can tell it’s definitely worked its magic as you can even hear the zzzs…! Relaxed and cozy, it’s time for bed.
*cock-a-doodle-doo*
The advantages of staying near the nature you ask? Automatic alarms! We started our Day2 with Sunrise Yoga (Vinyasa Flow) and more chai during breakfast.
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Well-rested and energized, it’s time for the highlight of the retreat – hiking in the Lamington Nation Park!!! We were SUPER LUCKY, as the weather was forecasted to be rainy but turned out we had the perfect weather for hiking – slightly overcast with gleaming sun and cool breeze!
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Thanks to our “chauffeur” and hike leader Nikhil, off we go to the Park! The trail was a bit wet and slippery from the rain on previous days, but as a 40-people group, we hiked a decent distance! We enjoyed every bit of the hike and need not to say we were stunned by the majestic nature… Look at that log, that tree, that river! Everything has got a spirit and we could definitely feel and were replenished by the energy from the nature.
We continued hiking up the trail and we stopped at a creek. The water was so clear and fresh that you can see the bottom of it. Most of us sat by the creek, had a cool foot bath and shared snacks - chill vibes. Some members were feeling adventurous and decided to explore around the creek while some decided to go for a swim! Brrrrrr the water was cold so good on ‘em!
After we headed back, many of our members decided to nap and recharge after the great hike so they would be ready for another special event tonight – movie night! The movie night was after a delicious Indian feast (we even got coconut rice pudding with fruits for dessert!) and the movie of the night is “Your Name”. Our members were enjoying the film while wrapped up in their snuggly blankets… so comfy :)
As it was the last night of the retreat, we needed to make it special. What’s better than a bonfire in the cold rural airs under a moonlit sky? A cheerful and lovely crowd, flickering and blazing flames, stories and tales that made smiles and laughter… they were all beautiful memories to be remembered forever.
Happy time fly fast. It came to the last day of the retreat. We packed our belongings and took a few group photos outside the cabins. Sadly we said goodbye, but fortunately and almost certainly, we cherished all the sweet, funny and special moments in this retreat. These will be irreplaceable and unforgettable memories that can always light a smile on our faces forever.
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Finally, a big thank you to our members who made this retreat possible and memorable, especially to those who offered help, we truly appreciated it. We also thank our executive team who planned and poured their best effort to make this retreat extraordinarily amazing! Last but not least, a big shout out to our yoga teacher Niru who not only volunteered to join us and teach us yoga but provided us with all the yummy food and chai throughout the retreat! It was definitely a blessing to us!
We whole-heartedly thank and hope everyone had a great time in this retreat (including you who are reading this, hope you feel the good vibes!) and see you soon! 😊
Thanks for reading till the end!
