On Return from Northern Lights for the Soul

In March 2016 I had the fantastic experience of teaching Fitness Yoga in Kilpisjärvi, Northern Finland. It was such an amazing location to relax, stretch and spend time with like-minded people, and a really different Northern Lights holiday experience.

Such a beautiful part of the world. The air was so pure, -22 degrees on some days with deep, glistening, white snow, dotted with Reindeer, Arctic hares and huskies too. I came as an experienced teacher along with two other experts. Shannon and Brian were amazing and opened my eyes to their world of mindfulness meditation and Tibetan Yoga. The trip was hosted by Katie and Emma from Off The Map Travel who looked after everyone so well. Nothing was too much trouble for the lovely ladies who were both so helpful, welcoming and great fun!

Our relaxing Northern Lights for the Soul retreat started each day with a Fitness Yoga session at 8.30 a.m in a studio with fabulous views overlooking a stunning frozen landscape, blue skies, mountains and snow. It was the perfect setting to gaze at during our stretches

A healthy hearty breakfast was very welcome in the restaurant which was a short walk in the fresh clean air, followed by a Meditation, Mindfullness and Tibetan Yoga session back in the studio. It was very calming and relaxing to spend time with our thoughts within a group setting. Tibetan Yoga was great fun and got our bodies moving again after our sitting and walking meditation. Lunch was very inviting in the friendly, traditionally decorated restaurant at Tundrea resort.

In the afternoons there was plenty of time to do your own thing, a walk to the local shop, extra activities such as snowmobiling, snow shoeing, body conditioning classes, 1:1 meditation or to simply relax in the warm steaming outdoor Jacuzzi overlooking lake Kilpisjarvi. I particularly enjoyed the snowmobile trip that visited where Sweden, Norway and Finland meet.

I was lucky enough to be joined by some wonderful guests on this tour. Mid-week we all decided to spend time using the relaxation facilities. We enjoyed ourselves so much, had such a laugh and felt very refreshed afterwards. We began by braving the hot tub in our swimming costumes, followed by a warm up in the wooden sauna and then ran out to the snow and in just our costumes and snow boots. Boy did we laugh! Such a funny afternoon that I will always remember. We certainly worked up an appetite for our delicious dinner served with the group. The other guests on the retreat came from all over the world including America, Israel, Denmark, Brussels and the UK. The mix of cultures and people really added to the experience.

After dinner we walked down to the frozen lake and were totally-gobsmacked to see and experience the stunning Aurora in the dark, clear and starry skies above us. Wow, such a spectacle! Absolutely awesome to see the different colours display in wonderful formations. I just couldn’t believe my eyes! We had our group photo with the Northern Lights and I just couldn’t resist doing a yoga pose too.

It was such a great experience teaching Yoga in another country and we were all so very lucky to see the amazing Northern Lights. Certainly a trip I will always remember and hold very close to my heart.

I certainly can’t wait until the next Northern Lights for the Soul Retreat in Norway, March 2017.

Thank you so much Off the Map Travel for this brilliant opportunity. A perfect combination for relaxing and reconnecting with our soul. Yoga, Meditation and the Aurora – in my humble opinion, it all makes a perfect Northern Lights Holiday experience.

Beverley Nichols