Wild Wellness
Wild Wellness
Iceland Yoga Retreat
With Sæunn & Cat
8th - 13th of February 2023
- Dalvík, North Iceland
Introducing: Wild Wellness Iceland Yoga Retreat. That’s right we’re finally going to Iceland for 6 days of yoga, adventures and relaxation! Imagine waking up in your rustic cosy cabin, padding through the snow to get to the yoga barn, moving your body with an energising flow, sitting down for a delicious nourishing breakfast before heading out for a day of outdoor adventures – a dream!
Our adventure will take us to the dramatic wilderness of northern Iceland with a backdrop of rugged mountains and arctic seas. A late winter adventure means longer days for exploring but still a high chance of an impromptu northern lights show.
Our yoga teachers and chief adventurers, Sæunn and Cat, will guide us through our daily yoga practices. Expect some energising flows but also some deeply nourishing slow flows and relaxing yin. When we’re not yoga-ing we’ll be off adventuring or simply just relaxing in the onsite spa. This an adventure that’s not to be missed!
At a glance: 5 nights accommodation. Daily yoga. Wilderness hikes. Whale watching and wild hot tub adventure. Delicious food. Wild Spa workshop. Plenty of time to relax and enjoy the onsite spa. Luxurious Forest Lagoon dip.
move the body
Accommodation
Our accommodation is simply perfect for a bit of wild wellness! It’s located on the mountainous Tröllaskagi, or Troll Peninsula as it would be in English. The peninsula is a gorgeous part of the North of Iceland, with its dramatic contrasts of tall craggy mountains, deep valleys and stunning ocean views. Our stunning converted sheep farm is tucked away in a remote valley surrounded by gorgeous snowy peaks, yet still only a 50 min drive away from the bustling town of Akureyri.
The property has a series of warm, cosy cabins with the most stunning mountain views. Each cabin has a sleeping loft with a double bed and a lower level with an additional single bed, a lounge area and bathroom. There’s also a small fridge in each cabin if you want to bring some extra snacks with you.
There’s plenty of communal areas, including the old barn, the original farm house and the bathhouse. The old barn houses our yoga studio, a spacious loft with beautiful mountain views. On the lower floor we can relax and snuggle up next to the log burner in the cosy lounge or play a game of pool in the games room. We’ll gather in the original farm house for our morning and evening meals. When we want to treat ourselves we can head to the bathhouse for warming sauna and a dip in the hot tub.
nourish the soul
The Experience
Our Wild Wellness Iceland Yoga Retreat is an experience that you should not miss. Every day will be a new adventure, but not to worry, there will still be plenty of time to relax and just enjoy. We’ll start each day with an energising Yoga Flow to stretch and strengthen the whole body. Once we’ve moved our bodies we’ll gather for a delicious nourishing brunch before we head off on the day’s adventure. Whether it’s a wilderness hike, a whale watching and wild hot tub excursion, a Wild Spa workshop or just some time to chill out and relax – you will not be disappointed! Each night we’ll also gaze at the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of the stunning norther lights dancing across the sky.
Wild Wellness Schedule
All scheduled items are optional. Please note that the schedule may change.
day 1
17:00 Arrival
18:00 Slow Flow
19:30 Dinner
Day 2
09:00 Yoga Flow
10:30 Brunch
11:30 Valley hike
(with packed lunch)
17:30 Chilled yoga
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Storytime: Legends of Iceland
Day 3
08:00 Yoga Flow
09:15 Breakfast
10:00 Whale watching
15:00 Wild hot tubs and (optional) sea dip
17:30 Dinner out*
Day 4
09:00 Yoga Flow
11:00 Brunch
12:00 Free time to chill or explore
16:00 Wild Spa
19:00 Dinner
20:30 Bedtime Yin
Day 5
08:30 Yoga Flow
10:00 Brunch
11:00 Mountain hike (with packed lunch)
16:00 Free time
19:00 Three course dinner & celebrations
Day 6
08:30 Yoga Flow
09:30 Breakfast
11:00 Check-out
12:00 Forest Lagoon and Goodbyes
Each night we also hope to spot the breathtaking northern lights dancing above our remote cabins
*The dinner out is not included in the price. It is however an affordable local restaurant with mains starting from approximately £9.50.
The Yoga
The yoga classes offered will all be layered, making them suitable for various levels. Each morning we’ll start the day with a creative yoga flow where we’ll warm up the body, moving it in a mindful way, both strengthening it and stretching. Our afternoon yoga sessions will be very relaxed, whether it’s a nourishing slow flow or a deep restorative yin just before rolling off to bed.
The Hikes
Our Wild Wellness Iceland Yoga retreat would not be complete without some nature time! Come rain (or more likely snow) or shine we’ll head out to explore the stunning wilderness surrounding our cabin retreat. Our first hike will be a relaxed stroll into the valley but on our second hike, conditions allowing, we’ll to tackle one of the surrounding peaks. A packed lunch will be provided.
The Food
Every morning after our energising yoga practice we’ll feast on a nourishing brunch, expect mostly breakfast staples but with some Icelandic influences. After a day of adventures we’ll gather again for our evening meal, expect two delicious courses with an Icelandic twist. On our final evening we will go all out with a three course feast and bubbles (dressing up optional, but encouraged)!
Whale Watching & Wild Hot Tub Adventure
One day we’ll gather into a minibus and head to a nearby small villages where we’ll set off on a whale watching excursion. Our experienced guides will take us out on the fjord to hopefully spot some whales or dolphins in their natural habitat. Coffee and refreshments are provided, as are warm overalls but definitely make sure to still dress extra warm (and perhaps bring sea sickness tablets). After our day out on the water, we’ll warm up with a dip in rustic seaside hot tubs and those who are feeling brave can go for a dip in the ocean. Once we’ve soaked, we’ll head to the local village restaurant for a delicious spin on classic Icelandic treats.
Wild Spa Workshop
After our many adventures we’ll definitely deserve a bit of pampering! One afternoon we’ll gather for a Wild Spa workshop where we’ll create our own little spa goodies. We can then enjoy our goodies in the onsite spa and have ourselves an indulgent afternoon.
Forest Lagoon
Iceland is famous for its many gorgeous lagoons so of course we couldn’t leave without going for a luxurious dip! On our very last day, we’ll pack up our things and head to the stunning Forest Lagoon, which is located just outside of Akureyri. Here you can soak and relax for a couple of luscious hours before either heading home or continuing your Iceland adventures.
enjoy the wilderness
Information
Our Iceland Yoga retreat is full of all kinds of wild wellness and adventures. Lots of yoga, exciting excursions, stunning hikes, delicious food, and of course great company! Come join us!
Price
Accommodation options and pricing:
- Single bed in shared cabin £1750 per person
- Double bed in shared cabin £1950 per person
- Two people sharing a cabin £1850 per person
- Three people sharing a cabin £1650 per person
A non-refundable deposit of £350 is required upon booking. Remainder to be paid before 1st of December 2022.
Bookings
Enquiries or bookings go to saeunn@sajarutyoga.com
Terms & Conditions
The deposit is non-refundable. If the booking is cancelled with less than 12 weeks notice then no refund can be given but a name-change can be done free of charge.
Please note that each traveller is responsible for their own travel insurance.
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- Brunches and dinners*
- Daily yoga
- Two hikes, including packed lunches
- Whale watching adventure
- Wild seaside hot tub entry
- Wild Spa workshop
- Onsite spa with hot tub and sauna
- Goodybag
*One dinner will be at a local restaurant and this is not included
Additional Costs
- Flights
- Drinks
- Food on excursion
Flights
There are a couple of options to get to the North of Iceland:
- Fly to Keflavík, transfer to Reykjavík airport and fly to Akureyri airport (recommended)
- Fly to Keflavík, transfer to Reykjavík and take a bus to Akureyri
- Fly to Keflavík, rent a car and drive to Akureyri
relax and restore
The Yoga TEachers
Your yoga teachers for the week are the dynamic duo Sæunn and Cat. They bonded over their love of yoga, adventures and all things outdoors. They collaborate to create beautiful and considered experiences both in the UK and abroad.
Sæunn
Sæunn Rut (@sajarut) is an advanced Vinyasa and Yin yoga teacher (500hr) with a master’s in public health and she loves nothing more than combining health, outdoor activities and yoga. She has run multiple yoga and health retreats, both in Iceland, the UK and abroad, and she regularly hosts science-informed yoga workshops and events. She emphasises the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and she seeks to help people achieve just that.
Sæunn encourages her students to always move mindfully, to listen to the body and observe the current state of mind, to be present. She is passionate about taking the practice of yoga and extending it beyond the mat. She knows that life happens outside of the yoga studio and she wants to help you make the most of that life. She weaves in her background in dance and combines it with a keen knowledge of the human body and psyche to create a practice full of creativity which is aimed to find that elusive balance, on the mat and off it.
If you want to try out one of Sæunn’s classes then all information can be found here. She also has multiple free classes available on YouTube.
Cat
Cat facilitates weekly yoga classes and wild swims in the Cotswolds, neuroscience informed workshops, and wild retreats around the UK. Her teaching is an amalgamation of the ancient arts of yoga and her degree in physiology, sharing practices for the 21st century that she hopes will support you beyond the yoga mat.
Her existing training includes:
200 hours Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga,
20 hours Anatomy and Biomechanics,
30 hours CPD for Yoga Teachers,
BSc Biomedical Science (Physiology).
She is currently working to complete her 220 hours Kundalini Global Yoga Training and 30 hours Yoga Nidra.
At the heart of all of Cat’s classes, workshops and retreats is the intention of gathering like-minded souls to nourish and support each other as we rewild and find our most authentic selves. Her soul intention for you when you come to a class, event, or retreat is that you emerge from the practice feeling more connected to each other and to the land we live on.
Yoga has taught Cat to be softer, kinder, lighter, more joyful, and more compassionate. She would love to share some of this magic with you.
Wild Wellness
Yoga, adventures and relaxation in the Icelandic wilderness
Follow me @sajarut for inspiration, latest news, class updates and general shenanigans.