The Bailiwick of Guernsey, based 90 miles south of the UK and 30 miles west of France, is an island with a lot going for it, beautiful beaches, warmer temperatures then the UK, and now, open air Yoga first-class in places that would be hard to beat for vistum and beauty.
Our first undertaking into this idyllic way of spending a few hours was situated on the bluff over-looking the stunning Port Soif bay on Guernsey’s west coast, with the promise of a beautiful sunset to top it off, I was certainly looking forward to discovering Yoga in the island.
When we decided to participate in this class, we were asked to bring a Yoga Mat, but as I did not have one, I had to borrow one from our Yoga leader who had plenty to spare just incase the class was going to contain any Yoga newbies such as me.
Before the Yoga class was to start, we were asked if we had any ailments or boasting traumata, this was so our Yoga leader could customise the flow of the class to suit everybody’s needs.
There are not many terms that can describe the scene at Port Soif where the first of our Yoga grades was to take place. Looking out onto the beautiful beach with its white sand, red brightening granite sides and the perfect off-color ocean right in front of us, you have to see it to believe it!
We started as our master steered us through a slow flood streaks of asanas( postures ), and then we lay back( in Savasana) for a guided loosening with the daylight on our faces, and the rich grass of Port Soif Common beneath us.
The Yoga class was fantastic and very well organised, and after we had finished pulling and moving into places I could never of imagined, we were feeling a little hungry. Luckily, to build our beach Yoga evening even more special, a local kiosk on the beach stayed open late especially for our class, and offered a great selection of food and drink to watch the sun go down with.
We were so struck by this evening on the bluff that we decided to see if we could attend any other outside contests, we were delighted to find out that their were two more Yoga class to be held in the great Guernsey open air over the next couple of weeks. Of route, we booked, and the second event was even more beautiful.
Castle Cornet, a large medieval castle built on Guernsey’s famous sea figurehead was the next orientation for one of the following options magical evenings.
We arrived at the castle on a beautiful clear night and moved our channel to the top lawn for a very special Yoga pop up class. The stunning panoramic views surrounding the palace are not to be missed if you ever visit here. It was great to hear that our Yoga leader had a backup hope should the Guernsey weather fail us, but as it happened, the darknes was as calm and peaceful as I felt after the class had finished. After, we sat back and sipped on a delightful cup of herbal tea that “weve had” obtained from another one of Guernsey’s notorious kiosks, and watched the Bailiwick of Guernsey slowly fall to sleep.
One week later we attended another Yoga Class at a location called the Vale Castle. Practicing Yoga over-looking the magnificent scenery towards Herm and Sark( the smaller islands of the Bailiwick) was the end to a excellent couple of weeks on the Island of Guernsey.
Since returning home, we have already booked a return to the island next month for a weekend long Yoga Camp on Guernsey’s beautiful east coast.