Insight Yoga & Buddhist Mindfulness

Morning yoga sessions begin slowly and mindfully, attuning to body, heart and mind while resting in the natural surroundings of Ulpotha and in the shared community of practice. Olivia draws on the Triple Gem of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha as inspiration, weaving them into a blend of Yin and Yang Yoga. Long-held floor postures support the meridians and organ health, while Yang sequences bring energy and strength. You will be invited to ground yourself, to work from the earth up, and to let Yin lead the Yang through mindfulness and compassion.

Afternoons turn to Yin Yoga and Meditation. Together you'll explore meditation in its four postures: sitting, lying down, standing and walking. Olivia shares Buddha Dharma in a way that is earthy, clear and accessible, encouraging mindfulness to move beyond the mat and into everyday life.

This yoga retreat is suited to those who value a slower, quieter rhythm of practice. It is less about the gymnastics of yoga and more about creating a supportive space for life, path and practice that feels sustainable and nourishing. The focus is on conserving energy, cultivating chi and building a practice that can support you with steadiness and resilience in the midst of modern life.

Insight Yoga is a rich intersection of Yin and Yang styles of Yoga, informed by Buddhist Mindfulness and Psychology. Olivia is a long-term student of Sarah and Ty Powers and a deep Dharma Practitioner. Her passion is sharing Buddha Dharma in practical ways and connecting people, as much as possible, to the natural world.

"Thousands of tired, nerve shaken, over-civilised people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; wildness is a necessity”. (John Muir 1901) "We are part of the Earth, and it is part of us. We love this Earth as a newborn loves its mother's heartbeat." (Chief Seattle 1854). The tragedy is that so many have lost this deep and essential connection. For this reason, Olivia is thrilled to be invited to teach at Ulpotha.

Each session will be an invitation to slow down and dive deep into Buddhist Mindfulness, as a Path of Awakening. Olivia's teaching is meditational and strengthening, as well as grounding and restorative. Inclusivity is at the heart of her teaching style. She has been teaching since 1998 and is able to meet diversity and a wide range of ability within a single class.

Originally trained in Healing Shiatsu, TCM, Five Elements and Meridian Theory, Olivia offers Yin Yoga Teacher Training, Private Retreats at The Coach House and Silent Retreats, at a larger venue, in Wales UK, where she lives.

A lover of wild landscapes, horses and animals, she has spent time on American Indian Reservations and has a deep respect for indigenous cultures. The Earth is our medicine. It is Home. Our heart-minds need the wild. She trained in Earth Healing and often weaves the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine into her teaching style.

For the past three years, she has taught at Masters Events: Oxford, the largest trauma and wellbeing conference in Europe. Here, she weaves together psychological training such as IFS with yoga teaching, every year deepening further her understanding of trauma. In her retreat you will be encouraged to attune to the inner landscape of body, heart, mind, and to track your own territory with sensitivity and care. The mood of Maitri, Loving Awareness, infuses the relational territory that we build with ourselves, each other and the environment.