Heart & Soul Retreats

Heart and Soul is a beautiful bush yoga retreat nestled in Otford bushland. It is a very calming place surrounded by nature, it's a place to be nourished and replenished with the delicious vegan meals (seriously, so tasty!) and the inspired yoga classes and workshops. I enjoyed all aspects of my stay. I will be returning!

I celebrated my birthday with the lovely and wonderful people (volunteers, residents and guests) at the retreat centre. They were so nice and welcoming as they treated everyone like a family. I was able to express myself and share my thoughts through yoga, workshop and singing meditation (Kirtan). The vegan meals they served were flavourful and yummy! I didn’t expect vegan meals to be that appetising. I also treated myself with some of their healing services like the relaxing Reiki and Ayurvedic massage. Highly recommended!!! It was indeed an amazing experience for me! Definitely worthy of my time!!!

My first visit was earlier this year, and I was very excited to come back. The building and setting are beautiful and the folk running the retreat are incredibly welcoming. Rates are very well priced, considering everyday there are three meals provided, two yoga sessions and two workshops. The food is amazing and very balanced. If there ever is any down time, the surrounding national park has numerous walking trails (bald hills, figure 8 pools) and the train station is close by for easy access to nearby coastal towns and more walking trails.

My first retreat and I was so pleasantly surprised. It can be as busy or as calm as you make it; activities are optional but so valuable if you do attend. So many great practitioners and a lot of friendliness throughout. Not many bugs for an outdoorsy retreat, kept clean and tidy. Food is amazing and varied; all home-cooked every day; can be easy to over-eat! Highly recommend if you're just thinking about it, you won't regret it.

My three-night stay at ‘Heart and Soul Yoga and Wellness Retreat’ was exactly what I was hoping for. The all inclusive food was delicious- so healthy, tasty and a great variety. The location was very serene and secluded and the vibe was relaxed with an ‘informal’ feel, which was perfect for me. The variety of yoga classes was great. I really enjoyed each one that I attended and felt very relaxed after the meditations at the end. The air-con in the room was much appreciated as the weather was quite warm.Thank you so much. I felt very refreshed after my stay. I hope to return sometime this year.

This was the second occasion I’ve been fortunate enough to stay and experience all on offer at Heart & Soul yoga retreat ashram and again it did not disappoint. The soulful atmosphere, the incredible cuisine and numerous programs on offer to feed the body and soul was pure bliss. Not to mention the dedication from all the residents, that I now call friends, to the best possible experience I could have. I came away with a new invigorated purpose that I will carry with me until I once more have the privilege to return to Govinda Valley Heart & Soul retreat.Andrew :-)

Heart and Soul Retreats is only a 45 minute to an hour drive from Sydney (depending on where in Sydney you are located) and it is a true escape from your hectic daily schedule. Once arrived, all worries just fall off as this place has something magical to it.The beautiful huge trees that you look at from the balcony during your meals, the amazing food that is prepared with love by the volunteers, the awesome yoga lessons which are grounding as well as challenging and the atmosphere of the place is inviting you to unwind, leave any stress behind you and treat yourself to a digital detox and some me-time. I love this place and will come back regularly as it is definitely worth the trip and money. It also doesn't matter if you go there with your partner or friend or if you come alone as you will make contact with people if you'd like to as everyone is very welcoming and open-minded and the guests are too.

This is a beautiful place to relax. Yoga and meditation for all levels of experience and such caring and knowledgeable teachers. The food is amazing and everyone made me feel very welcome. There are beautiful gardens and walking trails, and I especially lived that the whole place runs as sustainably as possible with little impact on the surrounding environment. I will be back x

I loved my stay at Heart & Soul! It was the perfect spot for a getaway from the busy pace of Sydney. The energy of the space is warm and peaceful and the location is lush. I enjoyed pottering around the grounds and getting out for bush walks between some of the fantastic activities (loved the qi gong, kirtan and poetry writing workshop). The room was very spacious with a comfy bed. I'm already planning my next visit!