From our SPIRITUAL AND meditation retreats at Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island
Welcome to the Nectar Yoga Retreat blog, where we explore movement, seasonal living, and wellness practices to nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Tucked into the forests of Bowen Island, a lush and peaceful gem for vacations in British Columbia Canada, Nectar Yoga Retreat offers 2-night stays and curated yoga, meditation, and other forms of spiritual retreats designed for rest, reflection, nature connection, and wellness. Featured in Condé Nast Traveler and The New York Times, Nectar is a leading destination for meditation retreats and spiritual experiences grounded in presence and intentional living.
May invites a different kind of blossoming, one marked by wonder, spontaneity, and rediscovery. It’s a month for softening our gaze, loosening our grip, and seeing the world again as if for the first time. This relates both directly and indirectly to happiness.
The power of curiosity
When was the last time you marvelled at the play of light through leaves, or found yourself captivated by the rhythm of your own breath? Curiosity is a skill as much as it is a state of being, and it’s deeply connected to emotional flexibility, resilience, and creativity. According to research published by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, nurturing curiosity can lower anxiety, increase engagement, and strengthen our ability to find meaning in everyday life.
As children, we explore without attachment to outcome. We dance badly and laugh freely. Over time, that unfiltered delight often gets replaced with pressure—to be good, to be productive, to be serious about living from our hearts. This month, we offer you practices and postures to loosen that hold, and rediscover joy through movement and breath.
Joyful and Playful Practices to Explore This Month
Whether on your mat or in daily life, these practices are designed to support curiosity and ease. Try them during next stay at Nectar, or from home, where you can listen to our May playlist on Spotify.
Ecstatic Dance
Dance without choreography, without mirrors, and without judgment. Ecstatic dance is a moving meditation that invites freedom of expression and spontaneous pleasure. Let your body lead the way; there is no wrong way to dance. You can try this practice solo with our specially curated Nectar Playlist, or gather friends for a shared experience of movement and delight. If you prefer a facilitated container, check Nectar’s events page, where ecstatic dance is offered from time to time.
Happy Baby Pose (Ananda Balasana)
This restorative pose mimics the joyful abandon of infants, feet in hand, rolling gently side to side. It soothes the lower back, opens the hips, and invites a sense of comfort and ease.
How to Practise:
Lie on your back, knees bent into your chest.
Grab the outsides of your feet with your hands, opening your knees wider than your torso.
Gently rock side to side, breathing deeply as you release tension.
Observe yourself slowing down and smiling!
Breath of Joy
This dynamic breath technique combines movement with strong inhalations and an audible exhale. It’s energizing, uplifting, and surprisingly playful.
How to Practise:
Stand with feet hip-width apart.
Inhale in three parts: arms forward, arms out to the side, arms overhead.
On the exhale, bend your knees and swing your arms down with a loud "ha!" through the mouth.
Repeat 5–8 rounds, noticing the shift in your energy.
This breath pattern helps temporarily stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, raising alertness and enhancing mood. It’s been used in practices to support joyful release and invigorate the body.
INVITING WONDER INTO DAILY LIFE
Beyond the mat, small rituals can spark wonder. Animist spirit medium Mimi Young, who leads the Bottled Wisdom retreat at Nectar this November, explores creativity and agency through Daoist-rooted witchcraft, communion with spirit, and daily tea ceremonies. Complemented by nourishing movement and vibrational classes with Nectar’s co-creatrix Andrea Clark, this retreat offers a truly wonder-filled experience. Catch Andrea’s podcast series, Voices of Nectar below!
Additionally, spending time barefoot in the forest, take a new path on your morning walk, or watch the clouds with the curiosity of a child. Ask more questions, even if you don’t seek answers or closure on a matter. Wonder, after all, is not about knowing; it’s about being open to the present moment.
The poet Mary Oliver once wrote,
“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”
Curiosity transforms attention into awe. It invites us to remain adaptive and resilient, to live with depth and delight.
About Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen Island
Nectar Yoga Retreat is home to design-forward cottages, yoga and meditation classes, and wellness retreats that blend spiritual connection with relationality with our bodies and the natural beauty around us. Located on Bowen Island, a short ferry from Vancouver, Nectar Yoga, along with its sister brand, Mist Thermal Sanctuary, has become one of North America’s top-rated wellness destinations. Whether joining a weekend retreat or deepening your personal practice, our team welcomes you to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with what truly matters.
Works Cited
https://hbr.org/2018/09/the-business-case-for-curiosity
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.579518/full
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00572/full
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_stay_curious_in_tough_times
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/yoga-sequences/uplifting-yoga-sequence/
https://www.breath-body-mind.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/55330852-devotions-the-selected-poems-of-mary-oliver
Disclaimer: The practices shared in this blog are intended for informational purposes only and are not a replacement for professional advice. Please consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new wellness routine, particularly if you have health concerns, are pregnant, or have physical limitations. Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. The authors and publishers are not liable for any injuries or adverse effects resulting from the use of these practices.
