There’s a reason people say some things are hard to put into words. Life’s most profound experiences can be so deeply personal that language doesn’t quite do them justice. Our recent 2026 retreat was one of them. So, rather than risk leaving out something important, we’re sharing three personal reflections on where art, yoga and nature intersect to support wellbeing.

At Yoga For Good, we know the power of yoga is transformational. And that belief inspired our theme, ‘Transformational Power of Nature’.

Throughout the weekend, we explored this through a range of activities, from mindful movement and meditation to forest bathing and creative expression.

Moira Gordon - The sweet spot of art, yoga and nature

The intersection of art, yoga and nature is a source of power for me; it is a kind of prana, the life force and a universal energy in Eastern philosophy. Regular practice of these three activities improves concentration, enables engagement with the beauty of Spirit and creates a deep sense of connection.

My personal practices are: Art is my visual journaling process in a diary; whenever I have a moment, I use art materials and images to express myself. It’s a time and place to dialogue with my inner landscape, and I love seeing what comes up on the page and how it resonates; it’s a practice of appreciation and gratitude.

Creativity and flow are known as channels of energy and inspiration, a prana-like expression of focus. Yoga is a yoke with the divine; it feels especially pleasant to practise outdoors. Nature: a mindful walk, especially among the trees, brings me back to myself; stepping in rhythm with breath, movement, yoga poses and the ground beneath me is sweetness.

Some actions to include in your nature walk:

• Walk slowly, heel to toe, for steadiness and comfort.

• Swing your arms out to the sides and overhead, then open them wide and hug your shoulders.

• Time 4 in and 4 out breaths with your steps to calm and balance the nervous system.

• Incorporate lunges, Warrior poses and Tree pose for strength, flexibility and balance.

• Try 4–2–4–2 breathing with your steps, holding for a count of 2 for stability and endurance.

Slow down and engage your senses. What do you see, hear and feel? Move your body fluidly, like water. Walk fast for a short burst of rapid breathing to build inner fire, then return to slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing. Finish by sitting for a while to settle and integrate the energy from the outside within.

Meg Bracken - Nature: Catching up with a dear friend

Forest bathing is an evidence-based practice inspired by Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of fully immersing oneself in nature. Over a gentle three-hour walk, you are guided through a sequence of sensory and creative activities, usually finishing with a tea ceremony beneath the trees.

For me, being in nature feels like catching up with a dear, low-maintenance friend whom you never get to spend enough time with. And when you do catch up, you always leave feeling better and wondering why you don’t see them more often.

My own connection with nature deepened after an unexpected pause. A fractured leg meant seven weeks without bearing weight. I had to stop working and slow down. In that stillness, I realised how much of my life I’d spent doing, with very little space simply to be.

Becoming a forest therapy guide strengthened that awareness. I’m still a work in progress, but this connection has become a gift I share with friends and my community.

Guiding the Yoga For Good retreat’s closing forest bathing session was an honour. As the women slipped off their shoes and walked barefoot, I helped them tap into their sense of awe and wonder. Even stepping into the local stream and feeling the water became an invitation to release what no longer served us, a reminder that soft, flowing water can gradually shape even the hardest stone.

We then created nature mandalas inspired by the session. From fallen brown leaves and twigs emerged extraordinary patterns. I was blown away. Each creation reflected its maker, and hearing the meaning and personal insights behind them was incredibly moving.
I especially love seeing people who believe they aren’t creative surprise themselves when given time and encouragement. We finished with tea, conversation and a group of beaming women.

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, but I encourage you to make a little space for nature each day. Take off your shoes somewhere safe and feel the grass, soil or sand beneath your feet. At the retreat, some women shared that they hadn’t done this in years.

Give yourself five minutes a day to begin. And on the days you feel too busy, perhaps that’s when you need those moments most.

Adele Vincent - The great intersection

Recently discovering I’m autistic at the age of 50 has reinforced what I’ve always known: yoga, nature and art are three non-negotiables in my life. They are the reason my external life is harmonious and my inner life is mostly bliss. It wasn’t always like that. My energy used to be chaotic and leaky, unregulated and the cause of a host of random chronic physical symptoms. But all this transformed with long-term practices that I intuitively wove together from yoga, art and nature into a life-affirming method to thrive.

Immersion in nature has always been my go-to. Ever since I was a kid, I’d go outside by myself in the cool summer dawn and play in the garden. With my sisters, we’d make grass slippers to keep our feet warm so we could stay out longer as dusk deepened into night and the dew cooled the ground.

We were outdoors every holiday and many weekends, kayaking, camping, bushwalking, sailing, climbing trees and swimming.

Yoga has been a constant in my adult life, with great intensity in the last decade. Even in childhood, yoga was a part of me, although I had no words for the natural movements my body made or the meditations I invented for myself. My yoga practice has continued to evolve into a living daily practice that is primarily spiritual and as much about creativity as physical and mental practices.

I realised some years ago that the chaotic energy inside me could be tamed and trained with yoga, but it was only when I channelled it into art that I became robustly stable, healthy and calm inside.

Art and design were also obsessions of mine as a kid (the intuition knows what the body needs). I had a craft box full of odd bits of cardboard and colourful scraps of paper, and I loved nothing more than drawing symmetrical designs, what I now know are called mandalas.

I feel art, yoga and nature truly combine into a single powerful practice of spiritual alignment and enlightenment. Perhaps it’s no wonder my children’s books bring together these interests, while my paintings reflect the tranquillity and beauty of nature.

Whatever your neurotype, one thing I know for sure: all humans need nature, a creative outlet and some method for union with the self.

Connect with your true self through the transformative power of yoga

One of the most beautiful things about our 2026 retreat was seeing how each person connected with its theme in their own way. And while the weekend itself has come and gone, the reflections shared here remind us that what we explored together has a place in everyday life too.

How wonderful it was to be able to take time away together and then return home with a little more to think about. If you weren’t able to join us this time, there’s always next year.

For more on yoga and its benefits, explore our latest articles, view our community class library or read the grant stories from people and communities who have benefited from our support.

Practical Tips

Art, yoga and nature complement each other
Each offers opportunities for mindfulness, creative expression and a stronger sense of personal connection.

Mindful movement can become part of time spent outdoors
Walking, yoga poses, breathing exercises and sensory awareness can all be incorporated into a nature walk.

Forest bathing encourages people to slow down
Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, it uses guided sensory experiences to encourage a more attentive connection with nature.

Wellbeing is a deeply personal experience
The three reflections from Moira, Meg and Adele demonstrate how yoga, nature and creativity can become lifelong practices that support people in different ways.

by Dr Adele Vincent

Adele is a Board Director at Yoga For Good and has a PhD in neuroscience. She works as a yoga therapist and editor and has spent many years teaching, training and leading retreats, with a strong focus on mental health and emotional regulation.

She is the founder of Move Yoga Therapy and co-author of children’s yoga storybooks that explore anxiety, emotional resilience and neurodivergence. Outside of work, Adele is a mother of two and enjoys mantra, flute playing, rock climbing, bushwalking and Japanese brush painting.