This is what an all-girls surf & yoga retreat in the Mentawais looks like
Just like that, another magical, salty adventure has wrapped up. At the end of last year you may have heard me excitedly announce my upcoming all girls surf and yoga retreat, and for good reason: the Mentawai Islands is one of my favourite places to surf, chill, and enjoy secluded stretches of post-card worthy palm tree lined beaches.
Here’s what went down during our adventure packed week:
Our week at Mali Mai Escapes included lots of delicious food, hundreds of glassy, fun waves and a whole lot of giggles and yoga stretches in between. Throw in a coconut-oil making class, a jungle walk, evening bonfires and some outdoor (deserted!) island yoga and you’ve got yourself 8 very tan, very smiley girls at the end of this trip!
All images by @lturiano, @aggynoeggs and @islandstylephotos
First things first : Morning Surfs
Depending on the swell and tides, we would start our mornings early with the intention of either a morning stretch or a morning wave. Mali Mai Escapes is hosted within the beautiful landscape of Mentawai Surf Retreat, meaning we had the advantage of a dozen amazing waves within a 15-20 min boat ride.
Pit Stops, a fun, cruisy right hander (on a smaller swell day) was right out front our amazing bungalows, nestled in the jungles of a small island. My favourite wave? Inevitably Burger World, which you may have seen got me this wave last year. It was actually so special returning here with friend and photographer Lia Turiano and getting to share the waves with a group of new girlfriends.
While everyone had different skill levels and abilities, the best part was that we all got to surf and push each other out of our comfort zones — not to mention have fun while doing so on a couple (un-intentional) party waves ;)..
Our surf guide Marjolein was super knowledgeable about the swell and wind direction, and knew where to go to get the most out of the waves and our abilities. She would tell us where to sit and what waves to go for, her enthusiasm and passion for surfing were truly infectious and had our crew always ready for more.
Yoga
The yoga classes were hosted by yours truly, and were either done before or after surfing in the morning. The stretches were a great way to smooth out any surf kinks as well as condition the body for better mobility and stability while surfing.
Our end-of-day included a wind-down session in the evenings for sunset yoga, set atop a spectacular yoga shala that offered 360 views of the island and jungle. It became such a special way to relax from our energy-filled days. On the occasions we would start our days with sunrise yoga, I would always begin with a 10-15 min meditation for everyone to ground themselves and allow a moment of self reflection.
Our sand-bar island session was a memorable way to end out trip with the sun setting over the horizon. Filled with the magic of the Mentawai air, it was a moment in time to truly appreciate the small and sometimes fleeting space we take up on this earth.
And all the in-betweens …
Jungle walks and rainy days, interesting dinner conversations and games (think Cards Against Humanity — but island style). Not a day went by where we didn’t learn something new, laugh, or simply take a moment to soak up all the tropical goodness around us. The lovely staff were amazing at making us feel welcome, not to mention the wonderful kitchen crew who cooked us delicious meals three times a day, and even taught us a thing or two about making your own coconut oil (hint — it came in very hand for sun scorched skin!).
From the crowd-less (yes, one of the perks of off season!) waves to the cool rainy nights and sunshiny filled days, we took the time to embrace a week that felt both stopped in time and gone in a flash.
Making new friends and seeing old ones was also such a treat. Everyone came from all across the globe, with a story to tell and a love of surfing to share.
A very special thanks to all these incredible ladies for being a part of it:
@tinasakko
@meg_stearman
@marjos_stories
@lturiano
@linooan
@ashleybarraugh
If you’re interested in joining the next one, there will be another in November, check this article for all the details.
