Name: Pumula Retreat
Item: Pumula Retreat
Author: Pumula Retreat

Pumula Retreat is a retreat venue located on the subtropical east coast of South Africa, 120km south of Durban in the Umzumbe area. The South Coast boasts sunny weather all year round, with warm water in the Indian Ocean to allow for a variety of outdoor activities such as surfing, scuba diving, horse riding, hiking and more.

Pumula Retreat offers a beautiful and unique experience with lush surroundings and breathtaking valley and sea views. Situated 1km from the beach and nestled in the lush jungle of Pumula, our resident neighbours are duiker (rare, small African antelope), bushbuck, and vervet monkeys. In Isizulu, (the provincial language) Pumula means “place of rest”, and you will experience this feeling as soon as you enter the property. Stroll around our 5 acres of well-wooded spaces and find peace among the trees.

Our beautiful glass yoga studio stands at the bottom of the garden, surrounded by the trees to provide a unique yoga experience among nature. The studio is large enough to fit 30 people, and we have bolsters, blankets, blocks and ropes available for use.

We can accommodate a total of 14 guests: 10 guests in the main house (5 bedrooms with 10 single beds), 4 guests in the 2 bedroom cottage and there is a flat by the cottage for the teacher to stay. For larger retreats, we also accommodate guests at an adjoining property. There, we have 7 rooms available (6 double beds and 1 single bed). A forest path links the two properties, and there is also a paved road if guests prefer not to walk through the forest at night. It takes less than 5 minutes to walk from one property to the other, and Pumula is a very safe neighborhood.

Pumula Retreat also offers a 10 day tour of the beautiful KwaZulu Natal Province. Known as the Zulu Kingdom Province, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is a spectacular multi-cultural destination flanked by the warm Indian Ocean on one side and the soaring Drakensberg peaks on the other. Starting with an airport pick-up in Durban, our yoga and adventure tour explores KZN’s most stunning natural and cultural areas, including the Zulu Falls, Nambiti Game Reserve, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, majestic Drakensberg peaks, and the finest beaches on the South Coast. Guests experience these peaceful places through yoga (18 classes), meditations, wildlife safaris, and guided walks through some of South Africa’s most remarkable wilderness areas. Healthy meals and comfortable beds await guests at each location, ensuring ultimate comfort and relaxation. Our tour also includes optional adrenaline-seeking adventures, where guests can zipline, scuba dive, ride horses, surf, fish, and soar on the largest Gorge Swing in the world.

Miriam Engel is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor. She completed a 200hr course in Ashtanga in the beginning 2015, and a 200hr Vinyasa course through Yogaworks LA at the end of 2015.

Yoga has been around in her life from a young age. Her father adopted a yoga practice after he suffered a bad neck and foot injury. She started yoga in high school and college for fitness purposes, but found that it really helped with her stress levels, anxiety, emotional stability and ability to focus. At the beginning of her yoga practice Miriam's mind was so scattered and heated she found it hard to even participate in relaxation at the end of class. As her practice grew she found a new calm that made her relaxation practice feel natural, and her agitation disappeared.

Although yoga is notoriously known to have major weight loss and fitness benefits, the calm and balance achieved during Yoga is the main reason she has stuck with it. There is an all around improvement to the mind, body and spirit achieved through yoga that she wishes to share with all her students.

The style of yoga that Miriam teaches is primarily Vinyasa. Vinyasa yoga is a step by step yoga class that links breath to movement. The structure of the class begins with a slow easy warm up that builds speed to a peak. There is a gradual cool down after with a short relaxation at the end of class.

"We begin where we are and how we are, and whatever happens, happens." (excerpt from The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar)

Pumula Retreat

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