Welcome to a nurturing all-inclusive retreat created especially for guests over 55. This gentle escape is designed to support body, mind, and spirit, giving you space to slow down, let go of what no longer serves you, and return to a greater sense of ease. Leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and equipped with simple practices to help you stay balanced in everyday life.

Over 55s Yoga Retreat

A warm invitation to reconnect with yourself.

Life after 55 can be a deeply rewarding chapter — a chance to move more slowly, reconnect with your body, nourish your mind and spirit, and enjoy the presence of each moment. This retreat has been thoughtfully created to help you move with care, rest with ease, and share time with like-minded people who value peace, grounding, and community.

Whether you are completely new to yoga or returning after many years, you are warmly welcome. Wherever you are on your journey, you will be met with gentle, supportive guidance and space to explore what feels right for you.

Over 55s Yoga Retreat Inclusions

Accommodation
All meals: nourishing, delicious vegetarian cuisine, thoughtfully prepared to suit dietary preferences and allergies
Unlimited herbal teas and fresh fruit throughout your stay
Up to three rejuvenating massages or treatments to support your wellbeing
Access to onsite bicycles for scenic rides
Heated 20-metre mineral salt swimming pool
Up to three daily yoga classes, including Flow, Classic Hatha, and Restorative/Yin options
Workshops on healthy aging, wellness, and nutrition
Free time for rest, reading, reflection, beach or nature walks, or quiet solitude
Evening restorative yoga or guided meditation to unwind and encourage deep rest

Please note: the retreat program is flexible, so you can join in as much or as little as feels appropriate for you.

You'll leave with…

A calmer nervous system, more ease in the body, and renewed vitality.
Practical tools for mindful living, breathwork, gentle movement, and restorative habits.
A deeper connection with yourself.
New friendships and shared experiences within a supportive community.
Space for rest, reflection, and a fresh perspective.

Over 55s Yoga Retreat Schedule

Arrival Day
8:00am - 2:45pm - Arrive anytime and settle into your accommodation
12:30pm - Lunch (optional - for an additional cost)
3:00pm - Welcome Circle and Meditation
4:30pm - Restorative / Yin Yoga Class
6:00pm - Dinner
7:00pm - Guided Meditation / Yoga Nidra

Full Days
6:45am - Yoga Class
8:00am - Breakfast
9:00am - Wellness / Lifestyle Session
10:00am - Morning Break
10:30am - Yoga Class
12:00pm - Relax
12:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Relax / Treatment
4:30pm - Restorative / Yin Yoga Class
6:00pm - Dinner
7:00pm - Guided Meditation / Philosophy / Wellness session

Final Day
6:45am - Morning Flow Yoga
8:00am - Breakfast
9:00am - Ongoing Wellness and Closing Circle
11:00am - Check out and departure (you are welcome to stay on to use the facilities and have lunch)

Wellness / Lifestyle Sessions

This retreat offers a fully immersive experience designed to nurture body, mind, and spirit. Throughout the week, you will take part in age-related wellness and lifestyle sessions woven into the schedule to complement your yoga and relaxation.

Across the retreat, you’ll enjoy:
Tuesday: Yoga for healthy aging
Wednesday: Cooking class
Thursday: Garden tour
Saturday: Fundamentals of asana alignment
Sunday: Yoga philosophy

These sessions are an important part of the retreat experience, offering both inspiration and practical tools to bring home with you.

Meet your Hosts

The experienced Byron Yoga Centre team is here to support your journey with warmth and integrity. With decades of experience and a genuine love for what they do, the teachers guide with compassion and presence.

Meet John!
John Ogilvie is the CEO and Founder of Byron Yoga Centre, and one of Australia’s most respected and experienced teachers. He has practised yoga for more than 45 years and taught for over 40. After 20 years of disciplined training in the Iyengar and Ashtanga lineages, John developed his signature style, Purna Yoga, which integrates asanas, breathing techniques, meditation, and philosophical principles. His teaching emphasises safety through intelligent sequencing, individual attention, hands-on assists, and the use of props to support alignment. Clear, simple, and accessible, John’s approach encourages students to listen to their bodies and work at the level that suits them best.

Meet Marita!
Marita is the Head Teacher Trainer at Byron Yoga Centre. A former gymnast, she discovered early on that she loved being upside-down, and yoga quickly became a lifelong passion. She began teaching Iyengar-influenced yoga in 2002, later embracing vinyasa and developing an alignment-based vinyasa style. Her teaching is both challenging and nurturing, helping students build strength and flexibility while also cultivating breath, compassion, and a sense of ease.

Meet Elise!
Elise is the Retreat Manager and has been teaching and hosting retreats since 2016. She teaches vinyasa, yin, restorative, and slow flow, with a strong focus on body awareness, alignment, nervous system regulation, and the mind-body connection. With a background in personal training and holistic wellness, Elise found yoga in 2013 and has since completed extensive training in India and at Byron Yoga Centre. She has led hundreds of retreats and loves helping guests discover a practice that feels right for them.

Meet Ross!
Ross is passionate about sharing the ancient wisdom of Yoga and Mindfulness, practices that have transformed his own life. He especially values supporting mental wellbeing and loves seeing others experience the nourishing, healing effects of these time-tested traditions. A qualified yoga teacher since 2013, Ross joined the Byron Yoga Centre team in 2016 and continues to facilitate retreat groups. His training includes yoga therapy, meditation, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Trauma Aware Yoga, Zen Thai Shiatsu massage, and Reiki.

Meet Mariana!
Mariana is a yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, and founder of VIDA Ayurveda, with more than two decades of experience. Based in Byron Bay, she offers a nurturing blend of yogic wisdom and Ayurvedic healing. Her path into wellbeing began with a lifelong curiosity about what truly helps us feel alive. After immersing herself in a yogic lifestyle in Spain and later discovering Ayurveda in Australia, she followed her calling and opened VIDA Ayurveda. Grounded, compassionate, and deeply attuned, Mariana brings a balanced approach to care that honours both heart and tradition.

Meet Colin!
Colin’s love of yoga began in Edinburgh at age 21 with a dedicated Ashtanga practice. Over the years, he has explored many styles across several countries, including Iyengar, Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Yin, and Myofascial Release. He began teaching in 2019 and has continued ever since, later completing further training at Byron Yoga Centre and in Yin and Myofascial Restore. With an emphasis on breath, alignment, presence, music, and poetry, Colin aims to share the open-hearted depth of yoga with people of all ages, body types, and abilities.

Accommodation

Your surroundings play an important role in rest and wellbeing. Accommodation is simple, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed to support relaxation and a deeper retreat experience. Choose a private ensuite room for added comfort and privacy, or a more affordable shared-bathroom option for a cosy and welcoming stay. Whichever you select, you’ll enjoy peaceful spaces, garden views, and the calming atmosphere of the retreat centre.

Vegetarian Menu

The retreat is supported by 3 acres of beautiful organic gardens, which supply much of the food for the vegetarian menu. Meals are carefully created to be nutritionally balanced, cleansing, and nourishing. With a commitment to SLOW, produce is sourced from the organic gardens whenever possible, alongside local, organic, seasonal ingredients for exceptional freshness and flavour.

Retreat Facilities

As a retreat guest, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to 15 acres of retreat land. Wander through the 3 acres of organic fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens, relax in the solar-heated 20-metre mineral salt pool rich in magnesium, unwind in the Balé among the banana trees, or use one of the onsite bikes to ride into town or explore the nearby beaches.

Explore Byron Bay

Guests often enjoy time at the beach, walking the iconic lighthouse trail, whale or dolphin watching, visiting cafes, and browsing the distinctive shops in this relaxed coastal town. The retreat centre is conveniently within walking distance of town, making it easy to explore during your stay.

Commitment to Sustainability

For more than three decades, Byron Yoga Centre, led by John Ogilvie, has been committed to sustainability as part of its core ethos. This includes solar power, rainwater harvesting, eco-friendly toilets, recycling initiatives, composting, and community outreach.

The Yoga

The yoga taught at Byron Yoga Retreat Centre is called Purna, meaning integrated or complete. This holistic approach includes physical postures, meditation, pranayama, and philosophy.

Additional Extras

The following items are not included in the 7 Day Yoga Retreat price, but can be added by request:
Additional activities in Byron Bay
Coffee, chai and cold drinks such as coconut water
Sweet treats, including raw, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free desserts
Travel and airport transfers

For returning guests looking for variety, or for those wanting to combine the retreat with more adventurous activities or local exploration, several program options and activity partners are available, subject to availability, minimum numbers, and additional costs.

FAQs.

Is this retreat suitable for beginners or people with limited mobility?
Yes. It is designed especially for guests 55 and over, including complete beginners. All yoga sessions are gentle, accessible, and easily adapted for different bodies, mobility levels, and experience.

Do I need to be fit or flexible to join?
Not at all. There is no expectation of fitness or flexibility. The retreat is about meeting yourself where you are, with slow, supportive practices and plenty of props and variations.

How physically demanding is the program?
The schedule is spacious and gentle. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you like. This retreat is designed for comfort, rest, and wellbeing rather than intensity.

Do I have to attend every class or workshop?
No. Everything is optional. You are encouraged to listen to your body and follow the rhythm that feels most nourishing.

What type of accommodation is available?
Private ensuite rooms are available for extra comfort, along with more affordable shared-bathroom rooms. Shared bathrooms are about a 50m walk from the rooms. All accommodation is simple, peaceful, and designed for rest and relaxation

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