Yoga Retreats

With Heart of Yoga certified teacher Mariana Garcia-Flores.

“Life is perfectly expressing itself through you, me and the trees”

— Mark Whitwell

What is Heart of Yoga?

This is not any particular ‘style’ of Yoga. It is also not just exercise or stretches. This is Yoga. The heart and breath-centred practice brought forth from the ancient traditions by T. Krishnamacharya and his son T.K.V. Desikachar that were passed directly to my teacher Mark Whitwell. Yoga is the ancient practice of intimacy with breath, body and life. It is embracing reality itself. The practice could be described as breath-centred tantra HaTha yoga.

HaTha yoga where Ha means sun and Tha means moon. HaTha is therefore the union of opposites that arise and return to the heart. Hatha yoga is the participation and union of these opposites. Above - below, left - right, front - back, within - without, strength - receptivity, inhale - exhale, sun - moon, masculine - feminine.

Tantra’s philosophy is based on the principles of non-duality, meaning that in life there is no separation. Tantra recognises that we are an inseparable part of the universe. Therefore a tantra-based yoga focuses on using the body as a temple to worship the all-encompassing oneness of life as sacred. The practise of Yoga weaves together asana (body postures), pranayama (breathwork), mantras (chants), mudras (hand postures), and visualisations. Through these meditation may arise as a gift.

Upcoming Retreats

  • Matanivusi Beach Eco Resort

    Yoga, Surf & Meditation

    Matanivusi Eco Resort - Coral Coast Fiji

    February 12th - 16th, 2026

  • Women's Wild Heart

    Taveuni Island, Fiji

    October 29th - November 3rd, 2026

  • A woman in a white dress and wide-brimmed hat walking along a sandy beach with rocky shoreline, tropical trees, and clear blue ocean under a bright blue sky, with a rainbow visible near the water's edge.

    Wellness Retreat

    Navutu Stars - Yasawa Islands Fiji

    November 16th - 23rd, 2026

Testimonials

  • "Mariana’s yoga retreat was a beautiful experience. I needed a space to de-stress and recharge, but also somewhere I could be outside and enjoy the lushness of Fiji. While I gave up on yoga in the past, as many classes left me feeling confused - I tried Mariana’s classes and felt very happy with her style of teaching. Mariana created an atmosphere of calmness, which left me feeling grounded and relaxed. I learned more about the principles and philosophies of yoga, and she helped me reflect more on listening to the body, which I have not done in the past. This has left me with the feeling of having a stronger connection between my physical and emotional selves, unraveling tension in my body and mind, and feeling more at ease. She also provided one-on-one sessions, with advice on how I can adapt my yoga practice at home to different times of the day, and to different moods. I now have good yoga routines for mornings and evenings - making it easier to face busy days in the office and to feel calm before I go to bed."

    Ingvild Guro - Norway

  • "Mariana´s Yoga classes leave me feeling like a marshmallow."

    Omer Faruk - Turkey

  • "Mariana is a talented yoga instructor! She fostered a supportive environment for growing in your breath-centred yoga and meditation practise. The retreat was a holistic opportunity to promote physical, mental and emotional well-being, with a community of likeminded people in a beautiful tropical setting. I’d strongly recommend this special experience."

    Jemima Holborow - New Zealand