The Power of Now Yoga Retreat
Long awaited and inspired by high demand, we’re delighted to launch our first home-grown yoga retreat between 4-11 November 2023, hosted by our very own expert yoga teacher, Jovander Pacheco (aka Judha). ‘The Power of Now’ is a seven-day programme, helping us transfer the mindfulness we learn on our yoga mat into our everyday life.
At Castara Retreats, we teach a form of vinyasa flow yoga through a series of postures connecting breath to movement in a steady rhythm that promotes strength, endurance, and suppleness. As we progress through the seven days, we’ll learn to immerse ourselves in the flow of the poses, following the breath to find our personal expression of each. Expect a week full of invitations to connect with yourself, your surroundings, and each other.
Judha, is Castara Retreats’ Wellness Manager, in-house yoga teacher, and lead massage therapist. Trained in the vinyasa style of yoga, she also draws on other movement techniques like ChigGong to bring a deeper awareness to the flow of movement. Judha has been practising for 10 years and teaching for the past six, mainly at Castara Retreats where she has established a strong following. Judha’s teachings reflect the importance of living in the present moment and embracing the power of now as she reminds you to maintain your grace as you breathe through postures and your life.
The yoga studio is an open deck under an immense roof, with stunning views of the ocean in front, and the extensive green canopy of rainforest behind. The studio is immersed in the sights and sounds of nature – pelicans diving in the bay, the inquisitive bananaquits sitting on the rail, with the squawking of green parrotlets as they settle in nearby trees. The sounds of the waves and the calls of the seabirds are the ever-present soundtrack to our practice.
The Package
7 days’ guided yoga classes with expert yoga teacher, Judha
7 nights’ accommodation in a shared, beautiful, tree-house style lodge with fully-equipped kitchen, spacious seating area, terrace, all with views of the ocean. Price includes 30% discount off accommodation.
Healthy meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner
Beach barbeque, with boat trip and snorkelling
Plenty of free time to explore and connect with each other and nature
Transfers included
The price above is based on sharing a twin room in either a 1 or 2-bedroom tree-house lodge all with en suites. If you come with a friend/partner also joining the retreat you can share a room, or if travelling solo, we’ll pair you with a like-minded soul. All rooms have air conditioning, fully-equipped kitchens, and a terrace with views of the gorgeous ocean below. If you are coming with a friend/partner, who doesn’t want to join the retreat – see our FAQs below for how this might work. If sharing a twin room doesn’t work for you, there are other accommodations available on request – Email Sue below for details and prices.
Caribbean Kitchen, Castara Retreats’ highly regarded on-site restaurant, is where we’ll meet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bask in the panoramic views and relaxed ambiance as you enjoy our specially-crafted menu of locally-sourced vegetarian dishes, celebrating the delicious flavours of the Caribbean. Caribbean Kitchen is one of the best reviewed restaurants on Tobago, with a reputation for delicious food, friendly service, and great vibes.
Take advantage of Castara Retreats’ on-site activities. The Wellness Studio provides a range of individual and couples’ massages. Our manager, Porridge, is a font of knowledge for recommendations on local excursions, such as birdwatching, and talk with Judha and Leah about their top tips on snorkelling in Castara Bay. The team at Castara Retreats are always on hand to help make your stay with us extra special.
6.30-7.15am – our day begins with a quiet walk either along the beach or into the rainforest to the Castara waterfall. We’ll begin to look inwards and become more present, with nature as our inspiration.
7.30am – meet in the Wellness Studio for a 90-minute yoga practice
09.15-10am – with enough time for a freshen up after yoga, a hearty, healthy and leisurely breakfast in our restaurant, Caribbean Kitchen, will give you the fuel to enjoy your day.
10am-1pm – this is free time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, visit the village, have a massage, or enjoy the beach.
1-2pm – lunch in Caribbean Kitchen.
2-4pm – more free time!
4.30-6pm – afternoon 90-minute yoga session. This will vary daily and likely to involve breath work, a slower-paced style of yoga to help us relax the body, time for discussion and sharing circles.
6-7pm – free time
7pm – dinner in Caribbean Kitchen, where we’ll meet again as a group. If you have travelled with a partner or friend there is the opportunity to eat privately too.
Included in the cost, one of our days we’ll take a boat trip to a secluded beach along the coast from Castara. There will be snorkelling stops, swimming, and a beach barbeque for lunch. This trip is a wonderful way to relax and socialise as a group. The beach, Big Bay, is only accessible by boat and characterised by its black sand. Keep an eye out for dolphins as they are often spotted patrolling up and down the coast. Taking place from 10am-4pm, your yoga practices will continue uninterrupted.
Castara itself is a beautiful fishing village, seen as an exemplar for community-led sustainable tourism. Visitors are warmly welcomed and we encourage our guests to experience the atmosphere and offerings of the local community. The beach offers a long stretch of golden sand, with glorious ocean to swim in. Setting out from Castara Retreats, a 20-minute walk will lead you through the rainforest to Castara Waterfall, where locals and visitors go to soak up nature, while taking a plunge in the natural pool below the fall.
Recognised in 2022 as one of the best 25 hotels in the Caribbean by The Times, and regularly reviewed in quality press, Castara Retreats is a small, family-run boutique offering 17 unique, wooden eco-lodges overlooking the Bay of Castara on the Caribbean island of Tobago. Set in two acres of tropical gardens, the lodges are angled to allow idyllic views of the beach and ocean.
What's not included
Airfare.
Additional food/drinks you wish to bring or purchase.
Additional activities available on-site or locally such as massage, birdwatching tours, or drinks at the bar.
Travel insurance, which is highly recommended.
Alternative accommodation outside of a shared twin room.
How to book
Contact Sue and Zoe our friendly and super helpful reservations team at relax@castararetreats.com to reserve your place and ask any questions you may have. Please let us know the following:
Name of yogi(s)
Whether you’re a solo traveller or will be sharing accommodation with a partner or friend and if they are also joining the retreat or not. If you prefer single occupancy in a lodge, let us know and we can quote for that.
Any dietary requirements
Whether you’d be interested in extending your stay before and/or after the 7-day retreat. We’re offering 30% off website rates exclusively to our retreat participants for any extended trip as we want this trip to be as fulfilling as possible.
T&Cs
Reservation requires 1/3 of the full price.
The balance will be paid 8 weeks before arrival.
You may cancel your holiday at any time. The person who made the booking must write to confirm the cancellation as soon as possible. The amount we agree to refund you is dependent on how close your cancellation is to the start of the retreat. For full details see our terms and conditions
Frequently asked questions
Q: I’d like to come with a partner/friend who doesn’t want to join the retreat – is this OK?
Yes, this wouldn’t be a problem and the 30% off accommodation will still apply. However, the cost of the retreat is based on sharing with one of more other retreaters, so the cost will increase slightly. Please contact us to discuss the final price.
Q: I would like to extend my stay either before or after the retreat – can I still access 30% off the accommodation price?
Yes you can – and this is encouraged. Subject to availability, any stays up to a week before or after the yoga retreat will be discounted by 30% off our website prices.
Q: Are you inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life? Completely. Our team at Castara are diverse in many ways. We span many generations/ethnicity/sexual orientation/abilities. We welcome anyone and everyone to join us.
Q: I notice your location is has many steps, can you accommodate wheelchair users?
Unfortunately, due to the rainforest/hillside landscape, there are many steps around our site, with some steep inclines. We are regrettably not wheelchair friendly.
Q: will all activities outside of the yoga sessions be as a group or can I chose what and when I participate in?
All of our activities on the retreat are OPTIONAL. This is your retreat, so everything is an invitation, not an obligation. However we cannot give credits or refunds for activities missed due to the price being worked out on a group basis.
Q: I’m coming with my partner but they aren’t joining the retreat. Can my partner join the group for meals, or can I eat with my partner separately?
There are two options here: 1) your partner joins us as a group for the yogi retreat menu meals for the week. They will be charged on the food-per-head cost the retreat is based on. or 2) You and your partner eat together in the restaurant off our a la carte menu or self cater in your rooms for the week. Unfortunately, due to food prep logistics, we can’t give credits towards the a la carte menu.
Q: I can’t make this retreat – will there be any others in the future?
YES! Castara Retreats will be running two retreats next year that will be led by Judha:
27 April to 4 May 2024
2 to 9 November 2024
More information will be on our website and emailed to our mailing list in due course. If you want to be kept up to date – join our mailing list, or email us with your interest.