YOGA conjures thoughts of serenity and peacefulness.
But flies?
For a group of local women, led by Swan Hill yoga instructor Natalie Jenkins, an outdoor yoga retreat at Mungo National Park was resplete with the tiny buzzing insects.
“We did have quite a few flies,” Ms Jenkins said with a laugh.
“I hadn’t had the joys of experiencing the flies of Mungo before.”
Notwithstanding the ubiquitous flies, Ms Jenkins said the inaugural Full Moon Yoga at Mungo was a success.
The idea for the unusual yoga retreat was hatched after after Ms Jenkins went along on a Full Moon tour of the Mungo National Park, led by Balranald-based tourism operator German Ugarte.
Through his tour company Outback Geo Adventures, Mr Ugarte is trying to spread the word far and wide about the beauty that is on Swan Hill’s doorstep.
Sunrise and sunset yoga classes were conducted on the Walls of China — the ancient resting place of famous human remains Mungo Lady and Mungo Man.
“There’s a very deep sense of serenity in the Mungo environment,” Ms Jenkins said.
“It’s very, very conducive to doing yoga and meditation and a little bit of self-reflection.”
“That was certainly the highlight, both those sessions … [it] adds a whole other wonderful layer to the experience.”
Now Ms Jenkins is planning three more retreats, the next over the Anzac Day long weekend.
“I’ve had an overwhelming positive response by the participants who came along,” she said.
“I heard quite a few times that people had no idea that it was in their backyard.
“I’m really looking forward to sharing that place to more local people especially since it appears so many have not actually visited.”
From the recent group of eight aspiring yogis, none, apart from Ms Jenkins, had visited Mungo National Park before.
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