Namaste Niagara: Yoga at the Base of the Falls

*Guest Post by Ildiko S*

Breathe in. Breathe out. Standing at the base of a natural wonder, I felt the energy of the falls resonate through me as I transitioned from one yoga pose to the next…

I’ve been practicing yoga for over 10 years and have had some pretty epic experiences — from a rooftop surfing retreat in Morocco to the top of a Shaman Temple in Guatemala. Although these experiences were amazing, there really is nothing quite like doing yoga at Niagara Falls.

When I first arrived, I was distracted by the amount of mist and water that was splashing onto the lower deck; it didn’t take long for me to be completely soaked from head-to-toe. I attempted to keep dry for the first few minutes, but quickly got over it and surrendered to an overwhelming feeling of calm. The loud thunder of water crashing at the base of the falls naturally drowned out everything and it became increasingly easy to meditate. With each pose, I fell into a deeper state of zen. And when I reached Shavasana (the final meditative pose) I had completely forgotten the mist and water splashed from the falls. I felt truly present and my mind was clear: signs of a transformative yoga session…

Following our yoga session, our group headed to Queenston Heights for brunch. I had worked up quite an appetite so I couldn’t wait to feast at the beautiful restaurant. Nestled on top of a hill that overlooks the Niagara River, it has the perfect ambiance for a post-yoga meal…

They had a buffet-style brunch which is always great for me because I’m so indecisive… I always want a bit of savoury and a bit of sweet… a little bit of everything!

As we sat at the restaurant munching away, we chatted about how incredible and unique Namaste Niagara is. I mean, when does an opportunity like this ever come up?! Well, I’m glad to announce that we’ve teamed up with Niagara Parks to give away two tickets to a lucky reader for the next #NamasteNiagara on August 28th! Yup, you and a guest will be treated to a yoga sesh at the base of the falls followed by brunch at Whirlpool Restaurant (another popular restaurant in the area). Simply comment below and let us know who you’d bring to Namaste Niagara and why. Make sure you also fill out the Rafflecopter entry (that’s how the winner will be randomly selected). For those who want to purchase tickets to the August 28th event, they are $45 each and include:

• 45 minute yoga workshop at the base of Horseshoe Falls
• Brunch at Whirlpool Restaurant
• Private access to Journey Behind the Falls
• Parking at Falls Parking Lot

If you’d like to purchase tickets to this popular event, head here. And remember to bring these items with you for the experience:

• Poncho – to keep somewhat dry because you WILL get wet
• Extra set of clothes – to change into for brunch
• Yoga mat – to use for your practice
• Towel – so you can dry yourself
• Bottle of water – to stay hydrated
• Camera or phone – to capture the epic experience (and a plastic cover for it so it doesn’t get wet!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A special thanks to Niagara Parks for hosting me for Namaste Niagara! As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.