Yoga & surf retreat in Morocco: a journey back to yourself through play and joy

Many of us move through life feeling that something essential has slipped out of reach — a sense of ease, creativity, playfulness, or simply feeling at home in ourselves. We become weighed down by responsibility, overstimulation and the constant “on” of modern life. Over time, joy becomes something rare rather than natural, and our nervous systems struggle to find balance.

The intention behind this retreat is to create the conditions in which we can rediscover those lost parts of ourselves. Through a blend of yoga, surfing, rest, nature and community, the week will offer a gentle but powerful journey back to presence, play and emotional spaciousness.

Here’s more about why I’ve shaped the retreat this way, and why joy and play aren’t luxuries — they’re essential ingredients for wellbeing.

1. The ocean really is an elixir

There’s growing research showing that “blue spaces” — coastal environments and large bodies of water — help regulate the nervous system. Studies have found that viewing or spending time by the sea can increase heart-rate variability, a key indicator of a flexible, resilient nervous system. Other research highlights that time in nature supports vagal tone and positively influences mood and emotional balance.

In simple terms: being near the ocean helps us settle. Breath deepens. The mind quietens without effort. The body releases subtle tension we often don’t realise we’re carrying.

Many people describe the ocean as an elixir, and I feel the same. Whether it’s the sound of waves, the openness of the horizon, the shifting light or the negative ions often discussed in coastal environments, something changes in us there. We feel more spacious, uplifted and connected.

2. Surfing reconnects us to play, courage and embodied presence

Most adults don’t get many chances to play. True play — the kind without performance, achievement or judgement — requires safety, curiosity and freedom. Surfing offers all of the and more.

In the water, we will be absorbed in the moment, moving in partnership with nature. There will be no multitasking, no rushing, no thinking several steps ahead. Instead, we’ll meet small challenges with courage, wobble, fall, laugh and try again. This simple cycle of effort and recovery helps regulate the nervous system and rebuild physical and emotional resilience.

Importantly, we cannot be in a state of play and a state of fear at the same time. Inviting play is a way to shed long-held protective patterns that are holding us back. Even complete beginners often say catching a wave brings a sense of unparalleled joy that’s hard to describe - when you know, you know!

3. Yoga is the grounding thread that weaves everything together

Yoga will be the anchor of the retreat — the practice that helps us tune back into our body, breath, mind and a deeper sense of inner connection. It will help us process, integrate and soften.

Each morning, we will gently wake and warm the body, using breath-led movement to build mobility, confidence and a steady, spacious mind. This wil prepare us for the ocean with openness and presence, offering a healthy, supportive activation of the nervous system.

At the beach, we will pause for grounding breathwork to help us arrive fully — connected to nature, rooted in our senses and ready to play. Evenings will be slow and spacious, easing physical tension from the waves and softening the nervous system. We’ll finish each day with Yoga Nidra to integrate everything we’ve felt and learned, allowing it to settle.

The yoga will be embodied, creative and playful. There will be great tunes and space to explore new things - nothing too serious! Whether it’s your first day of yoga or you’ve practised for years, the sessions will feel accessible, refreshing and supportive.

4. Joy and play are essential for how we live, relate and feel

We often imagine joy as something we’ll get to “when life slows down,” but joy isn’t optional — it’s nourishment. From a nervous-system perspective, play and joy signal safety and help us expand, connect and build emotional flexibility. When we feel safe enough to play, we become more resilient, better rested and more attuned to ourselves.

These benefits extend far beyond physiology. Play helps us relate to others with warmth and openness. It softens our edges, improves communication and brings ease into our relationships. It’s a way to connect more naturally and more deeply.

On retreat, joy will show up in subtle and transformative ways: the laughter that rises in the surf, the freedom of moving without judgment, the relief of feeling yourself again. Rediscovering joy and play isn’t escapism — it’s skill-building. It widens our emotional range, strengthens our ability to adapt, reconnects us with purpose, and helps us show up fully for the people and causes we care about.

5. Morocco holds us in a rhythm that brings us back to nature

Morocco has a way of guiding us into a rhythm that feels ancient, human and deeply grounding. Life along the coastline follows the natural cycle of the day: rising with the light, feeling the warmth shift as the sun climbs, resting as it sets, and hearing the Muslim call to prayer float across the landscape as a reminder to pause. There are no skyscrapers here, no sharp edges of urban life — just land, sky and sea.

Tamraght, the sleepy fishing village where we’ll stay is simple, beautiful and held by local families who live closely with the environment. You feel this immediately — in the spaciousness, the community, the natural pace. The ocean sets the tempo. The sun shapes the day. The land provides a canvas for exploration. In this kind of atmosphere, the nervous system naturally downshifts. Breath deepens. Awareness widens. We return to a way of living that feels more like ourselves.

Morocco’s wild, open coastline becomes the perfect backdrop for reconnecting. With no rush, noise or pressure, we can settle into rhythms the body longs for — rhythms that let joy, presence and play rise to the surface.

6. A retreat for when you need to remember who you are

If you’re feeling stretched thin, disconnected from your spark or simply ready for something fun, this retreat is for you. Come as you are, and prepare to smile, laugh and have a blast!

To read more or reserve your place, you can find all the details here:
Elemental Joy: A Yoga and Surf Retreat in Morocco

Spots are limited. Early bird pricing ends 30 November.