ABOUT MANA®
Mana is a spiritual life force energy, or healing power, that permeates the universe. When we harness it, it permeates through us. Here at Mana® Yoga Retreats, we re-ignite your inner fire and zest for life. At Mana we bring you back to the source. We remind you how good the simple things are. Warm sand. The smell of salt water. A breezy mountain top. The touch of the sun on your skin. We relax in the steam room, curl up with a good book, hike at sunrise, learn pranayama and bask in meditation. We send you home awake, refreshed, connected + whole. Since 2014, Mana has been a place to reconnect with yourself + reignite your inner fire. Created from a passion to bring yoga and people together, Patty Perlman joins together a yoga community of like minded people in a fun and inspiring atmosphere.
Mana is a spiritual life force energy, or healing power, that permeates the universe. When we learn how to harness it, it permeates through us.
These retreats are a melting pot of people, from CEO’s to busy mom’s to ER doctors. Post retreat, the Mana Community continues to flourish with its 200hr Teacher Training's and the crown favourite - our annual rooftop drinks organised specially for Mana Retreaters to reconnect and hang out.
Retreat food. Fresh, organic and local produce are served daily in delicious and mouth-watering recipes. These recipes are created to assist the detoxifying process, cleanse the organs and digestion and revitalise the body from inside out. Every meal is prepared fresh daily by our chef, and all food requirements are catered to.
These exclusive retreats accommodate up to 12 guests maximum and take place beachfront in Byron Bay, mountain top in Queenstown + Japan, Vineyards in Tuscany, seaside in Bali and more. With 14 years of yoga teaching experience and over 75 yoga retreats in Australia and abroad, Patty + the Mana team take you to well-appointed location to provide yoga, meditation, surfing, hiking, kayaking, skiing, pampering, cooking, drinking wine and more in a fun, adventurous and enriching environment.
ERYT 500, Owner
Retreat Leader + Head Trainer
Patty grew up in Acadia National Park in Maine, USA + began practicing yoga in her high school at age 15. She continued her education at university before taking a variety of teacher training’s which will be a lifelong educational journey. Patty has been tracing the globe + exploring the wellness industry to find the best locations + activities for retreats. From Mexico to Bali to NZ, she now spends her time at home in Australia, hiking and spending time with her family and her beloved Australian Shepherd Nala.
Over the past 20 years Patty has studied with:
Douglas Allen, Buddhism Professor of University of Maine 2004
Craig and Shane Perkins, founders of Yandara Yoga Institute in Todos Santos, Mexico 2008 + 2018
Gopala, founder of Rainbow Kids Yoga, Worldwide 2010
Tammy Williams, founder of Sunshine Coast’s Yoga NRG, Australia 2012
Julie Smerdon, founder Shri Yoga, Australia 2015
Lorine Roche, Meditation teacher and Author, USA 2015
Carlos Pomeda, Creature Yoga, 2020
Dena Kingsberg, Creature Yoga, 2020
Retreat Leader
Shae is a proud graduate from Mana Yoga’s first class of teacher trainees - Vinyasa and Yin. Lead and supported by Patty Perlman, Jana Jones and Martyn Collier, Shae found her authentic teaching voice, influenced by a combination of shared knowledge, ancient wisdom and her own personal experiences and realizations through the practice of self reflection, acceptance and understanding.
Deeply connected to Mother Earth, Shae’s energy is grounding. Her classes are inclusive with the intention that each and every student feel safe and supported wherever they may be within their practice. She provides clear and direct cues, offering variations and encouraging the use of props to support optimal alignment. Whilst also providing opportunities that allow strengths and abilities to be challenged.
Shae has a particular interest in subtle energy systems, sound healing and Vedic philosophy, as well as other ancient cultures and transcendental beliefs. She receives the practice of yoga as a doorway into what lies beyond the physical realm and is always up for exploring this.
When she isn’t geeking out on yoga stuff, you can find Shae at the beach or in the mountains with her much adored family, two young daughters, husband/best friend and her yellow ball of sunshine, Labrador Daphne.
Teacher Trainer
Marty is a long term movement and yoga enthusiast. His yoga practice spans almost two decades, his diligent practice and exploration of movement and artistry around three decades. This passion led Marty to study physiotherapy full time at the University of Queensland, which he began in 2019. He is passionate about effectively using yoga in all its facets to explore what it means to be most deeply, fully and exquisitely in this project of being human. Moreover, he is deeply engaged in guiding new and established yoga teachers to find the most elegant expression of their work.
Head Chef
Meet our culinary mastermind, Chef Simon. At a Mana Retreat you'll experience plant-based cuisine like you've never had before. Move over tofu and chickpeas, take a hike lentils... our menu has been designed to fill you up, nourish you and make you comfortable to move, twist and practice yoga with a happy, calm and healthy tummy. Now add flavours you've never had before...
Simon sources fresh produce from his own garden and organic finds from the local Byron Bay region.
Simon is an encyclopedia of knowledge about gut health, food, substitutes, and amazing tips in the kitchen. He also loves to share! So make a tea and cosy up to the kitchen bench for a chat any time.
Teacher Trainer
Jana Jones is the owner of Zen Yoga + Pilates and is the warm and loving face of our favourite yin yoga classes. Her knowledge of assisting and modifying poses to suit a variety of bodies shines strong through her gentle and dedicated practice. She has been a student of yoga and Buddhism for nearly 20 years and holds a degree in psychology. This combination is a big part of her love to improve happiness + wellness of all Zen clients.
Retreat Leader
An Irish native, her love of yoga began 16 years ago when she began attending weekly classes taught at her high school. Sarah moved to Brisbane in 2009 and continued to practice yoga while exploring different class formats and teaching styles. Her personal practice deepened after completing a 40-day challenge with Shri Yoga. This challenge inspired her to train as a yoga teacher, a qualification she completed under senior teacher Julie Smerdon of Shri Yoga.
Sarah leads an alignment-based class in the vinyasa style blending a fluid flow with awareness to the connection between movement and breath. She is passionate about helping people cultivate a yoga practice both on and off the mat.
Sarah is currently studying Health and Physical Education at University and also holds qualifications in Nutrition, Fitness, Holistic and Remedial Massage Therapy and utilises all of these elements to inform her teaching.
Our exclusive retreats accommodate up to 12 guests maximum and take place across the globe, from a beachfront in Byron Bay to a mountain top in Queenstown.
Guests welcome from age 18+
We carefully teach to welcome beginners and challenge seasoned yogis
All food is gluten and dairy free
We serve fish and vegetarian
Couples, friends and solo yogis of all ages attend our retreats
Most guests are 25 – 70 years old
70% women, 30% men on most retreats
You will learn about yoga, meditation, chakras and meridians
Of course we have wifi and chocolate
Yes you can bring wine
Parking available