Ebb and Flow Retreats

Home
United States
Olympia, WA
Ebb and Flow Retreats

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Ebb and Flow Retreats, Yoga studio, Olympia, WA.

Yoga classes and wellness retreats designed to help you connect and reflect through small group restorative weekends with yoga, meditation, kayaking, and beachcombing.

11/05/2025

It is a cold and rainy day here at Ebb and Flow ... and a perfect time to enjoy a little playtime in the warm studio after class!! 🧘‍♀️🥰

10/14/2025

My Brilliant Image

One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence
That has cast my brilliant image!

I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The astonishing Light
Of your own Being!

~Hafiz

Catching the sun on the Travertine Terraces in Pamukkale, Turkey! ❣️☀️🧘‍♀️📿

09/30/2025

Samasthiti (Equal Standing) is a command to attention, to stand in balanced stillness. It is the practice of standing with equal, steady, and still attention.

Here, standing in stillness among the rock formations in Love Valley, Cappadocia, Turkey formed from volcanic eruption and 60 million years of erosion, is humbling.

Take a moment today to stand in balanced stillness. 🇹🇷🧘‍♀️📿

"Keep walking, though there’s no place to get to. Don’t try to see through the distances. That’s not for human beings.

Move within, but don’t move the way fear makes you move. Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.

Take down a musical instrument. Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." ~Rumi

09/17/2025

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (one legged King Pigeon pose) offers physical benefits like enhanced hip and spinal flexibility, improved posture, and strengthened back and core muscles, along with mental health benefits such as stress and anxiety relief. It also stimulates abdominal organs, which aids digestion, boosts circulation, and supports detoxification.

All benefits when you are vacationing and eating new (and more) food than usual!! 🤭 While my regular long practice is suffering, long hikes, and time swimming in the sea is great for the mind, body and spirit!! Ciao Amici!! 🇮🇹🥰❤️

08/25/2025

Camatkarasana, commonly called Wild Thing, holds a deeper meaning in Sanskrit. The root word camatkara translates as “astonishment,” “surprise,” “miracle,” or “ecstasy.”

A more poetic rendering of Camatkarasana is “the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart.” I love this interpretation because it truly reflects the spirit of the pose—a heart bursting open with joy and expansion.

In the body, the pose resembles a side plank variation: balancing on one hand and foot, with the opposite foot grounded on the ball near the supporting leg. From there, the chest and hips open, the spine arcs, and the head gently releases back, embodying the very essence of ecstatic unfolding.

🧘‍♀️🕉📿💗

08/24/2025

This mornings harvest, a big bowl of plums, pears and of so yummy figs!! 😋🙏

08/16/2025

I have to admit, I have neglected my garden this summer...but still it has thrived! The pear and apple espalier trees are loaded, and the tomato pepper plants are bearing fruit. The red currants were abundant and the raspberries are still producing! The sungold tomatos taste like candy.... half of the harvest never made it into the house! 😍🍅🍐🌶🫐🍓🍒❤️

08/14/2025

Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) a foundational asana that improves flexibility, strengthens the legs, knees, ankles, arms, and chest, and stretches the hamstrings, groin, and hips. There are so many beautiful variations of this asana, extending the arms, locking on the big toe.

I love this asana during my own practice, for the stretch through my legs and the alignment of the back. 🧘📿💙

08/07/2025

This past week, something frightening happened here at Ebb and Flow. A dump truck loaded with pea gravel lost its brakes at the top of our property. It careened downhill, rolling three times before finally crashing—coming to a stop just inches from the house.

I arrived on the scene about 15 minutes later, completely unaware of what had happened. Emergency crews were already in action—fire, police, and aid cars all present. It was a shocking sight.

Miraculously, the driver sustained only minor injuries. 🙏 We’re incredibly grateful for that. However, the impact caused significant damage to the landscape, rock walls, outdoor lighting, and driveway. Repairs will take months, but I'm thankful it wasn’t worse.

My niece described my response to the scene—interacting with first responders, the driver, and everyone involved—as “zen.” Her words have stayed with me and made me reflect on how much yoga has shaped my way of being. Not just the asana (poses), but the deeper teachings of the practice.

One that stands out is Aparigraha, or non-attachment—one of the five Yamas, the ethical guidelines within the eight limbs of yoga. Aparigraha invites us to release our grip on expectations and outcomes. In the face of something as unexpected as an accident, it means letting go of the belief that “this shouldn’t have happened,” and choosing not to hold resentment toward those involved. That shift in perspective can be a powerful path toward acceptance and healing.

Another Yama that comes to mind is Ahimsa—non-violence. This principle extends far beyond refraining from physical harm; it also encompasses our thoughts, words, and intentions. In a situation like this, any judgment, anger, or reactive thoughts I might have brought would have only added more suffering for everyone involved.

Of course, I feel sad about the damage to the property. But more than anything, I feel deep gratitude that everyone is okay. Accidents happen. In time, the landscape will be restored—lush, welcoming, and whole once again.

I considered sharing a photo of the dump truck in the yard - but instead, I chose this image from the very next day: a visit to the local lavender farm with family. JOY! 📿

07/30/2025

A yoga sangha (means community) is a group of people who practice yoga together and support each other's journey for personal growth and well-being. It's more than a class or exercise. Our sangha provides a safe, supportive environment for learning, encouragement, and maybe the best of all connection.

I ❤️ our sangha. Thurston County area peeps, join us for a yoga class, offered Sunday and Wednesday mornings. Or check out our website for other retreat offerings! We would love to welcome you!! 🧘‍♀️📿

07/26/2025

Sukhasana, (easy pose) ... or "criss cross applesauce" 😊 Easy pose aids in opening the hips and aligning the spine, and its simplicity makes it suitable for yogis of all skill levels. Add a block under each knee if the hips are particularly tight, and practice both sides... meaning a different leg in front.

The hand gesture (Mudra) that I am demonstrating in the photo is Gyan or Jnan Mudra .. gesture of knowledge promoting concentration and peace of mind.

A beautiful peaceful place to swim and lunch after a hike!😍🧘‍♀️🕉📿

Address

Olympia, WA

Website

http://www.ebbandflowretreats.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ebb and Flow Retreats posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Ebb and Flow Retreats:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Olympia?