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FAQs

WHAT IS WILDERNESS YOGA?

What's your wet weather policy? Is the yoga/meditation held outside?

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Yes the entire day is held in the great outdoors – meditation and yoga included! In the event of a really wet day though, like a storm warning, high winds, or if it looks like its just going to be miserable and rain all day long, etc, the event will be cancelled and you’ll receive a full refund (minus the small transaction fee). In that kind of weather its likely that the park would be closed anyway. 

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What if it only rains a little bit?

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If its looking like it might only drizzle here and there, the day still goes ahead, and we just plan the day around the weather (radars are amazing!). For example, if its going to start raining right at the time when we’re due to start the yoga class, we may move the class to later in the day’s schedule. This might mean the yoga happens at a slightly different spot along the hike than planned, or it might mean that we find an alternative undercover spot. In some very rare cases, if no other alternative is available, it may mean that the yoga practice is cancelled (while yoga in the rain can be transcendent, its also pretty slippery and too risky when we're in the wild). 

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When you register you’ll get a list of what to bring, so even if it does rain a little at some point over the course of the day, you’ll be super comfortable and will have a great time! Hiking in these cooler months is just magical!.. Good excuse for hot steamy chai right?!  

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Is transport included?

No the Wilderness Yoga retreat days do not include transport to or from. As the retreats are held in different national/state parks across greater Melbourne, and people come from all over greater Melbourne to participate, there isn’t a central location where we could all meet to travel together (would be more travel time, and more CO2 if we did it that way). We do however encourage people to car pool with friends, or other people coming along; you can post a message in the event page and see if anyone else lives close by. Once you have registered for the event, you’ll be given the exact meeting location within the park (and a google map link).

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CANCELLATIONS AND ALTERATIONS

Please note that in the event of bushfire danger or extreme weather, the event will be cancelled, and you will receive a full refund (less transaction fees). You will be notified via text message or phone call the day before the event, or the morning of the event. As such, please ensure your phone number is up to date, and you check your messages before the event.

Belinda Christie, Wilderness Yoga, anyone acting on their behalf, or the land managers (such as Parks Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Parks), retain the right to cancel the event at any time for safety concerns or adverse weather. If the event is cancelled, you will receive a full refund (less transaction fees).

In the event of wet weather, hot or windy conditions, etc, the event may go ahead, or be altered, if the hike leader deems that it is safe. The event may be altered at any time by the event leader to cater for safety requirements, such as, but not limited to: shortening the hike, or changing the course, or shortening, changing or cancelling the yoga class. In this case, you will not receive a refund or discount.

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What if I get sick or injured while I'm at the retreat?

Don't worry, you'll be looked after. If someone gets sick or injured along the trail or at any point during the retreat, we stop as a group and access the situation. If necessary, we cancel or alter the retreat experience. For example, if you were to seriously injure yourself, the Wilderness Yoga team would stay with you every step of the way until you were safe. We stick together when in the wild! We do not hesitate to call 000. For the rest of the guests on the day, this may mean that we return to the car park and either wait until the situation is resolved (and continue the retreat in its full or altered format, depending on how much time is left in the day) or guests return home. In this case a full refund or transfer to another event will be offered. And for this reason, it it very important that if you are not feeling your best on the day, please stay home. As much as we love the amazing humans of Ambulance Victoria and the SES - we prefer to avoid needing to see them!

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Why do you want my medical information?

For two reasons. Firstly, so that in an emergency we can pass on vital information to emergency services. And secondly, and most commonly, so we can tailor the hike and yoga to your needs, and yes, so we can make an informed assessment if a particular hike is right for you. For example, if we know you have high blood pressure, we'll offer you some alternative yoga poses, and depending on its severity, may suggest which particular hikes would be suitable for you. As such, it is very important that you do not leave anything off the list. We don't just need to know what allergies to certain meditations you may have, we also need to know if you have any medical conditions of any kind, including but not limited to: aches and pains of all kinds, 'dodgy' knees, backs, wrists, necks etc, high/low blood pressure, pregnancy, mental health concerns, medications of any kind, asthma, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, recent (or not so recent) injuries or surgeries, nausea, vertigo, dizziness, allergies (to medication, food, environmental factors), arthritis, etc. For example if Belinda was to fill in the form she would say something like: Not currently taking any medications (herbal dietary supplements only), dodgy right knee from skiing accident 3 years ago, occasional light-headedness/low-blood pressure, previous adrenal fatigue (recovered for 18 months), no known allergies. 

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YOGA + HIKING + WILDERNESS

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Join your Wild Tribe as we immerse ourselves in some of Melbourne's most stunning landscapes. Hike through seemingly magical forests, meditate under crystal clear waterfalls, practice yoga as we gaze over vast mountain top vistas, and maybe even meet some of our most iconic wildlife along the way.

Reconnect to your true wild self, and to the world around you, as we venture into the wilderness. Join the Wild Tribe!

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Each Wilderness Yoga event will venture into a new landscape; fern forests, riversides and mountaintops, are all a short drive from Melbourne. 

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The hikes will be held in some of Victoria's most stunning landscapes, such as the Cathedral Ranges, Kinglake, Dandenong Ranges, Toolangi, Mornington Peninsula, etc. All will be within 1.5 hours drive of Melbourne. The hikes will be somewhere between 1-3 hours in length, plus a 1 hour yoga class, and time for rest stops. The hikes will be graded so you know ahead of time what to expect. 

WHAT KIND OF YOGA DO YOU TEACH?

YOGA

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WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON A HIKE?

WHAT ARE THE HIKING GRADES?

HIKING

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Note: This is not a "walk in park" :) As with all hikes in wilderness areas, the walking trails will of course be unpaved. As such, all hikes (including those categoried as 'easy') will have plentiful uneven ground, rough, slippery and undulating surfaces. This is the wild after all! If you have any concerns about the trail, or any injuries or illnesses which you'd like to discuss, please feel free to contact us (there is also a place to provide this info during online registration). You may like to use the hiking grades below to help understand how truly wild each trail will be!

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The hiking grades below relate to the hikes physical difficulty, not the distance or fitness required:


Easy: General level walking on well-made trails. Gradual hills. Uneven surfaces may be present (rocks, tree roots, etc).

Moderate: Undulating, rough and less-defined trails. Steep hills.
Difficult: Trail may not exist. Steep and sustained hills. Some scrambling. Some exposure (e.g. cliff edges) may be present. 

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I'M INJURED OR SICK - SHOULD IS STILL COME?

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To be honest, and a little blunt, no. We are heading into true wilderness areas after all! Your safety and the safety of the other members of the wild tribe is the number one most important factor of the retreats. For your own safety and comfort, and for the safety of others, please practice your 'yoga' and stay home and rest... and check out our cancellation policy (you'll see we have special provisions for injuries and are very happy to transfer your ticket to another retreat). And if you'd like some tips on how to connect with your true self and the world around you while resting at home, check out Belinda's instagram feed or facebook page. 

Please keep in mind that if you turn up to the retreat injured or unwell we reserve the right to refuse you entry (and you will not receive a refund or be offered a ticket transfer). If you are unsure whether you should attend, check out our cancellation policy (below) and contact us to discuss your options. 

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CANCELLATION POLICY

You may transfer your ticket to another advertised event day if cancelling 7 days or more before the event. Notice of cancellation, and which event you would like to transfer to, must be made in writing to hello@belindachristie.com. Your registration will then be transferred to your preferred event. If you are unsure which future event you would like to join, you may be issued with the discount code for future use.

If you cancel after the 7 day period, 3 days notice prior to the start of the event must be given to receive a 50% refund (less transaction fees). If you cancel after the 3 day notice period, on the day of the event, or do not show up on the day, no refund will be given.

If you are sick or injured in the lead up to the event, please contact us to discuss your options. We are committed to insuring your safety, and the safety of the other retreat guests. As such, we would much prefer if we could transfer your ticket to another future event, rather than you coming along unwell. 

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WILDERNESS SAFETY

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Like any activity (crossing the road, playing a game of cricket, eating your lunch) hiking of course has some risks. So while I can't be held responsible if you wander off the trail, get bitten by a snake or decide to run away and live in the forest forever, its helpful to have your medical details and an emergency contact person just in case. Rest assured that I do have up to date first aid and CPR qualitifications, and I always carry a full stocked first aid kit and phone. 

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BUSHFIRES?

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In the event of a 'Extreme' or 'Catastrophic' bush fire rating, the event will be cancelled. If the event is cancelled you will be notified via email and/or text message, and a full refund will be given.

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WILDERNESS SAFETY?

WHAT ABOUT BUSHFIRES?

OTHER QS TO ADD:SPLIT UP INTO HIKE, YOGA, GENERAL ETC QS

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CAN I GET A REFUND?

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WILL THERE BE TOILETS?

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WILL I HAVE PHONE RECEPTION?

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WHAT IF I HAVE NEVER HIKED BEFORE?

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WHAT IF i HAVE NEVER DONE YOGA?

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WHAT IF I'M UNDER 16 YEARS OLD?

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ARE YOU QUALIFIED?

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WHAT ARE THE WILDERNESS YOGA 2017 DATES?

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CAN I TRANSFER MY TICKET TO SOMEONE ELSE? 

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WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?YOU MUST CANCEL AT LEAST 7 DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT TO RECEIVE A FULL REFUND. WHY 7 DAYS? FOR SAFETY WE HAVE MINIMUM PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS, SO I NEED TIME TO FIND A REPLACEMENT.

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WHAT IF IM SICK ON THE DAY? OH THAT SUCKS. I'M SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE UNWELL. YOU CAN EITHER RECEIVE A 50% REFUND, OR YOU CAN TRANSFER YOUR TICKET TO ANOTHER EVENT (6 month expiry). THIS ONLY APPLIES IF YOU CONTACT ME BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS - NOT IF YOU JUST FAIL TO TURN UP. 

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BUSHFIRES AND EXTREME WEATHER

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WHAT ABOUT SNAKES? AND DROP BEARS?

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WHERE DO I GET A LIGHT WEIGHT TRAVEL YOGA MAT? DO I NEED ONE?

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DO I NEED SPECIALIST HIKING GEAR?

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WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?

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DO YOU HAVE ANY LUNCH SUGGESTIONS?

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IS THERE A CAFE I CAN BUY LUNCH FROM?

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With wholehearted gratitude for country, spirit, and its people, throughout the lands, seas, and skies, in which we live, teach, and practice, we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners (particularly the Gubbi Gubbi, Gunai Kurnai, and Wurundjeri Woiwurrung peoples), their cultures, knowledge, and their continuing care for their country. We pay respect to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.

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​© 2024 Dr Belinda Christie

Melbourne and Sunshine Coast, Australia

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