Are you coming to find your zen on our Montenegro yoga retreat next year? Or considering it? Get a taste of what’s to come as we catch up with our lead yogi Fiona Morris.
Fiona is a yoga & pilates instructor and personal trainer based in Nottingham, UK. She turned to yoga after her corporate job left her feeling burned out and after a scary wake up call one night (which we’ll let her explain below), she turned to yoga full time as a teacher. And luckily for us she did because her first retreat with us at Villa Miela this year was a huge hit all around.
Read on to find out more about Fiona and the retreat.
Places are available now for one of the 2025 yoga retreats, book here.
How long have you taught yoga for and what inspired you to do it?
I’ve been teaching since 2016. Initially, I completed the teacher training to deepen my own practice after burnout from a hectic and unfulfilling corporate career. I was in a graduate management role that had me working a weekly rotation of 12-hour day shifts followed by 12-hour night shifts and I drifted off at the wheel one night. Luckily, I only curbed it before waking up but that was enough of a wake up call (excuse the pun), to know that I needed out.
The plan initially was to teach one or two yoga classes a week around a full time job again, which I did in the beginning, but I just loved teaching so much. It felt like such an honour to hold a safe space for people for an hour or so, it all felt so right, so I took the plunge and went full-time freelance with it.
How did you come to work with the Undiscovered Balkans?
I’ve been so lucky to meet the most amazing and supportive yoga clients over the years who have also become friends. One of my lovely ladies who attends a weekly class in Nottingham had just returned from an activity holiday with Undiscovered Montenegro. She was absolutely glowing from her holiday and it sounded like a truly unique and special experience.
At the same time, I’d been hosting yoga retreats in the UK and was on the lookout for a potential retreat venue in Europe. My lovely yoga client very kindly put me in touch with Ben and Emma from Undiscovered Balkans who were looking for a yoga instructor, so the timing was perfect and it was exactly what I was looking for. So really, we have my client Debbie to thank for all of this.
What were your highlights from this season?
Oh wow, honestly, there are way too many. You know when people say you just need to experience it for yourself? It’s one of those. The entire week was just magical and I honestly had to pinch myself every day that I got to experience it all.
Waking up to the stunning views of Lake Skadar, our lovely hosts Tobi & Adèl (and Nora the dog), Elaine’s DELICIOUS catering, being in wonderful company everyday, and our life chats and laughs at dinner during sunset were all highlights.
A real highlight for me personally was kayaking on Lake Skadar and seeing so much wildlife in its natural habitat. The activities on offer are so authentic and you get to experience the untouched beauty of your surroundings without disturbing it. The name ‘undiscovered’ is apt. Ben and Emma have really put the time and effort into finding these hidden gems and we’re so lucky they want to share them with us (I’ve never been a fan of crowded, touristy excursions on holidays).
Related:
- An introduction to wine tourism in Croatia & Montenegro
- The making of our unique kayaking & bushcraft holiday in Montenegro
- Why kayaking to Lake Skadar’s pelicans is our favourite tour of all
What can guests expect during a yoga retreat?
I’m qualified in hatha/vinyasa yoga, but I like to really get to know my guests and find out what kind of practice they enjoy most at the start of the retreat. After all, they are on holiday and they’re there to enjoy themselves.
The sessions will always be beginner-friendly for anyone new to yoga, but I’ll also offer more challenging poses for any advanced yogis in the group. The morning sessions are pitched for a soft, energising start to the day so we typically ease in with 15 minutes of meditation, soaking up the sounds of nature, before finding our movement. The sessions slowly build in intensity before winding down again towards a more restorative practice for the evenings.
Some of the activities around the yoga classes can be quite physical, e.g. hiking and kayaking, so I usually complement these by focusing on deeper stretching the next day. The balance of activity & R&R is important.
What are you most looking forward to about the 2025 Montenegro yoga retreats?
I’m just so, so excited to do this all over again! Some of last year’s guests have already booked to come back so it will be lovely to see some familiar faces, but equally, I’m looking forward to welcoming new guests next year. It’s honestly the people that make it.
And of course, I’m looking forward to seeing the retreat team – including Nora, our yogi dog.
You can follow Fiona on Instagram @Yogafiona_UK and find out more about her yoga retreats with us in Montenegro here.
7 Day Yoga Activity Holiday in Montenegro
Enjoy a week’s yoga, relaxation and activities in the untamed natural beauty and pristine environment of Montenegro’s Lake Skadar National Park. Based at Villa Miela, a renovated stone farmhouse close to the lake, recharge and relax with daily hatha or vinyasa yoga sessions, kayaking, wild swimming and hiking.
Are you a yoga instructor or know one who would be keen to collaborate with us for a yoga retreat? Get in touch with Emma at Undiscovered Balkans.
Comments