Miriam Van Doorn, founder of MI Retreats first came to yoga because she had very bad sciatica pain and could hardly stand up or sit comfortably. This was due to bad posture and a scoliosis she developed during her younger years growing up! After attending her first yoga class in 1995 she noticed that her body felt much better and over time her posture started to improve and she had no more pain. With regular practice, she discovered yoga’s benefits in both body and mind, planting a seed that has never stopped growing. Miriam says that “This was my turning point to start studying yoga and become a teacher myself as I wanted to delve deeper and find out how this was at all possible, I have never looked back since.”

Miriam has studied with several wonderful teachers to guide her on her path including Muktanand Meannjin, a master Satyananda teacher and psychologist,  Ashtanga Yoga with Shri ‎K. Pattabhi  Jois, Iain Clark and David Muesham, Yoga Flow with Louisa Sear from Yoga Arts in Byron Bay, and Yoga Philosophy, Meditation and Pranayama with Emil Wendel, Yoga Chi Gung with Grant Woolven and Vinyasa Yoga with Vanessa Rudge and Michael Daly as well as Chakra Vinyasa Yoga and Calm Living Meditation. Pre and Post Natal Yoga with Vanessa Rudge and Yoga for Pregnancy and Childbirth with Amanda Reid from Samadhi Yoga.

Teaching Style

Having studied various disciplines of yoga, Miriam now teaches a ‘flow’ style of yoga. Her classes are informative and fun and are influenced by her belief in practising with awareness and with intention, developing breath awareness, meditative peace, learn postural alignment, and the joy that is yoga!

Miriam brings together physical yoga asana practice with stimulating non-dogmatic philosophy to create a conscious experience of presence and living wisdom in the body and in the heart. Her classes are ever changing, infused with warmth and vigour, and although being challenging, never losing site of the deeper side of practice that calls for open, non-judgmental observation.

Miriam also loves to teach pregnancy classes to not only connect to the life that is growing within but to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and give you the tools to prepare for birth.

Drawn to non-dualistic philosophies such as Buddhism and Tantra, Miriam believes in all forms of meditation as gateways to living wisdom, equanimity and joy of being. While practicing and teaching she tries to bring light into the ancient bond between asana (physical practice) and dhyana (meditation).

Miriam cites: “I believe that yoga offers us an opportunity to rediscover our true selves, to rediscover the deep sense of calm and wellbeing that is always within; and that when we bring the energy of the heart and the mind into alignment, truly great things can happen!”

Mi Retreats came into being from a heart-felt place to take her students on a deeper journey while at the same time enjoying beautiful spiritual surroundings with scrumptious vegetarian food.

Miriam invites you to experience absolute peace of mind whilst unwinding on one of her yoga and meditation retreats. Complement daily yoga practice with the art of meditation, as you are taught how to let go of anxiety and the stresses of daily life, indulge in massage treatments, walks and private time plus so much more. All yoga retreats are suitable from the absolute beginner to the most advanced.