Get Your OM on With Emily Mergaert Yoga

I had the privilege of first meeting this lovely human nearly three years ago. I called it quits with Babybel the day or two before and was a teary-eyed mess when I walked into Emily Mergaert's yin yoga class at BLOK Shoreditch during another bleak February evening. From the second she introduced herself I knew she would become someone who would have a profound impact on my life. As we flowed from one meditative posture to another I hid tears within my blanket and thought about how to move forward. Savasana came to a close and the class collectively began to blink their eyes open when Emily told us about a yoga retreat the upcoming summer in Majorca. A private villa with a pool, located a flip flop's throw from the beach, and daily yin and yang yoga practice... it sounded like pure bliss.

I have been on yoga retreats in the past, but something nudged me inside that #MergRetreats were different from others. She handed me a colourful flyer, wished me well, and said she couldn't wait to see me in the studio soon. I had no idea at the time how tumultuous the next few months would be: I was dragged through a demoralising sexual harassment case at work, my heart broke into two following the romantic escapades (and subsequent ending) with #SirGlitterPants, and there was one disappointment after another. While the winter and spring seasons hadn't been kind to me, I knew I had something to look forward to and that was Emily's sun-splashed retreat on the shores of the Balearic Isles.

The week I had in Majorca was one of the most magical I have experienced in my life, only matched by her other yoga retreat on the outskirts of Marrakech the following year. While Emily has been a practicing yoga teacher for years and will push you to explore poses you're not convinced of yourself (her teachings are another level), it's her ability to cultivate a community of the most amazing individuals that set her retreats apart. Whenever I walk onto the tarmac following one of her yoga retreats, I'm not only stronger and a bit more bronzed, but I have a handful of wonderful new people in my life. Learn all about her upcoming classes, workshops, and retreats on her website.

Get to know the beauty that is Emily Mergaert:

What got you into yoga?

I popped into a hot yoga class in Toronto while I was attending university and the experience was so incredible that I continued to keep up the practise.

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

That is such a hard question because there are so many to choose from, but I feel light yet powerful in handstand and enjoy double pigeon pose during a yin class.

What is your most memorable moment from one of your yoga retreats?

Practising yin yoga on a Moroccan roof terrace with the call to prayer happening in the distance.

What would be your three deserted island essentials?

Yoga mat, crisps (gotta live), and my Spotify tunes.

When are your next retreats?

Norfolk, UK Dec 7th - 11th, 2020 (only a spot or two left)

Majorca, Spain June 5-11th, 2021

If I can't make a retreat where can I take your classes?

I'm currently teaching a variety of rocket, vinyasa, and yin yoga classes online and will be back in the studios (triyoga and BLOK) in December.