I love going to Yoga Shows. You get to meet the most fascinating people. Take Corey Gibbons for example. I met him in the queue for a green smoothie. The queue was long so we had plenty of time to talk.

The conversation started over a Scottish £5 note. He’d never seen one before. And then he came right out with it ‘Yoga saved my life.’ The queue wasn’t long enough to hear his whole story so we arranged to connect via email and left it at that.

So let’s find out what Corey meant and more about the journey that yoga has taken him on, most recently to founding the Shavasana Yoga Retreat on the beautiful island of Ibiza.

Let’s start with getting to know something about you personally, Corey. Can you introduce yourself to us?

I am a man on a spiritual journey, who found yoga in the process of dealing with difficulties in my life. I am based between Ibiza and Bedfordshire, where I live with my son. Ibiza has always been my spiritual home and where I feel at peace with nature and myself.

The first thing you said to me was ‘Yoga saved my life’. What did you mean by that?

In the beginning of 2016, it felt like my world came crashing down. I was no longer in control of my professional and personal life. Travelling between Dubai, London and Ibiza did not help and along the way, my sense of purpose and priorities cross-wired. As a result, I decided to stop everything and spent 4 months continuously practising various types of yoga, hiking and eating primarily from trees in Ibiza to refocus and balance myself. Thereafter, I made the decision to make yoga an integral part of my life, both personally and professionally.

What does yoga mean to you in your own life today?

Yoga is what makes me balance and feel in tune with myself. It heightens my core values of empathy, kindness, forgiveness and trust. When I practise yoga, it gives me a sense of fulfillment that helps me to grow. In addition, yoga sharpens my attitude to tackle challenges and life head on with resilience, which helps me to focus on the numerous activities and responsibilities I have in my life with calm and in perspective.

And then there’s Ibiza. How long have you lived in Ibiza and what have you been doing there?

I have been travelling and seasonally living in Ibiza for over 10 years. Over the years in Ibiza, I was a Deep House DJ-ing & Music Producer, hosting my own event at Pacha – LIO Ibiza and had a property management and rental business. These days, I have my own yoga retreat in San Rafael, called Shavasana Yoga Retreats and I am trekking in the mountains or coastline in Ibiza.

What’s so special about Ibiza?

It’s beautiful in terms of landscape, the people it attracts, wonderful weather and it possesses a warm energy that stimulates spiritual growth. It’s a vibrant cosmopolitan place where you can share ideas and learn from so many different people.

How did you become involved in the setting up of the Shavasana Yoga Retreats?

During the summer of 2016, I was lost and trying to figure out what my next steps were and how to take back the control of my life. I decided to combine my experience in the property business with my passion for yoga and hiking to create Shavasana Yoga Retreats. I visited a lot of villas, but they didn’t seem to tick all the boxes for the retreat I had in mind. I was looking for a villa that offered the flexibility to create a retreat that offers comfort, tranquility in the middle of nature and at a great location. To top it off, I needed a villa that allowed me to make a bespoke garden yoga space, with a herbal garden, yet providing a home vibe that’s relaxed and beautiful to spend time in. The moment I visited the villa in San Rafael, I knew this was the place for the kind of yoga retreat that I had in mind.

What is your role at Shavasana Yoga Retreats?

Besides being the founder of Shavasana Yoga Retreats, I am the hiking and excursion specialist for the yoga retreats. This means that I have the honour of sharing some amazing hidden gems of Ibiza. Most of the time, the yogis are surprised to see the natural beauty of the island and how much it has to offer beyond the typical nightlife stigma.

What does a yoga retreat offer a yogi that a regular class or home practice does not?

It offers an intense period to focus on yourself, your yoga practice and your nutrition while you are surrounded by beautiful nature. It gives yogis an opportunity to reset and recharge their batteries, enabling them to return to their daily lives with a sense of connecting with their true selves and being rejuvenated.

What is so special about your yoga retreat?

Shavasana Yoga Retreats are held in a secluded sanctuary in the middle of 6 acres. The retreat has its own garden decked yoga space along with our remote indoor hot yoga studio. In addition, there is a beautiful swimming pool and there are plenty of secluded places for silent reflection or gathering of yogis. Shavasana Yoga Retreats also offers a nutrition workshop, cookery workshop, reforestation, hiking and island excursions whilst on our retreat.

What’s with the name – Shavasana – how did that come about?

While I was practising yoga, I realised how important Shavasana asana is. Shavasana is the opportunity that allows me to let go of my physical, emotional and spiritual energies. The aim of the Shavasana Yoga Retreats is to provide an environment for yogis to feel comfortable to do just that – let go!

What hopes and dreams do you have for your yoga retreat and for you personally?

I hope that I can provide the environment to help people who are trying to find what they are looking for, whatever that may be. Now I am in a position that I can help people that are in a similar situation that I was in before. I personally get a feeling of gratification when I am able to help someone achieve his or her personal goals.

Personally, I would like to develop myself by continuing my spiritual journey and yoga practice. I want to continue grow and become a better person, better father and a better friend…

It’s been great to find out more about that man in that chance encounter in that queue at the Glasgow Yoga Show. Thanks, Corey.

If you would like to find out more about Shavasana Yoga Retreats, visit http://shavasanayogaretreats.com/.