I heard the sound of thundering hooves approaching from somewhere unseen, deep in the forest; it was close by and getting closer. I feared a wild boar, and was relieved, and overawed, when a large female roe deer burst from the trees and crossed my path at speed. It was no more than a few steps away from me and in a split second I watched its weighty, dark-eyed presence disappearing into and disrupting the stillness of the trees on the other side of the trail.

I was forced to stop for a moment, instinctively bringing my hands to my heart, catching my breath as the fleeting sight of this wild beauty washed over me. I took this as an auspicious sign – this sighting of a large and luminous deer - because I was returning to my self on a winter retreat, and it felt good to feel my spirits settling and lifting in the beautiful surroundings of 42 Acres in Somerset.

On summer retreat in Sardinia this year, my intention was to explore what it means to suggest that yoga is a warrior’s practice.

Of course, there is the obvious cultivation of physical strength and mental discipline required by the dawn practice of daily sun salutations.

It’s true. Our general surroundings really can make a difference to our wellbeing, and within an hour of landing in Rome, travelling north, I’m dazzled by the glorious sunshine, undulating olive groves and the medieval magic of the beautiful Sabine Hills.

Before the sun, a new moon rises - a slender crescent against a dark sky - and my heart lifts. I wake my beloved sister and we walk silently towards the still-dark quiet of the Sardinian sea. Before we reach the deserted beach, the promise of dawn shows itself mauve and lavender in hue.