A Winter Wellness Weekend at Bayside Oceanfront Resort

There's something about February on Vancouver Island that makes you crave warmth. Not just physical warmth, though the heated studio at Namaskar Yoga definitely delivers on that front. It's more about the kind of warmth that comes from slowing down, breathing deeply, and giving yourself permission to rest.

I spent a recent weekend at Bayside Oceanfront Resort in Parksville doing exactly that. What started as a spontaneous getaway turned into one of those trips you think about for months afterward. The kind where you leave feeling genuinely different than when you arrived.

Arriving at Bayside

The drive from the ferry to Parksville takes you through some of the prettiest stretches of Vancouver Island's east coast. By the time I pulled into Bayside, the late afternoon light was doing that golden thing it does in winter, turning the ocean into something worth photographing.

Check-in was refreshingly human. No rushed scripts, just a genuine conversation with staff who seemed like they actually wanted me to have a good stay. They pointed me toward the self-guided art tour that winds through the property (local Vancouver Island artists, naturally) and mentioned that Namaskar Yoga's 5:30 pm class was still available if I wanted to shake off the travel.

My ocean view room faced the water, and I'll admit I spent a good twenty minutes just standing at the window. The kind of view that makes you understand why people move to the coast.

The Yoga: More Than Just Exercise

Namaskar Yoga isn't just any studio. They've won BC's Yoga Studio of the Year twice (2022 and 2024/25 from the BC Travel & Hospitality Awards), and after taking several classes over the weekend, it's obvious why. This award-winning studio has been a fixture in the Parksville community for years and now calls Bayside home, making it ridiculously convenient for resort guests.

I started Saturday morning Ashtanga Fusion with the owner/operator Elle! She was so warm and welcoming, I can see why she has built such a following. That evening, I came back for Marlene's Vin 2 Yin at 5:30 pm. The transition from heated vinyasa flow into slower yin poses felt like the physical equivalent of a deep exhale. Marlene's cuing was precise without being rigid, and the class attracted a mix of locals and other resort guests.

On Sunday morning, I took Luisa's Gentle Yoga at 9:00 am. A warm class (80 to 85 degrees), perfect for a body that had worked hard the day before. Then at 11:00 am, Julie led a 75-minute Traditional 26 in the hot room. The Traditional 26 sequence is exactly what it sounds like: 26 postures and two breathing exercises designed to systematically work the entire body. No complicated transitions, no pretzel poses. Just good, honest yoga.

What struck me most about Namaskar wasn't just the quality of instruction, though that's clearly excellent. It's the philosophy printed right on their website: yoga is for every body. The teachers genuinely embody this. Drop-ins are welcome. No experience is required. Nobody made me feel behind or out of place, even when my forward fold looked nothing like the person next to me.

The Food: From Morning Fuel to Evening Indulgence

After the morning yoga sessions, I made a habit of wandering over to the cafe for a yogurt parfait and an oat latte. There's something about that combination after practice that just works. Light enough that you don't feel weighed down, substantial enough that you're not starving by lunch.

Dinner was another story entirely. The restaurant at Bayside does candlelit tables with actual linen, the kind of dining experience that feels increasingly rare. I walked in on Saturday night to the sound of live piano, and honestly, that set a tone I wasn't expecting from a boutique resort.

The menu leans into the resort's locally focused philosophy. Vancouver Island suppliers, regional ingredients, dishes that feel grounded in place rather than trying to be somewhere else. I lingered over a glass of wine and dessert, watching the last light fade over the water through the windows.

Beyond the Mat

Between yoga sessions, Bayside offers enough to fill your time without making you feel obligated to fill it. I hit the gym one morning (well-equipped, mercifully uncrowded) and explored the property's beach access in the afternoon. February isn't exactly beach weather, but there's something about walking along the waterfront in a sweater, watching the clouds move over the Georgia Strait, that counts as its own kind of therapy.

The property also has squash courts if you're looking for something more active. I passed on those this trip, but made a mental note for next time.

Worth mentioning: the pool is currently under construction and will be back soon. Something to look forward to for summer visits.

The Case for a Wellness Weekend

Here's what I've come to believe about these kinds of trips: they're not about becoming a different person. They're about remembering who you are when you're not exhausted, overstimulated, and running on caffeine and deadlines.

Two days at Bayside with regular yoga classes, good food, and an ocean view won't solve your problems. But it might remind you that you're capable of feeling rested, grounded, and present. And sometimes that's exactly what February requires.

Namaskar's schedule runs all week, so whether you're planning a weekend escape or extending a longer Vancouver Island trip, you can build yoga into your stay without advance booking or special packages. Just show up. Decide day-of. That's the whole point.

Bayside Oceanfront Resort is located at 240 Dogwood Street in Parksville, BC. Namaskar Yoga operates on-site with classes running daily. Visit namaskaryoga.ca for the current schedule and drop-in rates.

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