Nestled in the Byron Bay hinterland, SOMA BYRON was created as a sanctuary for stillness, connection, and renewal. From the moment it opened its doors, SOMA quickly became known as a place where ancient wisdom and modern living meet. Here, guests are invited to pause, reset, and reconnect with themselves on a deeper level.
Surrounded by nature and designed with intention, SOMA has welcomed visitors from across the globe to experience transformation through meditation, mindfulness, movement, and holistic practices.
A New Era of Active Living & Wellness
In 2025, SOMA BYRON began a new chapter when it was acquired by Lorna Jane, the brand that pioneered Active Living. For more than three decades, Lorna Jane has inspired the world to live with vitality and purpose, and now, as the custodian of SOMA, will carry this renowned sanctuary into its next evolution.
This new era unites SOMA’s global reputation as a world-class wellness retreat with Lorna Jane’s vision, energy, and community. Together, we will continue to create transformative experiences that support longevity, balance, and connection – inspiring people everywhere to live longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives
ABOUT SOMA
THE STORY
SOMA’s story began in 2016 when Gary Gorrow, a Vedic meditation teacher stepped onto 22 acres of land that felt very special. What he saw was both a beautiful hinterland landscape and the foundations of a sanctuary where people could pause, heal and be truly present. From that vision, SOMA was born as a destination for transformative retreats that blend nature, luxury and conscious living.
The original character of the land was preserved and honored: with the forest framing contemplative pathways, architectural lines and quiet corners all designed to slow the nervous system and quiet the mind. Every space intentional - minimal yet meaningful, spacious yet grounding - echoing SOMA’s commitment to curated simplicity and connection to earth.
Today, SOMA fulfills on that original intention, while also embracing an expanded vision by Lorna Jane Clarkson where it is a place for both inner reset and an ‘actively engaged life’ - with retreat programs offering enriching topics and practices that support participants in creating a life that is in true alignment.
THE NAME
The name SOMA comes from the word “somatic,” meaning “of the body”- a reminder that real transformation is something we feel and embody, not just think about. At SOMA, our retreat programs include valuable information for the mind paired with movement practices and other activities to guide us into the body - using sensations as a guide to inner wisdom.
Somatic awareness treats the body as a source of wisdom, signalling what feels safe, nourishing, and aligned, versus what feels depleting. When we pay attention to these signals, we create healthier patterns: resting before exhaustion, setting boundaries before resentment, and choosing nourishment, movement and beliefs that truly empower us.
Somatic practices at SOMA - such as meditation, yoga, breathwork and simply slowing down enough to feel your feet on the ground - help regulate the nervous system and support better sleep, digestion and emotional balance. Somatic living is, at its heart, a shift from overriding the body to partnering with it. Retreats at SOMA invite you to treat your body as an ally, so you can return to daily life feeling calmer, clearer and aligned.
the new visionary
LORNA JANE CLARKSON
For decades, Lorna Jane Clarkson has shaped the way we move, nourish, and believe through her pioneering approach to Active Living. Today, her vision enters a new chapter with SOMA. As its owner and guiding force, Lorna Jane sees SOMA as more than a retreat—it is the living, breathing embodiment of her Active Living Philosophy.
Here, nature, connection, and wellness practices create the perfect environment for true restoration, where wellbeing becomes a way of life. Under her direction, SOMA is evolving as a sanctuary for transformation, grounded in education, community, and shared experience.
Experience soma
SOMA is more than a retreat space — it is an experience that stays with you long after you leave. Nestled in the lush Byron Bay hinterland, SOMA offers a sanctuary where nature, architecture, and mindfulness converge to create something truly transformative.