Retreat Day - Forest Bathing

It's been really busy with classes at Treetops this term, so it was lovely on Saturday to have one of our Relax & Restore Retreat days with Laura.

What a beautiful autumnal day it was too!

Our theme for the day was Forest Bathing

Forest Bathing (aka Shinrin-Yoku) is letting nature into your body through all five senses, the woodland and grounds at Treetops are just perfect for this.

In the morning Laura led some grounding Yoga indoors, followed by a delicious and nutritious lunch.

Lunch was inspired by Deliciously Ella's new book

After lunch we had our Wellbeing session where we talked about the benefits of being outside, especially as we head into Winter, how being amongst the trees and nature is so good for our blood pressure, stress levels, immune functions, helping our minds and bodies relax.  Just 15 minutes has proven benefits.

The book below "The Nature Fix: by Florence Williams, is brilliant and I really recommend it.

We headed outside into the woods and Laura led a gentle meditation, listening to the trees and the birds (and the falling acorns landing around us!)

Everyone had some quiet time to wander and collect some autumnal treasures

In the afternoon we made our own Smudge Sticks

Smudging is the ancient practice of burning herbs for spiritual cleansing and purification.

We had lavender, rosemary and rose petals from the garden

Sage and a variety of acorns, sticks and leaves from the woods.

You tie them together with string and wrap them tightly together, leave them to dry upside down for a week or two.  You then light the smudge stick and allow it to smoulder in a dish.

The benefits include improved mental focus (thanks to the rosemary) an increase to your wellbeing, improves sleep (lavender) increases energy, clears negative energy and the air around you.

We finished the Retreat with some meditative candle-gazing and amazing sound therapy under snuggly duvets and warmed eye pillows.  Bliss!

This was our last Retreat Day for 2018 but if you would like to join us in 2019, please send me an email.  Gift Vouchers are now available for Christmas Gifts

Relax & Restore Retreat Class August

Laura returned to hold another Relax & Restore Retreat, we hold these on a Saturday and it's a great opportunity to escape, come somewhere quiet and peaceful, and have us look after you for the day.

The theme was Keep Your Cool, which we used in our yoga practice, our foods and our wellbeing activity.

After a delicious free-from lunch Laura took the group down into the woods, for some mindfulness (and whilst her back was turned, collecting nettles for the tonic we made in the afternoon) she discovered all of them zipping down the zip wire!

 In the afternoon we made some relaxing bath salts to take home, infused with lavender and rose petals.

We finished with a truly relaxing sound meditation and yoga nidra, below is a picture of of the bowls and bells Laura used.

Our next Relax & Restore Retreat is on Saturday 20 October

11:30am - 4:30pm

£75

Only 4 places left.

June's Relax & Restore Retreat Day

We had a great day on Saturday at our Relax & Restore Retreat Day, a lovely group joined Laura and I for a day of wellbeing and relaxation.

We started outside, it was warm and peaceful as Laura led a gentle yoga flow.

Our theme for the day was Bee You, so our lunch was delicious and nutritious with Laura's 'fresh from the hive' honey used in our dressings and as a drizzle.

We enjoyed warm Persian Lentils with Honeyed Roasted Veg

A yummy baked feta with thyme, figs and honey

A green salad with edible herbs & flowers that was served with a honey, mustard and thyme dressing.

And a very summer pud, home made meringues, baked peaches in basil and honey, served with dairy free vanilla ice cream.

Laura took the group down to the woods after lunch for some meditation and breathwork, it was really relaxing and they were surrounded by birdsong.

Once back at Treetops, I led a Wellbeing and Creative session which was all about the health and body benefits of honey.

We made some honey and lavender bath melts along with some oats, sugar and honey scrub.  Perfect things to take home and carry on the relaxation.

At the end of our day Laura took a calming yoga nidra and sound meditation session, with everyone under their duvets and warmed eye pillows.

It was a perfect end to an idyllic day.

* Laura *

Our next Retreat Day is on Saturday 11 August 2018

To book now, please email me.

Latest Relax & Restore News

(The calm and reflective shores of Lake Ullswater)

Relax and Restore News

There will be no Yoga/Meditation classes this Monday 30 April, but we will be back on the mats on Monday 14 May (no class Monday 7 May as it's a Bank Holiday).

As a reminder we have Gentle Restorative Yoga from 9:30am - 10:30am followed by Breath-work and Meditation at 10:45am - 11:45am.  Each class costs £10, please book your mat up to the Sunday evening before the class.

Our next Candlelit Yoga & Supper Evening is on Tuesday 8 May from 7pm - 9:30pm and costs £30.  This includes a soup supper with warming drinks.

Laura and I are really looking forward to our Retreat Day on Saturday 16 June, a great day relaxing, restoring, re-energising whilst taking part in gentle yoga, meditation, breath-work, yoga nidra, time spent outdoors in the grounds and woodland, a creative activity and a delicious and nutritious lunch.  The day runs from 11:30am - 4:50pm and costs £75.  Our theme in June looks at the many benefits of bees, honey and the outdoors.