11am, Saturday 19th to 2pm, Sunday 20th March 2016
Hazel Hill Wood, near Salisbury
Hello beautiful ones,
Gentle whisperings of spring time can be heard, calling us to deeply honour this transition time as our energies begin to rise from the slumber of winter. The Spring
Equinox is a point of balance, awakening and moving toward longer sunlight,
supporting us to tend to the seeds of what we want to welcome into our lives.
Join myself and artist, facilitator and yoga teacher Louisa Clark this March in the magical woods of Hazel Hill for a nurturing, nourishing weekend of wild walks in nature, rejuvenating hatha yoga, creative explorations and delicious vegetarian food. We will take time to nurture ourselves and the seeds, or
saplings, of our insights and inspirations through creative practices, mindful
movement and spacious connection with nature, to then take back into our lives
for exploration, integration and growth.
On this retreat we will reconnect
with the natural flow of our innate creativity, energy and dreams, giving them
expression in whatever form they may take. Breathing in the fresh air of the
forest and the scents of spring, relaxing our gaze to simply take in all the
shapes and beauty of nature, we can listen and receive deeply, allowing
ourselves to be refreshed.
This weekend aims to provide space
for this process, for our own individual, unique journeys, with all activities
being optional. The wood is a special place for healing and creation, and a
portion of the retreat will be in silence in order for us to really listen and experience
this.
Nature
The weekend
will involve lots of space to connect with nature through mindful walks, meditation
and an evening around the fire, along with some individual 'wild' time out in
the woods to explore and simply be. Hazel Hill is a beautiful 70 acre
conservation woodland with large Scots Pines, old Beech and Oaks and magical
Hazel trees. It is often also home to deer, owls and, if we’re lucky in March,
a blanket of spring bluebells!
Yoga
There will be
a series of yoga sessions on offer during the retreat to take us through a
cycle of healing and relaxation. These will include a restorative and balancing
class on the first afternoon for easing out the body and releasing held
tensions. In the evening we will be treated to a deep relaxation - yoga
nidra - to aid a peaceful and potent dreamtime. The next morning, there is the
option to wake with the sunrise for dawn meditation or to arise a little later
and awaken with a flowing movement session for breathing new life and
energy into the body. All sessions are suitable for both beginners and more
experienced yogis. Please bring a blanket, a yoga mat if you have one and wear
loose, comfortable clothing for the sessions.
Creativity
As we relax
into the moment with yoga, time in nature, and as we move without the usual
demands of everyday life, we give space for our inherent creativity to surface.
Allowing this expression to flow in whatever way it wants, we will play
and explore with practices such as creating vision boards, mandala making,
writing, dance, and craft. There will be guided sessions, as well as materials
on offer for your own creative journeying.
Facilitators
Facilitating this special spring
retreat, will be Alice 'Lila' Flynn and Louisa 'Lalita' Clark, two creative
yogis with a love of nature.
Alice 'Lila': Alice is a creativity facilitator,
writer, yoga teacher and bodyworker based in Bournemouth, Dorset. Alice’s
professional practice has grown from, and is rooted in, her ten years’
experience of working within arts education, theatre, movement, writing and
facilitation. At the heart of her work are embodied movement and creative play
for adults – accessible practices that nurture deeper presence, connection and
self-expression. She runs creativity and yoga retreat days, workshops and
private sessions and can be found at aliceflynn.org
Louisa 'Lalita': Louisa is an artist, workshop
facilitator, yoga teacher and holistic therapist, based in Dorset. Working in
community arts, arts education and natural healing for the past 15 years, she
aims to help increase wellbeing and connection through creativity. Louisa
is also passionate about the healing power of nature, inspiring studies in
Herbalism & indigenous cultures. She is the co-creator of 'Wild Soul' and
'Wild Kids', retreats and events to support adults and children to re-connect
with the Earth's wisdom; see details here facebook.com/wildsouluk
Practicalities
This is an overnight retreat, running from 11am on Saturday
19th, to 2pm on Sunday 20th March. We will have lots of time to be
outdoors in the woods, with access to a wonderful traditional Roundhouse, as
well as being indoors in the lovely Oakhouse Eco Building, staying warm by the
wood burning stove. The Oakhouse will also provide our modest accommodation in
the form of a dorm style space, or a private room (limited rooms - please apply
when booking).
All meals
will be lovingly prepared with simple yet nutritious vegetarian ingredients.
Hot and soft drinks, along with delicious healthy snacks, will also be
provided, but do also bring any of your own treats as wanted! Please let us
know of any dietary requirements when booking, and of any other allergies,
injuries or conditions.
Please bring
some old jeans or thick trousers and decent walking shoes as we will be walking
through the undergrowth and it is advisable to wear long socks or high boots as
there can be deer ticks found in the forest. Also bring layers in case it gets
cold and a waterproof jacket.
The location
This retreat will be held at Hazel Hill Conservation Woodland, 8 miles east of
Salisbury, in Wiltshire. Full details of the address and directions
will be sent upon booking. hazelhill.org.uk
Price &
bookings
Cost of retreat: £80
Places are limited to 20 people, adults only
Concessions are available (please contact us)
To book, please email
louisajclark [at] hotmail [dot] com. A Paypal invoice will be sent to you. Once
paid, your place is confirmed and directions and further retreat information
will be sent.
Contact us
Please don't
hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about this spring retreat,
on:
Alice – alice [at] aliceflynn
[dot] org / 07398 665212
Louisa - louisajclark [at] hotmail [dot]
com / 07870 596608
Event details
& updates can be seen here; facebook.com/events/1018039038234985/
