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About the weekendThis weekend yoga retreat offers you an opportunity to step out of your everyday life and find the space and strength to develop new ideas and ideals.
The retreat takes place in my peaceful rural yoga studio just outside Milverton, near Taunton, Somerset. The venue is surrounded by fields and woods, with walks from the doorstep offering extensive views over the surrounding hills. It offers the perfect space to get away from it all and think more freely.
Yoga practice
Over the course of the weekend, we will work with a variety of active yoga exercises. You will learn how to stretch and open your body in a free and liberating way. Whether you are new to yoga or have some previous experience, the aim will be to improve your practice. We will work in a detailed way with the various positions, so that you get a thorough understanding of how to do them. You will receive individual help in overcoming difficulties with the positions and learning how to form them correctly.
Regular practice of yoga over a few days can have an astonishing effect on our health. Not only do we become stronger and more flexible, but the entire energy in the body can flow more freely. Our organs and immune system function more efficiently and we feel calm, energised and alert all at once. Whatever your level, you will be encouraged to expand your potential one step further. In doing this you experience new strength and energy.
Beyond the physical
In joining the bank holiday weekend yoga retreat you step away from your busy life and spend four days in a tranquil rural environment. This will naturally help your mind with its busy chatter and unwanted thoughts and feelings to calm down. In the space created, some deeper, inspiring content can then provide a stimulus for new inner growth.
Beyond the physical benefits of the yoga poses, we will explore the personal strengths we can develop, and the deeper spiritual meanings of the poses. As a basis for this we work with inspiring words that open up new depth and meaning in the movements. You develop a sense of how each movement can encourage qualities within us which help our development in life.
In addition to the physical practice, various so-called “soul-exercises” can awaken our deeper, more subtle senses and open up a more expanded view of life. These include calm observation of nature, or our own body or breath, or some inspiring words. With this expanded view, we become able to think more clearly and create new, more wide-reaching ideas for the future.
The social aspect also plays a huge role on these weekends. Discussions do not enter into the private, personal sphere, but explore some profound life principles meaningful to all of humanity. These kinds of discussions lead to a warm feeling of connection between people without being exclusive.
My aim is that you both unwind and recharge, taking home with you some new insights and an expanded perspective. I do not see yoga as an isolated practice, but as something that feeds into the whole of life. Each of us can weave deeper spiritual content into our life in our own individual way.
You can read more about my approach to yoga here. My main inspiration comes from the work of the German spiritual teacher Heinz Grill.
Weekend Yoga Retreat: Daily Schedule
The programme includes a lot of yoga practise, punctuated by talks and discussions. There is also an optional walk over the hills and fields on Saturday afternoon, guided by a local walk-leader. The breaks for drinks and meals offer you an opportunity to relax by the fire and get to know other participants. The evening session gives you a chance to round off the day by recapping on the themes we have explored. A “soul exercise” or meditation might also be practised then. On Saturday night we will be treated to a story by local story teller Jan, and if you wish you can join in with or listen to some singing around the piano.
Here is an approximate schedule, which can be adapted according to the needs of the day.
Friday
2pm – Arrival and welcome drink
2.30 – 5.30 pm Yoga workshop
6pm – Dinner
7–8 pm Evening session
Saturday
10am – 1pm: Yoga workshop (theory and practice)
1pm: Light lunch of soup with locally baked sourdough bread
2.30pm: Country walk
5.30pm: Dinner
7–8 pm: Storytelling and singing
Sunday
10am – 1pm: Yoga workshop (theory and practice)
1pm: Light lunch
2pm: Departure
Food
During the retreat you will be provided with a light lunch of local Somerset produce, including locally baked sourdough bread, and a delicious, nutritious cooked evening meal. All food will be vegetarian, organic wholefoods, artistically prepared with thoughtful attention. You can have breakfast at your B&B. Let me know if you have and special dietary requirements and I am very happy to cater for them.
The place
Extons Barn is a barn conversion set in rural Somerset, surrounded by fields and woodland. Not another house is in sight.
The light and airy yoga studio building is in the garden next to the house.
There are ample off-the-beaten track walks straight from the venue with stunning views over rolling hills. Many visitors comment how their heads feel clearer the minute they step out of the car!
Travel
Extons Barn, Milverton, Somerset, TA4 1RG
Extons Barn is 20 minutes drive from Taunton. You can download Directions to Extons Barn here. The nearest train station is Taunton, and the journey from London Paddington takes 2 hours. There are also coaches from London and Bristol to Taunton and Wellington with National Express, Berries and Stagecoach Falcon. We can collect you from Taunton or Wellington if you come by train or coach. There is also a taxi service with Ace Taxis, 01823 332211.
Accommodation
Choose from the following options (go to the website for all accommodation images: https://yogainsomerset.co.uk/events/event/weekend-yoga-retreat-4/):
The following options are available:
Single room, shared bathroom, in private house in Wiveliscombe (3 miles from retreat)
Stay in a small single room in a private home in Wiveliscombe with shared bathroom. A self service breakfast of cereal and toast is provided. You are within walking distance of the farmers market on Saturday morning. You will need your own transport to drive to and from the retreat.
£80 for 2 nights B&B.
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Three rooms are available in a private house in Milverton (1 mile from retreat)
Stay in a family home (with small, friendly dog) in the local, ancient village of Milverton. A self service breakfast is provided (tea, coffee, toast, cereals etc.). This house is within walking distance of the retreat (20 minutes, including a steep hill!). There is a pub and a shop in the village.
Room 1: Ground floor double room with en-suite shower room. £125 for two nights B&B.
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Room 2: First floor double room with shared bathroom. £100 for two nights B&B.
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Room 3: First floor single room with shared bathroom. £100 for two nights B&B.
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Double room in private bungalow in Milverton, (1.2 miles from retreat)
Stay in a spacious bungalow, tucked away amidst colourful cottage gardens in the local, ancient village of Milverton. You will have your own bathroom opposite the bedroom. A friendly and very bouncy dog also lives here. A self service breakfast of muesli, yogurt, fruit, selection of teas or coffee is provided. This house is within walking distance of the retreat (25 minutes, including a steep hill!). There is a pub and a shop in the village.
£115 for two nights B&B
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Book the retreat only and find your own accommodation:
There are many B&B’s in the area which you will find online. Some examples are:
1. Halse: The New Inn https://www.newinnhalse.com/ (2 miles from retreat venue)
Halse
2. Chipley: https://www.chipleyescapes.co.uk/ (2.8 miles from retreat venue)
Exterior Shot of Chipley Escapes
3. Hillfarrnce: https://www.theanchorinn.net/ (3.5 miles from retreat venue)
The Anchor Inn, Taunton, Hillfarrance - Restaurant Reviews, Phone ...
Costs
Retreat cost: £169 including dinner or Friday and Saturday, and lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Retreat + B&B (single room with shared bathroom in Wiveliscombe, 3 miles from retreat): £249
Retreat + B&B (family home in Milverton, double or single room with shared bathroom): £269
Retreat + B&B (family home in Milverton, double room with en-suite shower room): £294
Retreat + B&B (double room in bungalow in Milverton, own separate bathroom): £284
How to book
To find out more or book a place please Email Karen: [email protected].
A 25% deposit is requested by BACS upon booking. I will send you the bank details by email. The remaining amount is payable 7 days before the start of the course.
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Yoga in Somerset, L & F Maddock & Son, Taunton, TA4 2SX, United Kingdom
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