Reflections on a Spring Yoga Day Retreat

It’s a gorgeous spring day and I’m driving towards the Ashdown Forest to lead my first yoga day retreat in 2 years…after so many lockdowns and cancellations I’m feeling slightly apprehensive about how it will go, but mostly I’m just looking forward to having a whole day to practise yoga in a beautiful space with a small friendly group of people.

As I head out of Brighton the landscape begins to change from the rolling South Downs to scrubland scattered with bright yellow blooms of gorse, and something starts to shift in me too. Even though I’ll be teaching today, I feel like I’m also on my way to take some much-needed time out from the pressures and routine of daily life.

On arrival I am greeted by Julie who hosts the day retreat in her lovely house in Hartfield, a pretty little village in East Sussex. The house is warm and welcoming, with a spacious, light-filled yoga studio looking out onto the garden; the kitchen table is laid out with fresh flowers, healthy snacks, energy balls and juice shots to get us in the mood for our yoga practice. People start to arrive and I can feel the buzz of expectation and the excitement of meeting new people.

The rest of the day just seems to unfold from that moment on: I welcome everybody into the studio for a gently paced mindful flowing practice followed by some journaling and thoughtful discussion, and before we know it its lunchtime. Everyone seems visibly more relaxed as we sit around the table listening to each other’s stories and getting to know one another. One of the group has invited her sisters and mama to meet up for the day on the retreat and, coming from a large family myself, I find it fascinating to witness the family dynamic and hear the women’s different perspectives on the recent lockdowns. This is the first time that several of them have done any yoga – what a wonderful and inspiring way to spend the day with your family!

The only problem with lunch is that it is so delicious and nourishing that it is difficult to stop eating! Luckily the weather is perfect so we can walk it off during the guided silent walk into the woods.

The silent walk is a new and ‘strange’ experience for some; I’ve come to love this practice as I feel that it provides an opportunity to simply become more present to what nature has to offer, especially as I get to return and witness the seasons changing throughout the year. Those who feel like they need rest rather than a walk stay behind and relax in the cosy lounge or lie out in the garden listening to the birdsong. (Everything is optional and everybody is encouraged to do exactly what they feel like throughout the day).

After the walk/rest I offer a deeply restorative yoga practice. Many of us have such busy lives and busy minds that we are very much in need of the deep rest and healing that this practice can provide, especially when it is followed by a long Yoga Nidra (guided meditation or ‘yogic sleep’). Together these powerful practices help to replenish us on physical, mental, energetic and emotional levels so that we can return to our normal lives feeling truly refreshed.

Time flows strangely whilst on retreat and 2 hours seem to pass by in an instant…soon everybody is sitting up again in a slightly altered state nibbling on organic chocolate after the Yoga Nidra and sharing a little of what they have experienced. It is already time to go, and the effects of just one day of switching off and exploring our inner landscape, being completely taken care of, and encouraged to deeply relax feel so powerful. One of the group later tells me that she feels like coming on a day retreat is like hitting the ‘reset’ button for mind and body; personally I see it as the ultimate act of self-care.

If you’re interested on coming on a retreat with me you can check the dates for coming day retreats below, or even take a look at the longer retreats offered in Majorca …