High Summer Rise & Shine wellbeing retreat

Welcome to the High Summer Rise & Shine wellbeing one-day residential retreat! Join us for a rejuvenating experience in a nature- based venue, Emerson College, where you can unwind, recharge, and connect with like-minded individuals. This in-person event is designed to help you find balance and inner peace through a unique blend of yoga, qi gong, meditation, breath practices with soft cranial support, nature walks and more. Take this opportunity to prioritise your well-being and invest in yourself. Come and be a part of this transformative journey with us!

COMPLIMENTARY WELLBEING PRACTICES

The retreat is led by three senior specialists in their field - Kanwal Ahluwalia, Davel Patel and Roberta Parkin.

Yoga - Drawing from ancient traditions of yoga, ayurveda and Traditional Chinese 5 elements theory, Kanwal will guide you through a range of balancing practices to respond to the fire element of high summer. Through core strengthening hatha yoga and a focus on the solar plexus (manipura) chakra, we will stimulate our agni (inner fire in the Ayurvedic tradition) to build inner strength and power. The manipura chakra governs our ambition, our ability to get things done and how we digest not only our food but our experiences. Longer held yin yoga poses will lubricate and heal our connective tissues and rejuvenate energy in the subtle and emotional body enabling us to reconnect to our sense of joy.

Breath and energy work- Master the art of slow, coherent breathing with Davel. If you’ve breathed with Davel before, look forward to an advanced practice using visualisations and the movement of your eyes. If you are completely new to breathwork, you will learn the basics of rhythmic breathwork and some essential tips to help you stay in the present moment, day or night. This one day special breath practice is drawn from Vedic knowledge and recent scientific findings. Each person, object, or even thought pattern emits its unique energetic vibration. Understanding and consciously working with our energetic nature can have profound implications for physical health, emotional balance, and spiritual growth. Find out more about how you can create meaningful and lasting change for yourself by becoming aware of the changes in your energy field.

Cranial support - Optimal fluid mechanics in the body depends on correct pressure gradients in the body. The pressure gradients are produced by the unobstructed glide of the 4 diaphragms (cranial, upper chest, lower chest and pelvic floor). By using respiration and working with one of these diaphragms together, the overall drainage of toxins from the body will be greatly enhanced. Roberta will offer 1:1 soft cranial support during two slow rhythmic breathing sessions, helping to open up and relax the main breathing muscle, the diaphragm. This is a highly unique breath practice combination, geared to increase the positive impact of slow rhythmic breathing for the entire body.

TEACHERS

Kanwal Ahluwalia / Yogabliss

Kanwal’s teaching style is characterised by warmth, intuition and clear communication. Her classes are engaging and inclusive, with an emphasis on deep stretches, slow flows and mindful breathing. She encourages students to go beyond the physical postures and to delve into the philosophy that underlies yoga. She found yoga in her 20s as it helped her maintain a centre of gravity whilst working to advance women’s rights, and eventually trained as a teacher in 2010 with Yogahaven (hot, vinyasa, hatha yoga) and more recently with Norman Blair (yin). Kanwal has had a regular meditation and qi gong practice since 2017. She currently teaches hatha and yin yoga in South London.

Davel/Deval Patel / Aurabreath

Davel is the founder of Aura Breath, a service where time and space is honoured, when innate wisdom and healing transpires for the clients and community members she serves. Davel is a qualified breath specialist and trauma skilled breath coach, integrating eye movement therapy (IEMT) and energy healing in her practice. She first began her breath journey through pranayama in 1994 and since then, trained with several breath schools to offer ‘fit for purpose’ breath guidance. Davel has been a member of the British Register of Complimentary Practitioners and Global Professional Breathwork Alliance since 2019.

Roberta Parkin, Osteopath D.O. M.OSt & Licensed Perrin Practitioner

As an osteopath, Roberta offers a multidisciplinary service integrating cranial and sacral, myofascial and visceral release. Her expertise spans over twelve years, helping clients with a range of conditions including the elimination of toxic build up in the body, inflammatory conditions, digestive and gynaecological conditions, acute injuries and chronic pain. Roberta embraces the whole body, mind and soul approach to her scientific training, offering a unique and well sought after service.

VENUE

Just 60-75 minutes from London and near to the stunning Ashdown Forest, Emerson College (charity #1177695) is a nature inspired learning centre – a million miles from the city. The retreat is set within 23 acres of biodynamic and botanic landscape with ponds, lush lawns, fragrant flower beds, rare trees and medicinal plants. This area is a truly relaxed environment in which to move, breathe and experience a sense of inner balance and peace.

The venue is well known for its creative, seasonal vegetarian and vegan meals, helping to reduce their carbon footprint. Fresh, delicious home grown and cooked food is prepared daily with love and care by an experienced kitchen team.

Included in the cost are all classes in a lovely, bright, natural space; accommodation in simple, modest rooms (singles or twins) and locally sourced biodynamic vegetarian meals and snacks. Vegan and gluten-free diets also catered for. There is also a café where you can buy additional snacks.

SCHEDULE

Opt to arrive early from 5pm to take advantage of the beautiful venue and join us for an optional supper or arrive by 7.30pm for our opening practice, so that you are nourished and rested for a full day on Saturday.

All classes are optional.

Friday 14 June

5-6pm Early arrivals and settling in

6.15pm Optional supper (payable in the restaurant)

7-7.15pm Late arrivals

7.30-8pm Welcome, Opening circle, energy work/ qi gong

8.30-9.45 Campfire (weather permitting)

10pm Quiet time

Saturday 15 June

7.30-8am Guided meditation

8-9am Breakfast

9-10.30am Hatha yoga

10.30-11am Morning snack

11am-12.30pm Slow Breathwork Part 1 & cranial support

12.30-1.15pm Lunch

1.15-3pm Free time (walk in the forest/grounds, 1:1 treatment/breath analysis and 1:1 sessions with teachers)*

3-3.30pm Afternoon snack

3.30-4.30pm Slow Breathwork Part 2 and cranial support

4.30-5.45pm Yin yoga

5.45-6.15pm Closing circle

6.15-7.15pm Supper

7.15pm Departures

*limited spaces – enquire further

PRICES

Prices are £270 for a shared twin room or £290 for a double room which includes:

• 1 night in simple, quiet accommodation in twin or single rooms with shared bathrooms and toilets
• towels and bed linen provided
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on Saturday
• 2 refreshment breaks on Saturday
• tea and coffee making facilities in the houses
• free wifi in designated areas of the venue
• yin and hatha yoga
• breathwork

• craniosacral work
• one to one sessions with teachers (bookable in advance)
• meditation
• administration fee

Optional dinner to purchase on the Friday evening at 6.15pm or arrive for a 7.30pm start.

Cafe for additional hot drinks and snacks is open from 8am to 4.30pm.

Not included: transport to and from the venue, additional snacks and drinks.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Refunds made only for exceptional circumstances i.e. pregnancy or illness, on submission of a doctor’s note minus a 20% administration fee, unless your place can be filled from a waiting list.

You agree to these terms and conditions upon booking an event.

If the event is cancelled, you will be offered either a refund via the original payment method or the option of being transferred to an alternative event.