May Mindfulness and Qigong Nature Immersion retreat in Dedham Vale AONB

Join us for a rejuvenating weekend retreat in Dedham Vale AONB! Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and explore the ancient practices of qigong and mindfulness to enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

• The retreat will take place at Wisewoods Wellness Retreat where you can disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature and you
• The event starts on Fri 26th April 2024 4pm and runs until 3pm Sunday and is open to all levels of experience. Saturday only tickets are from 10am - 10pm. The Bluebells will be in full bloom.
• Our warm, lively and wise holistic instructors will look after you and guide you through a variety of practices themed around Qi gong, mindfulness, meditation and nature immersion
• Come alone or bring friend(s) to share a bell-tent
• You will love our offgrid Woodland Cabin camp-base which is very tranquil and magical place.

BOOK NOW on the link below 👇🏼

Your ticket price includes:

1. All teaching from our wise experts who extend their generosity to create a charming, caring atmosphere of family and belonging
2. All meals throughout the weekend. Hearty vegetarian/vegan food camp-kitchen style with lots of healthy options. Feedback from previous guests has been very complimentary.
3. Access to snacks and hot drinks most of the day and evening.
4. Stunning campsite setting - Standard accommodation - a camp-bed in a partitioned bell-tent with plenty of space. Please bring own warm bedding and a pillow and a rug/shawl for the evenings.
5. Luxury package - if you fancy arriving by Train with just your overnight bag - we can collect you from the station and provide all your bedding etc.
6. Freedom to enjoy the peaceful venue and spend time relaxing, reading, chatting, creating and resting. No need to rough it: we have onsite loos and hot-showers with plenty of privacy and comfort.

There's not much signal here, but hey ho, nature is always connected...

Hi, I am your host Jules. We can all connect with nature in our own way. We don't have to be Ray Mears, or a wild-life expert to do 'nature immersion'. in fact its the opposite: For 20 years I lived and worked in London and would have found the prospect of staying in or near the woods at night a little scary.

Then after a difficult time in life I discovered mindful meditation and having put my career on hold for personal reasons, started hosting small retreats here in this very special woodland with guest teachers for Qigong and Meditation. The whole process was lifechanging, not just for me but for most of the attendees, many who returned year after year. Read my blog on Nature Immersion at the foot of this page.

I have built up Wisewoods Wellness Retreat as a unique off-grid venue. Here we love comfort and colour in a simple way, so the aim is to help you see how sumptuous nature can be. I have brought in holistic teachers/facilitators who are fun and engaging, bringing a wealth of stories and life experiences which really makes for a memorable 'wild' weekend.

Looking forward to welcoming you,

Jules 😊

Introducing our regular resident teachers for the weekend...

QiGong with Steve Kippax

• Our teacher for the weekend, Steve Kippax learnt this ancient martial art in China over 30 years ago. Steve is also one of the UKs leading experts in Chinese and traditional herbal medicine.
• Qigong is a gentle practice that once learnt can be incorporated into everyday routines.
• It has remarkable health-giving properties that help you:

1. Breathe better
2. Restore health and immunity
3. Increase energy and strength
4. Relieve stress and anxiety
5. Live Longer

Whether you are accomplished or a complete beginner, everyone is welcome.

Sound Baths with Filomena Christalino

• Throughout the weekend you will have many chances to enjoy a Sound Bath journey with Filomena in our special Woodland Studio
• Let and let the healing waves that emanate from the various sacred instruments including Shruti Box, Crystal singing bowls, Gong, Happi Drum, Monolina and more, bathe you in their soothing vibrations and take you on a meditative journey that will help both your mind and body to relax deeply, leaving you with a real sense of stillness and wellbeing.
• A highlight of the day is the night-time Sound Bath which will send you back to your bed feeling soothed and dreamy, ready for a well-deserved peaceful nights sleep.
• Tuned into natures vibrations you will rest deeply enjoying the the owls hoot and the sumptious dawn chorus just as its supposed to be.

Laughter Yoga and more with Chris Chrisalis

• Professional Clown, drama worker cum counsellor and coach,Chris brings enigmatic energy to our woodland experience
• Laughter Yoga is always a hit and adds an intoxicating air to the area around the marquee
• She brings out our curious child-like qualities and gently helps us rebalance through all sorts of fun woodland challenges.
• Like all Clowns Chris has a very still side and is great support for anyone wanting to gain stillness and focus for any intense meditation during the weekend.

What you probably already know by now:

1. Immersion in nature and particularly among trees, `forest-bathing, has proven health-giving properties and can help relieve stress and anxiety.
2. It is also a wonderful affordable way to detox from day-to-day stress and technology. #digidetox
3. Our retreats are accessible even if you don't usually camp or spend nights outdoors under the stars...visitors are surprised how naturally they adapt.
4. You can even travel here by train to Colchester (50 mins from London). Just bring some warm clothes and whatever bedding you can carry, We'll provide everything else.
5. Whether you love escaping to nature, or are less experienced, but curious how you will adapt to #offthegrid - this is the retreat for you!
6. There is no pressure on you to meditate - the trees draw you in, which reduces any anxiety you may have about achieving a 'meditative' or transcendental state.
7. The same applies to Qigong and our Sound Baths - all these activities are designed to help you discover the benefits of our vibrational energy field.
8. There are no requirements to be 'spiritual' or know anything of mysticism in any culture. All our teaching is sensory and all you need is to come with an open mind and FEEL it rather than KNOW it.

What might surprise you?

1. Our tranquil tree setting helps transport you to a calm stillness very quickly after arrival
2. Its possible to become fondly attached to particular trees!
3. Posh composting toilets are great, don't smell of anything other than sandalwood incense and are far better than a an on-grid public loo.
4. It really is possible to have a hot power shower in the trees
5. There will be plenty of food at mealtimes unlike the more spartan meditation retreats
6. You can relax and be yourself. Come by yourself or encourage friends everyone will become part of big connected group.
7. All activities are encouraged but optional, you will find plenty of time to spend time alone in quiet reflection and relaxation.

Our decked platform and steps is a great place to hold our talks and gather to chat, and the view into the valley and treetops from this spot is very special.

Chris and Jules who met at Drama college are pictured there with Saffy the dog, who will eat vegetarian leftovers.

Who are you when you spend time among trees?

A few years ago, just before the Pandemic I devised retreat activities to take mindfulness a step further into the woods and created 'YOLOGY' to explore the idea that we all have a persona that can connect and thrive in nature - though many of us especially those who have grown up in inner-cities are less familiar with that side of ourselves. We all have a right to discover what Mother Nature gave us regardless of where we live or how we have lived. In the last 15 years as our reliance on digital connectivity has increased, the more we individually and collectively suffer from Nature Deficit. These ideas aligned really well with the growing popularity of Nature Immersion and Forest Bathing.

I noticed that for those suffering nature deficit, then Nature immersion is the perfect antidote to regain balance and improve wellness. The shift can be noticeable during the course of a weekend. Its no surprise that these ideas also link well with many ancient traditions like Qi Gong and Meditation.

Yology stands for 'Your Off-line, Off-grid you! and I believe rather boldly that it should be the next social science - What do you think? come and find out who you are when all the trappings of modern day life are removed for a few days. This is not a case of going backwards to a less sophisticated time - its an adaptation required by society NOW to counter the intelligent progress we have made with technology and AI. If you spend time in nature (whatever your spirituality) you will realise that AI can never be 'conscious' or 'sentient'! If you think it can be, or you are just worried about the pace of the digital takeover, then you will benefit from Nature Immersion. We can all play our part in reconnecting with Natural Intelligence by living, albeit briefly, entirely in tune with it. We don't shun technology, as we rely on the digital world to connect more, and at this retreat we will connect even more...

As well as the Retreats advertised, I can create tailored retreats for Teams and Groups of 10-20 who are interested in how Nature Immersion can boost well-being, creativity, team dynamics and overall performance. Email me: Jules@wisewoodswellnessretreat.com