Restore and rejuvenate your physical and mental health in a potent and nourishing immersive retreat experience. This is a 10-hour long weekend retreat.

Giving yourself a space to explore and rediscover the treasure of self-healing in your own body and mind, where you can reactivate your own wisdom and resilience.

Women lifting women who lift others: We are hosting a retreat this weekend in support of Nuraan Gain's Hunger has no religion feeding project in Johannesburg. Nuraan's project has touched and affected us both and inspired us to be of service to others and those supporting each other in visible and invisible ways. The retreat is by donation and whatever amount you feel you can manage will be appreciated to go towards Nuraan's feeding project.

This retreat is dedicated to the charity of Hunger has no religion a community feeding incentive started by Nuraan Gain - more info at bottom of details. 50% of all proceeds go directly to this charity . Youtube short documentary (11 mins): Hunger has no religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y67khucensw

GOFUNDME: https://gf.me/u/x5f9xv

Important note: This online retreat has a recommended donation price but by no means let this stop you from joining if it is out of your reach at the moment. Since this is for charity we are trying to raise funds and sharing our time and energy but MOST OF ALL it is important that you join if you need this right now. Please don't hesitate for a moment to get in touch or feel shy if funds are an issue. This is dedicated to a healing experience for all women (and of course for the benefit of all beings).

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WHAT IS THE RETREAT ABOUT

We are here to support you in your process with the reassurance that you are not alone if you are feeling overwhelmed right now.

And to remind ourselves that especially as women we all value and need time for reflection, rest, serenity and self-compassion in our lives.

This retreat aims to support you to:

- Retreat from the world to recharge, become more fully aligned to your own being and be more available for others

- The opportunity to switch off from autopilot, and be more receptive, introspective

- This retreat will help to demystify the practice and technique of meditation and relaxation techniques

- Immerse yourself into the nourishing restorative practice of yoga nidra

- Gently be guided in the practice of restorative and nurturing yoga poses and stretches to balance body, mind and spirit

- Aim to during the retreat release yourself from the "achieve-and-doing mode" but to rest and relax into "unwind-and-recharge mode"

- During this time participants should give themselves permission not be too engaged in the usual normal activities and take deep time to rest and recharge

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A note on the retreat schedule below:

Although the most benefit will be derived from attending the whole retreat, you can attend as much as you are able if your schedule does not allow your full participation. The sessions will be recorded for your private use. Kindly share this

Eventbrite link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pause-to-breathe-rooted-in-self-compassion-and-healing-immersive-retreat-tickets-108739246012?fbclid=IwAR2MFW8Ag6Y-6Lbr99itlJ1z6i9HwHrhuiLvrGyHeMKstBZle9PbdPoVf0o

if you know someone who would benefit from this specially dedicated time for self-care to realign body, mind and heart and recharge and nourish on a deep level and those who wish to contribute to a good charitable cause serving all vulnerable members of a community.

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Weekend schedule starting with a short session on Thurs evening:

1st day, Thursday evening, (90 minutes) 7.30 pm-9 pm UK Time [you can even do this from bed]

Plan to have 30 mins extra for your private insight-time.

FIND YOUR PEACEFUL PLACE AND IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP

We will start by doing a soothing meditation and contemplation, through which we will crystallise our feelings, aspirations, and priorities. By writing it all down, recording, or drawing, we create a go-to list of what we need to take into consideration when our life becomes challenging, and when we encounter feelings of overwhelm.

After a short informal introduction in an interactive session, we can joyfully set out on an inner journey for this weekend, in a familiar, safe and encouraging group environment.

We will finish with calming breathing exercises and yoga Nidra for good deep sleep.

2nd day, Friday morning, (90 minutes) 7:30 am-9 am UK time [Starting your day early after a good night's sleep starting your day mindfully and fully present, even in pj’s !]

RELEASING THE TENSION AND HONOURING YOUR STRENGTH

We will gather for the invigorating, yet self-reflective yoga session, followed by a powerful heart-opening guided meditation.

Friday evening (90 minutes) 7:30 pm-9 pm UK time

EMBRACE THE PRESENCE OF YOUR CONFIDENCE

In the evening session, we will look back to the last 24 hours and evaluate if we noticed any changes, new inspirations or challenges.

Through a couple of supported inversions, we will quiet the mind and replenish the energy in the body for the night ahead and two more days of retreat. We will end with a guided visualisation, which will holistically encourage the self-healing experience.

3rd Day, Saturday morning (90 minutes) 7:30-9 am UK time

GROUNDED AND AUTHENTIC

After a good night's sleep, we will start with a couple of twists and then dive into the soft back-bending poses, with the intention of stimulating our inner fire. With gained clarity and insight, we will experience the freedom of obsessive thinking and be ready for the guided meditation on loving-kindness.

3rd Day, Saturday evening (90 minutes) 7:30-9:00 pm UK time

SOOTHING SELF-KINDNESS IN ACTION

At the end of the third day, we will establish a practice of feeling the warmth, care, and compassion for our own needs. With a thorough body-scan, we can let go of the expectations and unrealistic ideas about our own imperfections and realise that our vulnerability and humanity are shared common experiences. We will invite you into a final meditation of being receptive yet not judgemental, as skills to be integrated into our daily lives.

4th Day, Sunday morning (90 minutes) 8:00-9:30 am UK time

FINDING AND FOLLOWING YOUR DIRECTION

With a newly found flexibility in our minds, we will engage in a couple of gentle balancing and strengthening poses, to understand how to gain access to the courage and energy that is already inside us. Before we conclude and offer our insights, there will be a final meditation, in which one we will thank ourselves with gratitude for taking the time to give ourselves what we needed. The last session will reinforce the habit of self-care and plant the seeds of compassion and healing which will grow into your life-long everyday routine.

Leave 30 min extra time after the last session to allow it all to sink in before we start with everyday routine.

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Healing Priorities for this retreat

It will help to focus on these aspirations as well as reflect on your experiences and feelings.

Set aside some time and space for yourself where you can ponder, feel, align, stretch, meditate and digest to rediscover your inner strengths and integrate mindful actions in daily life.

These sessions will include:

~ rejuvenating and restorative yoga sequences

~ meditations for clarity and stillness

~ guided yoga nidra sessions to relax, soothe and heal the whole being and aid more restful sleep

~ connection to self and others in a safe compassionate and caring space

~ exploring through journaling as you deepen the practice and of body, mind and spirit

~ self-care and self-compassion to holistically heal and restore

~ daily reminders and short soothing self-work exercises to support you on your daily journey

~ supportive course notes and video/audio sessions mailed to you to use after the retreat as support

All sessions will be recorded and sent to you for private use by participants to be able to go back and reflect and deepen your experience.

Every evening you can send your questions and we will support your process.

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This retreat is being led by Aleksandra Horwood, Senior Yoga teacher https://happystance-yogatherapy.com/and Leigh Taylor Yoga Nidra facilitator and Coach https://www.redlotusprojects.com/ who are seasoned meditation practitioners passionate about creating supportive compassionate spaces where women can feel nurtured and have a space to deepen their own practice. Aleksandra is a senior yoga teacher specialising in yoga therapy.

Aleksandra and Leigh have led many retreats and each have over 15 yrs individual experience of living and serving in meditation and retreat centres supporting others. They are passionate about service to the community and to charitable work which serves and empowers women and vulnerable communities.

(Read more in bio)

Important note: This online retreat has a recommended donation price but by no means let this stop you from joining if it is out of your reach at the moment. Since this is for charity we are trying to raise funds and sharing our time and energy but MOST OF ALL it is important that you join if you need this right now. Please don't hesitate for a moment to get in touch or feel shy if funds are an issue. This is dedicated to a healing experience for all women (and of course for the benefit of all beings).

Half of all the proceeds of this retreat will go to support Nuraan Gain’s project in South Africa, Hunger Has No Religion. Nuraan and a handful of volunteers feed thousands of children, mothers, adults and elders in vulnerable communities. At the moment she is feeding approximately 1500 people from her own home with meagre donations.

This retreat is dedicated to her big heart and her motherly spirit to all.

You can find out more on her FB page: @hungerhasnoreligionSA

And the short documentary about her ongoing community work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y67khucensw

Gofundme: https://gf.me/u/x5f9xv