SUP Yoga & Mindfulness Day Retreat in The Cotswolds

Hosted by James & Alex Wittering, this nourishing SUP yoga & mindfulness day retreat will be all about you. Yoga on the lawn, guided mindfulness meditations, SUP yoga, swimming and healthy, local food. Step out of your busy life and resource yourself in a supportive, tranquil, beautiful outdoor space.

Feel like you need to press the reset button? Join us for our brand new SUP yoga retreat days in partnership with the Chipping Norton Lido. Tucked away in the heart of this traditional Cotswold town the “Chippy Lido” has been serving the local community since 1970. Surrounded by lawns and trees, it has the feel of a secluded oasis and will be all ours for the day.

This is a completely beginner-friendly retreat and all our activities will provide opportunities both for experienced yogis to deepen their practice and beginners to move at their own pace.

Your retreat hosts:

Alex is an ASI-accredited SUP Yoga instructor, a qualified yoga teacher and an STA open water swim coach and will be leading your retreat.

James is an ASI-accredited technical SUP coach and MBCT (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) teacher.

A unique & intimate day retreat

You may already know that we are not about big groups and this retreat is no exception. With just six spaces available this retreat is a unique and intimate event, giving you the space to reconnect with your body and mind at your own pace. We will provide a supportive, peaceful environment for you to deepen your practice, learn and move at your own pace or simply take the time to listen to your body and give it what it needs. Small groups mean that we all have the time and space to get to know each other, to listen mindfully and to ensure that everybody feels included, safe and welcome. We love being present with our guests and we will have the space and time to encourage, support and answer any questions individually so that you get everything you can from the day.

Our retreat itinerary for the day

10:30am  Settling in and making new friends :)

10:45 - 11:45am Opening with a Yang to Yin Vinyasa yoga

11 45- 12:15pm Break for a smoothie and a snack

12:15 - 13:00pm Mindfulness workshop 

13:00 - 13:45pm Break for a seasonal, locally sourced lunch 

13:45 - 14:15pm Guided meditation 

14:30 - 4pm SUP yoga 

4 - 5pm Hot showers, change and a comforting, homemade hot lemon and ginger drink

5:30 - 7:30pm Pool open to the public during this time, feel free to have a mindful swim to close out your day

7:30 - 8:30 Stay with us for an additional SUP yoga class (optional extra) to build on your practice if you want

We will meet and greet at the Lido at 10:30 am and open the day with a flowing 'yang to yin' vinyasa session that starts with invigorating flowing asanas and flows into deep yin stretches, preparing the body and mind for the day ahead. Afterwards, we will enjoy a delicious seasonal smoothie or Juice and a light snack.

In our mindfulness workshop you'll learn what mindfulness is and where it originated, followed by some guided practices and exercises to give you some useful tools to work more gently with and respond more wisely to the difficulties we face in everyday life. Our practice is evidence-based, non-secular and respectful of all faiths and belief systems.

Lunch will be seasonal, locally sourced, vegan and gluten-free (not to mention healthy and delicious). If you have any other dietary requirements please get in touch and we will make arrangements for you. 

After lunch, James will lead us through a nourishing seated meditation practice before we mindfully head out onto the water for 90 mins of SUP yoga. Once safely anchored on your board in the crystal clear, heated water of the lido we will follow a flowing sequence of postures similar to those we practiced in the morning and with lots of options and variations. Moving your practice out onto the water really helps to draw the focus inwards, challenge the body, focus the mind and take notice of the changes that take place in your body and mind once you are floating!

At the end of your sequence, there will be time to try any asanas that you would like and may not have had a chance to, to challenge yourself perhaps, and to have a photo taken if you would like.

Afterwards, we will shower and change and enjoy a hot lemon and ginger before departing. You may choose to stay a while longer and use the pool for a while, it's all included! There will also be an option to join the evening SUP yoga class at 19:30pm at the discounted price of £18.

Activity duration: approximately 7hrs approximately

Location: Chipping Norton Lido

Ages 16+ (under 18s with a guardian).

Maximum group size of 6

All participants must be able to swim 50m.

Cost: £160 per person (Optional extra SUP yoga class £18)