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Sunday August 23rd | £95Breathe in Borrowdale:
A Day Retreat
Summer can ask a lot of us.
We extend out towards others: whether that is being a parent and holding everyone else’s holidays; being in a caring role and giving – quietly, reliably — for a very long time. And even the good parts of summer — the plans, the people, the light — can leave us needing more than a good night’s sleep.
What if in the midst of all this flow outwards, we offer ourselves a little ebbing back in?
This day retreat is an opportunity to refill our cup with all the awe and beauty the Borrowdale Valley has to offer.
At the heart of it is Flynne’s Barn: a special and nurturing place to gather, to show up exactly as you are. What follows is unhurried: a gentle and a restorative yoga practice (no experience needed, no flexibility required – just a willingness to breathe and move slowly), a wild swim, a potter, some quiet time, a delicious lunch, and as much tea and cake as you need.
Gift yourself permission to tend inwards, to recharge your social battery, switch to a slower rhythm, and strike a balance between all we give out and all that we receive.
You don’t have to do yoga to come. This is an unhurried offering to your summer self to soak up one of the most beautiful valleys in England and practise self-compassionate movement, breath and relaxation.
Arrivals
We arrive and settle with a cuppa and short introductions.
Morning practice
The morning practice involves a gentle, playful flow — a chance to go at your own pace, move intuitively with your breath and sense into bodily sensations. The yoga postures and ‘breathwork’ involve practices specifically chosen to balance our nervous system by providing uplift and down-regulation, preparing the body and mind for rest. Before ending, I will lead a guided seated mindfulness meditation using our natural breath as the meditation object.
Lunch
We will gather around the Flynne’s Barn family dining table (the very table that once was in my childhood home and comfortable sat my family of nine!) and eat a delicious lunch prepared by local caterers.
Activity time (with tea & cakes)
After lunch, the choice is yours. Some might like to potter down to the beck for a wild swim. Others might like to explore the beautiful surroundings. Or you can choose to sit quietly with a book, your journal, sketchbook or simply gaze out in awe.
Afternoon practice
We will come back together for a restorative yoga and a calming breath practice. We provide all the bolsters and blankets and all you have to do is create a cosy nest to settle into. I will lead a guided yoga nidra (‘yogic sleep’ - a state between sleep and wakefulness) which involves a rotation of awareness around different body parts to induce deep and blissful rest.
Flynne’s Barn is a charity offering all kinds of support for the young cancer community.
By joining us, you’ll also be supporting Flynne’s Barn, with half of ticket proceeds going towards creating opportunities for young people to enjoy my favourite place in the world.
For the day, we have exclusive use of the barn, the garden, the tipi, and can potter freely about this heavenly space. Lots of quiet corners to settle — you could bring a book, a craft, a journal, a sketchpad, or simply sit with a cuppa, a slice of cake, and soak it all up.
I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed for this beautiful weather so we can practise outside and let the sun’s warmth settle into our skin.
Gentle yoga · wild swim · walk in Borrowdale · lunch · tea, coffee & cake · quiet time · restorative practice
Schedule
Sunday 23rd August: 10:30 AM - 4.00 PM
Plenty of time to settle into the magical surroundings, into the group and into your skin. Day that will meet you exactly where you’re at.
Arrival and settle with tea/coffee10:30 – 10:45am
Playful, gentle yoga flow, breathwork & meditation10.45 - 12.30pm
Vegetarian Lunch12.30 - 13.30
A potter, swim and quiet time with herbal tea & cakes13.30 - 14.45
Restorative yoga, breathwork & yoga nidra14.45 - 16.00
Location
Nestled in Borrowdale valley, Flynne’s Barn is cocooned by some of The Lake District’s most epic fells: Dale Head, Glaramara, High Raise, Green & Great Gable.
A magical place to retreat into.
Booking
There are limited spaces to keep the group small (up to 10 people).
The cost is £95 per person (includes lunch).
You can spread the cost by paying monthly.
Email me directly below to reserve your place.