Awakening
~ A Spring Yoga Retreat with Lucy Rowland and Tamara Hayes Elliott
Yoga, Movement, Ritual and Meditation to ease the transition from winter to spring, 14th - 16th April 2023, gathering at Tofte Manor, Bedfordshire.
Spring is the perfect time to celebrate new life, new beginnings and sow the seeds for the summer ahead. We’ll use yoga, movement, ceremony and meditation to shake off anything that’s stagnant and that built over winter, and birth life into our bodies, our minds, our perspectives, and set new intentions.
About Us
Friends, colleagues, cheerleaders, dance partners and confidants, we have been all of the above and more since we met on a yoga teaching mentorship with Ellie Di Martino in 2019. We hit it off straight away, with how we see the body, how we move and similarities threaded through our teaching. We also share the same sense of humour, and share our caring and nurturing approach to sharing yoga and movement, and we hope to bring this magic with us on this retreat for you to experience.
Lucy
Local and from Bedfordshire, Lucy has always moved and danced from a young age, studied dance at University and completed her yoga teacher training in 2018. She has taught ever since, after falling in love with the transformative practice, the philosophy and the openness she discovered in her body and mind.
She has gone on to further training in kids yoga, anatomy, Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, meditation and mindfulness, and still teaches dance in high schools, and holds circles and ceremonies. Lucy’s practices aim to help you find peace in your mind and body, release physical and emotional tension and find joy in being you. Lucy is particularly interested in connecting to movement from a place of feeling and somatics, exploring the signals between the body and mind, and how the body can intuitively lead our practice.
Tamara
On coming to the practice of yoga over 10 years ago, Tamara instantly connected to the exploration of movement, breath and the feeling of space and strength in the body. A way of finding a moment of calm, clarity and going slow.
Through teaching for the past 6 years, she has been developing her own practice and methodology, where she has discovered both fundamental and expressive ways in moving the body. By working with both individuals and small to large groups, in a variety of settings, she has been able to work both anatomically - focusing on alignment and understanding the individual’s needs, and mechanisms of strength and ability. Her teaching aims to build and enable people to explore and connect back into their bodies, and the ability to feel through movement. For her this practice is the freedom of movement, exploration and expression into oneself. Through her teaching she creates an inclusive space for people to move with intention, body awareness and find their strength through their breath.
About Tofte Manor
The retreat is situated at Tofte Manor, a few miles outside Bedford (40mins via train from St Pancras) in the Historic Village Sharnbrook. The first mention of Tofte Manor lies in the Doomsday book in 1086. The land was originally gifted by the Crown to Sir William Tofte, a Knights Templar, in the 12th Century. The village of Sharnbrook was known as a Templar settlement and relics of this still appear in the names of the Streets. The oldest part of the house as it stands today, goes back to the 17th century.
Christopher and Suzy Castleman inherited the house in 1995, who have renovated the property and gardens to its present glory. The Stables Courtyard has been beautifully restored and converted into accommodation, yoga shala and work space with attention to every detail in terms of design, comfort and practicality and created a sacred space for practice. There is a second practice space, The Sanctuary, which is hidden in the grounds and is ideal for quiet meditation. A hexagonal shaped wooden building with a magical ceiling and large crystals, plus a fire pit close by for ceremony. As well as a labyrinth, embedded in the vast and tranquil gardens. The labyrinth at Tofte Manor is a source of inspiration and peace.
The Tofte Labyrinth copies the design of the ancient pattern of the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France, but with a unique twist. It incorporates all the elements in its design: earth, air, fire and water. The water that runs through the labyrinth pathway can be drunk - you will have unlimited supply!
Research has shown that walking a labyrinth creates balance in the body and brings peace and clarity to the mind. The benefits of walking labyrinths are now recognised by many universities, hospitals, hospices, schools, inner city councils and cathedrals.
Travel to Tofte: 40 minutes on the train from St Pancras (£26 one way) plus a 15 minute taxi ride.
Food
All the food on the retreat will be healthy and vegan, provided by local vegan chef, Guilda Akopians, Rooted Vegan Kitchen. You will receive three delicious meals per day, breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks and tea and coffee will of course be provided.
The water at Tofte Manor is energised and energetically charged, as it runs through the labyrinth pathway before being bottled for you to drink. It is delicious, pure and vital, energised potent water as this sacred filter process makes it taste worlds away from our regular tap water.
Accommodation
There are rooms in both the 17th Century Manor, and in the refurbished Stables courtyard, beautifully restored to represent their historic glory. We have a sliding scale, with rooms with en suites or shared bathrooms, options for singles or those happy to share. The shared bathroom rooms have basins in the rooms and you’ll only be sharing the bathroom with 2-3 other rooms.
If you are a group of 3-4, we do have one multi-bed shared dormitory room which can be made at even more affordable price. Please do enquire!
Pricing:
Option 1: Single person, ensuite: £550
Option 2: single person, shared bathroom: £500
Option 3: shared room, Ensuite: £520 per person
Option 4: shared room, shared bathroom: £460 per person
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Deposit: £100 per person to reserve your space.
Cost for the rest of the retreat needs to be paid 6 weeks before the start of the retreat (by 3rd March 2023). Payment plans can be arranged with Lucy/Tamara if you want to spread out the cost. If you are booking the retreat within the 6 weeks prior to the start date, the retreat will need to be paid for in full.
What’s Included: 4 x Yoga Classes, 2 Dynamic and 2 Restorative/Yin, 2 x Optional Meditation, 3 x Ceremonies. Meals (breakfasts, lunch, dinner, snacks and tea and coffee). Towels, bedding, bath robes. Labyrinth tour and unlimited energetically charged water.
What’s not Included: Travel to the venue (train/taxi/car). Parking is available for free on site if you are travelling by car. Post code: MK44 1HH
What’s in store:
Friday 14th April
4pm arrival, check in and refreshments
5.15pm Opening Ceremony and Practice
8pm Dinner
Saturday 15th April
8am Optional meditation in The Sanctuary
8.45 Tea/Coffee/Light breakfast
10am Dynamic Yoga practice
12pm Lunch
2pm Labyrinth tour and free time
4pm Restorative/Yin
6.30pm Dinner
8.30pm Fire Ceremony
Sunday 16th April
8am Optional meditation in The Sanctuary
8.45 Tea/Coffee/Light breakfast
10am Dynamic Yoga practice
12pm Lunch
1.30pm Closing Ceremony
Email us to book your space or if you have any questions:
