Welcoming Stillness: Afternoon Retreat

Service Description

How does it sound to carve out an afternoon to pause, soften, and listen to your body? A moment to turn attention inward, reflect on the year gone by, and sense the quiet potential of what lies ahead? The winter months can feel long and cold, yet there is a particular kind of magic in the slowness of this season — especially when we work with, rather than resist, its energy. That’s why I’m delighted to offer an opportunity to step away from the busy pace of city life and into the warm embrace of a peaceful riverside sanctuary on Eel Pie Island to pause. This nourishing three-hour afternoon retreat takes place in the heart of winter, just ahead of February’s full “snow” moon — a time when, in the UK, we’re more likely to see snowdrops emerging from the soil than snow falling from the sky, carrying with them a gentle sense of hope for light after the dark. We’ll begin with a long, spacious yoga practice that starts with somatic, awareness-based movement — slow, attentive explorations that invite listening beneath the surface of sensation — and gradually evolves into a gentle standing flow to warm the body from the inside out. Throughout the practice, the emphasis will be on sensing, listening, and moving with ease, rather than forcing, pushing, or fixing ourselves. We’ll explore stillness in movement, creating space to notice what remains steady even as the body moves. Along the way, we’ll touch into simple practices that can be returned to at home, offering support through the winter season — remembering comfort in stillness and potential in pause. The physical practice will conclude with a long, supported relaxation, accompanied by elements of sound healing. Following our movement practice, we’ll pause for warmth and nourishment, sharing cups of chai and homemade treats (including my handmade chocolates), before moving into a short, guided journaling practice. This offers time to reflect and gently capture insights from the afternoon, and to shape a simple guiding phrase or intention for the year ahead. We’ll finish with a closing circle, allowing you to leave feeling grounded and nourished as you step forward into the months ahead. You can expect: - A Gentle Opening Somatic Awareness Practice (on blankets on our mats) - A Revitalising Standing Flow Practice (focusing on spinal movements) - Carefully Curated Music - Poetry Readings - Sound Healing - Journaling - Chai and Chocolate - Meditation and Breathwork