Wellness Weekend
Last weekend was the wonderful wellness weekend – a yoga retreat in Devon. Back to Blighty I went ready to indulge again in our fabulous wellness schedule.
I feel totally relaxed at the end of this wonderful weekend. I cannot begin to describe how restorative the whole thing was from start to finish. Tess’ coaching and Claire’s beautiful yoga practices were the perfect way for me to regroup after a pretty traumatic year.
Sharpham and it’s slightly faded grandeur, just feels like home. Pulling into that spectacular driveway with the gorgeous views of the river on Friday has a physically relaxing effect on my body.
Before long, we’re into the weekend with 14 guests creating their San Kulpas (positive affirmations) for the weekend and beyond. This is the first time the 2 Oaks team has included mini-coaching in our wellness schedule in a more formal way. It enabled our clients to address their starting point and focus on a particular aspect of their wellbeing for the weekend. The feedback about this particular aspect has been fantastic and, having attended the sessions myself I can vouch for the fact that they really helped facilitated personal growth for our clients (and me!)
Yin yoga and nidra on the Friday night helped those who’d not been sleeping well get that extra boost of restoration. By Saturday morning, everyone was looking fresh faced and 7 of our guests braved the wild swim in the morning mist.
You cannot beat Sharpham’s octagonal room for a morning meditation – it holds a special energy that I can’t describe. One retreater said, ‘I can’t believe I sat still for that long – it felt like about 5 minutes!’
The flowing Saturday yoga session, as usual, catered for all the various needs (injuries, post- surgeries, conditions) of our participants and offered a deep rest at the end of the practice for those needing a little more nurture.
Everyone enjoyed a holistic therapy, prearranged to suit them to assist their healing journey. We were fortunate enough to work with talented therapists:
- Reiki master Olivia of The Yoki Tree (who also treated us to a gong bath on Saturday night)
- Adam from the Devon Bowen Clinic
- Samantha of Totnes Community Acupuncture
- Cassie who kindly stood in for Miranda of Find Your Compass Massage
Is a yoga retreat in Devon for you?
We recommend the wellness weekend for anyone whose feeling a bit under par. It suits people who consider themselves ‘too busy’ or are heavily relied upon by others in their day-to-day lives to take good care of themselves. But it’s also a great healing experience for those who have recently been through a difficult period in their lives. Separations, divorce and bereavement all take their toll on a physical body as well as person’s mental health. We provide a safe space for you to recalibrate and reset yourself through a little yoga, a little mediation, a little light coaching and some holistic therapy.
Mellisa and her sister by retro caravan
Mellisa and her sister by retro caravan
Maybe you’ve never been on a retreat before and you’re feeling a bit apprehensive.
That’s normal. But here are just a few of things our retreaters have said about our weekends:
- I really needn’t have been so nervous – everyone was so lovely! (Christine, Oct ’23 participant)
- I didn’t know I needed that weekend. It felt like such a luxury to book, but I didn’t realise how necessary it was. (Sarah, Oct ’23 participant).
- Take me back! It’s been a week and I’m still floating (Jules, Oct ’23 participant).
- I arrived feeling a broken woman. Over the weekend I was nourished in mind body and soul in the most beautiful surroundings with a group of lovely like minded people. I have come away feeling lie I am truly on the first step of my healing journey. (Oct ’23 participant)
