Art of Rest Retreat

The New Forest, 7 - 9 July 2023

Join me, Kerry, and yoga guide Carolyn Thompson, on this women's weekend retreat. Play in the woods, rest and rediscover the joy of your creative self. 

​For three days and two nights, we invite you to colour outside of the lines, forget the ‘rules’ – and free yourself from the preconceptions of what movement and creativity ‘should’ look like.

Because when we slow down, unplug and (re)connect to curiosity, there is so much freedom, space and joy to discover there. 

Move. Create. Rest

When did you last feel like an explorer? 

​Try new things, just for the joy of it, without fear of failure, or without a goal?

Working with mind, body, imagination (plus paper, paint, woodland treasures, pens and more), we invite you to explore your curiosity.

Move

​​In the mornings, the invitation is to head to the woods (if it’s dry). Here, we’ll meet summer energy, move, shake out, get unstuck and open up our imagination, ready for the day ahead. 

Creative Play

​From here, the daytime is open for creative adventuring. Mindful walking. Intuitive mark making. Playful mixed media sessions. Nature-based art. Lateral thinking experiments. They’re all yours for the taking. 

Just like the movement, we’ll be your guides, taking you through a range of techniques, before giving you the space to explore.

There’s no right or wrong. No expectations. This is time to reignite your creative self, tap into your intuition and see life’s challenges from new perspectives.

​Rest

Come late afternoon, we’ll start slowing things down. Easing into rest moment by moment, with breath work, Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra deep relaxation. 

How does that sound?

Your retreat home

Un-plug and unwind at Hazel Hill Wood. An off-grid, conservation space, 7 miles from Salisbury, set in 70 acres of private woodland, their vision is to encourage wellbeing and resilience through connection with nature. 

Expect hand crafted timber buildings,  a cosy twin or private room, mostly with comfortable bunk beds, and three decent showers in each building.  There's a beautiful indoor studio, wooden deck and dining room in the Oak House to share too.

As Hazel Hill is built with strong eco-credentials, it's Wi-Fi free, with indoor and outdoor composting toilets and private solar powered showers. You’re encouraged to bring eco-friendly toiletries so we don’t harm the local environment.

Feast

Sharing nourishing, tasty food is an important part of our retreats - you will not go hungry!

 All meals will be seasonal summery delights, and vegetarian (or please just let us know any dietary needs when you book and this will be catered for). All food is lovingly prepared by our private chef Michelle Toll (@food_with_shell on Insta).

This retreat is for you if…

  • You’re interested in yoga (you could be a complete beginner)

  • You’re looking for some creative inspiration - on the mat - and for life

  • You’re curious about (or very interested in) mindfulness, meditation and / or creative wellness and would love to experience a whole weekend of practice

  • You’d love to unlock your creativity, but haven’t done any art since school. Or maybe creativity is part of your life, and you’re interested in more mindful or self reflective practices

  • You have an open mind to play, and are keen to be supported in trying new things (if you want to)

  • Life feels full and you’re looking for a weekend retreat to break from routine

  • You recognise the uplifting benefits of connecting with like-minded souls, spending time in nature, eating fresh food and unplugging from technology

 This retreat is for every body who identifies as a woman. Come just as you are.

Schedule (tbc)

Friday

7th July

  • 3-4pm arrival

  • Tea and snacks

  • 5.00pm Movement - unwind

  • 6.30pm Dinner

  • Welcome circle, mindful mark making and dreamtime Yoga Nidra

Saturday

8th July

  • 8.00am Move, explore, be.

  • 9.30am Breakfast

  • 10.30am Mindful woodland walk + nature mandala making

  • 1.00pm Light lunch

  • Free Time

  • 3.30pm Yoga Nidra to open up the creative mind + playful mixed media art workshop

  • 5pm Restorative Yoga & Nidra Rest

  • 6.30 Dinner

  • 7.30 Meditation & art for wellbeing workshop around the fire 

Sunday

9th July

  • 9am Yoga + art-inspired meditation (or lie-in)

  • 10.30am Brunch

  • 11.15pm Closing circle

  • 1pm Home time

Recommended

  • "Thank you for your time and energy, what a wonderful weekend. I have felt supported to connect with my deeper self, which I haven’t given time to for so long - I leave feeling I have renewed my fire! “

  • "The perfect opportunity to retreat from the world, back to myself. I felt safe, looked after, seen and heard all weekend. The venue was just perfect and the food delicious. I am already looking forward to the next one.”

  • "The yoga was so empowering and like nothing I have experienced before. I felt entirely comfortable to do whatever my body felt comfortable with and not put pressure on myself to do it in the Instagram way!"

Everything is included for you to enjoy

  • 2 night’s accommodation in private, twin room or triple room

  • Morning yoga-ish practice & movement meditations

  • Restorative Yoga

  • Guided Yoga Nidra

  • Writing to inspire creativity and support wellbeing

  • Mindfulness-based creative workshops & all materials

  • Playful mixed media art session to unlock your creative self

  • Lateral thinking experiments

  • Mindful nature walk and mandala making in 70 acre woodland

  • Daily meditations - in stillness and movement

  • Unlimited herbal teas, fresh coffee, fruit and homemade cakes

  • Private chef preparing fresh, seasonal meals and tasty treats

  • Free time to explore, walk and rest

£395pp TRIPLE ROOM 

This comfortable bedroom is on the ground floor of The Oak House has two bunk beds, for three people to share. The bunks are small doubles at the bottom and singles at the top. Doubles allocated on first booking bases (or flip a coin with your mates!). This room shares the two shower rooms in this building.

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£445pp TWIN BUNK ROOM

The Hideaway is a short walk from the main Oak House building. There are a number of solid wood, comfortable single bunk bed rooms for two people to share. There's a wash basin in the room, and this room shares the three shower rooms in this building. 

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£495 pp TWIN MEZANNINE ROOM 

This spacious room is on the first floor of The Oak House for two to share. It has one double bed and one single bed and shares the 2 shower rooms downstairs. 

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£495pp PRIVATE BUNK ROOM

The Hideaway is nestled in the edge of the woods so you can step out of your door to the birds and the trees. This is a room with a single bunk bed for you to enjoy all to yourself. There's a wash basin in the room, and this room shares the three shower rooms in this building. 

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Please note that you need to bring your own sheets and bedding for all bedrooms on this retreat. But there's something rather homely about having your own pillow and duvet isn't there?

Investment

How to book

Get in touch to find out what rooms we have available. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to confirm availability.

 

A £150.00pp deposit is required to book, with the full balance payable within 8 weeks of the retreat. Split payment plans can be arranged on booking if that helps.

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Or opt to pay the full amount at time of booking. If booking less than 8 weeks of the retreat, the full amount is payable.

 

Full payment terms will be shared with you as part of the booking process. 

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Price is per person, including all accommodation, meals and practices, as above. Your travel costs are not included. We’ll do our best to arrange lift shares where possible.

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Please note this is an alcohol-free retreat, and a digital detox is recommended too. A chance to fully rest and unwind. (Phone use is of course available any time if you need to check in at home).