Weekend mindfulness & yoga retreat, Suffolk
March 16-18th, 2012
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The retreat - venue and format The nitty-gritty
YA Retreats is delighted to be working with one of the UK's leading
mindfulness trainers, Shamash Alidina, to run this unique mindfulness
and yoga retreat in Suffolk. Shamash is author of the bestselling ‘Mindfulness For Dummies’ book. Based in London, he has been featured on TV, and in newspapers, magazines and radio shows internationally.
Shamash will be co-teaching this relaxing mindfulness and yoga retreat with Lucia Cockcroft, yoga teacher and editor of www.yoga-abode.com
Our venue for the weekend will be the fabulous Potash Barns in rural Suffolk - one of our favourite retreat venues, and under two hours from London.
Potash Barns comprises three separate listed, converted barns, lovingly restored to an exceptionally high standard. In all three barns (each with individual lounge and kitchen), ancient
beams and fireplaces sit alongside super-comfy beds and Egyptian cotton
bedlinen. The centre is surrounded by open fields and countryside (plus a few farm animals!) - and the beautiful Suffolk coast is half an hour's drive away.
Intention
This retreat is intended to be a general introduction to mindfulness meditation, rather than an in-depth explanation of the clinical applications. The ancient practice of yoga is a natural twin sister to mindfulness - essentially, yoga is mindful movement; an awareness practice that encourages us to be more in tune with the interaction of body, mind and breath. Practised regularly, yoga also keeps the body strong, toned and flexible.
Rough schedule
Friday evening: arrivals after 3.30pm
7.30pm - Dinner!: three courses, home-made, and vegetarian (plus organic/locally sourced where possible). Food is one of the highlights at Potash Barns; no diets here!
Saturday morning
8am onwards - Bread, jams, fruit and teas.
9.30am - Gentle hatha yoga, to warm and limber up the body.
10.30am-noon - Introduction; Body Scan Meditation; paired and group discussions; mindful walking; mini meditations.
12 noon - Brunch! Then free time until dinner: drive out to the coast; chill out; take a walk; curl up with a book.
4pm - Afternoon tea and cakes by the fire.
6pm - 7.15pm - Gentle Restorative Yoga
Sunday Morning
8am onwards - Bread, jams, fruit and teas.
9.30am - Gentle hatha yoga.
10.30am - noon - Mindful Sitting Meditation, paired and group discussion. Mini meditations.
12 noon: Brunch, then departures before 3pm.
Dates:
Friday March 16th - Sunday 18th. Arrivals after 3.30pm, departures before 3pm on Sunday.
Travel:
Friday March 16th - Sunday 18th. Arrivals after 3.30pm, departures before 3pm on Sunday.
Cost:
* £325 per person (twin room)
* £395 per person (single, en-suite room in the nearby farmhouse B&B, 15 minutes walk along a country lane - very limited availability. Update: two single ensuite rooms left.)
Prices include all meditation and yoga tuition; all accommodation; and all food. Excludes travel.
Accommodation:
Comfortable, stylish twin rooms, with luxurious touches: supremely comfy beds; Egyptian cotton linen. One bathroom to two rooms; a spacious lounge/kitchen to every barn. A few double/twin, en-suite rooms as single occpuancy, may be available at the local farmhouse B&B - first come, first served (see above for pricing).
* £325 per person (twin room)
* £395 per person (single, en-suite room in the nearby farmhouse B&B, 15 minutes walk along a country lane - very limited availability. Update: two single ensuite rooms left.)
Prices include all meditation and yoga tuition; all accommodation; and all food. Excludes travel.
Accommodation:
Comfortable, stylish twin rooms, with luxurious touches: supremely comfy beds; Egyptian cotton linen. One bathroom to two rooms; a spacious lounge/kitchen to every barn. A few double/twin, en-suite rooms as single occpuancy, may be available at the local farmhouse B&B - first come, first served (see above for pricing).
Travel:
Direct trains from London Liverpool St to Diss takes around 90 minutes. Transfers can be arranged with the owners of the retreat centre (around £20) or collect a taxi from the station.
By car, the journey from London is just over two hours.
What is mindfulness and why do it?
Mindfulness is a simple practice which can be difficult to execute! Essentially, it is the practice of paying attention to the present moment. Mindfulness has been scientifically shown to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and improve attention. The practice can also improve creativity and wellbeing, lower blood pressure; and improve mental clarity and focus. For more about mindfulness, this Guardian article is a good introduction.
Do I need to be a Buddhist to practice?
No. One of the great things about mindfulness is that, although its origins are in Buddhist psychology, it is usually presented (as on this retreat) as a secular practice. Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone, of any religion or background.
Who is the retreat suitable for?
Anyone interested in having some much-needed 'me-time'; this is a golden opportunity to rest and rejuvenate, as well as learn simple body and mind techniques that will help boost wellbeing.
Anyone intested to learn more about mindfulness, or/and meditation in general. We anticipate this to perhaps include health professionals or psychologists, as well as the general population.
The retreat may also be suitable for those with a tendency to suffer from anxiety or/and depression.
You do not have to be fit or flexible to come along; the yoga will be slow and gentle, suitable for those of all ages and walks of life.
By car, the journey from London is just over two hours.
What is mindfulness and why do it?
Mindfulness is a simple practice which can be difficult to execute! Essentially, it is the practice of paying attention to the present moment. Mindfulness has been scientifically shown to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and improve attention. The practice can also improve creativity and wellbeing, lower blood pressure; and improve mental clarity and focus. For more about mindfulness, this Guardian article is a good introduction.
Do I need to be a Buddhist to practice?
No. One of the great things about mindfulness is that, although its origins are in Buddhist psychology, it is usually presented (as on this retreat) as a secular practice. Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone, of any religion or background.
Who is the retreat suitable for?
Anyone interested in having some much-needed 'me-time'; this is a golden opportunity to rest and rejuvenate, as well as learn simple body and mind techniques that will help boost wellbeing.
Anyone intested to learn more about mindfulness, or/and meditation in general. We anticipate this to perhaps include health professionals or psychologists, as well as the general population.
The retreat may also be suitable for those with a tendency to suffer from anxiety or/and depression.
You do not have to be fit or flexible to come along; the yoga will be slow and gentle, suitable for those of all ages and walks of life.
Teachers
Shamash Alidina: Shamash is one the UK’s leading professional mindfulness
trainers and coaches. He is international bestselling author of
‘Mindfulness For Dummies' and has been featured on TV, and in
newspapers, magazines, and radio shows internationally. Shamash trained to be a Mindfulness Teacher with the Centre of Mindfulness at
Bangor University and has trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn, as well as attending retreats with the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world's foremost teachers and practitioners of mindfulness. Shamash is not a Buddhist himself, and teaches in a secular way. 
Lucia Cockcroft: Lucia has been practising yoga for 15 years, and teaching for four. Her initial training was in the USA, with the highly regarded Sivananda school of yoga. She has since completed teacher trainings with Sarah Powers (mindfulness, yin yoga and yang yoga); Judith Lasater (Restorative Yoga), Fiona Agombar (yoga for ME and chronic illness) and Catherine Annis (Scaravelli). She is a registered Relax and Renew Trainer®, certified by Judith Lasater. Lucia also teaches mindfulness meditation in London and Essex, and has studied with, amongst others, Bhante Henepola Gunaratanamedi - author of Mindfulness in Plain English.