This weekend will leave you feeling healthier, happier & more relaxed – if you want a place where you can switch off & completely unwind, then look no further.
YinYan founder, Robin Ellis is co-leading this all-inclusive retreat with Stu Alexander of Banyan Tree School of Yoga & Yoga Hub Liverpool. They and the rest of our team are ready to help you enjoy Asana (for all levels, including beginners & more advanced), mindfulness & meditation, Qigong, music & creativity, lots of fresh air & the healing power of nature in a Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Lake District (complete with woodland carpeted in wild flowers & river where we’ll be guests of the resident otter & crayfish).
All our wellness retreat weekends are different and your weekend is unique to you, so take part in as many/few activities as you like. We pride ourselves on being accessible, friendly & enjoyable, our retreats are the perfect wellbeing tonic including freshly prepared, delicious food in a beautiful natural setting – let’s get together & feel good!
FRIDAY 13th AUGUST
SATURDAY 14th AUGUST
SUNDAY 15h AUGUST
A beautiful meadow where birds sing, butterflies flutter, wildflowers carpet the peaceful woodland, and we camp on the meadow beside the river that we share with the resident otter – when you see it you’ll understand why it’s SSSI (a Site of Special Scientific Interest). The meadow has space for tents – and two beautiful yurts if you like luxury while enjoying the great outdoors.
Our ‘Big Top’ parachute tent provides open sided weather protection all weekend, Irma’s wellbeing tent is for private treatments (optional extra), and Chef Debs will be cooking up a 100% wholesome, hearty & delicious, freshly prepared feast in the kitchen tent (no packets & nothing nasty). All meals included.
There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the campsite, river & woodland. There’s a compost toilet, extra portaloos, a hot shower (or slightly cooler bathing in the river!) sink with hot water & kitchen cabin with fridge, kettle, toaster & microwave (all cleaned & sanitised daily).
Location is a private site outside the village of Grayrigg, not far from Kendal where the Lake District meets the Yorkshire Dales. Under 2 hours drive from Liverpool/Manchester and a 15 minute taxi from Oxenholme station (direct trains from London Euston in 3 hours). Detailed directions at the bottom of this page.
Our mission is for you to have the best weekend of your life! YinYan founder, Robin Ellis, is leading this retreat with Elina Kivikoski – with support from Damian Lyons (Qigong, Yoga & Meditation teacher), while Chef Debs is leading the kitchen team and Irma is looking after you in the healing tent.
Robin found Yoga, Pilates, Meditation when dealing with chronic pain after spinal surgery – he became a teacher and in 2015 his passion for giving normal people the chance to experience the mental & physical benefits for themselves led to YinYan. His classes are very inclusive, giving beginners the perfect place to start & more practised students advanced options in line with basic principles.
Stu discovered yoga as a means of injury rehabilitation due to persistent knee problems resulting from 20 years of practising and teaching karate. Like many people when he first tried a yoga class, he expected it to be all about stretching, but having discovered the many ways it can positively affect people he became a teacher and then started training new teachers (including Robin!) His classes are fun, focused, sometimes challenging and always calming.
Irma is a Complementary Therapist who loves helping people and embraces healing for herself and everyone who crosses her path! With healing and massage therapies (£20 for 40 mins) she brings balance & harmony to your world, helping you to heal & recover while you experience comfort, vitality & relaxation – further info on treatments below.
All meals included in your weekend ticket. Delicious, hearty & healthy food is provided for your lunch & dinner, think warming chilli, tasty curry & wholesome soups with fresh crusty bread – all freshly prepared onsite (anti-inflammatory too!) honestly your taste buds & tummies are in for a treat! Our kitchen is being run by Debs with profits going to Foodcycle Liverpool. If you have an allergy or special requirements let us know.
Both lunches & evening meals served from the kitchen tent, plus breakfast you can enjoy whenever you like in the kitchen cabin (toast & jam and/or porridge – semi skimmed, almond & oat milk provided), plus a selection of tea (green, peppermint, camomile, redbush & tetley) & cafetiéres of fresh coffee on hand to enjoy anytime.
The kettle will always be available (on the fire or the electric one in the kitchen cabin) because unlimited brews might just be the cornerstone of civilised society! We don’t sell/provide alcohol but you can bring if you like – the emphasis is on having fun and enjoying yourself, and we’re here to have a good time together not judge anyone.
Bring your own cups/plates/cutlery, or use our composting disposables. We ask that you don’t bring your own camping stoves unless you have a heatproof table to raise them up away from the ground to protect the lawn – there’s an open fire if you want to make something, plus a kettle, microwave & toaster in the kitchen cabin.
The communal fire pits are the beating heart of our retreat. A fire will always be burning (all firewood included) so you can have a brew and warm your cockles anytime – in the evenings we’ll light more fires so everyone can feel the warmth, and Carter the hound always up for a cuddle! We can’t wait to be toasting marshmallows round the campfire as we laugh & sing together under the stars – it’s so good for your soul.
If we cancel the event for any reason (including Government restrictions) then you get the option of an alternative/rescheduled retreat at no extra cost (see all our planned weekends here, plus we have several ‘fallow’ weekends when nobody else is using the site so we can reschedule retreats if necessary) or you can choose a full refund.
If you cancel 14+ days in advance you can choose an alternative retreat at no extra cost, or get a refund less cancellation charge of £30 per Weekend Pass & £95 per Yurt (which we will waive/reduce if we get someone else to take your place). If you cancel less than 14 days before the retreat your deposit is non-refundable (unless we find someone to take your place, in which case we will refund you minus our costs).
Payments to our bank account – “Yin Yan Ltd”, account number 45402817, sort code 60-13-19 – please include your name & retreat date (i.e. “My Name 16 July”) as the payment reference. Everything is included in the price EXCEPT for Irma’s treatments in the wellbeing tent (£20 for 40 mins) which is an optional extra. For bookings/queries contact us / hello@yinyan.co.uk / call Robin on 07912 031543.
Option to enjoy a sumptuous 1-2-1 treatment (or two, you’re worth it!) with Irma in the wellbeing tent – choose from Five Bodies Wellbeing 1-2-1 Treatment options in the magical healing gazebo (all in line with all the relevant covid guidelines). Just £20 for a 40 minute treatment – a total bargain, especially considering the rave reviews she always gets.
Pre-book by email irmafarres@hotmail.com or book when you arrive. You’ll need to fill in a form – it will help if you can print & bring with you (leave the green parts blank) but don’t worry we’ll have spares: Reiki form or Massage Form or Reflexology form – you decide!
If you prefer the warmth of a wood burning stove and a proper bed then treat yourself to one of the two yurts available, with each able to accommodate up to 6 people. The yurts come with their own shelter outside to give protection from the sun (and occasionally rain!)
Each yurt is 5m in diameter and has it’s own a wood burner, all firewood included in the price. Both yurts have a double bed, a double day bed and a double sofa bed – only base sheets, pillows, pillow cases & hand towels are provided so bring your own snuggly bedding and towels.
Parking is available and we will direct you on arrival. To minimise our carbon footprint please car-share where possible, or consider public transport – Oxenholme train station is just 15 mins in a taxi. You can’t drive onto the meadow but you only have to carry your things about 100m and trolleys are available if you need them.
All classes, activities & treatments will be run in line with government advice & relevant local guidelines at the time. At some points you may see some PPE – you do not have to wear a face covering but it is optional for the treatments in the wellbeing tent (regulations subject to change). Please help to keep everyone safe by:
The venue includes a river & working woodland – there are ditches, slopes & hazards so please watch your step & sturdy shoes/wellies are recommended. Carter (Robin’s hound & YinYan’s official head of wellbeing) will be there – if you would like to bring your dog please contact Robin on 07912 031543 (they MUST be kept on lead at all times). Happy to discuss if you want to bring children, just get in touch 🙂
For bookings & enquiries contact us / email hello@yinyan.co.uk / call Robin 07912 031543.
Springwood is a private campsite outside the village of Grayrigg, not far from Kendal in Cumbria. Under 2 hours drive from Liverpool (or a 15 minute / £15-20 taxi from Oxenholme/Kendal station).
The postcode is LA8 9BL – please note this postcode covers around 15 houses spread across 1km, it (depending on your satnav) usually takes you to 3 houses with a private drive off the A685, you want “SPRINGWOOD CAMPING” the white gate on the opposite side of the main road (A685) from this private drive. Click here for google maps location pin showing the gate – or use the ‘what 3 words’ location here.
There are two gates off the main road (‘x’ marks the spot on the green road, A685, on the map), use the one with “Spiringwood Camping” signs & room to pull up off the main road to get out & open the gate, PLEASE CLOSE THE GATE BEHIND YOU AND DRIVE SLOWLY (there are people, animals & children roaming so please be considerate) – drive past the house & goats, stop by the white Campervan next to the barn entrance/foot bridge where we will welcome you.
Little red ‘x’ marks the correct entrance to Springwood – big red ‘X’ shows where postcode will take you to (THE WRONG PLACE!)
This retreat is an opportunity to discover the wonders of India and the birthplace of yoga. Varkala and Kerala is one of India’s most beautiful destinations offering comfort, yet still maintaining the very essence of what makes India a cultural gem. The focus for the retreat will be to discover all that India has to offer in the way of yoga, culture, food and scenery.
The price includes:
Not included in the price is air travel and visas and travel insurance.
A typical day would include early morning yoga, breakfast, free time to relax by the pool or beach/shopping, yoga followed by dinner.
You are free to participate as little or as much as you wish in daily classes or activities. The resort where we are situated for 7 nights is less than 5 minutes walk from the shops, restaurants and beach. Varkala is a very safe place to wander and the locals are very friendly. Stu and Sabrina are here to assist you for the duration of your stay, so you will have nothing to worry about whether it be to change money, restaurant recommendations, book a massage, arranging an excursion etc.
A £300 non refundable deposit per person is required to reserve your space. The remaining balance is due by 1st September 2021. Deposits are non refundable. We cannot hold spaces unless deposits have been made.
Deposits can be paid in cash at reception or via bank transfer to
S P Alexander: Sort code 40-23-02 Acct# 21077600.
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