The bigger energies of earlier in the year are behind us. As Winter approaches, we can find ourselves looking inwards and hibernating. Our shrinking energy may mean we have less of a sense of ourselves. When this happens it feels even more important to give ourselves permission to feel full of vitality again, and remind ourselves who we really are.

Through the practice of yoga and singing, as well as being in nature and in community, we can find our flow again, and reconnect with our innate sense of what it is to be human.

Each day will consist of a gentle rhythm of yoga and meditation practice, singing workshops, walks in nature, delicious seasonal food, and time for relaxation and quiet contemplation. It’s up to you how much you participate; the space is yours to hold as you wish.

“I believe that singing is a fundamental part of being a human-being, and how we connect to others. Regardless of culture, people come together to sing in times of trouble and sadness and also at times of joy and happiness. Singing also provides us with a direct pathway to our own emotions, as it uses primal brain centres that were used by our ancestors to communicate their deepest emotional needs before they had language. When this pathway is open within us we feel truly our selves. I believe it is everyone’s right to sing and I feel very privileged to be able to help adults find this route to greater understanding of themselves. Many people believe themselves to be non-singers, but in my experience, unless there is a vocal injury or an inability to perceive pitch variation, which is an extremely rare neurological condition, everyone can learn to sing.”
– Lucy Legg

We invite you to the Quadrangle – a Victorian farmstead built in 1870, and our home-from-home. It’s the perfect place to quietly observe and reflect on Mother Nature, in a rustic farmhouse setting, away from the hustle and bustle, to slow down and connect.

Run as a centre for sustainable living and the creative arts, the Quadrangle has many beautiful elements with which to enjoy our stay. We’ll practice our restorative and energy-holding yoga and meditations around the wood burning fire in the Granary – a beautiful setting for our smaller group – and share this warm and cosy space for our singing workshops, sharing circles and meals together. We will wrap up warm and venture outside for fireside intention setting and letting go, and walks in nature. There are sofas and wood burner in the Shepherds Barn to put your feet up with a cup of tea, a living permaculture forest garden, and a stream running through for some wild dipping! The hills and vales of the Pilgrims Way are in reach just a short walk cross-country.

It is the perfect setting to look away from the outside chaos and journey into our inner peace. In doing so we can become better aware of who we are and where we are headed.

Timings

Arrive from 4pm onwards on Friday
The retreat ends on Sunday afternoon after lunch

Cost

Dorm: £255-£325 (sliding scale, please pay what you can afford)
Sharing twin/double room: £330
Private room: £380
Own tent or camper van: £220
Early bird 10% discount if booked before 28th October.
Please don’t let financial difficulties be a barrier to you coming to this retreat – please contact us to discuss your situation and see how we can get you here with us!

What’s included

Morning and afternoon yoga and meditation sessions each day, three singing workshops, three delicious vegetarian meals per day, accommodation, walk in nature, campfire.

Reserve your place

Email Katy to reserve your place or go directly to our registration form.

Previous feedback

Thank you so much to the whole team for truly nourishing and nurturing me.

Thank you so very much for your incredible calming energy. You are a beautiful teacher and I would love to bottle you up and take you home!

Absolutely fantastic weekend – beautiful location and brilliant yoga!

This yoga retreat has been the BEST! Thank you all so much.

The most relaxed, loving, nourishing weekends imaginable with an affordable price tag!

Katy

I studied yoga and meditation under the direct guidance of Swami Vidyanand at the SriMa School of Transformational Yoga in India. I’ve been practising since 1999, leading me to deeper studies with different forms of yoga over the years including Transformational, Scaravelli-inspired, Sivananda and Yoga for Anxiety and Depression. I take an integral approach to teaching – incorporating physical postures (asanas), breathing practices (pranayama) and dhyana (mantra meditation), as well as meditation and deep relaxation (yoga nidra). Connecting body, breath, heart, mind and soul has brought an awareness and inner stillness I didn’t believe was possible before. I love being in this space of teacher and eternal student, and hope we can share the magic of yoga too. Take your focus inward, breathe and become present to your intention. All-comers welcome – from absolute beginners to yoga masters! When I’m not running a retreat or facilitating a workshop you’ll most likely find me working and playing in alternative communities and in nature, inspired by a more beautiful world our hearts know is possible (hat tip to Charles Eisenstein). fb.com/mahayogaschool

Lucy

I am a singing teacher and workshop leader at Guildhall School of Music and Drama ‘Finding A Voice’ research project, an external vocal consultant on rehabilitation of the singing voice at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital Voice Clinic and founder of the SingerWithin approach for adult late starter singers. I believe that the mind and body work together in a totally interconnected way and that we become uncomfortable in one or the other when these pathways get blocked. The natural world, like singing, can provide wonderful opportunities for us to reconnect to both our external and internal environments. I know that when city life gets too much for me, or if I have something playing on my mind, I will go to the moors, or the hills, or the sea, when there are no other people, so I can regain an internal balance, drawing energy from the natural world around me. I find that in these environments I am able to re-find my voice if I have lost the wish to sing in the stresses of city life. lucylegg.co.uk

Transformational Yoga

Transformational Yoga is an integral approach to yoga combining asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) and dhyana (mantra meditation), to purify our physical body and awaken our subtle bodies. Our practice will be focused on the chakras and understanding of the wheels of energy. A great purification, even for the teachers among us to re-energize your practice. For beginners it is a step into consciousness. No previous experience of yoga or meditation is necessary to participate; any experience level and ability welcome, from absolute beginner to yoga master.

The Singer Within

The Singer Within approach prioritises providing a safe environment in which to explore your voice. You will be encouraged to fully connect with your body: stretching and relaxing muscles that are currently overworking; and to find an alternative support for sound making based on good airflow. This will help you to sing with a free, resonant voice capable of conveying every emotion that you wish to express. You will explore the relationship between sounds, and how to move between them with ease and accuracy, through the singing of tunes specially chosen for the purpose. Above all the aim of the workshops will be to have fun singing with other people with no fear of judgment. We will be there to help each other explore new vocal possibilities. singerwithin.com

The Quadrangle

The Quadrangle is a large Victorian model farmstead built in 1870 near Shoreham in Kent. Part of it is owned and managed by The Quadrangle Trust which is run as a centre for sustainable living and the creative arts. The garden runs down through an orchard to the River Darent and a field and small woodland beyond. It’s setting in the valley is extraordinarily rural and peaceful in that it is only 20 miles from Piccadilly Circus as the crow flies. thequadrangletrust.com