Holycombe 2010

30 April - 2 May with Sue Pendlebury

8 - 10 October with Sue Pendlebury 

Cost from £220

I fell in love with Holycombe the moment I arrived, not only because of its serene beauty and tranquillity but also because its owners, Sally and Andy, welcome you with open arms making you feel relaxed and at home immediately.

With a purpose built space for yoga and the creative/ healing arts, individual therapy rooms and beautiful gardens to relax in, you cannot help but fall in love with this very special place.

Set in a verdant wooded valley on the edge of the Cotswold village of Whichford, Holycombe is built on the grounds of a  Norman castle, land which is believed to have been a sacred site many years before Roman occupation. Geomancers and dowsers claim that six leylines converge on the stone circle at the top field. 

A natural stream rises from a holy well in the nearby wood and passes though the grounds and down a waterfall. The sound of running water adds to the sense of peace and tranquillity in the grounds whilst a coppice provides a shady outdoor space and a campfire area a place for evening song and chats. A beautiful Garden Room is used for eating in doors whilst a rose-scented terrace is available for eating al-fresco. Holycombe is the perfect venue for that peaceful break and escape from our, all too often busy and stressful lives.

Early morning mediation and pranayama will be followed by a silent break, filled only with bird song and the sounds of running water, before we come together again for asana. A 2 hour class starting slowly to attune the mind and body with the breath, working gently towards a flowing dynamic sequence focusing on breath, alignment and chakras (energy centres).

Afternoons can be spent hanging out in the gardens, relaxing, reading, or maybe taking a gentle stroll to enjoy the nearby bluebell woods.

We will then come together again in the late afternoon for a gentle stretch, evening pranayama, guided meditations and chanting. Bhajans (devotional singing) will be offered after our evening meal for those who enjoy this wonderful heart opening and uplifting form of yoga, known as Bhakti Yoga. (The yoga of devotion).

You will probably not want to do much when you get to Holycombe except relax, soak in its surrounding beauty and go on Bluebell Walks in the nearby woods.

Across a nearby meadow is the ancient Whichford woods with its many rare species of trees and plants, an abundance of wood anemones, primroses and bluebells .

Wildlife abounds: everything from Muntjack to polecats and kingfishers. So walks are abundant and the grounds themselves peaceful and serenely beautiful.

Rooms are simple and sharing. They will be allocated on a first come first served basis. There is very little single accomodation so book early if you need.There is one large room offering dorm accomodation for those who are on more of a shoestring.

Please can you bring your own top and bottom sheet, pillow case and towels. If this is a problem please contact us.