Hazelwood 2011

7 - 10 April 2011 with Georgina Evans

Cost from £360

Camping from £295 (bring your own tent)

We are delighted to once again hold a yoga retreat at Hazelwood House, one of our very special British venues.

Hazelwood is the perfect place for yoga. Sitting in a valley, surrounded by acres of unspoilt nature, this idyllic spot, shared with a choir of birds, deer and foxes is a haven for the spiritual seeker and nature lover.

An ancient oak tree guards the entrance of the house and the flowers in the summer are both stunning in colour and intoxicating in fragrance. As the night draws in to reveal its starry sky, the silence is broken only by the sound of its river and the call of the nights creatures. It is a place to unwind and return to that quiet place within. Space to think, space to breathe, space to be – is what Hazelwood quite naturally has to offer.

We will start each day with early morning pranayama, (breathing exercises) and meditation. Followed by morning tea, sipped silently on the veranda overlooking the valley, we will then begin a 2-hour asana class. Gently opening the body and attuning the mind to the breath, the class will slowly move and build into a flowing and dynamic hatha sequence, always incorporating the cultivation of awareness, physical alignment, breath and chakras (energy centres). The class aims to be suitable for all levels and yoga experience. Brunch will follow and can be eaten on the veranda if weather permits.

With time set aside in the day to explore and take in Devon’s exquisite countryside, and visit local sites, we will meet again in the late afternoon for a gentle slow and more meditative exploration of postures, kriyas, (the practise of awareness of breath) evening pranayama, mudras and mantra.

Evening sessions will vary.  We may enjoy yin/restorative yoga, explore free-form movement and sound, play with our voices in an OMing circle or mindfulness practices such as tratak and Mantra writing. This is an opportunity to move inward and connect to a deeper sense of self - tap into creative reverie, deep peace and the joy of being alive.

After a delicious Hazelwood vegetarian dinner, we will gather together in the evenings for an extended meditation or simply to hang out and chat around the open fire. Hazelwood is a place to feel at home in, to be totally at ease in and drop into a slower often more appealing pace of life.

If you are looking for something a bit more lively on the Saturday evening there is the opportunity to be part of a very special concert by The Carrivick Sisters. They are two local girls and exceptional musicians who appeared on Woman's Hour last year and were a huge success when they played at Hazelwood in November. Yoga participants can get a ticket for the concert at a special reduced price of £10.

There are also many glorious walks to go on in both its grounds and surrounding areas and some of Devon’s most fabulous beaches are just a short drive away, making it a really great 'English Holiday' destination.

Both the drawing room and the dining room have beautiful French windows opening out on to the Wisteria laden veranda, making the house and its environment a perfect setting. With its own water supply from an ancient spring and a river running through the grounds, Hazelwood is the perfect place to relax, reflect and refuel.

Hazelwood offers gracious and comfortable accommodation. Some of the rooms have en-suite facilities and others have shared bathrooms. Some rooms offer stunning views over the valley and all rooms have Hazelwood bottled water from the natural spring. Tea and coffee making facilities are in every room. Camping in the beautiful grounds is also an option.

Most of the food is sourced from the vast array of local, quality, organic producers and Hazelwood are proud members of the highly regarded South Hams Food and Drink Association. Sourcing 'real' food does mean that sometimes they have to substitute dishes according to availability.