***SOLD OUT*** Rejuvenation & balance for your mind & body, all-inclusive camping/glamping weekend
This retreat is ideal if you want to harness the power of self-care to improve the quality of your everyday life – the weekend is like a wellbeing-Swiss-army-knife where you boost your mental & physical health through friendly & accessible movement, fresh air, music & more. Join us as we dive into nature – and maybe the river too for some cold water therapy & wild swimming!
We’re delighted that Frank Perry (musician and yoga teacher extraordinaire) is joining us for this weekend and our team is ready to help you enjoy Yoga (all levels, including beginners), Meditation & Qigong, and experience 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.
***THIS WEEKEND HAS SOLD OUT*** we can put you on a reserve list for this weekend or please check out all our other wellness retreat weekends. We pride ourselves on being accessible, friendly & enjoyable, our retreats are the perfect antidote to lockdown in a beautiful natural setting so let’s get together & feel good!
Weekend schedule
FRIDAY 9th JULY
- 2pm onwards – Arrivals & settle in with a brew / massage
- 5pm – Group welcome
- 5.30pm – Yoga as a remedy for the challenges of modern life (60 mins)
- 6.45pm – Dinner
- 7.30pm – Campfire / sing-song / free-time / massage
SATURDAY 10th JULY
- 7.30am – Qigong in the woods with Damian (30 mins)
- 8.30am – Breakfast
- 9.30am – Yoga for a balanced mind & body with Frank (90 mins)
- 11am – Relaxation / free-time / massage
- 12.15pm – Lunch
- 1.30pm – Country walk / forest-bathing (60 mins)
- 3pm – Cold water therapy & breath work / free-time / massage
- 5.30pm – Nidra meditation for deep relaxation with Robin (30 mins)
- 6.30pm – Dinner
- 7.30pm – Campfire & group soundscape performance with Frank / sing-song
SUNDAY 11th JULY
- 8am – Wild Swimming with Robin / Qigong in the woods with Damian (30 mins)
- 9am – Breakfast
- 10am – Easy like Sunday morning Restorative Yoga with Robin (75 mins)
- 11.15am – Relaxation / free-time / massage
- 12.30pm – Lunch & departures
Our Lake District Glamping/Camping Venue
A beautiful meadow where birds sing, butterflies flutter, wild flowers carpet the peaceful woodland and we camp beside the river – 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 canopy 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 vegan feast in the kitchen tent (all food included). There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the campsite, river & woodland. There’s a compost toilet, extra portable toilets, a basic hot shower (or river!), sink with hot water & kitchen cabin with small fridge, kettle, toaster & microwave (all subject to multiple daily sanitising).
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).
Meet the team
Our mission is for you to have the best weekend of your life! Frank Perry co-leading this retreat with YinYan founder, Robin Ellis – with support from Damian Lyons (Yoga, Meditation & Qigong teacher), while Chef Debs is leading our vegan charity kitchen and Irma is looking after you in the healing tent.
Frank has practised yoga for 25 years, his qualifications & teaching experience are too many & varied to list here, his knowledge of anatomy & physiology is outstanding and in 2012 he helped to create the Banyan Tree Yoga Teacher Training School in Liverpool. His classes range from Yoga for athletes, to remedial movement sessions for the Merseyside Multiple Scleroses Society – and everything in between! Frank says “yoga is none elitist, everyone can practice yoga, it improves our mobility and functionality, it calms our mind, and it reduces stress and makes us feel quite simply, amazing!” He’s also a very talented musician, as you’ll hear round our campfire!
Robin discovered Yoga, Pilates, Meditation & Ukuleles when dealing with chronic back pain – he became a teacher (training under Frank at Banyan Tree) and his passion for giving normal people the chance to experience the mental & physical benefits of self-care led to him setting up YinYan in 2015. His classes are wide ranging and very inclusive, giving beginners the perfect place to start & more practised students advanced options in line with fundamental principles.
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.
Food & Drink
Delicious, hearty & healthy vegan food is provided for your lunch & dinner, think warming chilli, tasty curry & wholesome soups – our charitable kitchen is being run by Debs with profits going to Foodcycle Liverpool. If you have any allergy or special requirements let us know. Fresh fruit (and toast in the Lake District) will be available to help yourself at breakfast, bring anything else you’d like in terms of a bigger breakfast/extra snacks. We provide compostable plates, bowls & cutlery but bring your own mug.
Our big kettle will always be on the fire because unlimited brews might just be the cornerstone of civilised society! A range of tea & coffee is included, along with drinking water. 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.
Fire Pits
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 as we laugh & sing together under the stars – it’s so good for your soul.
Bookings Payments & Refunds for cancellations
- ***THIS WEEKEND HAS SOLD OUT*** we can put you on a reserve list for this weekend or please check out all our other wellness retreat weekends.
- Weekend Pass (includes all classes, camping & food):
- *** EARLY BIRD SOLD OUT *** (limited numbers) – £185 per person
- ***FINAL RELEASE SOLD OUT*** – £220 per person
- Returning Customer Discount (weekend passes only) – if it’s your second YinYan retreat get 10% discount on your Weekend Pass, and another 10% off your third!
- *** YURTS SOLD OUT *** Yurt Surcharge – £240 per Yurt split by whoever is in it (e.g. for 2 people = £120 extra each; 3 people = £80 extra per person; 4 people = just £60 extra per person, etc)
- 40% deposit required to book your Weekend Pass & Yurt, remainder due 1 week before the event.
- Spaces limited so early booking recommended to avoid disappointment.
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. “Jane Smith 2 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 / [email protected] / call Robin on 07912 031543.
Massage, Reiki & Foot/Hand/Face Reflexology
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 [email protected] 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!
The Yurts
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
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.
Covid-19
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:
- Using the anti-bacterial hand gel supplied (and bring your own) & the hand washing station…especially before & after eating & when filling up your water bottles
- Please stay out of the kitchen area unless asked – if you need something just ask
- When being served food follow the instructions given
- We will clean the compost toilets & drinking water stations several times a day
- Respect others & the relevant guidelines at all times
Hazards, Dogs & Kids
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 🙂
Suggested Packing List
- Tent (unless you’re in a yurt)
- Bed/sleeping mat
- Sleeping bag & pillow/cushion, the nights might be chilly and an extra blanket is great for the meditations & keeping cosy around the fire pits (remember the yurts only have pillows & sheets)
- Water bottle
- Yoga mat & block – if you need to borrow/buy a mat let us know
- Camping mug, plate, bowl & cutlery (we have disposables if you forget)
- Snacks, drinks & anything you want for breakfast (there is a small fridge)
- Toiletries including anti-bacterial gel & anything else you need such as wet wipes (we will provide toilet paper, hand sanitiser & antibacterial wipes around the site)
- Footwear – wellies/boots/sturdy trainers (it might be muddy), bring a pair of old trainers to use in the river if you’re planning on getting wet as it is rocky & uneven
- Clothes – hope for the best but prepare for the worst with a waterproof jacket, fleece/warm jumpers, plenty of layers, spare socks etc. & bring clothes you can move freely in for yoga
- Towel & swimming costume if you’re planning on bathing in the river or enjoying a warm shower!
- Headtorch / light for your tent
- Hat & scarf
- Sun hat, sunscreen & sun glasses – we live in hope!
- Phone/camera/battery pack – useful to keep your phone charged so you can take lots of photos/videos, although there is a plug if you need a battery boost
- If you play an instrument please bring it for the camp fire sing-song!
- Chair (there are benches & logs to sit on too)
- Carrier/rubbish bags – great for wet clothes & refuse…please take everything with you & leave no trace!
For bookings & enquiries contact us / email [email protected] / call Robin 07912 031543.