So a month ago I was heading off to run my first solo long weekend retreat at www.racquetyfarm.com. As we headed out of Bristol on the M4, I was a bit nervous, "What if I have forgotten something?" "There are two qualified yoga teachers attending!" "What if it they don't like it?" were some of the thoughts running through my head. As we crossed over the Bridge into Wales on that beautiful bright morning, the thoughts began to settle down and I realised that if I have forgotten any thing, its too late now! If they don't like it, there isn't much to I can do. And I hoped that for the qualified yogas teachers it would feel like a sharing experience rather than me being an expert. So I started to enjoy the journey and the feeling of calm that settled in.
On arrival there were some practical things to attend to as my husband was doing the catering for the first time and I needed to make some last minute changes due to the weather being colder and wetter than I'd expected for September.
I then started to meet participants arriving and showing them to their accommodation. It was so lovely to see their reactions to the venue and the accommodation that feels like part of the surrounding nature.
And then the retreat started and the group began to get to know each other. It felt exciting to lead and hold the group and I felt very at home in that role. The nerves had gone and it their place a sense of invigoration arose and I really enjoyed the sessions - they were longer than my weekly classes, so I could take them at a slower pace, delve a bit deeper and weave in what I thought would be supportive or interesting in that moment. I felt more able to move around the yoga studio and support individuals as well as keep an eye on the group as a whole. The group started to bond through the mindful sharing in pairs and a sense or mutual support ensued.
I felt so grateful to be running these sessions in this beautiful venue and I felt really appreciative to be supporting such a lovely group of people. Some of whom I knew, and some of who were completely new to me and this way of practicing yoga (Scaravelli).
The venue leant itself to facilitating yoga in the stunning Larchwood Studio and to Mindfulness in the woods that lead down to the river Wye, as well as Nature Connection activities. I felt pleasantly surprised as to how well these three apporaches combined and flowed to create something that felt both nourishing and renewing.
The feedback at the end of the long weekend was so rewarding to hear, people felt safe and held, they appreciated the surroundings, varied activites, food and company and wanted to come back again.
I felt so inspired as if this really is my calling! My husband really enjoyed his role too. We have returned from this weekend ready to take the plunge on a life long dream to set up a Retreat Venue of our own in France.
Im really excited as we have since found a place in France, and are in the process of making the move. So watch this space!
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