A Celebration of the Sacredness of Life

Rediscover yourself through breath, movement, music, silence, nature, massage, ceremony, ritual, nutritious food, heartfelt connections, optional saunas and community living. Fall in love with life, fall in love with your Self and fall in love with your purpose of bringing your unique gifts into the world…
 

Enliven The Spirit Retreat is a deep dive into the beauty of embracing your seeker, rediscovering your joy, igniting your passion, and freeing the expression of your truest Self. It is an understanding that by simply being in this place you are a gift to the world.

WEDNESDAY

2 - 3.30pm: Arrival & Registration
4.30 - 5.30pm: Opening Ceremony
5.30 - 6.30pm: Gentle Yoga & Yoga Nidra
6.45- 8.30pm: Dinner
8.30 - 10pm: Kirtan & Sound Healing

THURSDAY

8 - 9.15am: Holistic Yoga
9.15 - 10.30am: Breakfast & Sharing Circles
11am - 12.30pm: Walking Meditation & Nature Ritual
1 - 2pm: Lunch
2 - 4pm: Free Time
4 - 6pm: Cacao Ceremony & Kirtan
6.30 - 8pm: Dinner
8.30 - 10.30pm: Ecstatic Dance

FRIDAY

8 - 9.15am: Holistic Yoga
9.15 - 10.30am: Breakfast & Sharing Circles
11am - 12.30pm: Elemental Nature Dance
1 - 2pm: Lunch
2 - 4pm: Free Time
4.30 - 6pm: Yin Yoga
6.30 - 8pm: Dinner
8.30 - 10.30pm: Fire Ceremony, Songs & Invitation to share your gifts

SATURDAY

Pack rooms before breakfast

8.30 - 9.15am: Qi Gong
9.15 - 10.30am: Breakfast & Sharing Circles
11am - 12.30pm: Gong Bath
12.30 - 1.30pm: Lunch
2 - 3pm: Closing Ceremony
3 - 4pm: Final Surprise!
4pm: Farewells & Departure

Please note the programme is not set in stone and may occur slight changes.

Embercombe is an eco-friendly venue on a beautiful 50 acre re-wilding estate on the edge of Dartmoor. It is a place to find a deep connection with nature –  wild nature around us and wild nature within us. It is a place to  breathe, to reconsider, to regenerate and to relearn. It is a place to find the gifts that we have to offer right now in the beauty and peace of nature. It also has a wild swimming lake!

Book your stay in one of Embercombe’s beautiful yurt villages, or bring your own van or tent and pitch up in the camping field. Each yurt is furnished with comfortable beds and a wood fired stove. Both yurt villages have compost toilets and running water. Full bathroom facilities with hot showers are available in the main building. Both private and shared yurts are available.

Embercombe’s devoted chefs provide delicious, plant based, locally sourced and mostly organic meals, refreshments and snacks, to give you the nutrition, energy and renewed vitality you need during your visit. They cater for gluten free and any specific dietary requirements you need, and we will check your preferences when you make your booking.

A whole range of therapeutic treatments are available to book with one of our highly qualified and experienced therapists, including; Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage, Deep Tissue, Acu Points, Reflexology, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, Reiki & Sound Healing.

Massages are an optional add-on for your retreat and can be booked for £40 per massage in advance, either with Charlie or one of our therapist team members.

“The Aromatherapy massage from Charlie was amazing, very relaxing but also gently releasing some energy that was stuck around my spine. I felt very safe and able to trust and let go into the tears. I literally felt like there was a whole new world when I walked out, and I will definitely book again whenever I can. Thank you!”

— Kimberley

Elise Yuill Cohen

Retreat Curator, Yoga Teacher, Kirtan & Cacoa Ceremony Leader

Charlie Bishop

Ecstatic Dance DJ, Kirtan Leader & Massage Therapist

Yasmin Kay

Yoga Teacher & Nature Ritual Workshop Leader

Shreyalynne

Massage & Energy Healing

Megan Player

Shiatsu Massage & Gong Bath Sound Healing

Ann Yuill

Therapeutic Massage & Arkaya play!

Camping & Vans: £375
Women's Yurt - Triple: £425
Men's Yurt - Triple: £425
Private Yurt: £550
Private Shared Yurt: £875

The full balance is required upon booking.

Due to the variety of accommodation options, there are two routes for booking your place:

1. Pay a £100 deposit via WeTravel. You will then be contacted by Elise, to confirm your place and the remaning balance. Once confirmed, you will be requested to provide your details via our booking form.

2. You may contact Elise directly, via email at eliseyuillcohen@gmail.com, to discuss your place, make payment and provide your booking details.

If you have any questions about the retreat, or the booking process, please do not hesitate to contact Elise on the email above.

"Absolutely wonderful range of activities, having the ability to connect with nature in such beautiful surroundings added an extra special element. Singing in nature was particularly nourishing, I loved the nature rituals, the thought you put into creating these and weaving them through the whole weekend made them all the more powerful, that combined with the beauty and magic of the natural landscape. I felt that little touches like a fire ceremony and sharing circles really bonded the group together and gave a depth of purpose to the retreat." — Nikki

"I booked this retreat hoping that the yoga practise would help with some gentle healing and for the chance to visit Embercombe. I had no idea I was heading into a powerful journey of not only healing but transformation. Words can hardly describe the sheer love, kindness, joy and blessings pouring forth from Elise, Charlie, Yasmin and their team plus the Embercombe team, and each and every one of the beautiful people that were called to take part. In an incredibly short space of time through the activities and ceremonies, singing, dancing and space holding I experienced what was to me a fully present conscious community so full of love that I wish every being on Earth could live it every day.” — Kimberley

“Thank you to Elise, Charlie and the rest of the team for creating such a wonder-FULL retreat. The programme was perfect - not too crowded and I liked the sharing circles too. It's not very often that there are events with men's circles so I really appreciated having the opportunity to share in that way. I worked out the other day that this retreat was about the 24th retreat I've been on over the past 8 years or so and your Embercombe retreat is definitely amongst the top three retreats I've been on. Also, thank you for the extra gifts of the aromatic inhaler on the first day & chocolates on the last day - they were both very nice touches & much appreciated!" — Marcus

Can I come on my own? 

Yes! We have many guests come along and always witness the beautiful connections made through our community spirited living together.

Are the accommodations heated? 

Yes, all the yurts have wood burning stoves and friendly onsite staff to help you.

Can I come for only part of the retreat? 

No. The magic happens when we all journey together from start to finish.

Are children welcome? 

Generally no, we may be able to make some exceptions for small babies, please contact us directly and we will happily explore what is possible but can’t promise anything.

Are dogs allowed? 

No, sorry.

Are massages included in the retreat price? 

No, massages are an optional add on. We require advance booking and payment so that we can ensure we have enough therapists for everyone who wants to receive a massage can have one. Please enquire when you make your booking. Price per massage: £40.

What if I have food allergies?

Embercombe’s wonderful staff are very accommodating and happy to cater for all dietary requirements. You will be asked for this information in the booking process. If you have very specific foods you want to have with you we suggest bringing them. There is a fridge in the dining yurt you are welcome to use for small amounts of food.

What’s your policy on electronics and devices? 

We kindly ask for no phones, no laptops or other digital devices on the retreat, in order to invite a digital detox experience and enable deeper connections with fellow participants by not being connected to your phone, emails or social media! We ask everyone to turn their phone off and leave it in their accommodation. 

What if I need to be contacted in an Emergency? 

You are welcome to give your family Embercombe’s main office number, which we will give you after your space has been fully paid for. If you need to check your phone for reasons such as having children at home, we ask you to do so only in your yurt and to be considerate of your room mates.

Can I take photos on the retreat? 

No, we have a professional photographer to capture special moments, with a careful approach to not being invasive to the retreatants experience, which is our top priority. 

What if I don’t want to appear in the photos? 

We will ask for everyone’s consent upon arrival to appear in photos. You are welcome to say if you do not want to be in them. The photos will be shared with everyone on retreat before we share them anywhere else so you have the opportunity to say if you do not want a photo to be shared publicly. 

What will the photos be used for? 

We value a professional photographer because we always find retreatants appreciate the memories. We also use them on our website and social media to be able to visually portray the experience that may inspire a new retreatant to join us.

What’s your policy on smoking, alcohol or drugs? 

We uphold a strict no smoking, no drugs or alcohol policy.

I’ve never been to a cacao ceremony, what is it? 

It’s a heart opening ritual with a medicinal hot chocolate drink made from ceremonial grade cacao. 

I'm pregnant, can still attend? 

Definitely! 

What do I need to bring?

-Towel

-Torch (head torches are really useful)

-Clothing & boots suitable for the outdoors

-Swimsuit & flip-flops (there's a lake on site!)

-Rain jacket & wellies

-Ear-plugs (if you're a light sleeper)

-Hot water bottle (especially if camping)

-Toiletries (natural & biodegradable products please)

In the unlikely case that we have to cancel the retreat, a full refund will be offered. 

In case of cancellation from your side, no refunds or transfers will be offered, no matter the reason unless either you or we can fill your place. If you find someone to take your booking, there will be a £35 admin charge to transfer your booking to another person. 

If the retreat is fully booked and you want us sell your booking on your behalf, we will retain your deposit (£100) and refund you the balance only if we find a replacement and once they have paid in full. 

Please note we will only accept booking transfers and allow posts on our Facebook event/page if the retreat is fully booked.

Embercombe, Higher Ashton, Exeter, EX6 7QQ

+44 (0) 1647 252983

https://embercombe.org/

By train

Exeter St David’s is the closest station which serves most of the UK. It’s approximately 7 miles from Embercombe. There is a taxi rank outside (one-way to Embercombe: £25) or you can walk to Exeter Central Bus Station which is approximately a 1.5 mile walk into town. We offer a return shuttle to/from Exeter train station for £30 both ways (add-on when booking).

By bus

There is a 360 Dartline bus service from the Central Bus Station in Exeter which stops 1.3 miles from Embercombe. Look for route name Exeter-Dunchideock-Bridford and get off the bus at the Belevedere Castle stop. On leaving the bus, continue along the top road. After 400 yards you’ll reach the Belvedere Castle entrance on your left. Opposite, there is a little road going down to the right, signposted Trusham and Ashton. Follow this road for approximately 20 minutes until you reach Embercombe’s main gate on the right.

By car

-From the Southbound A38: Follow the signs to Exeter Race Course. Climb the hill slowly and get into the left hand lane, at the top of the hill (Haldon Hill) take the left exit marked Dunchideock and Exeter Race Course. Pay particular attention as you do not get much warning of the exit! Turn right at the roundabout at the end of the sliproad towards Dunchideock and follow this road through Haldon Forest. After 1.7 miles, the road goes downhill into trees and just opposite is a forest car park area on your right. Take the sharp left turn signposted Trusham & Ashton. Entrance to Embercombe is 1.2 miles down on the right.

-From the Northbound A38: At the top of Haldon Hill (A38) take the exit marked Dunchideock and Exeter Race Course immediately after the petrol station. At the ‘T’ junction turn left and follow the road through Haldon Forest. After a 1.7miles, the road goes downhill into trees and just opposite a forest car park area on your right, take the sharp left turning signposted Trusham & Ashton. Entrance to Embercombe is 1.2 miles down on the right.

-Satellite navigation systems: We recommend that you don’t use your Sat Nav system to reach Embercombe. They’ve been found to be unreliable in the rural areas around Embercombe and visitors often arrive at the wrong address.