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About this trip
Sweat and Serenity is a rejuvenating and reviving retreat held on the banks of the river Thames. Returning for its third year, our most popular retreat opens its heart again for 2023. After sold out event in May we decided to add another date in September for one more sweat lodge ceremony meaning we will be able to accommodate only 20 lucky participants! This will be our most personal and intimate retreat of the year.
Using a spectrum of carefully and thoughtfully curated ancient and modern cleansing techniques, this intimate gathering will enable you to shed outer layers of stress and strife, revealing your pure nature within.
Over the weekend you will have the unique opportunity to participate in a traditional sweat lodge ceremony, hosted in a specially designed sacred hazel pole dome and led by experienced sweat lodge leaders with chanting and shamanic drumming. A rare opportunity to experience this transformative practice in the rolling nature of the Thames Valley.
This retreat is for those who want to remove all barriers to lasting serenity. Release what is not serving you through the cleansing power of the fire and supportive ceremonial strength of the sweat lodge. Discover the obstacles facing your unique ayurvedic constitution when you sit to meditate and how to best combat them for lasting inner peace. Move forward into summer with a fresh perspective and new grounding in your whole self.
There will be reviving yoga practices and wild swimming in the glistening river waters. Guided meditations with ancient trees and mindful journeying through the intuitive artistry of words will show you the way to reconnect with your divine nature. The resonance of spirit mantra will restore and replenish you, and storytelling and singing by the campfire will give you the heartwarming gift of community connection.
We will be eating fresh, organic, locally grown plant based meals lovingly prepared according to Ayurvedic principles. As much as possible of our gorgeous fruit and veg will come from Tolhurst Organic farm, based on site, who use stock free farming to produce the lowest possible carbon footprint, cruelty free food. Their work is truly inspiring and aligned with our ethos of re-connecting and re-aligning with mother nature to live in more harmony.
The retreat begins on Friday evening 1st September and ends on Sunday afternoon 3rd September 2023.
The retreat is held in a secluded rural camping field next to the shores of the river with indoor and outdoor hot water showers, toilets, washing sinks and running fresh water. Tents available to rent if you can not bring your own.
Camper vans & caravans are welcome, dogs must stay at home!
This retreat is free from drugs, alcohol or intoxicants which cloud the mind.
Surround yourself with 500 year old trees, wild flower meadows, stunning scenery, magical sunset views, wonderful wildlife & your community.
Sweat Lodge Ceremony
The lodge during the retreat will be hosted by Buzzard Medicine.
It is an honour to be able to share this sacred ceremony with you in such beautiful organic surroundings. The lodge calls you to gather in circle to honour our ancestors, our grandmother the earth, the sacred fire, grandfather rocks, water and air - bringing them together to create a powerful cleansing medicine.
This traditional lodge is made from bent hazel poles, smudged and blessed and covered with blankets and insulated to make a dome. Special stones that have been heated in a wood fire are brought inside and herbs and water are applied to release an aromatic cleansing vapour. Participants engage in several cycles of sweating and chanting with the opportunity to rest and cool down in between each cycle.
The lodge has a strong purification and transformative power for many people; so do give yourself time after the lodge to integrate. The lodge is a powerful place for prayers and healing.
We advise drinking lots of water on the day before the lodge so that you are well hydrated. Water will be available during the day. We ask that you refrain from any recreational drugs or alcohol for at least 72 hours before and after the ceremony.
The sweat lodge is a powerful ceremony and can help in healing processes but it is good to check with your health professional if you are concerned about any medical conditions - in particular heart conditions, high blood pressure, migraines, pregnancy, panic attacks, claustrophobia, strong back pain, diabetes, asthma or breathing difficulties, mental health issues or drug addiction.
Ticket Info
We hope to be able to accommodate all who are interested & feel drawn to come together as a community.
We have tickets available for the Full Retreat: Friday evening - Sunday afternoon which are limited in numbers to facilitate deep experience cleanse, rest and reconnection as a community.
Your Tickets include:
4 Day immersion into sacred lands and your beautiful self!
✔️ All 3 days of the retreat.
✔️ Sweat Lodge Ceremony
✔️ All activities, classes and workshops.
✔️ Delicious Ayurvedic food: Friday dinner, 3 meals a day on Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday. A selection of hot drinks will be available throughout the day.
✔️ Ground for your own tent.
This is our most intimate retreat yet - only 20 exclusive places opened up due to high demand and an overflowing reserve list on our May retreat date. As we are running with really limited numbers, we need to price the tickets accordingly to ensure an event that is sustainable, beautiful, and meets the needs of all those involved.
Our full price Retreat Package at £350 will be available right up until the retreat or until we sell out!
For those who would like to combine the fun of the retreat and karma of the service we have few Seva Tickets. These tickets are designed for those who enjoy getting involved in the running of the retreat by giving the core crew a hand with whatever is needed to be done on the day, or those who can't afford the full price of the tickets but still want to come. If you’re keen to be involved, please click here to complete our online application.
The tickets can be booked in the Available Packages section below.
Travel
Hardwick estate is only 40 minutes by train from London (Paddington), and just 20 minutes by car from Junction 12 on the M4. Easily accessible from the main transport hubs at Reading, yet set in the rolling countryside of the Chilterns AONB, Hardwick is ideally located for a weekend getaway of peace and tranquility.
If you have a spare seat in your car and are happy to share a ride, or if you need a lift to the gathering, join the link to the our retreat community WhatsApp group.
What’s included
- Sweat Lodge CeremonyA profoundly transformative process of cleansing led by experienced ceremonial practitioners.
- Daily wild swimmingWe are blessed to have a clean and pure section of the Thames on our doorstep. Listed as one of the best wild swimming spots in UK.
- Daily morning yoga classMorning yoga to help us connect to our natural state of body/mind - relaxed awareness, presence, peace. Exploring mindful embodiment through the depth of asanas, breathwork and cleansing practices.
- Tree meditationThis is a great opportunity to learn effective methods of meditation with the help of the the embodied stillness and living wisdom of the trees which are our traditional and powerful supporters.
- Yoga WorkshopsTransformational workshops in the stunning location with experienced teachers will allow to breath new life into our essence of being and create a lasting connection to a sense of inner contentment.
- Creative WritingAllow yourself to be guided by your intuition and use words that flow to reflect on your own process of cleansing and rebirth.
- Mantra MeditationLearn the power of sound to revitalise your inner spirit and find your true voice through chanting sacred mantra.
- SingingProven to boost our sense of wellbeing, singing allows for a deep connection to the self and those we sing with. Enjoy nature inspired, elemental songs around the campfire that’ll soothe your soul.
- Story TellingSharing stories around the fire is an ancient tradition that offers a space to reflect, connect and inspire. Embrace magical folk tales that’ll take you on journeys inwards and beyond.
- Ayurvedic mealsAll our food is organic and locally sourced and lovingly prepared with your health and satisfaction in mind. We are so lucky to be surrounded by passionate and ethical growers!
- Ayurvedic AssessmentPersonal Ayurvedic Assessment of your constitution will be offered. Understanding of your own nature provides enhanced tool set for self healing and wellbeing.
- Luxury Indoor ShowersIndoor showers and toilets are conveniently located next to the campsite. There are additional toilets and hot water shower, sinks and fresh running water also available at our campsite.
- Massage/HealingThere will be professional therapists on site offering rejuvenating massage and deeply healing bodywork. This will be offered at a reduced rate but is not included in the package price.
- Ground RentAccommodation is provided on a secluded camping field next to the shores of the river. We have an option to rent tents which you can add before you checkout. Tents for rent are limited.
What’s not included
- Tent for Personal RestBring a tent to pitch in our secluded camping field next to the shores of the river. We have an option to rent tents which you can add before you checkout. Tents for rent are limited.
- BeddingPlease bring your own sleeping bags, blankets, pillows etc
- Cutlery and crockeryPlease bring your own plates, bowls, cutlery and mug. This will help us stay clean and hygienic.
- Yoga matPlease bring your own yoga mat. Let us know if you cant access a mat we have a few to borrow. Please also bring a blanket for end of class relaxation.
Available Packages
Available options
Preerected, spacious, cotton canvas bell tent for the whole duration of your stay. Enjoy the experience of rest & comfort.
Pre-erected small tent for 1-2 people for the whole duration of the retreat.
Pre-erected medium tent for 4-5 people for the whole duration of the retreat.
Itinerary
We will welcome you to our beautiful location between 3-5pm. There will be time to settle and orientate, put up your tents and relax into your space before we gather.
On the first evening we will talk a little bit about your ayurvedic self, and how that will help shape your practice over the retreat. We will then enjoy our first meal together before holding the opening circle around the camp fire.
As we settle in, grounding deeper into ourselves and the land surrounding us we will take the opportunity to embrace the earth element through song around the evening fire. Offering a musical space for connection with the trees that fuel the fire and produce the seeds for growth and life’s cycle of endings and beginnings. We reflect on the element of water and its ability to cleanse us, to shed old layers and embody a fresh perspective, making way for renewal. Appreciating the movement and fluidity of water, its tidal rhythms and how this transpires through the body and the healing powers of sound.