Feel fantastic at this 3 day bank holiday weekend retreat in the stunning Lake District - enjoy the perfect balance of energetic (Yang) & relaxing (Yin) sessions, the full spectrum of wellbeing! Sign up to invest in your health & happiness with friendly & accessible classes for your mind & body plus enjoy nature, creativity, music & more. Let's get together and feel good!

We’re delighted to be joined by special guest teachers Paul Wooding & Donna Unwin - they'll be there along with the rest of the team, to help you enjoy classes for all levels (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Nidra, Mindfulness, Feldenkrais, Qigong, Dance & Ukuleles) all while you experience the healing power of nature & the joy of creativity & music...in our woodland carpeted in wild flowers with river where we're guests of the resident otter.

Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd June 2022 are both bank holidays, arrive for our retreat on Thursday 2nd & leave Sunday 5th June - we can't wait to welcome you, we just hope that 3 nights is enough for everything we've got in store for you!

A beautiful meadow where birds sing, wild flowers carpet the woodland and we camp beside the river. Our ‘Big Top’ parachute canopy provides open sided weather protection all weekend, the camp kitchen will be serving up feasts from the kitchen tent. There’s a compost toilet, extra portable toilets, a hot shower (or river!), sink with hot water & kitchen cabin with fridges, kettles, toaster & microwave (all subject to multiple daily sanitising).

Under 2 hours drive from Liverpool/Manchester. 15 minute taxi from Oxenholme station (direct trains from London Euston in 3 hours).

Paul Wooding & Donna Unwin are leading this retreat with YinYan founder Robin Ellis plus Damian Lyons (our Qigong teacher), and the rest of the team.  

Paul has been practising yoga for over 30+ years and teaching for 25. His initial influence was Iyengar, also trained in Yoga Therapy with The Yoga Biomedical Trust based in London, 
as well as being trained to teach the ‘Yoga For Healthy Lower Backs’ course.

Using yoga as a therapeutic tool is his passion. He's a teacher trainer for the British Wheel of Yoga. We call him the King of Yin and we are so happy to have him with us!

Donna discovered Yoga & Pilates as a dancer, using it to help with injuries, strength, flexibility & mental health. She trained in India and teaches in studios, schools, universities & corporates – her style is creative & fun and her philosophy is life should be a moving meditation that brings joy, balance and perspective.

Robin  discovered Yoga, Pilates, Meditation & Ukuleles when dealing with chronic back pain – became a teacher (training under Paul) 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, who provide wellbeing classes and more across England. His classes are wide ranging and very inclusive, giving beginners the perfect place to start & more practised students the chance to get back to basics & fundamental principles.

Delicious, satisfying & healthy vegan food is provided for your lunch & dinner, think warming chilli, tasty curry & wholesome soups - we've given up trying to describe how good the food is, it's just AMAZING! Meat eaters don't worry, we only have big & hearty meals, you will not be disappointed! If you have any allergy or special requirements let us know. Fresh fruit, porridge and toast 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, cups & cutlery but please bring your own camping utensils where possible (there's a sink to wash up).

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.

The communal fire pits are the beating heart of our retreat - it's where our community comes together to bond, share stories, make music & memories...please bring your instrument if you have one - anything & everything welcome, and everyone gets their very own kazoo PLUS we've got some very special musical performances in store!

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 is always up for a cuddle! There will also be a fire ceremony. We can’t wait to be laughing & singing together under the stars – it’s so good for your soul.

We believe creativity is a powerful way to feel good, and you can experience this on our retreats. Try mindful drawing and/or join the YinYanBand (no musical experience necessary) - we create a friendly & fun environment for beginners, if you decide to have a go then the magic starts to happen.

Every weekend includes optional beginner ukulele lessons, plus you can try singing/kazoo-ing & be involved in the fire ceremony. The ukulele is such an accessible &  joyful instrument, you'll be laughing your head off before you know it - and if you play any instrument please bring it!

Plus of course you can make some shapes with Dancing-Donna - as with all our classes & activities you take part in as little or as much as you like.

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 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.

We can accommodate a limited number of campervans - although please note that due to a narrow gate these must NOT exceed transit sized vans (motorhomes are out, sorry). Please select 'Campervan' as an optional extra when making your booking.

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). 

The venue includes a rocky river & working woodland with – there are ditches, slopes, barbed wire & electric fences so please watch your step & sturdy shoes/wellies are recommended if the ground is wet. Happy to discuss if you want to bring children, just get in touch and we can talk!

We successfully ran seven retreats in 2021 and are planning nine in 2022, all classes, activities & treatments will be run in line with government advice & relevant local guidelines at the time (you may see some PPE – 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

• 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!