Feel fantastic with our smorgasbord of wellbeing - invest in your health & happiness with friendly & accessible classes for your mind & body, plus experience the benefits of nature, creativity, music & more. Let's get together and feel good!
We’re delighted that our special guest teacher is Frank Perry (musician and yoga teacher extraordinaire) - he'll be there along with the rest of the team, to help you enjoy Yoga (all levels, including beginners), Meditation, Qigong, the joy of music & the healing power of nature in our woodland carpeted in bluebells (this is the best weekend to see them in bloom) & river where we’ll be guests of the resident otter.
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).
Frank Perry is our very special guest teacher who will be leading this retreat with YinYan founder, Robin Ellis plus Damian Lyons (our Qigong teacher), and the rest of the team.
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 – became a teacher (training under Frank Perry 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, 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 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!
There's going to be some very special musical performances this weekend for you sit back & enjoy too - we can't wait!
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 hello@yinyan.co.uk (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:
Pay £120 to secure your place - remaining £120 due 3 weeks before the retreat. Includes all classes, food & camping pitch (bring your own tent, or book a yurt if still available). For bookings after 1st March 2020 the price includes VAT at 20% (VAT Reg. No. 403 1509 46).
Arrivals from 2pm, settle into your tent/yurt then enjoy a brew by the fire or a stroll in the woods before the Group Welcome at 5pm. Followed by Yoga, a delicious dinner & campfire chat & sing-song.