Spring Retreat Day 🌷

Sunday, March 26 • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sam Alexander-Vasey
Sam is a yoga teacher, immersive workshop leader, reiki practitioner, mentor and coach. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance and completed her initial yoga teacher training at a beautiful residential training school in Rishikesh. She is particularly interested in exploring how yogic principles, practices and lifestyle can be used in the West as a way of creating greater peace, fulfilment, belonging and joy in a world that sometimes feels set up to put these things perpetually just beyond our reach.

Description

Join us at the Balance Wellness Centre in Knaresborough as we connect with the energy of awakening, rebirth and the return of the light as we move into the season of Spring 🌷☀️

The retreat day takes place on the weekend of the Spring Equinox - one of two days in the year where there is an equal amount of daylight and darkness. Spring signifies the return of light, when the number of hours of daylight begins to exceed the hours of darkness and continues to grow all the way through to the Summer Solstice in June.

This return of light leads to the awakening of the natural world; flowers begin to pop up from the earth, trees become filled with spring blossoms and lambs start appearing in the fields. The sunshine nourishes and enlivens the natural world and new life can be seen all around.

This shift in energy can be felt by us humans too. This is the season when we leave behind the introspective energy of winter and move into the opening and creative energy of Spring. Seeds that we have planted during the winter months begin to bear fruits and we feel an increased energy and sense of optimism and potential.

In this retreat day we will connect with the emerging energy of spring, engaging in a range of spring-themed yoga, qigong and meditation practices. We will take some time to reflect on the things we would like to grow and nourish in 2023 and how yoga and qigong practices may help us to stay connected with these intentions and goals.

The retreat is a wonderful way to consciously and intentionally mark the changing of the seasons and to connect with both yourself and an inspiring community of other people.

The retreat will include the following key elements:
☯ Meditation and mindfulness practices
☯ Awakening hatha yoga flows and stretches
☯ Qigong for Spring (Wood Element 🌳)
☯ Stories, poetry and group sharing

Who is this for?
The retreat is suitable for all abilities and everyone from experienced yogis to complete beginners are welcome. Full instruction is given for all postures and more advanced versions are available for those wanting to go deeper. The only requirement is an open mind and a curious spirit to explore how the ancient practices of yoga, meditation and qigong can support you to flourish in the modern world.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to see you there ☯🕉

Meet your instructors

Sam Alexander-Vasey - Sam is a yoga teacher, immersive workshop leader, reiki practitioner, mentor and coach. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance and completed her initial yoga teacher training at a beautiful residential training school in Rishikesh. She is particularly interested in exploring how yogic principles, practices and lifestyle can be used in the West as a way of creating greater peace, fulfilment, belonging and joy in a world that sometimes feels set up to put these things perpetually just beyond our reach

Kris Dudley - Kris has been interested in health, fitness and movement from a young age, reaching a black belt in Karate at the age of 15. As an adult, he become interested in meditation and mindfulness and discovered qigong, a practice that brought together many of his other interests. He became a student of qigong, learning from many different teachers and decided to train as an instructor so he could share this versatile practice with others. Kris is a reiki practitioner and a student of meditation, yoga and qigong and enjoys keeping healthy in body and mind.