To book a place on the next day retreat, please click the button below, or scroll down to read more information:
These day retreats offer a space where you can step away from the busyness of daily life and take some time for yourself. They are secular and based mainly on mindfulness meditation practices, although each one is also uniquely themed around the season in which it takes place. They provide an opportunity to explore mindfulness if it is new to you or deepen your practice if you already have experience.
To read more about mindfulness generally, please see my article on What is mindfulness?
New Year 2024 Day Retreat – Mindfulness and Creating the Life you Desire
Sunday 21st January 2024, 10am – 2:30pm
Upton Pyne Village Hall, conveniently located just outside Exeter, within easy travelling distance of Crediton, Cullompton, Tiverton and the surrounding area
This retreat offers the opportunity to participate in secular mindfulness practices to rejuvenate you as we move into the New Year. It also provides a space to reflect on the past year and identify what’s most important for you in the year to come. Additionally, there will be meditations to facilitate letting go of what you wish to leave behind from the last year and to cultivate greater connection with those around you. Towards the end of the day, you will create a tangible reminder of your intentions for the new year, which you can take away with you to help maintain your focus on your aspirations throughout the coming months.
Guidance will be provided for all practices so the day will be suitable for newcomers to mindfulness and meditation. It also provides an opportunity for those with experience to come together and practice with others.
Feedback received from previous day retreats:
“Would be interested in attending another one. Excellent range and combination of activities…All of it was very enjoyable – thank you!”
“Thank you for today. It was amazing…I felt really inspired by the work we did…You did such a great job leading it.”
“Sarah the tutor was very approachable, had a beautifully soothing voice and the sessions were extremely relaxing and positive. Thank you.”
“I found it very relaxing and it left me feeling much more positive and focused…There was a lovely restful and positive atmosphere.”
Places limited to 10 to enhance participant experience.
£35 early booking rate available until Friday 15th December, £40 thereafter. Includes a vegetarian lunch (with vegan and gluten free options), and hot and cold drinks.
Please contact me if you have any queries about this event.
Future Day Retreats
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Spring Day Retreat – Mindfulness and Movement
Date TBC 2024, 10am – 2:30pm
Upton Pyne Village Hall, conveniently located just outside Exeter, within easy travelling distance of Crediton, Cullompton, Tiverton and the surrounding area
The spring day retreat combines gentle mindful movement practices with other forms of mindfulness and meditation. It offers the opportunity to engage in a range of practices which support appreciating, and connecting more deeply, with the beauty of this season through the senses.
We will experience mindful walking outdoors in this lovely rural location and engage in mindful seeing and hearing practices.
The mindful movement element of the day will involve bringing detailed awareness to simple stretches and a gentle sequence based on yoga postures, drawn from the Mindfulness for Life course. This will awaken the body, and support you in feeling more grounded and connected with yourself.
Guidance will be provided for all practices so the day will be suitable for newcomers to mindfulness. No previous experience of yoga or other movement practices required. The day also provides an opportunity for those with experience to come together and practice with others.
Feedback received from this day retreat previously:
“I enjoyed the day overall and would rate my own experience as 10/10. Sarah facilitated the day in a well structured way and I found her to be welcoming and gentle in her approach. The meditations were especially enjoyable. Lovely, friendly and warm group of participants.”
“I have found it very therapeutic and relaxing to be in a safe space with like-minded women. The day has gone very quickly and I’ve loved it! Your approach is so calming. I really liked the movement practices as I’d never tried these before and found them really powerful. Refreshments were lovely and the day was structured very well.”
“10/10 overall a very positive experience…I thought it was perfect. It felt informative in a positive way.”
“10/10 very enjoyable, relaxed environment and each exercise clearly explained.”
Summer Day Retreat – Mindfulness Meditation and Creativity
Date TBC 2024, 10am – 2:30pm
Upton Pyne Village Hall, conveniently located just outside Exeter, within easy travelling distance of Crediton, Cullompton, Tiverton and the surrounding area
The summer day retreat offers the opportunity to participate in a range of mindfulness practices which are specifically aimed at enhancing creativity. These meditations can enable you to release the grip of difficult thoughts, soothe the inner critic and cultivate a clearer state of mind. By engaging in these practices, you can develop greater flexibility, resilience and a sharper working memory. They also help the subconscious mind to more effectively process information and produce innovative ideas.
We will engage in several creative exercises and see for ourselves how the detailed awareness that mindfulness fosters can support us in these activities. We will experiment with mindful doodling, sketching and mandala drawing. These activities will help you to feel absorbed in the present moment, and often bring a sense of calm.
We will also experience mindful walking and sky gazing outdoors in this lovely rural location (weather permitting!), supporting you to feel grounded and peaceful.
Guidance will be provided for all practices so the day will be suitable for newcomers to mindfulness. The day also provides an opportunity for those with experience to come together and practice with others. Artistic ability is not necessary to fully participate in, and benefit from, this retreat.
Feedback received from this day retreat previously:
“Very good 10/10 – did not appreciate the value of meditation until now.”
“Very relaxing, liked the mix of creativity and mindfulness, and trying the different types of mindfulness.”
Autumn Day Retreat – Mindfulness, Meditation and Relaxation
Sunday 22nd October 2023, 10am – 2:30pm
Upton Pyne Village Hall, conveniently located just outside Exeter, within easy travelling distance of Crediton, Cullompton, Tiverton and the surrounding area
This day retreat offers the opportunity to participate in a range of mindfulness practices and a relaxation exercise, which will help us rest well and peacefully as the days are shortening. These will include gentle mindful movement, and mindful walking in this lovely rural location, as well as practices in stillness such as the body scan and a sitting practice involving mindful hearing and seeing. We will also cultivate appreciation for this time of year and look at what will nourish us through the winter months.
Guidance will be provided for all practices, so the day will be suitable for newcomers to mindfulness, meditation and relaxation. It also provides an opportunity for those with experience to come together and practice with others.
Feedback received from previous day retreats:
“Thank you for today. It was amazing…I felt really inspired by the work we did…You did such a great job leading it.”
“Sarah the tutor was very approachable, had a beautifully soothing voice and the sessions were extremely relaxing and positive. Thank you.”
“I found it very relaxing and it left me feeling much more positive and focused…There was a lovely restful and positive atmosphere.”