Yoga Holidays and Retreats
Just be - Yoga Weekends
16 - 19 August at Dovedale in the Peak District
4 - 6 October 2024 at Cober Hill, near Scarborough
7 - 9 February 2025 at Cober Hill, near Scarborough
Relax, refresh and restore, take time for yourself in the surroundings of the beautiful North Yorkshire coast. Suitable for those going to their first or their umpteenth yoga weekend. I will hold the space for you to explore yoga practices deeply and mindfully. Sessions will be tailored to the group and include traditional hatha yoga, Yin Yoga, integral-fascial yoga, a variety of breathing practices, deep relaxation, mudras, bandhas and guided meditation.
There will be opportunities to walk and to ‘Just be’; freshly cooked, locally sourced delicious food with special diets catered for. There’s a choice of twin/double or single ensuite rooms and an option for non-yogic partners to join at a reduced rate.
Cober Hill is a Victorian mansion steeped in history, set in 6 acres of stunning grounds, five miles north of Scarborough, an easy walk from the sea in a beautiful rural area with easy access to the Cleveland Way. October 2024 Info here and February 2025 Info here
Peveril of the Peak, Dovedale is an HF Holidays 3-star hotel in a stunning location in the quaint village of Thorpe with extensive gardens and the towering hill of Thorpe Cloud as a backdrop. Footpaths lead directly from the house including one to the famous stepping stones of the river Dove. The retreat is a long weekend from Friday 3pm - Monday 10am in ensuite rooms at an exceptional price. Retreat information here.
“Thank you for a wonderful experience at Cober Hill yoga weekend. I hope it will be the first of many.” Christine K, Easingwold
“One week since the lovely yoga weekend at Cober Hill! Thank you so much for that space, I thought it was a lovely group of people – just a nice size and of course all your yoga practices.” Shirley T, Scarborough
Just be Yoga Weekend - Feedback
“Raven Hall was an excellent venue - just far enough away from home to feel like a proper holiday, but close enough to be easily accessible. The hotel itself was warm and comfortable and the staff friendly and welcoming. We were fortunate to have fantastic sea views from our room up in the attic. Excellent food - and so nice to be looked after by the serving staff in terms of my particular dietary requirements. Anywhere that can serve me three courses several days in a row without digestive repercussions is definitely worth another visit.
It was also good to have easy access to both indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities for the free time, and particularly for Mark (my partner and our chauffeur!) who wasn't doing the yoga. He had a wonderful time seal watching and on coastal walks.
It was also lovely to be surrounded by like-minded 'yogis' and for my mum to have an 'instant' set of new friends. I hadn't realised until this weekend how helpful it is for us both to be able to 'share' her with other people in an environment where she feels safe and supported. As the years pass, I think this will become ever more important, and I am glad that we can continue to share our yoga practise.
The timings of the sessions - same schedule each day - was welcome as it meant I didn't have to think too much about where to be and when, and I didn't feel too rushed to get from bed/breakfast/dinner to yoga session. As always, your pacing was perfect so I never felt over challenged, just enough to feel good.” Julie T. York
“I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful weekend of Yoga in Ravenscar. What a revelation it was to me, I loved it all. I hadn’t really thought it through before coming along...but as I tried to say at the end, the whole experience was like an unexpected gift- utterly surprising and one you didn’t really know you wanted or needed and one which opens a door for you. Your teaching was perfect, gentle and so clear. The venue was great- lots of space, great staff, what an interesting group of people, super food and that view of course. It has left me wanting to do more.” Louisa G. Easingwold
“Thank you so much for a super weekend. The time was very special for me – nourishing and supportive. I thought it was a good group which worked well together. I particularly like the pace you work at. That on its own is very calming and settling and breathing practices never fail to work their magic.” Shirley T, Scarborough
I benefitted from it so much from the weekend. I echo all the comments on the last day, but mostly I appreciated slowing down and noticing new tensions I didn’t know were there, and noticing them leave. You made feel part of the group, and provided a safe environment where everything was taken care of so we could focus on the yoga (and the food). I really loved the longer yoga sessions in the mornings, I wasn’t expecting that and they were a real treat! Most of all I really loved practicing in a room of such experienced people, and being lead in such a thoughtful way. As ever I have learnt a lot, and you’ve imparted so many new seeds in your own special way - thank you. Nikki B, Bradford
Thank you for such a fantastic yoga weekend, it was a complete mind & body “reset” for me. I really enjoyed your teaching and meeting you and the rest of the group in such beautiful surroundings. Everything was perfect and very well organised. Caroline H.
Coniston Yoga and Walking Holiday
16 - 21 March 2025
Guest Tutors: Rebecca Lawrence and Dawn Wesselby
Other tutors: Cheryl Lee-Appleby, Minker Chang, Jayadhara
Our holiday combines a wealth of yoga workshops led by experienced tutors together with opportunities to walk and explore the varied scenic beauty of the Lake District with competent guides.
Our venue is 3* Monk Coniston, a large National Trust Property set in 15 acres of beautiful woodland with exceptional views of Coniston Water and Coniston Old Man. Food is freshy cooked, nourishing, a wide variety of menus and special diets can be catered for.
What’s included
3* ensuite accommodation, free parking and Wi-Fi
Over 40 hours of yoga workshops with a choice of sessions
Choice of Long or Short guided walks each day
Varied evening entertainment and concert with professional musician
Holiday Information is here
Coniston Guest Tutors for 2025
Rebecca Lawrence began her spiritual journey 35 years ago, being gifted the ancient Upanishads to help her make sense of some transformational experiences in her teenage years. She has never looked back and found yoga offered a framework for deep healing, a spiritually connected, and fulfilling life.
She holds a 500-hour BWY Diploma, has completed Yin Yoga training and offers an eclectic heart-based teaching style, often integrating mantra and mudra. Introduced to the power of sound, music, and mantra as a child, she is passionate about the their transformational powers and completed Sound and Gong training with the College of Sound Healing. She weaves her voice, singing bowls, drums and gongs into a soundscape to promote deep healing. She also offers seasonal and cacao ceremonies to help bring us back into balance with the natural world, remind us of our interconnectedness and shared humanity.
Dawn Wesselby was first introduced to yoga as a child when she would join her mother in her bedroom to practice with the aid of Richard Hittleman's book (Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan). Sadly, she was often sent away to allow her mother to practice in peace. She returned to yoga at the age of 23, after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a condition her mother had also suffered and has successfully used yoga practices to manage the pain and discomfort. She has been teaching since 2000 and strongly believes that the true power of yoga is not in performing asana, but in being present in the body, observing the fluctuations of the mind, changes in mental state and energy levels.
Dawn is a 500-hour BWY Diploma holder and Diploma Course Tutor. She trained in Restorative Yoga with Judith Lasater which uses multiple props to give the body space to open and release and bring about deep healing. She has additional training in Yoga Philosophy, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra and Yoga for Mental Health. She draws on her many years of experience and slightly wicked sense of humour to create fun classes and workshops.
Selection of the other tutors
Cheryl Lee-Appleby, was introduced to Yoga at age 21 by her sister, who was using Richard Hittleman’s Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan to warm up for running. She was struck by the releasing effect of breathing into postures. In 1988 she completed the BWY Teaching Diploma while living and studying Buddhism at the Manjushri Institute in Ulverston, Cumbria. Her main teaching influences are Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, Scaravelli and Somatic approaches to working physically. In her teaching she seeks the relaxation and integration of body and mind, and is not averse to a bit of fun. She also has a background in dance, drama and massage.
Minker Chang is a fraternal twin, a yoga teacher and teacher trainer at Proper Northern Yoga. He teaches classical yoga blended alongside Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Feldenkrais, somatic and Ga Ga movement; guiding students to explore the entire bandwidth of yin-and-yang and returning to baseline and homeostasis with comfort and ease. Breathe. Feel. Connect. His teaching is informed by Eastern and Western philosophy, neuroscience, quantum physics and mystical poetry. Be like an inner-gardener; plant, grow and blossom beneficial states to uproot and let go of afflictive habits.
Jayadhara has used yoga as a journey of self-discovery and healing since university and after training with BWY, she began teaching in 1988. She studied yoga philosophy in India and offers workshops, BWY Foundation and in-depth Study and Sadhana courses. Her teaching draws on the wisdom of Satyananda Yoga, Mukunda Stiles, Mindfulness, Yin and Integral Fascia Yoga. She uses a staged approach to make practices accessible and has a talent for expressing her teaching clearly and enjoyably. She loves her garden, growing things and finding creative solutions.
