Yoga Day Retreats - Mindful Day Retreats - Yikes (Yoga Hikes)

Forestry Wellbeing is a partnership run with my wonderful yoga teacher friend Claire Dunn.
In 2017, we were walking our dogs one day on Cannock Chase and one of us said "wouldn't it be great to be able to bring people here to do yoga outdoors so they can appreciate all of this too?". We looked at each other with wide eyes & Forestry Wellbeing was born.
Our idea was to share our love for yoga, walking and being outdoors in the forest with as many people as we can, keeping these days an affordable little break from normal life to remind us just how beautiful and rewarding being outside can be.
We know that being outside in nature makes us feel lighter, happier, stronger & calmer. We want to help other people feel those benefits too!
These sessions give you the gift of time; letting you leave your worries behind while the forests of The Chase restore your body, mind and soul.
We spend as much time as we can outside: in summer, we stroll barefoot & paddle in cool pools; in winter we walk briskly, practicing warming yoga and drinking cacao round cosy fires. We do live in England, so come prepared for all weathers, with layers, sensible shoes and a smile.
​We have a forest cabin to provide a base for tea & biscuits, toilets and a warm, dry place to do our thing if we need it.
For a full list of Ts & Cs and FAQs, please click on the "Booking Terms & Conditions, FAQs" button below.
As these events have limited spaces and always sell out fast, we regret we can not reserve any spaces without payment.
​We look forward to seeing you in the woods soon :-)
Claire & Emma

Samhain Yoga Retreat Day,  Sunday 20th October - SOLD OUT

Samhain (pronounced sow-en) is an ancient Celtic festival which celebrates the end of the harvest and the coming of winter.  It was traditionally a time when cattle would be brought down from summer pastures and food would be prepared for storage through the winter.  Special bonfires were lit which were said to have protective and cleansing powers.  Samhain was regarded as a time when the veil between this life and the 'otherworld' was at its thinnest and so could be more easily crossed. 'Fairies' and 'spirits' were believed to cross over into this world to protect people and their livestock through the winter. 
For most of us, autumn is our favourite time of year.  The days get cooler but we're still blessed with sunshine and the most spectacular display of colour from Mother Nature as the trees turn from green to gold.  Autumn is a time to celebrate death and renewal as part of the cycle of life, as the trees remind us that sometimes we must let go in order to move on.
Join us for a day of being 'unbusy' as we allow ourselves to be suspended in a space between past and future.  The challenge will be to enter a place of stillness and simply be where we are as we practice our asana outside - so bring a layer or two. A hearty vegetarian lunch will be included as well as traditional Samhain foods - apples, nuts, seeds and soul cakes, and of course, hot drinks.  We'll take a gentle stroll through the ancient woodlands of Cannock Chase and notice the beauty that is all around us.
There will be time for meditating on what you're reaping what you've sown this year, as we sit around a crackling fire in our yurt, and set our intentions for the season ahead. Cost: £35

Winter Wellbeing Yoga Retreat Day, Sunday 17th November - 1 place left

​The Welsh say cwtch, the Danes call it hygge; we call it Forestry Wellbeing.
As we head towards one of the busiest times in the UK calendar, we can be left feeling depleted of energy with a seemingly never-ending to-do list of things to prepare and family and friends to visit. Take some time for yourself to recharge your batteries and join us for a day of warmth and comfort, like you’re being wrapped up in your favourite blanket.
Our day will begin in our cosy cabin in the woods where we’ll practice some warming yoga asana and stretch our legs before setting off out into the woods for a refreshing walk.  Winter can make us feel sluggish and less motivated, but winter is a great time to be outdoors!  The woods take on an ethereal quality as all seems still; Mother Nature seems to have pressed ‘pause’ … underneath the carpet of mulchy leaves, pine cones and larch needles, lies a world snuggled up, going quietly inward.
We’ll enjoy a hearty vegetarian lunch back at our cabin before practicing a more quietly inward yin practice in the afternoon.  We’ll share some yogic ideas of how to keep your lymphatic system healthy through the winter months, and as stress is the immune system’s worst enemy, we’ll be concluding our day with a calming meditation to give your immune system a much-needed boost. 
You’ll leave feeling relaxed, chilled out and happy … with the complete absence of stress.
Cost: £35 ​

Mindful Day Retreat, Sunday 24th November, ​9.45am - 3.00pm

Our first whole day Mindfulness retreat in September had such lovely feedback, we've planned two more: one in November to get you ready for the festive season/ cold & dark winter, and
​one in early February to help you prepare for an amazing new year.
These days are a wonderful opportunity to allow your whole being to slow down, take some time and relax as we practice various mindfulness techniques to soothe body, mind & soul.
We will set up for the day in our little forest cabin and then spend as much time outside as possible, in the forest and in our yurt, experiencing mindful movement, breathing, relaxation, body scans, meditation and even mindful eating. We will practice quite a few different techniques; learning how to be mindful of how we feel, our thoughts and what is around us.
We will stand, sit (floor, chairs or on bum mats in the woods!) & lie down, letting the sights, sounds and smells of the forest help us fully appreciate being in the moment.
Please bring a delicious lunch you'll look forward to eating, your mat if you have one (let me know if you don't), and a cushion &/or blanket.   ​£25 per person

Hello 2020 Yoga Day Retreat, 9.45am - 3.00pm, Sunday 26th January 

The usual mix of yoga, walking, forest bathing, relaxation and usually something a little different to end the day!
More details coming soon

Mindful Day Retreat, ​9.45 - 3.00pm, Sunday 9th February ​

We hope that this Mindful Day will help you prepare for an amazing new year: to learn how to make space in your life for more of what lights you up and makes you happy.
It will be an opportunity to allow your whole being to slow down, take some time and relax as we practice various mindfulness techniques to soothe body, mind & soul.
We will set up for the day in our little forest cabin and then spend as much time outside as possible, in the forest and in our yurt, experiencing mindful movement, breathing, relaxation, body scans, meditation and even mindful eating. We will practice quite a few different techniques; learning how to be mindful of how we feel, our thoughts and what is around us.
We will stand, sit (floor, chairs or on bum mats in the woods!) & lie down, letting the sights, sounds and smells of the forest help us fully appreciate being in the moment.
Please bring a delicious lunch you'll look forward to eating, your mat if you have one (let me know if you don't), and a cushion &/or blanket.   ​£25 per person