Hawkwood Logo

Our Programmes

The How of Happiness

17th January 2025 - 19th January 2025

Facilitator: Miriam Akhtar

An uplifting and inspiring journey into positive psychology and what it takes to feel good and function well. The retreat will equip you with a range of practical tools to grow your wellbeing. You will come away with your own toolbox of happiness boosters, which open the gateway to a flourishing life.

Event time: 17th January 2025 4:00pm - 19th January 2025 4:00pm

Interested in spreading the cost of this course? Select Clearpay at checkout.

Not seeing Clearpay? Email info@hawkwoodcollege.co.uk for your payment options.

What Is Included

For the majority of our courses, both residential and non-residential rates are available. Residential options are fully inclusive with all meals provided. Non-residential options include suppers, lunches and all refreshments and exclude B&B. Some of our short day courses, events and talks do not include meals and refreshments. For more details about this course, please see the Practical Information section below.

Additional Activities

  • Mindful walking through our woodland trails
  • Meditate in our Woodland Sanctuary
  • Go on a hike and explore the Cotswolds AONB
  • Discover surrounding charming market towns

At a Glance

  • A journey into the science of happiness
  • Explore the practices that grow wellbeing
  • Reflect on your source of meaning and purpose 

What You Will Gain

  • Get to know positive psychology
  • Understand the major pathways to happiness
  • Try out positive psychology practices
  • Take away insights and practices to grow your wellbeing 
  • Savour Hawkwood’s natural surroundings and delicious food

Booking Options

Residential (single)Residential single rate
£470.00
Residential (shared)Residential shared rate
£420.00
Non-residentialNon-residential rate
£340.00

Interested in spreading the cost of this course? Select Clearpay at checkout.

Not seeing Clearpay? Email info@hawkwoodcollege.co.uk for your payment options.

The How of Happiness Tutors

Miriam Akhtar

Miriam Akhtar

More about The How of Happiness

Across the weekend we explore these major ingredients in the science of happiness.
- What is Happiness
- Flow: Being ‘in the zone’
- Positive Emotions: The feel-good factor
- Strengths: You at your best (Please take the free test at www.viacharacter.org and bring your results to the workshop)
- Positive Relationships: Other people matter
- Finding Meaning & Purpose
- Optimism: Developing the glass half full.
- Positive Directions: Planning the way forward

Practical Information

Bring journals or notebooks to write in.
Bring comfortable clothes and footwear - whatever will help you feel cosy.
Bring your outdoor gear to explore Hawkwood.

"Hawkwood is a very special place; the only place where I’ve really felt that possibly spiritual feeling and I feel able to switch off from the outside world. Perched high up on the hills, the views are amazing and the cosiness of the library, hospitality and warmth of the Hawkwood team, make this a perfect venue for the How of Happiness."
Julia, previous participant

About Hawkwood

Hawkwood is a stunning Grade Il listed 19th Century country house, surrounded by 42 acres of sustainably managed woodland, farmland, and gardens. Set in the heart of the Cotswolds - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - it is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. With a diverse selection of nearly 150 courses, there's plenty to choose from, including courses in transformative leadership, future thinking, inner life, music and the arts.

Other Courses You Might Like

Finding Quiet Strength

Finding Quiet Strength

24th January 2025 - 26th January 2025

Finding Quiet Strength is a course designed to restore our daily lives to an ideal balance of work, rest and play. We shall be working on finding our emotional intelligence and embodied awareness by revisiting old strengths of mind and body and discovering new strengths we didn’t know we had. The course will reset our choices for the New Year ahead. Finding health, happiness and ease, through enjoyable, achievable routines

Rest and Restore Retreat Weekend

Rest and Restore Retreat Weekend

20th June 2025 - 22nd June 2025

The summer solstice is a pausing place in the turning of the wheel of time, and this retreat invites you into a contemplative and peaceful state of mind. Bringing mind, body and soul together through deeply restful yoga practices and philosophy, as well as journaling techniques and nature-based meditations, we will take time to enjoy the longest day, and find gratitude for the abundance of light and beauty all around us at this time of year.

Forest Bathing

Forest Bathing

23rd March 2025

Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku) is a gentle, nature-based therapeutic practice developed in Japan during the 1980's to help reduce stress and improve mental and physical wellbeing. Although Shinrin Yoku is translated as “forest bathing”, there is no water involved, the term rather describing a state of becoming fully immersed in the forest atmosphere through awareness, observation and meditation.

Hawkwood Logo

Hawkwood is an arts and educational charity providing courses, facilitating training and offering venue hire, set in a stunning location in the Cotswolds.

Newsletter Sign-Up

If you would like to stay up-to-date with our latest events and courses then please subscribe to our newsletter.

© 2024 Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking | Hawkwood College, Painswick Old Road, Stroud, GL6 7QW

Charity number: 311767 | Company number: 599678

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Credits | Site Map