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Our Programmes

Rest and Restore Day Retreat

17th August 2024

Facilitator: Mel Skinner

Take a break from the treadmill of modern day life, and give yourself the gift of rest and relaxation on this retreat day with experienced yoga teacher Mel Skinner. Expect deeply restful restorative yoga and yoga nidra, inspiring and heart-warming poetry, and time connecting with nature. By releasing stress and tension, we can access a place within us that is already whole and at peace – all are welcome regardless of experience.

Event time: 17th August 2024 9:00am - 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

  • Gentle and healing restorative yoga
  • Deeply restful yoga nidra meditation
  • Mindful nature-based creative activities
  • The chance to share and listen to inspiring poetry
  • Delicious and nourishing home-cooked food

What You Will Gain

  • Time to release tension from both mind and body
  • The chance to reconnect with an inner sense of peace and calm
  • The experience of “not-doing”
  • A feeling of wholeness and self-acceptance

Booking Options

Rest and Restore Day RetreatDay delegate rate
£105.00

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

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

Rest and Restore Day Retreat Tutors

Melanie Skinner

Melanie Skinner

More about Rest and Restore Day Retreat

The stresses and strains of everyday life can begin to take its toll on our physical, mental and emotional health, and despite our good intentions to prioritise our self-care, we can often find ourselves feeling exhausted, numb and depleted.

This retreat day is designed for everyone looking for the chance to deeply rest their mind, body and soul, and return back to life feeling refreshed and recovered.

The day will begin with a welcoming circle, and gentle yet effective restorative yoga to open and stretch your body, taking you out of fight or flight and into a restful state of being. We will have morning tea and snacks, followed by nature-based creative meditations, either outdoors, weather permitting, or in Hawkwood’s Woodland Sanctuary. Please bring pen and paper for this.

After this we will enjoy a nourishing lunch, followed by time sitting together in circle and sharing inspiring poetry and quotes, and there will be at least one yoga nidra meditation throughout the day. If you are new to yoga nidra, you are in for a treat – this is a deeply restful meditation which supports the nervous system, hormonal system and immune system.

By giving yourself permission to rest, you are telling yourself that you matter. You will be guided gently into deeply restful states with experienced and compassionate teacher Mel Skinner, and leave with a lasting sense of inner peace.


Practical Information

Participants to bring yoga equipment (please see list below). Please also bring a journal/notebook, pen, and any poetry/readings they would like to share with the group.

*yoga mat
*yoga bolster (can substitute with pillows)
*yoga bricks and blocks x2 each (can substitute with pillows)
*blankets for warmth - 2-3 is ideal
*yoga strap
*eye pillow
*cushion for head

Note: Mel can provide some equipment, please email direct at mel@melskinneryoga.com to request equipment. Mel will also have blankets to sell.

“Mel is a gifted teacher, I am very grateful to her. This course has been transformative.”
Matthew, 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.

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

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