Hosted by James & Alex Wittering, this nourishing SUP yoga & mindfulness day retreat will be all about you. Yoga on the lawn, guided mindfulness meditations, SUP yoga, swimming and healthy, local food. Step out of your busy life and resource yourself in a supportive, tranquil, beautiful outdoor space.
Feel like you need to press the reset button? Join us for our brand new SUP yoga retreat days in partnership with the Chipping Norton Lido. Tucked away in the heart of this traditional Cotswold town the “Chippy Lido” has been serving the local community since 1970. Surrounded by lawns and trees, it has the feel of a secluded oasis and will be all ours for the day.
This is a completely beginner-friendly retreat and all our activities will provide opportunities both for experienced yogis to deepen their practice and beginners to move at their own pace.
Your retreat hosts:
Alex is an ASI-accredited SUP Yoga instructor, a qualified yoga teacher and an STA open water swim coach and will be leading your retreat.
James is an ASI-accredited technical SUP coach and MBCT (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) teacher.
A unique & intimate day retreat
You may already know that we are not about big groups and this retreat is no exception. With just twelve spaces available this retreat is a unique and intimate event, giving you the space to reconnect with your body and mind at your own pace. We will provide a supportive, peaceful environment for you to deepen your practice, learn and move at your own pace or simply take the time to listen to your body and give it what it needs. Small groups mean that we all have the time and space to get to know each other, to listen mindfully and to ensure that everybody feels included, safe and welcome. We love being present with our guests and we will have the space and time to encourage, support and answer any questions individually so that you get everything you can from the day.
Our retreat itinerary for the day
10:30am Settling in and making new friends :)
10:45 - 11:45am: Introduction to Mindfulness
11 45- 12:15pm: Break for a smoothie and a snack
12:15 - 13:30pm: Opening with a Yang to Yin Vinyasa yoga
13:30 - 14:30pm Break for a seasonal, locally sourced lunch
14:30 - 15:30pm - Group 1: Free time, swim, rest, read and resource yourself
14:30 - 15:30pm - Group 2: SUP Yoga
15:30 - 17:00pm - Group 1: SUP Yoga
15:30 - 17:00pm - Group 2: Free time, swim, rest, read and resource yourself
Hot showers, change and a comforting, homemade hot lemon and ginger drink
Nourishing, guided activities in a private, beautiful setting
We will meet and greet at the Lido at 10:30 am and open the day with our mindfulness workshop where you'll learn what mindfulness is and where it originated, followed by some guided practices and exercises to give you some useful tools to work more gently with and respond more wisely to the difficulties we face in everyday life. Our practice is evidence-based, non-secular and respectful of all faiths and belief systems.
After a delicious seasonal smoothie or Juice and a light snack we will enjoy a flowing 'yang to yin' vinyasa session that starts with invigorating flowing asanas and flows into deep yin stretches, preparing the body and mind for the rest of the day.
Lunch will be seasonal, locally sourced, vegan and gluten-free (not to mention healthy and delicious). If you have any other dietary requirements please get in touch and we will make arrangements for you.
After lunch, we will mindfully head out onto the water for 90 mins of SUP yoga. Once safely anchored on your board in the crystal clear, heated water of the lido we will follow a flowing sequence of postures similar to those we practiced in the morning and with lots of options and variations. Moving your practice out onto the water really helps to draw the focus inwards, challenge the body, focus the mind and take notice of the changes that take place in your body and mind once you are floating! Two groups will take turns with this activity and when you are not doing SUP yoga you are free to rest, read and resource yourself in these beautiful, relaxing surroundings.
At the end of your sequence, there will be time to try any asanas that you would like and may not have had a chance to, to challenge yourself perhaps, and to have a photo taken if you would like.
Afterwards, we will shower and change and enjoy a hot lemon and ginger before departing.
Activity duration: 7hrs approximately
Location: Chipping Norton Lido
Ages 16+ (under 18s with a guardian)
Maximum group size of 12
All participants must be able to swim 50m.
Cost: £160 per person
Sample Menu
Cucumber & Spinach Smoothie
An all-natural smoothie to resource you for the day's activities with cucumber and spinach, apple, frozen mango, fresh root ginger and a hint of peppermint and no added sugar.
For lunch
Lemony Roasted Asparagus: with new potatoes and petit pois. Served with a spinach, tarragon and parsley salad and a soft boiled free range egg.
Hot drinks to keep your insides toasty and refreshed
Fresh lemon, ginger and honey tea
All our ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced where possible and prepared for you fresh at the cafe on site. Our retreat menu is always designed to provide you with healthy nourishment that doesn't compromise on deliciousness!
Additional Information
