This summer, why not try something completely different and immerse yourself in nature for yoga sessions with baby goats. There are several dates available for the sessions. Please make sure that you read all of the below information before booking a session. Booking a session is confirmation that you have read the information below and accept the contents herein.
Session Dates:
Monday 19th June at 6 pm
Sunday 25th June at 11 am
Monday 26th June at 6 pm
Sunday 2nd July at 11 am
Location
The session will take place at Moreton House Farm which is very close to Bishton Hall. The full address and directions will be provided upon booking the sessions.
What is Yoga with Goats?
Yoga with goats is just that – your regular yoga session with the added benefits of being in the outdoors in the presence of young goats. The goats will wander around attendees during the session, interact with and play with you. Being near to and engaging with goats brings the body and mind into a state of relaxation. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated as feelings of happiness, joy, freedom and connection arise. Yoga with goats has been shown to lift the spirit, reduce feelings of low mood, depression and anxiety and provide a lasting mood boost. Yoga with goats is a great way to feel connected to nature and at peace in the world.
What to expect
This session is an informal, gentle yoga practice set in an outdoor space. We will practice within an enclosed, grass field if the weather is dry or inside a covered barn if it rains – the session is not weather dependent, so please do still come along if you have booked a session and it looks like rain.
We will flow through a gentle seated warm up as the young goats get used to our presence (and we get used to being amongst the goats) and then we will move through a series of postures that will allow us to interact with the goats and get the most out of their playful nature. The goats do like to climb and jump up, so don’t be surprised if you find a goat on your back during tabletop pose or a goat offering you a helpful assist in downward dog.
As we will be practicing in a field or in a barn, you should expect the presence of grass, dirt and goat droppings (along with everything else expected of a working farm), so you may need to clean your yoga mat thoroughly after the session. There will be couch roll available to place under your mat if you’d like to.
The goats are young, active and often vocal. They will undoubtedly be having fun at the session along with you, so you should be prepared for quite boisterous activity and please be aware that the goats have hooves and horns. The goats will be supervised throughout the session.
What to bring with you (and what not to bring)
All you need to bring with you is your yoga mat. Please do try to keep all other belongings to a minimum – leave handbags, extra layers, bottles etc in the car as goats will help themselves to your precious items without asking! If the weather is hot, you may wish to bring water with you in a sturdy container. You may also wish to use sun screen and insect repellant (animal friendly).
When choosing what to wear, please avoid anything with hanging tassels or straps that could be nibbled and just wear something that you feel comfortable moving in. You may not wish to wear your favourite yoga clothes as again we will be in a field and the goats don’t tend to wipe their feet. Be aware that dangling jewellery and watch straps can be tempting to goats. Any jewellery should be minimal and watches should be securely fastened.
If you wish to take photos/videos of the session, you may wish to set phones up outside the perimeter of the field as the goats may trample or nibble on devices (please read carefully the disclaimer of liability below). If you can keep your phone in your pocket and take it out for a few snaps when possible, that may keep it safer from little hooves.
You should not need a blanket as we will be in a field and the ground is soft. If it looks like rain, you may want something to kneel on in the barn – as above, avoid bringing blankets with tassels or blankets that you are particularly attached to.
Health & Safety
The sessions will take place on a working farm, so it is important that you drive carefully, observe any notices and keep to paths and roadways until in the field for the session. A parking area will be designated for our use at the back of the farm buildings – please park where directed to ensure your vehicle is out of the way of other farm traffic.
Unfortunately, Yoga is not a spectator sport, so please don’t bring others to the session who are not taking part. The farm will be working at the time of the sessions so we can’t have people outside of the field who are unaccounted for.
The sessions are only suitable for people aged 16 years and over.
Please ensure that you have used hand sanitiser prior to and after the session and wash hands thoroughly as soon as possible after the session.
Disclaimer
The UK Well Nest Limited and Moreton House Farm accept no liability for loss of or damage to any property or vehicles occurring before, during or after the session while on Moreton House Farm property. Attendees should ensure that they have the proper level of mobility, fitness and health to take part in the sessions and remain responsible for all of their own possessions and vehicles brought onto Moreton House Farm property.
The Seven Types of Rest: A Comprehensive Guide for a Healthier You
In our fast-paced world, rest has become a crucial aspect of maintaining our mental and physical well-being. While sleep is the most well-known form of rest, there are other types that are equally essential for our overall health. Understanding and incorporating the seven types of rest into our daily lives can help us recharge and stay focused, leading to increased sense of achievement and well-being. In this article, we’ll explore these seven types of rest and provide tips for incorporating them into your routine.
Physical Rest
Physical rest is the most familiar form of rest, and it’s often associated with sleep. However, it can also include other activities that allow our muscles and joints to recover from the strains and stresses of daily life. Examples include stretching, yoga, and massage. Incorporating physical rest into your day can reduce fatigue, improve muscle recovery, and lower the risk of injury.
Mental Rest
Mental rest is essential for reducing brain fog and maintaining focus throughout the day. This type of rest involves taking breaks from cognitive tasks, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and creative thinking. Meditation, mindfulness exercises, and stepping away from screens can all help in providing mental rest. Aim for periodic short breaks during the day and create a routine that allows your mind to recharge regularly. Taking a mindful tea break or a mindful moment outside can really make a difference.
Emotional Rest
Emotional rest focuses on processing and expressing our feelings to maintain emotional balance. This type of rest can be achieved through journaling, therapy, or simply having open conversations with a trusted friend or family member. By addressing our emotions and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we can experience relief and a sense of emotional well-being. It’s often said in mindfulness practice; what we feel, we heal.
Sensory Rest
Sensory rest is essential for counteracting the constant bombardment of stimuli from our environment, such as noise, light, and screen time. To practice sensory rest, create a calm and quiet space where you can retreat and unplug. Activities like reading a book, taking a walk in nature, or closing your eyes for a few minutes can all help to reduce sensory overload and provide restorative benefits. Earplugs can also be really valuable to increase sensory rest when you share space with others and it’s harder to find quiet.
Social Rest
Social rest is the act of finding balance between socialising and solitude. This type of rest can involve spending time with people who recharge your energy or seeking out moments of solitude to regroup and reflect. Identify which relationships in your life provide support and comfort, and make an effort to prioritise those connections.
Creative Rest
Creative rest is the process of rejuvenating our creative energies and nurturing our imagination. It involves stepping away from our usual creative outlets and engaging in activities that inspire and invigorate us. Visiting an art gallery, attending a concert, or exploring a new environment can all help to stimulate our creativity and provide the rest our minds need to stay innovative.
Spiritual Rest
Spiritual rest is the practice of connecting with a higher power, whether that is through religion, spirituality, or a sense of purpose in life. This type of rest can help us find meaning and foster a sense of inner peace. Spiritual rest can be achieved through prayer, meditation, or participating in religious or spiritual activities that resonate with your beliefs.
Incorporating the seven types of rest into our daily lives can help us maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle. By understanding the different ways we can rest, we can address our individual needs and prioritise self-care. So, take a moment to assess which types of rest are missing from your life and begin to create a well-rounded rest routine that supports your overall well-being.
Rest doesn’t need to be another thing that’s added to your ‘to do’ list. Once you identify which types of rest you need more of, try adding micro-doses of rest into your day as often as possible. Leave yourself post-it note reminders, set alarms on your phone, add mini rest breaks to your calendar – whatever it takes to create the habit of healthy rest.
Join us at The Well Nest for regular workshops, classes and retreats to help you find rest and self-care.
Natural Balance Wellness Retreat – Sattva
Sunday 24th July 2022, 10 am – 4 pm
With modern life becoming ever faster and more demanding, the rise of a movement to live well and in natural harmony with the environment (Sattva) is becoming more appealing. The concept of Sattva is central to this desire to live simply, live purely and live happily. Sattva is the wish to have an awakened life, peaceful mind, vital body and pure spirit.
If you have a wish to ‘feel’ life a little more; to slow down and find your true purpose, then it’s time for you to rediscover your natural balance. This day retreat is designed to bring body, mind and spirit back into natural balance through carefully designed movement, creativity, food and deep relaxation. Retreats at The Well Nest are led by our resident expert and Director, Hannah. With 20 years experience in yogic study and practice, you couldn’t be in better hands.
Programme for the day:
9.45 am – Arrival and welcome
10 am – Kundalini yoga kriya (breath, mantra, movement and rhythm) to balance body, mind and spirit. The focus of this session will be creating hormonal balance for overall wellbeing
11 am – Creative aromatherapy workshop. Create natural, organic self-care products to be kinder to the body and to the planet. We will create a collection of products from bath salts, body scrubs, sugar scrubs and deodorants.
1.30 pm – Lunch and gin tasting at Mercia Spirits Lab. Delicious, healthy platters with bespoke gin creations and herbal additions.
3 pm – Yoga nidra (yogic sleep) and sound bath to leave you deeply relaxed and balanced to end the day.
What to expect:
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga is an ancient tantric practice of manipulating energy to find balance, vigour, vitality and to allow the body, mind and spirit to thrive. This isn’t yoga as you know it; this is a deeply beneficial holistic practice. The kriya (yoga set) that we will practice on this retreat is designed to balance hormones, bodily systems and mental wellness to bring the body back into a place of balance, strength and alignment. We will use rhythm, posture, breathwork and mantra to control the flow of energy and awaken healthy functioning of our physical and energetic body. If we are fortunate enough to have good weather, this part of the retreat may take place outdoors in the beautiful secluded grounds of Bishton Hall.
Creative Aromatherapy
The retreat will then move into creative design and blending of self-care products that will continue the natural balance element of this retreat. Discover essential oils that can be used to address your specific health concerns so that your body can be cleansed, strengthened and rebalanced. We will create natural, organic deodorant, body scrub, bath salts and sugar scrubs – a complete self care ritual that will lift the mind, body and spirit.
Lunch and Gin Tasting
You will then visit Mercia Spirits Lab for a wonderfully warm welcome and carefully designed lunch to complement the sattvic life. As you enjoy the wonderful platters available at the Spirit Lab, you will also be treated to a gin tasting – a special blend of Mercia Gin with herbal additions. (Vegan and gluten free diets can be catered for upon request).
Yoga Nidra and Sound Bath
The retreat will then be rounded off with a wonderful yoga nidra practice – a guided visualisation to induce deep yogic ‘sleep’ where the mind is calmed into deeper brainwave states. The nidra will flow into a sound bath where you will absorb the wonderful sounds of instruments chosen to bring balance to mind and body. Relax deeply as the gong, Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, chimes, wind and percussion instruments are played in this wonderful, soothing end to the retreat.
Participants will take away a bag of treats as well as the self-care products created on this retreat.
We can’t wait to meet you and help you to reclaim your natural balance.
NOTE: if the booking calendar fails to load, please book via this link
Book your space here for Sunday 24th July 2022:
It’s The Well Nest’s 5th Birthday!
We are celebrating our 5th birthday this month – come and join us for special offers, prizes and wonderful new workshops and experiences at The Vegan & Sustainable Living Festival 22nd – 24th April at Bishton Hall.
Thank You
I’d like to start by saying a huge, huge thank you to everybody that has joined me for a yoga class, workshop, meditation, therapy or treatment over the last 5 years. I’m truly grateful to each and every one of you that have joined me on this journey. You have all helped The Well Nest to survive through the toughest of years. A lot of you have become great friends over the years – some have been with me from the start! – and I have absolutely loved seeing you blossom on your wellbeing journeys. It’s a great privilege and a joy to work with people and share the gifts of holistic therapy, meditation and yoga…there is so much more on the way from The Well Nest!
What’s on This Month?
To celebrate our 5th birthday, there are number of special offers, workshops and experiences to try.
£5 off all 60 minute holistic therapy treatments – throughout the month of April, every holistic therapy (60 minutes or more) has £5 off. Get yourself booked in as soon as possible as spaces are already filling up.
Prize giveaway – enter our prize giveaway at The Vegan & Sustainable Living Festival. Your opportunity to win therapies, treatments and wellbeing products.
Workshops and experiences – This month there will be new workshops with sustainable themes such as making your own natural deodorant and body scrubs. There will be sound baths, mini holistic therapies such as Indian head massage and hand massage. Join me in the fabulous Nordic Tipi at the Vegan & Sustainable Living Festival.
Coming Soon…
More exciting things will be coming soon to The Well Nest…regular PILATES classes with our new teacher Sue: perfect for beginners and those wishing to begin a movement practice. Pilates is fantastic for building stability and core strength as well as assisting with hip and back strength and mobility. You might just find a new lease of life! If you’re interested in Pilates classes, use the button below to sign up to the waiting list and be the first to grab a space when classes go live:
MEDITATION classes with Hannah will soon be starting on a weekly basis at The Well Nest. This will be your weekly opportunity to take time out for yourself, practice meditation in a quiet and friendly atmosphere and seek advice on your practice. We will try meditations from lots of different traditions (not just mindfulness) so you can become a skilled meditator; able to find peace of mind even under the most difficult challenges of modern life.
See you soon!
Vegan & Sustainable Living Festival!
Exciting things are happening at Bishton Hall this month – join us for our first Vegan & Sustainable Living Festival! Come along and try some fantastic vegan street food, shop sustainably, discover amazing local makers and crafters and join me in the Wellbeing Tipi for some retail therapy, self-care therapies and workshops.
Main Marquee
We have so much going on at the Vegan & Sustainable Living Festival, it’s hard to know where to start!
On the lawn we have a large marquee housing around 30 vegan and sustainable living traders. Here you’ll find things such as candles, bath and body care, pies, Turkish food, jewellery, general stores, wood crafts, sauces and pickles, eco gifts, recycled and up cycled crafts, wines, doughnuts, preserves, flowers…the list goes on.
There is also a presentation area in the main marquee where you can hear traders talk about their sustainable projects, vegan living and see demonstrations and taste products. There will be a new speaker every hour on each day of the festival, including our very own Charles Hanson at 3 pm each day giving talks on antiques and buying sustainably.
Holistic Wellbeing Tipi
Take a walk around the grounds and you’ll find a magical Nordic Tipi housing the Yoga and Wellbeing area. Come and see me there for retail therapy, mini holistic treatments in the Tipi, sustainable themed workshops and a chance to win prizes.
You can shop all things yoga and meditation – mats, yoga blankets, yin pillows, blocks, carry straps, meditation cushions and eye pillows. A vast supply of incense and incense holders, diffuser oils, oil burners, bath and body care, mala beads, mandala cards, salt lamps, candles and gifts!
On offer during the festival will be mini holistic treatments such as hand massages and Indian head massage. Workshops on creating your own natural deodorant and aromatherapy body scrubs. There will also be Sound Baths to relax and unwind.
Artisan Courtyard and Street food
Come and visit our wonderful artisan courtyard of shops and makers:
The Quirky Emporium for sustainable furnishings, gifts, handmade candles and items for the garden.
Mercia Spirit Lab for tastings, artisan gin and whisky, cocktail masterclasses (!), gift vouchers and experience days.
LuvFelt for fabulous handcrafted works of art, clothing and accessories, bird house pods, cards and tea towels.
S&P Watercolours for wonderful works of art inspired by the natural world as well as cards, mugs, cushions and tea towels.
Earth & Fire Ceramics for classes and workshops in pottery and throwing techniques as well as handmade works of art, sculpture and gifts.
Ivy House for a huge range of homewares and gifts, cards and handmade candles.
Kate Bennett Fine Art Photography for wonderful landscape photography, inspirational and occasion cards and giftware.
For the vegan festival there will be street food from Nelly’s Delhi (gorgeous Indian food), No Baloney (vegan sausages), Where’s the Catch (vish and chips), Hugo’s Bar (ice cream, jacket potatoes, hot and cold drinks, milkshakes), stews and soups from Mercia Spirit Lab. Yum!!
Children’s Crafts
Did I mention there will be FREE children’s crafts all weekend? Wander over to our fabulous historic orangery and find Outdoor Answer offering children’s crafts throughout the weekend. Let your little ones try making seed bombs, making leaf pledges for Earth Day (Friday 22nd April) and connecting to nature. Bishton Hall has fabulous grounds including a Temple Garden, woodland and amazing historic trees – let their imaginations run wild.
Cannot wait to see you there!
Letting Go and Manifesting the New
Halloween isn’t just about costumes and sweets. Samhain, as the festival is traditionally known, is a wonderful time for acknowledging the past and letting go before calling in your hopes and dreams for the future.
October’s unique workshop will bring together the best of the season and the energetic changes to give you a boost into the Autumn with a fresh outlook and high spirits. The workshops uses aromatherapy, sound waves and yogic sleep to help you relax deeply before calling your hopes into being.
Your body, mind and spirit all benefit from this practice of aroma, relaxation, meditation and sound therapy. It’s a complete package for renewal! This year, Samhain falls between the date at which Venus is closest to the earth (29th October) and a new moon (4th November) making it the perfect time to cleanse, release and turn our energy towards the new.
This workshop will be an opportunity to use ritual and relaxation to make the most of the spiritual and celestial energies available to make a new start. We will begin our workshop session by crafting a personal blend of bath salts, essential oils and natural ingredients to take away and use over the next 30 days to repeat our intentions for the future whilst practicing self-care. You will be encouraged to set intentions and affirmations for the future as you build your self care bath ritual blend.
We will then begin a yoga nidra session – deep relaxation bringing us to the cusp of sleep so that our consciousness becomes susceptible to creativity, intuition and release on a deeper level. This is a passive practice, so no physical postures are practiced – it is a guided visualisation and relaxation practice. Get comfortable under blankets and drift away.
We will then transition into a gong bath to let the sound waves wash over us, cleansing the mind and body and allowing us to start anew.
The focus of this workshop will be based around the energies available to us from the cosmos at this point in time:
Samhain/Halloween – a time of transition from the old to the new. A slowing down of one cycle and the beginning of another. Coming into a deep rest before calling our dreams and wishes into reality.
Venus – A focus on the heart chakra and self compassion. Looking deeply at our own happiness and how we gather and expend our personal resources. We will be able to utilise the divine feminine/shakti energy of the provider, nurturer and fierce protector to help manifest our goals
New moon – Heart chakra energy from the new moon helps us to align for a new beginning and cleanses us of whatever has just past or is no longer beneficial. This energy is a powerful force for helping us to let go.
Everybody will be able to create their own blends using salts, oils, plants, natural ingredients and the fruits of nature. You will take away the bath blend in a kilner jar to use at home several times as part of your own bathing, cleansing and intention setting ritual. You will also receive a free gift to take away.
Spaces are limited on this small, cozy workshop. All materials are provided…get yourself booked in!
Your Practice, Our Community: Lockdown 2.0
Well we were expecting it weren’t we? But that said, lockdown still comes as a blow to most of us (myself included). But, I’m still here helping you to stay motivated, lifted and encouraged to keep practicing yoga and meditation. We have a great community of yogis and meditators, so lets get through this together!
Back online each week with the following:
Weekly – ’10 minutes a day’ mindfulness practice uploaded to Youtube. Donation based class; pay what you can/wish by PayPalMe
Wednesdays 12 pm – Yin Yang Yoga, £5
Thursdays 6 pm – Vinyasa Yoga, £5
Fridays 10 am – Yin Yoga, £5
You can find out more about the styles of yoga here.
Classes will run when minimum participant numbers (3 people) have been reached, so please book early if you’d like to practice. There is no limit on the number of people who can join, so spread the word to anyone else who needs a little pick-me-up during lockdown.
If you have any issues with booking, please let me know [email protected]
See you online!
Namaste
Online Retreat Centre
We may still be in lockdown, but the stresses and strains of life don’t give us a break. Work stress may have slowed down, but family life has certainly ramped up. Living in containment, even with those we love can be challenging.
The Well Nest is still fully open and ready to help you with your mental and physical wellbeing. Classes are on offer throughout the week on a pay as you go basis, monthly subscription or donation/pay what you wish basis.
What’s on?
Weekly classes:
Tuesdays at 12 pm – Mindfulness on Facebook Live. Donation based.
Wednesdays at 12 pm Yin Yang Yoga on Zoom. £5 per session
Thursdays at 6 pm – Vinyasa Yoga on Zoom. £5 per session
Fridays at 10 am – Yin Yoga on Zoom. £5 per session
All Yoga classes are part of the monthly subscription – £25 per month, giving you access to up to 12 classes.
You can book your sessions here, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates and special offers.
If you’ve never tried meditation or yoga, now is a great time to start your journey. All you need is a space to roll out your yoga mat or a chair in a quiet corner (headphones help!) and you can gain the skills to make a real difference to how you feel physically and mentally.
Life is about balance and there is a real strength in peace. Take your chance to get out of your mind and into your body – into your true experience of the present moment.
Classes are now by Zoom!
There is no need for your wellbeing practices to take a hit at this difficult time. We need to stay social (even from a distance) and we need to stay active and connected. Our bodies and minds may be under significant stress, but things will be continuing at The Well Nest.
Most of the community classes are moving online. You can still practice with the same yogis, same teacher…but from your living room, kitchen, spare bedroom…any comfortable place.
Class Schedule
The following classes will be available every week from week commencing 23rd March:
Tuesdays 12 pm – 12.30 pm – Mindfulness & Meditation (on Facebook Live) Currently free as we all need this right now. No sign-up, just join @TheWellNestUK on Facebook from Tuesday 24th March.
Wednesdays 12 pm – 1 pm – Yin Yang Yoga by Zoom, £5.
Thursdays 6 pm – 7 pm – Vinyasa Yoga by Zoom, £5
Fridays 10 am – 11 am – Yin Yoga by Zoom, £5. This gentle, restorative class is back by popular demand. Mindful movements to connect body and mind.
All classes can be booked through the Events page of the website. Booking for each class opens 10 days before the event so you have time to book.
Classes are running at nearly 20% discount (and free in some cases). We all need to survive these tough times and we will do if we work together. I want to be able to continue to offer wellbeing classes for all when life gets back to ‘normal’. Your support right now means the world.
Workshops and Retreats
Staying at home doesn’t mean missing out on developing your mindfulness practice and learning the tools to help us navigate difficult times.
This month’s retreat will be a Home Retreat by Zoom. Teachings and meditations will be provided with notes and guide sheets being provided by email.
Saturday 11th April 2 pm – 4 pm – Reducing Stress and Anxiety with Mindfulness, £15
Full details fo the Home Retreat can be found on the Events page where you can also book your place.
This workshop is running at 25% discount. We all need to survive these tough times and we will do if we work together. I want to be able to continue to offer wellbeing classes for all when life gets back to ‘normal’. Your support right now means the world.
Namaste
COVID-19 Update
All classes, workshops and treatments will be continuing as normal with The Well Nest until venues or official guidance suggests another course of action. Classes will be taking place in the community, privately and for 1:1s as arranged.
I will continue to keep everyone updated on the situation, but in the meantime, please be reassured that the following steps are being taken so that you can continue to attend wellbeing classes and therapies:
- No props or yoga mats will be available to borrow for the foreseeable future. Please bring your own mats and props and care for them appropriately to ensure hygiene and cleanliness
- Payments should be made by card or loyalty card where possible to keep cash handling to a minimum
- Class sizes will be limited to less than 15 people
- Please do not attend class if you are unwell or have been in contact with others who are unwell. Follow guidance issued by the NHS and WHO
- Please wash hands and/or use hand sanitiser before and after class
- Therapies and 1:1 sessions take place in a dedicated space used only by me and my clients. The space is kept clean and sanitised in line with professional standards. Hand washing facilities are available for use
If you have concerns about attending group sessions, I still have availability for private sessions for yoga, meditation and healing therapies.
Virtual Classes by Skype
If venues advise that they will be closing for a period, I plan to offer my regular classes as advertised in the class timetable, remotely via Skype so that you can practice with me from your home.
Your mental and physical wellbeing is important at this time of stress. I’d like to do what I can to help you stay motivated and uplifted and to keep your wellbeing routine going.
Please get in touch if you have any questions.