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: