Mindfulness for Wellbeing Weekend, Norfolk

A chance to shake off winter blues and retreat to the big skies and rolling countryside of rural Norfolk, in surroundings that invite space and reflection as well as fire-side chats. These retreats attract many solo travellers, for whom having their own very comfortable en-suite bedroom is very important.

In contrast to many retreat weekends, where there are up to 40 guests sharing rooms, our Norfolk retreats offer a very different experience: we have an exceptionally high 2:1 teacher/student ratio, and an average of just 10-12 guests, many of whom have chosen to book their own en-suite bedroom (an important factor for us personally, when searching for retreats for ourselves).

These unique and deeply nourishing long weekends draw on our own long-standing background from both the meditation and yoga traditions - though please note: the yoga classes taught on this retreat are exceptionally gentle and taught as meditation. If you are seeking physically yoga classes, this retreat will not be for you!

As a deep complement to the mindfulness, we will restore mind, body and soul with breathwork, mindful movement and super-gentle Restorative yoga, together with the powerfully relaxing practice of yoga nidra - surrounded by beautiful, peaceful surroundings where warmth and comfort prevail. 

We are pleased to say there will be an absence of mucking in, drafty rooms or the expectation that you must attend all sessions!

The intention is also to incorporate a period of silence, to provide the space to deepen our mindfulness practice without distraction or external stimulation. Complete meditation beginners especially should be aware of the period of silence, and open to its possibilities!

The weekend has been designed for both total beginners to mindfulness, as well as those with an established practice, seeking a refresher. From personal experience, we believe physical comfort during meditation is hugely important, and take great care to offer different postural options (including lying down).

To support the intentions of this retreat, we will be encouraging you to turn off mobile phones and all technology during this short time.

All this in a framework of enhancing overall wellbeing at this testing time of year: over the four days, our formal practice sessions (which equate to almost five hours each day on Saturday and Sunday, though broken down into short individual slots) will be enhanced by:

Our gorgeous venue - formed of luxury en-suite bedrooms built around a central courtyard, in an expanse of countryside - are a fabulous blend of traditional and contemporary.

These old barns have been converted maintaining the original beams, lime and flint walls and the design has been modelled on big open spaces.

Handmade furniture and under-floor heating in the bedrooms and yoga studio are fired by the biomass boiler burning local, environmentally-managed wood chip. 

Mindfulness is a non-dogmatic, integrative mind-body approach that helps us manage thoughts and feelings.

It is a way of experiencing the world that is kind, open, receptive and curious, as well as being sensory-based. We all have an inherent capacity for mindfulness, regardless of age, sex or religion/absence of.

Over the last few years, partly due to over 100 studies showing its benefits to our wellbeing, mindfulness has experienced a huge surge of interest in the west. As on this retreat, mindfulness meditation is usually taught in an entirely secular way.

Regular periods of formal mindfulness practice in the beautiful yoga/meditation barn (shown right, and above) will form the heart of the weekend.

These sessions will be weaved into our day, with the Saturday and Sunday including four led mindfulness sessions per day, and two optional periods of yoga (including one Restorative Yoga session).

Most sessions will be between 30 and 45 minutes' long, with longer periods interspersed with group discussion and an intentional change in posture - and will be taught in a way that is as comfortable for the body as possible (for example: plenty of standing and walking meditation).  

Formal teaching periods aside, we have ensured plenty of time for personal space and 'me time' - perhaps for soul-enriching country walks; tea and cake by the fire; chats with fellow guests; or simply time to read, sleep or be silent.

This retreat will be led by Lucia Cockcroft. Lucia is a co-founder of Satvada retreats and sister organisation, Yoga At The Mill, a highly-regarded yoga and mindfulness studio in Chelmsford, Essex.

Lucia has a long-standing yoga and meditation practice. She has been teaching yoga for nine years, and meditation for seven, and is currently studying for an MSc in Mindfulness Based Approaches at the University of Bangor - one of the few internationally-recognised pathways for mindfulness teachers.

She is privileged to count Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christina Feldman, John Peacock and Thich Nhat Hanh as amongst her meditation teachers - having attended retreats or training events with these wonderful teachers.

Lucia has a special interest in mindfulness for stress reduction and wellbeing; and the integration of mindfulness in yoga practice.