Retreats

For the last 20+ years, we have been running retreats in beautiful corners of the world from the Scottish Highlands to Morocco to India and Sri Lanka and many idyllic places in between. Until travel becomes less restrictive, our focus for retreats is on “Shala Sanctuary” retreat experiences in our beautiful London studio and weekend retreats in the Ashdown Forest within easy reach of London.

Shala Sanctuary Retreats

This year, we are hosting workshops to feel like mini-retreats. We know how precious time is, so we want to offer opportunities for you to get some much needed self-care. These events will focus on wellness, deeper yoga exploration, sustainable self care, personal development and experiential learning. All of us have been touched by the recent pandemic on some level and out of crisis we can reap growth and transformation. Our aim with this series of “retreats” is to offer an immersive opportunity to process, reset and create positive sustainable change. See our “workshops + events” page.

These themed events have been carefully curated by an experienced team to offer you an immersive yogic experience where you can

focus on well-being, self care and self development
be nurtured and held in a safe and accepting space
make deeper connection with yourself and others
explore yoga, beyond just the physical practice
learn new tools to make wellbeing sustainable in your day to day life

The yoga ethics (yamas and niyamas) as well as some of the other 8 limbs of yoga will underpin these themed days, which are designed to take your body, mind and spirit on a journey towards positive change.

The “retreats” will be led by experienced teachers in small groups of 10-12. Depending on the theme, they may interweave physical practices, meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, mantra, chanting, rituals, sound healing, discussion, yoga ethics, aerial yoga practices, philosophy, visualisations, bodyrolling and more in an experiential and interactive day focused on wellbeing and growth.

After Care

We hope that these days will be the starting point for change on many levels. Our wish is that you leave feeling held, restored, reset, nurtured, deeply rested, connected….. but we also aim for you to leave feeling inspired and motivated and equipped to make well-being sustainable in your day to day life.

Forest Retreats

19–21 May 2023
15–17 September 2023

Twice a year, we will be running weekend immersive retreats just 60-75 minutes drive from the Shala in the heart of the beautiful Ashdown Forest in Sussex. The first weekend in September 2022 will be taught by Gingi Lee and Liz Lark, who share a long history of yoga practicing and working together since the mid 1990s.

This will be a weekend of nurturing practice, sharing, community and reconnecting with nature. Find out more here.

Press

The Guardian Travel

“A Yoga Retreat in the Scottish Highlands“

The Guardian Travel
“Yoga in Sri Lanka: From Here to Serenity”

The Guardian Travel
“Gently Does It: Sri Lankan Holidays”

The Little Plantation
“Lets go on a Yoga Retreat”

Benefits of Yoga

" "Thank you both so much for such a wonderful holiday. Time away with you is always so much fun and really special. I've been high as a kite for weeks." "

" A MASSIVE thank you for yet another A-mazing holiday. The three of us are still on cloud 9. I know organizing these holidays means LOTS of work for you and we really appreciated every minute. The yoga was fantastic and the days out to the river were a dream. Thank you, thank you, thank you for making it all happen. "

" thanks so much for a really special retreat. It was wonderful, just hanging out, laughing and practicing with Shala students and fellow yogis beyond with lots of space for quiet time too. I got so many gifts through conversations and learnings in class that I feel I have started moving my practice to a deeper level. "

" Yoga-Vegetarian-Food Les Cevennes Retreats | France "Thank you for the special opportunity to enjoy my practice with you. I felt so much energy in the Shala I had never felt before." DS Lovely place, lovely people and the two of you made it really special as always. You always manage to make it really memorable. "

" The Shala has always been a lifeline for me - and it has become even more important during this crisis. "

" Absolutely brilliant work you've been doing. Very very powerful stuff…BIG thanks for your work and your creativity and unique vision. "

" I’m so grateful for the beautiful Shala community - today there were students from London, Ireland, Scotland, Aus, US, Italy and Abu Dhabi among others! "

Want to know more?

Email admin@theshala.co.uk if you would like more information on our retreat offerings.