Weekend Forest Retreat - 6 September to 8 September 2024
Gingi Lee will be running this nourishing and uplifting weekend retreat set in the heart of the magical Ashdown Forest, just an hour’s train journey or drive out of South London. There will be seven yoga sessions across three days days including energising flow yoga, pranayama, chanting and meditation and two workshops with Liz Lark. The retreat is set in a beautiful peaceful setting with simple modest accommodation and two locally sourced vegetarian meals a day included.
Your teachers
Gingi Lee – Founder & Co-Director of the Shala & The Shala School of Yoga, RYT-500 Lead Teacher Trainer, Senior Ashtanga Yoga, Aerial & Yamuna Bodyrolling Teacher
Gingi is the Co-director of the Shala and founded the studio in 1997 as one of London’s first dedicated ashtanga yoga centre. He has been teaching yoga for over 25 years and is one of the country’s most senior ashtanga yoga teachers.
For 25 years, Gingi has focused his energy on teaching at his centre in South London, alongside hosting yoga holidays and workshops abroad. He has played a key role in popularising ashtanga yoga in the UK and has taught, trained and inspired many British yoga teachers. In 2016 he established the Shala School of Yoga teacher training programme with co-teachers Kath Roberts, Mark Kan and Norman Blair. Gingi is a well-respected teacher who has remained at the forefront of the yoga community. His teaching is characterised by sensitivity, warmth and a deep commitment to the practice.
Liz Lark – Teacher Trainer
Liz has been teaching yoga for 25 years. Liz is a Board Member of Yogacampus since its inception in 2003, where she teaches on their trainings and shares sequencing, adjustments and teaching skills in addition to running her own retreats and workshops (see www.lizlark.com). Liz brings together Nature, Travel & Art with her inner travels to share Yoga through creative sequencing, somatic practises, visualisation, meditation & relaxations. Tending the Self is a major theme in Liz ’s practice, inspired by Pema Chodrun’s quote: “the root of compassion is compassion for oneself’.
Great inspiration and drive carried Liz through the Astanga Vinyasa system (1990’s), training in Astanga vinyasa under Derek Ireland. She then diversified into other Hatha Yoga practices to broaden her learning through the British Wheel of Yoga.
Liz and Gingi met 30 years ago in Crete when they were both practicing and studying ashtanga with Derek Ireland and they have had a long history of collaborating together since those early days.
About your stay
Emerson College is a nature inspired Explorative Creative learning centre in the heart of Forest Row. A biodynamic farm shop and café is attached within walking distance. It sits within a 22-acre Botanic Garden with beautiful ponds, lawns and flower beds, a vegetable garden, an apple orchard and a wood full of bluebells in spring. All the land is managed biodynamically with many rare trees and over 100 medicinal plants, all of which creates an enchanting environment. The magical Ashdown Forest with its many walking trails lies just beyond.
The venue is simple, natural, peaceful, with lots of light and space.
The kitchen garden supplies the kitchen with fresh vegetables, salads and herbs. Any food that is not grown in the garden, is sourced locally and organically to create nourishing vegetarian meals. Gluten free and vegan diets can be catered for on request and for those with other special diets self-catering facilities are available.
We are delighted to announce that Emerson is opening a NEW cafe should you wish to have a bit of breakfast or an additional snack across the weekend.
Accommodation
Single rooms are in shared student chalet-style houses, with shared bathroom facilities. The rooms are simply, modest rustic, quiet and comfortable.
- All rooms are single occupancy. We may be able to book one or two twin rooms on request.
- Bedrooms have shared toilets and showers.
- Some bedrooms have a wash basin.
- Bed linen and towels are provided and are included in the price.
- Free WIFI is available in designated areas of the venue.
- Tea & coffee (instant) making facilities in kitchens.
Schedule
Friday
- 3:30 – 4:45 pm | Arrivals
- 3:50 pm | Pick up from East Grinstead train station (pre-bookings transfer is required)
- 5-6:00 pm | Welcome and Gentle Grounding Practice | Gingi
- 6:15 pm | Dinner
- 7:30-8:30 pm | Evening Relaxation & Nidra| Liz
Saturday
- 8:30-9:30 am | Gentle Awakening Practice | Gingi
- 10.30-12 pm | Thematic Flow | Liz
- 12:45 pm | Lunch
- 1:30 pm | Free time (explore the forest, walk to Tablehurst Farm shop/cafe, have a rest, chat…)
- 3:30 pm | Afternoon Tea
- 4-6:00 pm | Gentle Meditative Practices | Gingi
- 6:15 pm | Supper
- Evening | Free Time. If weather permits we usually have a fireside gathering at sunset
Sunday
- 9:30-11:30 am | Energising Flow | Gingi
- 12:45 pm | Lunch
- 2-4:00 pm | Thematic Flow | Liz
- 4:00-4:30 pm | Closing
Free Transfers from Train & Other Arrival & Departing Notes
- We offer a free transfer from East Grinstead train station picking up from the train that arrives at 3:50 pm (from Victoria, Clapham Junction or East Croydon). If you would like to book the transfer, you must book this separately HERE. Transfer spaces are limited so early booking is recommended
- Those booked on to a transfer will be automatically booked in to return to the train station to get the 5.10pm train back to London
- If you need to cancel this pickup, please do so at least 48 hours in advance so a space can be released to the waiting list, if necessary.
- If you are not arriving on the train/transfer suggested and will be arriving later than 4.30pm please email us in advance to notify us.
- Room check out is after lunch at 1:30 pm on Sunday (tbc)
Exploring the Area
- Walks: Forest Way, Ashdown Forest
- Cafes in Forest Row: Tablehurst Farm, Seasons
- Places to Visit: Eridge Deer Park, Wakehurst Place
Residential – £395
A non-refundable deposit of £150 is required on booking.
Includes:
- accommodation x 2 nights
- lunch x 2
- dinner x 2
- tea and coffee
- yoga sessions x 7
- admin fee
- transfer from East Grinstead station
Not included: breakfast, treatments, snacks and additional drinks
- £200 of the fee is taken on behalf of Emerson College.
- The deposit is non refundable and non transferable.
- A 3-installment payment plan is automatically set up (£150 deposit, £125 taken 30 days later with the final payment of £120 taken 60 days after booking.
- Please note that if you book within 30 days of the event, full payment will be taken and if booked within 60 days, only 2 installments are possible.
- Please ensure that your card details are saved so that the second payment can be automated. Thank you.
Additional Retreat Dates – if you cannot make our retreat in September, we run one in Spring time also – see Spring Retreat.
Express interest
Please register your interest in this course so we can keep you updated.