An incredibly nurturing, healing, transformational three- night experience deep in the ancient Forest of Dean awaits you...enquire about this bespoke retreat tailored for your needs and times
It’s been known for millennia that time spent in the forest has an incredible effect on our mind, body and soul. Here you will have the time you need to disconnect from your day-to-day life and let your nervous system feel soothed and rested amongst the wonder and rejuvenating properties of ancient woodland and sacred spaces. This retreat will form part of your life journey, where your body can begin to heal itself and come alive again as you learn tender, deep ways to reconnect with yourself and the natural world in this incredible ancient playground known as the Forest of Dean. You’ll rest your head in a magical retreat centre called ASHA, never before open to public for retreats, until now...
Somatics | Movement | Conscious Connected Breathwork | Cold Water Immersion (Sacred Forest Well) Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing)| Guided Forest Walks | Contemplation in sacred groves | Nourishing food | Fire pit ceremony | Journaling and more
Designed to leave you feeling renewed, revived, detoxed and recharged. Pause In The Forest will teach you how to connect to your body, align to your potential and live in your full expression.
"That was an AMAZING experience! I don't think I expressed that enough. Everything was outstanding. Shaun and Justine created a safe environment for everyone to let go of our resistance, feel all the feels and embrace change. It unlocked something deep within me and I left feeling transformed and willing to try new things"
INCLUDED
Conscious Connected Breathwork
Wonderbreath is a form of Conscious Connected Breathwork. Therapeutic in nature, this is a gentle, simple, healing technique that helps you to open up the full potential of your respiratory system for better physical and emotional well-being. It’s been demonstrated to have so many benefits, including deepening your relationship with yourself, increasing energy levels, giving greater emotional clarity, improving your immune response, and increasing your ability to deal with stress in a healthy way. These are powerful group sessions where Justine will guide you through each session, called ‘a detox for every level of your being’ and no experience is necessary.
Somatics & Movement
Somatic movement invites you on a journey through the internal landscape of the body and moves us into the ‘felt’ sense, giving us a break from our ‘thinking’ selves. These are gentle movements, performed with intention and at a very slow pace. The goal of this is to shift our attention from the external appearance of a pose or posture, to the internal felt experience of the movement. Through shifting our attention from output to experience, we notice how tension, stress and worry softens, and we learn more sustainable ways of living in our bodies. The combination of Somatic movement and Breathwork with Shaun will ignite the deep healing powers of your body from within.
Cold Water Immersion (Sacred Well)
There are several options for this right near ASHA, but our favourite has to be the water at Saint Anthony’s Well - whose name dates from the medieval period – is known as a holy, or sacred, well. Prehistoric flint implements have been found in the spring’s vicinity as well as Iron Age and Roman artefacts and it seems likely that the well was a ritual site for a long period of time. The spring, which runs into the gardens at ASHA, is reputedly very ancient and in front lies a stone ‘bathing pool’ built by the Romans – three feet of deep, clear, totally unpolluted water. Saint Anthony's Well water is always extremely cold and for generations, local people have bathed in it for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. It’s just a short, five-minute walk to the well from the house, through the forest and lies in an open area of stunning beech trees. So whether you want to dip, or watch, you’re guaranteed a very magical experience.
Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing)
Forest bathing, a literal translation of the Japanese term Shinrin-yoku, is scientifically proven to improve our health. It means to bathe in the atmosphere of the forest with your five senses to improve your wellbeing. Countless Japanese studies have revealed how it boosts our immune systems, reduces our stress hormones, reduces our blood pressure, enhances our mental wellness and bolsters our brain health. It can provide emotional healing, improve our sleep-wake cycles, improve relationship skills, reduce stress, and reduce feelings of anger and aggression. These gentle introductions to the practice of forest bathing including sensory and meditative exercises, taking time to explore our woodland landscape, tuning in to our micro and macro awareness of nature and noticing how it communicates with us.
MEET SHAUN AND JUSTINE
Shaun is a coach, mover, thinker and educator. In his past life as an athlete, he learned the hard way - that the world of performance and fitness is not about health. And he ended up burnt out, injured and lost. He has spent the last 15 plus years figuring out what it means to be in a body and live to his full potential without the cost to his health. He has studied across many fields - neuroscience, physiology, embodiment, movement and spirituality - and he integrates these to help people build life-long skills. Skills that help you buffer the effects of stress and anxiety, give you the ability to unplug and slow down, and to be the best you can be.
Justine, founder of Wonderbreath, was born curious and adventurous. She's spent the last 15 years exploring ways to live and feel better through ashtanga yoga, kinesiology, Celtic shamanism and mythology, psychotherapy, plant communication and mindfulness, to name a few. For many years, she was a self-confessed 'on-the-go' CEO of an experiential travel company and no words of warning from others about the importance of slowing down, could stop her. She only really listened after a series of injuries forced her to stop. Her slow recovery invited her to start learning how to 'be' rather than 'do'. She's also a certified Shinrin-yoku guide with the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM)and set up/runs the Selsey Sea Bathing Society to encourage people back into the cold water.
WHAT'S INCLUDED - A GUIDELINE
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3 nights’ accommodation in your own room with ensuite bathroom
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3 x Conscious Connected Breathwork sessions.
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3 x Somatic & Movement sessions.
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1 x Forest Bathing session
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Morning guided walks to St Anthony’s sacred well for cold-water immersion, or just sit and soak up the ancient beech tree woodland.
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2 evenings fire pit: ceremony and drop in session
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Simple organic farm-to-table vegetarian food: breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared on-site at Asha using ingredients from the grounds wherever possible, or locally sourced. If you require vegan options, we are happy to accommodate you.
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You will also receive a set of pre-retreat videos guided by Shaun and Justine. These practices will form part of your retreat experience and allow you to continue to build your own rituals after the retreat.
HOW THINGS RUN
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
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Arrive for 1pm lunch
Check in to room 2.30pm
3.30pm Introduction and intention setting
Free time to settle in
6.30pm - Dinner
8.30pm - Firepit letting go ceremony
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Day 2
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7am – Short walk to St Anthony’s Well for a sacred cold-water immersion in the forest (optional)
8.30am – 9.30am - Breakfast
10.30am – 1hr Somatic & Movement session
11.30am – 1hr Breathwork incl overview of technique (30 mins breathing)
12.30pm – 1.30pm Lunch
3.30pm – 1hr Somatic & Movement session
4.30pm – Breathwork (45 mins breathing)
5.30pm – Free time
7.30pm Dinner
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Day 3
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7am – Short walk to St Anthony’s Well for a sacred cold-water immersion in the forest (optional)
8.30am – 9.30am - Breakfast
10.30am – 1hr Somatic & Movement session
11.30am – 1hr Breathwork
12.30pm – 1.30pm Lunch
3.30pm –5.30pm 2hrs Introduction to Forest Bathing
5.30pm – Free time
7.30pm Dinner
9pm - Firepit drop in
Day 4
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8am – 8.30am Short walk to St Anthony’s Well for a sacred cold-water immersion in the forest (optional)
9am-10am - Breakfast
Check out of room by 10.30am – leave bags in hallway
10.45am – 11.45am Closing Circle
12pm Leave Pause In The Forest Asha retreat
Please note, breathwork is hugely safe for almost anybody, however, you will need to ask participants prior to joining this session if they have any Breathwork contraindications. If you have any questions in relation to this please get in touch to discuss.
WHAT YOU NEED TO CHECK BEFORE BOOKING THIS AS A BESPOKE RETREAT...
WE'D LOVE TO WELCOME YOU TO PAUSE IN THE FOREST
A guideline cost for Pause In The Forest is £895 per person based 8 people in on your own single en-suite rooms.
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Upgrades available in Danu Cottage and the converted Georgian Cider Barn for couples/2 friends or singles.
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Guideline cost for an upgraded Danu or Cider Barn option is £1045pp based on 2 sharing, or £1195 single.
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Danu is a beautiful, peaceful modern cottage in the grounds. It is at the top of the hill and overlooks the woods and farmland fields. It’s an All-In-One cottage where you can access high-speed wifi, a kitchen, a washer/dryer, an iron and a TV stream. 1 bedroom.
Cider Barn is a converted Georgian Cider Press with a kitchenette/dining space, bathroom, bedroom and small private patio. 1 bedroom.
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