Join Kathryn & Carmel (both senior yoga teachers with over 40 years of experience combined) for a nourishing wellness yoga day retreat in beautiful West Cork this Halloween weekend.

The festival of Samhain marks the transition from the end of the harvest season to the beginning of winter, a time to slow down, take stock, and honor our ancestors. 

As we acknowledge this transition from Autumn to Winter, the days get colder and darker. Winter is the season associated with the kidneys in Chinese Medicine. The kidneys, sometimes called the ‘Root of Life’, store our Jing essence or internal batteries. 

You can use your yoga practice this winter to re-energize and recharge your internal batteries without depleting your kidneys. In this yoga practice, we will use physical postures and yoga asanas to activate the fire within, but we will do so gently. 

We are inviting a softer quality into this practice, remembering that, with the yang, there must be a balance with yin qualities.

Join us this Samhain to move into stillness with grace, and create space through movement, breathwork, and meditation.

Morning Practice 

Kathryn will take you through a morning yang practice to ignite the inner fire, nourish ourselves, and warm the kidneys. The practice will not be depleting but we will draw energy inward instead of expelling it, moving gently in forward folds, side bends and backbends to create space in the spine and warm up from the inside. 

We will end with a meditation of setting intentions to warm our hearts and deep savasana for relaxation. 

Afternoon Practice 

In the afternoon Carmel will slow things down and facilitate the movement into stillness with a Yin Yoga session. Focusing on long passive holds and extensive breathwork, we will work on the kidney channels and the ‘Water Element’ associated with Winter.

With the shortening and darkening of days, nature calls us to turn inwards at this very Yin season, allowing time to conserve energy, rest, reflect, and conserve.

Itinerary

9:30 a.m. – Arrive & register (morning snacks)

10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Morning flow with Kathryn

12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Free time and lunch.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Afternoon Yin with Carmel

4:00 p.m. – Cake & snacks

Studio

The Studio, Spinners Lane, Clonakilty

As we will be in a studio, all props are included but the owner has asked us that you bring your own mat.  This retreat is limited to 25 people, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Lunch

Lunch is not included but Clonakilty has many award-winning restaurants and coffee shops, or feel free to bring your own!

Level

The retreat is open to all levels – witches and druids get first spots!