HARROGATE YOGA RETREATS

July 2011
"A wonderfully tranquil retreat, which is awakened my senses to areas of healing and Yoga I never knew existed before. Although only two and a half days I left refreshed, renewed and enlightened into a new world, to me, of Ayurvedic practices. At no time did I feel pressurised - I was totally taken care of with both stimulating information and amazing foods together with a loving friendly atmosphere and great relaxation processes (plus of course the asana - the physical practice of Yoga). I highly recommend such a retreat to anyone wanting to give themselves a space in time to recalibrate"
"Thank you so much for a wonderful retreat! I am still enjoying the effects of the meditation and relaxation. As a practitioner and teacher of Reiki, as well as a shamanic healer, I particullarly appreciated the all-inclusive nature of the Yoga retreat. It gave me an opportunity to experience a way of being that brings spirituality, health and healing into the centre of everyday life, where it should always be!"
"Thankyou for a fantastic retreat weekend. I really enjoyed myself and it gave me the kick start I needed for a healthier and happier me.I was slightly apprehensive about what the weekend would bring but you explained everything really well and took us step by step which made learning and taking in a real joy. I felt very inspired by all you taught us about meditation, yoga and our food and plan to include a lot of what you taught us into day to day life. You are clearly very knowledgable about yoga and the passion you have for the way you live your life is hopefully infectious."
"I left the retreat feeling energised, positive and keen to get on with what you had taught us. A few days later I am feeling the benefit even more and feel genuinely happy and content. Also to mention what a fantastic chef Chris is, it was a joy to eat your food. Thank you to you both."
November 2010
"I could really see the depth of your own learning coming through in your teaching. It is clear you have undergone a lot of personal spiritual growth these last few years and this was very apparent in the sessions at the retreat. You held the space wonderfully, allowing just the right balance for people to know they are in a safe environment, with a supportive teacher, and yet also to know they have the freedom to come and go as they please, and to do as much or as little of the yoga and meditation as they pleased. I think you got the balance just right. As we both know, this work can go deep and works on many different levels - physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual. For those others on the retreat who were perhaps not quite ready for the depth of emotions and feelings that such a weekend can bring up, I think again you held the space beautifully, offering just the right levels of support and encouragement, but ultimately never forcing anyone to go further than they were prepared to go. It can be a difficult line to tread and I acknowledge you for your sensitivity and compassion. I really enjoyed the yoga. I thought the standard was just right to cater to all levels - enough to get everyone moving and into their bodies, and not too much to make people feel overwhelmed. It's so important when so much is happening on a deeper energetic level. I felt myself very heavy with all the processing that was going on and so really appreciated your gentle yet firm encouragement and push to get moving! I just loved the yoga nidra! I have never done this practice before, and it was deep! I really slipped into another realm at one point! The meditation was great too - it is such a blessing to be able to have this time to put aside to really focus on these practices that rejuvenate and regenerate on so many levels. And here too, I could see how your own training and evolvement came to the fore. You led the meditation sessions with steadiness and experience, and I felt safe and supported throughout. You are a gifted teacher, Anne-Marie, with a lot of wisdom and experience to share. You impart your knowledge with clarity and humour, and also with great humility. You offer a clear insight into many aspects of Ayurveda, of yogic practices and the work of Consciousness, without it being overwhelming or seeming inaccessible - Well done! Now as for the food, what can I say? DIVINE! Just delicious! Perfect, perfect, perfect! I would have liked to have spent a bit more time outside, but of course this is limited during a winter, and is hopefully something you will incorporate more into your summer weekends. So on the whole, an incredible weekend! The work was profound and transformative and I left feeling recharged and refreshed. Your home is a sanctuary! What a gift to be able to spend time relaxing deeply, being cared for, nourished physically and spiritually! Thank you thank you thank you!"    "I have felt very reflective since returning home about the whole experience and although some is difficult to articulate the main thing that comes to mind is the aura of being so grounded, something that I don't think I have felt for nearly three years. In the past week I can honestly say that I have had moments of pure happiness. Caught myself singing in the car today! The fact I have identified the feeling I think means I haven't had that for sometime either!! With that goes feelings of strength to cope with my situation and life, again something that I feel has eluded me for a while. I don't know if I mentioned but my original plan was to go to Paris for the week-end. I really am so grateful that didn't work out because I'm pretty sure my spiritual place would not be so rich right now and for that I thank-you so much. From the moment I walked into your lovely home I felt at ease and the rest just flowed. The mix of physical yoga, meditation and loving food was pitched just right. The feeling of total exhaustion by 10pm on Sat evening was actually blissful. I enjoyed meeting such lovely human beings and feeling such harmony in that we were all there for the same reason. Yourself as leader was inspirational and my aim is to continue my quest for further spiritual peace and remain as still as you in meditation! I have tried hard this week to maintain my progress!! I have meditated each morning for 10mins, have managed 3 yoga classes and best of all no alcohol for 8 days! The most important thing is that I have become more aware of myself and am enjoying the inner calm."
"When I heard about the weekend yoga retreat I knew I wanted to come, and I was not disappointed. From our arrival on the Friday evening, we met with a lovely group of people who had all come for different reasons. The weekend started with meditations, gentle yoga, and a delicious Ayurvedic meal. On the Saturday and Sunday mornings we began early and the days provided us with time and space to really think and be at peace. All of us were at different levels with our practice, but that really did not matter and the overall feeling I left with on the Sunday evening was one of peace and calm. The meditations in particular were really powerful, particularly enabling me to see coloured lights of the chakras. These do not always appear and sometimes they are much more vivid than others, but I now accept that they come when they do, and they appear more readily, sometimes enveloping me in amazing waves of patterns and changing colours. The food during the retreat was Ayurvedic and delicious, and on a couple of occasions we ate in silence, allowing us to really taste the food. We had a programme which balanced yoga, meditation, and even had a Theta Healing session, some time in nature and some Tai Chi. All in all it was a weekend which has had positive and lasting effects... It has also improved my creativity and I have so many ideas I need to develop now. I am just beginning to sell my jewellery and am in the process of getting my own makers mark for hallmarking, so I feel very positive, energised and excited about this."
"I am a single mum of 4 children and 2 dogs,I work in end of life care and recently began to evolve and discover a deeper and more enlightened spiritual side of myself. This required nurturing and supporting and this has been enabled through my yoga classes,retreats and recently discovered reiki sessions. To find myself with 2 whole days in meditation.silence,teachings and yoga,is for me,quite radical.The Yoga retreat enabled me to go into a new place within myself,while at the same time experienced wonderfully nourishing food and a peaceful loving environment. The retreat was slow release; it was not until a few days after that I began to feel the true benefits seeping through at all levels; spiritually,emotionally and physically. Anne~Marie and Chris were such thoughtful hosts and welcomed us into their home that we shared for the weekend."