Awakening to Springtime

‘Every beginning is a promise born in light and dying in dark determination and exaltation of springtime flowering the way to work’. – Brendan Kennelly

The March equinox – the day when light and darkness match each other and the northern and southern hemispheres are equally illuminated – conventionally marks the beginning of spring. New life begins to unfold: explosions of yellow gorse brighten the cliffs; trees come into leaf, revealing their delicate buds; animals shed their coats; and light stretches longer into the evening.  Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal, of spiritual growth and regeneration; of light triumphing over darkness. It is a time when the vividness of the world offers itself to our senses and imagination, filling us with wonder and a sense of renewed purpose.

This retreat is intended as a celebration of spring’s upwelling of  life. Yoga, walks, and meditations/reflections will hold opportunities to embrace and tune in with the emerging fullness of the season and cultivate the wisdom of tenderness that sustains true renewal and growth.

The morning yoga practice will combine the beauty and grace of fluid forms – based on classic Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga postures – with a quiet attentiveness to the movements of the breath in the space of the heart. The emphasis here will not be on doing poses in ‘this’ or ‘that’ way but on experiencing each form from the inside;  paying attention to the sensations as they arise; balancing effort with yielding; and enjoying a practice that, even when physically challenging, remains both compassionate and joyous.

The Yin sessions in the evening will offer  an opportunity to come home to our own quieter selves; to map the inner landscape of the body with its vulnerability and resilience; and reach intuitively into the quiet revelations that unfold when we make time for stillness. Here the postures will provide a framework within which we can soften the body and honour the delicate nature of the blossoming process.

Of course, nothing says “spring awakening” quite like revelling in nature so there will be plenty of time for exploring the outdoors, dip into the ocean, and relish the  vibrant colours and smells. The morning silent walks will take us through a unique and stunning landscape, where – as John O’Donohue put it – there is an ‘ancient conversation between the ocean and the stone going on’. It’s also a landscape where, due to the unique and rich ecology of the area, we can really experience a deeper connection with the rhythms of nature, other living beings, and the elements (after all we’re made of the same stuff birds, trees, stone, and water are made of!).

Overall , the retreat will be an invitation to embrace the aliveness that is within ourselves and around us with curiosity, open heartedness, and mindful awareness.