An incredibly nurturing, healing, transformational 3-night experience deep in the ancient Forest of Dean awaits your team…
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…
About the location
There is magic in the air here. Tolkien was enchanted by the Forest of Dean and inspired to write ‘Lord of the Rings’. J K Rowling spent her youth in this area, too, enriching her imagination. Located on the edge of the forest, the ASHA Centre is a British educational charity and magnificent 500-year-old Georgian home surrounded by five acres of biodynamic gardens. Until now it has been used as an educational retreat centre. It has a warm relaxed feel – a home, rather than a hotel.
It was founded by the human rights campaigner and author, Zerbanoo Gifford and for the past 15 years has been solely focussed on running and hosting transformative, holistic, educational programmes for the empowerment of young people from across the world, designed to bring about lasting inner, social, and environmental change. It is a rather special place with its own herb garden, a Peace Grove with fire-pit and orchards. The Secret Garden includes a labyrinth surrounded by a sacred grove of indigenous trees planted by the Druids.
The rooms are traditional and comfortable, both in the main house and the stone cottages on site. Our sessions are based in the tranquil studio, spreading out to the grounds. The main practice space has a gorgeous panorama of the site, and the evening skies host glorious sunsets.
The centre was specifically designed to include spaces of inspiring, natural beauty for quiet contemplation. Furthermore, it is powered by sustainable energy from a biomass boiler and solar panels.
About the food
The Asha in-house retreat chefs will prepare 2 simple organic vegetarian meals per day for lunch and dinner, plus breakfast of cereals, fruit, yoghurt, and organic bread. On your day of arrival there will be lunch and dinner and on your departure day there will be breakfast for our final meal all together. We cater to your individual dietary requirements – simply let us know what you need.
INCLUDED
“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“
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
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
Justine, founder of The Life Adventure and a certified Breathwork coach. She 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
-
3 nights’ accommodation in your own room with ensuite bathroom
-
3 x Conscious Connected Breathwork sessions.
-
3 x Somatic & Movement sessions.
-
1 x Forest Bathing session
-
Morning guided walks to St Anthony’s sacred well for cold-water immersion, or just sit and soak up the ancient beech tree woodland.
-
2 evenings fire pit: ceremony and drop in session
-
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.
-
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 WILL RUN
Day 1
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
Day 2
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
Day 3
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 – Fire pit drop in
Day 4
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
WE’D LOVE TO WELCOME YOUR TEAM TO PAUSE IN THE FOREST
Upgrades are available in Danu Cottage and the converted Georgian Cider Barn for couples/2 friends or singles.
The cost for an upgraded Danu or Cider Barn option is £1045pp based on 2 sharing, or £1195 single.
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.
Payment Plans
Please get in touch by email to discuss/organise booking this reset for your team. The cost is dependent on numbers and time of year and any changes you may want to make to the above guideline itinerary.
Please note: to take part in the Breathwork, please ensure you have none of the following contraindications. If you do, please get in touch before booking:
Medical and Psychiatric Contraindications To Participating In Breathwork
Breathwork results in certain specific physiological changes in the body and also can result in intense physical and emotional release. Therefore, for safety purposes, we do not allow persons with the following conditions to participate in a breathwork session:
Medical Contraindications
- Epilepsy
- Detached Retina
- Glaucoma
- Prior strokes or seizures
- Pregnancy – first trimester only – ok after that
- Asthma (if you have asthma you can participate but you must have your inhaler available)
Psychiatric Contraindications
- Prior diagnosis by a health professional of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
- Psychotic or borderline psychotic states
- Any other medical, psychiatric or physical conditions which would impair or affect ability to engage in any activities that involve intense physical and/or emotional release.
Please email us if you are at all unsure whether one or more of the above apply to you.