Autumn Mountain Rest Retreat 2024 - The practice of Self-care!

We were delighted to host our second Autumn Mountain Rest Yoga Retreat of 2024 this September in Llanberis. Hosted by husband and wife team yoga teacher Helen and retreat chef Dave, who were joined by good friend Lois Carty sports massage therapist and organised a trip to Sauna Wales on Anglesey for a rejuvenating morning combining sauna and sea. This was a weekend for self-care!

Autumn, like Spring is a transitional season. As Summer wanes we begin to notice the dramatic changes in nature; golden hour is much earlier in the day, the evenings draw in, temperatures are dropping, leaves fall with surges of blustery gales, and the downpours of rain often stop us in our tracks.

Spring, unlike Autumn, is a season of expansion and hope, you could also say possibility and excitement. Autumn, on the other hand is the opposite. Nature is no longer expanding, but instead contracting as everything prepares itself for hibernation and there is a feeling of drawing inwards or letting go. Autumn both delights and saddens as we lose the distant touch of Summer and step closer towards Winter. It can therefore be a good time of year to prioritise self-care as we too begin to find ourselves gently moving into hibernation mode.

Yoga practice helps us cope with these changes by exploring our overall stability and strength, mobility and ease, and when mindfully taken can improve focus and concentration as well as promote feelings of calm and peace. With no sense of rushing or competitiveness, yoga provides space for people to reconnect to themselves as they slow down and take stock of how they’re doing. Reflective practices such as meditation and deep relaxation offer a chance for self-awareness and compassion, a chance to start thinking about the necessary steps of our own self-care journey as we feel tensions release in the body and the mind.

This particular retreat took influences from seasonal change and explored the means of cultivating physical and mental stability inspired by the mountains, as well as our ability to go with the flow as we ventured out to the sea, nearby waterfall and lake. Restorative practice and soundwork was also included so that people had the space and time to enjoy being held and resting deeply, letting go of all effort in the body and the mind.

Moving away from thinking and doing, to feeling and being.

To accompany the seasonally inspired yoga practices led by Helen, was an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a therapeutic massage with Lois. A chance to further release held tensions and assist any ongoing niggles or concerns. These much-valued treatments held a key place within the retreat as a whole and were backed up with a fun, informative session on foot care led by Lois.

We also had the great pleasure of enjoying an incredible morning at Porth Tyn Tywyn, Anglesey with Sauna Wales. We couldn’t quite believe our luck with the weather, the sun shone down on us and helped to warm our cockles as we ran to and from the sauna into the refreshingly cold waves. A truly invigorating and bonding experience for us all.

Alongside all of this was the incredible menu curated by Dave, who very thoughtfully catered for a gluten free, vegan menu and came up with warming, seasonal and quite delightful dishes. We even heard the comment at breakfast “This is the best porridge I’ve ever had!” Honestly we know we’re surrounded by the right people when we hear those words.

The retreat ran from Friday to Sunday and included free time to explore the nearby waterfall ‘Ceunant Mawr’, a longer walk enjoying the views over to the summit of Yr Wydffa (Snowdon) and a chance to step into an ancient woodland and castle area. Most importantly though was a chance for people to restore themselves physically, emotionally and mentally. With time to rest and enjoy being in what felt like a home from home, taken care of with little to worry or think about everything else going on away from the retreat. A chance to be around like-minded friends and enjoy some much needed self-care! All of which will go a long way towards supporting their overall wellbeing as we approach the Winter.

We are always looking at improving our offerings and can’t wait to share with you news of our 2025 schedule very soon. We have just one retreat left for this year where the focus will be on slowing right down for Winter Stillness, 30th Nov-1st Dec. The retreat will explore the transitions from Autumn to Winter and the peaceful stillness that can be experienced at that time of year, if we tune in and listen. Through yoga, time in nature, seasonal food all with like-minded friends. Bookings are now being taken for this unique retreat experience.

For now though we’re leaving you with the words of one of our guests from the Autumn Mountain Rest Retreat 2024!

”The yoga studio nestled at the bottom of the mountains. The big welcoming house, with a roaring fire. Mother Nature all around. Helen and Dave are the hosts that truly want everyone to have their best experience at Llanberis Retreats. This is communicated by every thoughtful detail, be they in the practices Helen leads or the nourishing meals Dave delivers. Or anything in between. Their hospitality comes from a generosity of spirit that can't really be taught I don't think.

We were also lucky enough to have Lois Carty with us. Built in to our retreat price was massage time with Lois. This was such a thoughtful addition to the program, a physical enrichment on top of everything else. Helen took the time to arrange a sea swim and sauna experience for everyone, on Anglesey. Our energy levels and connections expanded and deepened in the joy we found there. I had the best time on retreat and I'm very grateful for the effort Helen and Dave put in to make it so wonderful.” Deborah

Special thanks to our brand partners for helping us to make this retreat that little bit more special:

Woodspring Company; An environmentally conscious brand with a passion for comfort and home fragrance that doesn’t cost the earth. Based in Tarvin, Cheshire.

The Teapot Leaf Teas; Marple based tea suppliers, delivering the widest range of the finest loose leaf teas to your doorstep!

And to Amanda Roderick, holistic therapist for blending together a beautiful massage oil full of medicinal benefits, which we bottled up and labelled ‘Autumn Warmth’.

See the retreat gallery below for an overview of our weekend together! Photography by Helen and Dave Roscoe-Rutter.