Wild Winter Retreat
Sweden
16 - 19 January 2025
Where better to embrace Winter than Sweden?
Big skies, dense forests, lakes, sauna culture and of course - hygge.
Join me for this special 4 day winter retreat as we welcome the season and in so doing, rewild ourselves.
“In the harsh bleakness of winter
may you remember
that your roots are nourished
by this fertile darkness...”
What’s the story?
I have long run away from Winter, burying myself in various ways to keep busy and avoid the season. Work, artificial light, race training, holidays. You name it, I’ve tried it. I would yearn for Spring (being the gateway to Summer) and constantly look ahead. Until I realised what I was wasting. What nuggets Winter holds if I could just slow down to notice.
This retreat is a summation of all of “that”: Years of distraction and avoidance that have gradually morphed in to a very conscious attempt to align with the season of yin.
This is rewilding: tapping in to our inner world and connecting with the natural world. A two-way street.
Except it’s not just two-way, it’s a trio: for rewilding to be effective we need a supportive net - each other - and hence this retreat was born. You, me and the natural world stepping into Winter in all its’ depths: harsh, cold, challenging. By delving into these, we’ll also explore our own inner workings.
Let’s welcome it all - the cold, the unknown, the wild.
Join me, embrace Winter and welcome your rewilding.
THE LOCATION
We’ll be staying at the renowned Shambala Gatherings, a retreat centre established on Buddhist principles and run on this basis. Easily reached by public transport or car, just two hours west of Stockholm in Skinnkatteberg (pron: Shins-catter-bai). Surrounded by forest and lakes in the heart of the countryside this is well worth the journey.
Accommodation is simple and shared in a variety of twins / triple rooms and the overriding ethos is of communion, sustainability and nature connection. The vibe is understated, welcoming and easy. Little affirmations and deities adorn rooms and soon enough, it feels like home.
Everyone is welcome here. It’s the perfect place to rewild ourselves.
rewilding
Rewilding is a restoration of ecosystems and natural processes. Often applied to forestry, we can apply the same thinking to ourselves: what is our natural state? How and where do we flourish? To answer these questions we’ll spend time in movement to shift things - ideas, energy, obstacles. There’ll be time to reflect & rest, as well as opportunity to come together, share & witness. It wouldn’t be a rewilding without time in nature and believe me - this is the place for it.
Yoga
I’ll lead twice daily yoga practices in the dreamy Shala. A morning energising practise and an early evening calming practice to wind down and settle. These will draw heavily on Katonah yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and 5 Element Theory. There’ll be breathwork, a sprinkling of vinyasa flow, restorative yoga and of course practices will be aligned with the natural rhythms so that they develop our connection with both nature and ourself.
Classes will cater to different abilities through variations and modifications, giving the chance to challenge yourself or go easy.
During the weekend there will also be opportunity to workshop and dive deeper into theory and poses.
the FOOD
Such an important part of any experience, especially on retreat when we’re looking to nourish all aspects of ourself. A special aspect of Shambala is how much care they put in to the food; it is vegan, gluten free and Ayurvedic. Beyond this is that it serves as an opportunity to come together - for all that are involved in the running of Shambala to commune. Us lucky guests, the volunteers and other souls that keep the cogs turning gather each day to share meals and conversations.
We’ll be fully catered throughout our stay (3 meals a day) and enjoy a fika on arrival (Swedish for pastry or treat) and most dietary requirements can be catered for if notified in advance.
big nature
As a rewilding retreat of course we’ll venture outside. There’ll be time in nature: BIG nature. The skies feel big here. The lake is vast. The sauna floats, yes floats on the lake and we’ll have time to enjoy all of this.
There’ll be a daily sauna session where you can lounge, relax and feel the layers dropping away. If you choose, you can also dip in the lake and experience true polarities of temperatures.
Walks in the forest, space to explore, rest, read and a fire circle will all form part of this magical retreat.
The Details for Wild Winter
When: 16 - 19 January 2025
Where: Skinnskatteberg, Sweden
Prices: £490 - £550pp
Early bird: £490pp until 31st Aug
Standard: £550pp from 1st Sept
All accomodation is shared in twin / triple rooms and all share facilities; these will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to share with a friend please include this at time of booking.
Payment plans are available with staggered instalments.
Group size: min.12
Terms & conditions: found here
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
3 nights shared accommodation, 3 meals a day, 6 practices with Lucy, workshop, a daily sauna experience, time to yourself, transfer from local station.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
Travel to the retreat venue (e.g. flights, train), personal expenses, insurance, linen hire (it is customary & eco-friendly in Sweden to bring your own linen, c.200kr)
Read more kind words here and get in touch below if you’d like to join us.