Coming home to ourselves through movement and meditation
“At the still point, there the dance is” – TS Elliott
Join us for a joyful all-inclusive movement, music and meditation retreat at the beautiful Bala Brook retreat centre on Dartmoor. An invitation to give yourself the gift of time this summer, to alternate between stillness and music-led movement meditations and to connect with the beauty of nature.
Our intention for this retreat is for you to feel replenished, restored and nurtured, through rest and connection, and a sense of transformation through stillness, dance and creativity. You’ll be encouraged to participate in a way that feels right for you. Evenings will include singing round the fire, guided meditations and yoga nidra. You do not need to know how to meditate, or how to dance.
We will sink into the simple feeling of just being in guided mindfulness meditations. We will revel in the delight of moving to inspirational music, giving expression to whatever is within us through our unique dance, moment to moment. We will come together as a temporary community, in a safe and supportive setting, with time to share what is in our hearts. We will create a simple ritual together using objects from nature, where each person can mark whatever is significant at this point in their life.
These strands – the stillness, the dance, community, nature and simple ritual – will weave together to form a beautiful braid unique to this time, this place.
Please Note: this retreat is not suitable for people with long term mental health problems.
The team
Wife and husband team Jo and Steve offer a great wealth of expertise and experience and are delighted to be supported by Sophia’s culinary skills. You will be nourished by her delicious vegetarian and vegan meals prepared with local organic produce.
Jo has over 30 years’ experience in the NHS, initially as a Macmillan nurse in cancer care, then as a Clinical Health Psychologist. She has a longstanding mindfulness practice and has trained extensively with Bangor and Exeter Universities. She is a registered BAMBA Mindfulness teacher. She has delivered numerous Mindfulness courses at the University of Exeter and retreats at the Sharpham Trust, and has supervised trainee teachers. A personal health crisis combined with training to teach Mindful Self-Compassion led to a change of direction in life and Jo is now also a professional artist with an MA in Fine Art. She combines her two passions in the form of workshops: ‘Mindfulness and Creativity: Working from the Heart.’ This background has led to her exploring embodied practices and she is due to complete ‘Dance the Medicine’ Facilitator Course, in late Jan 2023. From her gatherings so far, people have reported feeling ‘blissed out’, ‘safe and energised’, deeply rested and relaxed’.
Steve trained as a mindfulness teacher with Mindfulness UK. He co-leads retreats at the Sharpham Trust. He has been practising meditation since 1990. Steve is a qualified Psychosynthesis counsellor and has co-led Rites Of Passages workshops for men. He is a contemporary spirituality coach, and offers the programme ‘Spirituality Without Religion’, based on Ken Wilber’s ‘Integral’ model. Steve is a musician and composer. His ground-breaking sacred choral work ‘Blue Pearl: A One World Oratorio’ had its world premiere in May 2022. The film of the concert is on YouTube.
Bala Brook Retreat Centre
Bala Brook is an inclusive, non-denominational residential retreat centre, nestling in a beautiful valley on the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park. Core values of the centre are creativity, collaboration, responsibility, community and well-being. For more information please visit their website, www.balabrook.org.uk.
There is a main house and a separate modern annexe called Shraddha. The retreat centre is set in its own grounds beside a river flowing down from the moor. It offers privacy and tranquillity. There is immediate access to the surrounding countryside. The retreat centre has been recently refurbished and it is run, as far as is possible, on sustainable and ecological principles. There is a large, light, spacious kitchen with an open-plan dining space and doors opening onto the lovely garden.
There is parking on site.
Practice & workshop Rooms
There are two large meditations/movement rooms. One is conveniently located in the main house. The other is in the Shraddha and has stunning views through its glass walls. Both are aesthetically pleasing spaces with underfloor heating.
The Land
The land at Bala Brook is sacred. It is an ancient landscape which has a profound healing quality felt by everyone who spends time at the retreat centre. The sound of rushing water, the changing of the seasons, the benign presence of the trees, the proximity of the moor, the ever changing colours, the darkness at night, the deep silence – all of this is hugely beneficial to mind, body and spirit.
Cost of the retreat
Single room with ensuite £545.00 per person for 3 x nights SOLD OUT
Single room with shared facilities £495.00 per person for 3 x nights SOLD OUT – see note below *
Twin room, shared facilities £390.00 per person for 3 x nights 3 SPACES AVAILABLE
Twin room ensuite £450.00 per person for 3 x nights SOLD OUT
Two small subsidised rooms £250.00 per person for 3 x nights SOLD OUT
* UPDATE July ’23. We have 2 twin rooms left with shared facilities. If you don’t want to share, it may be that one of these rooms will be available as a single. If you want a single, let us know, and we can let you know if we do a single available (this would probably be a week before the retreat starts, but we may know sooner if both twins get booked).
The price includes 3 meals per day plus beverages
There are a total of 15 places.
PAYMENT DETAILS: A 25% deposit, non refundable after one month before the start of the retreat, to secure your place. You will then be sent a brief form for information about your wellbeing: if the team is concerned about your wellbeing they will get in touch with you to discuss that the retreat is the best option for you at the time. The balance is due on 1st July 2022. We accept card payments over the phone, Paypal or bank transfer (please contact us for further information).
Email: jo@jogoslingart.com srb.123@virgin.net
or phone +44 (0)7957 855458.