A Sacred pause Summer solstice yoga Retreat

A 4 day womens only Summer Solstice Retreat to pause, find stillness and embrace natures rhythyms in the stunning Lake District

17th-20th June 2027

SOL=SUN

SOLSTICE= “to stand still as the suns path appears to pause.”

Experience a Sacred pause in the stunning Lake District national park, surrounded by and immersed in nature. With guided walks, holistic yoga sessions and time and space to rest, restore and just be.

❋ A chance To Rest

We blend guided practices with plenty of time in the day built in for you to rest in your room, read your book in a cosy corner of the hotel, sit by the fire or wander around the beautiful grounds.

❋ Traditional Wisdom Meets Modernity

We know modern life is fast paced and stressfull, so we’ll guide you through traditional yoga practices using mantra and sound, movement, meditation and deep relaxation. Allowing you to stop, relax and restore body, mind and soul.

❋ The Shared Wisdom Of Women

❋ A Supportive Space

What happens at the retreat, stays at the retreat. Katja and I work hard to create spaces that are energetically aligned, compassionate and safe for everyone.

The Sacred Pause Circle is the heart of the retreat. Just like traditional Sangham, the circle is a space where we can share our stories, listen and be seen and heard.

A sacred pause

This retreat is in the days leading up to a sacred and ancient event-the summer solstice. This is the perfect time for us to gather in community to pause, reflect and notice where we are. Its the perfect time to celebrate the pinnacle of summer, with all of nature in full bloom and bounty. Its the perfect time to evaluate where you are in your life, to practice presence, to practice devotion, to open your heart, to be in community, to go inward, and to simply be.

With traditional morning yoga sessions, Kirtan and cacao, guided local walks, restorative yoga Nidra and plenty of time and space to be still and rest.

you know that feeling when rest isn't enough anymore?

You sleep a little longer.

You take a day off.

You promise yourself you'll slow down next week.

Breakfast becomes emails.

Dinner becomes tomorrow's plans.

The body rarely has the chance to finish one moment before the next one begins. The mind is already one step ahead.

Over time, something begins to fade.

The simple pleasure of everyday life.

Sacred Pause is an invitation to step away from that rhythm for four days, to return to it differently.

Imagine returning home...

Imagine Monday morning...

You enjoy breakfast before opening your laptop.

You pause for one slow breath before starting the car.

You sit down for lunch without answering emails at the same time.

You finish your cup of tea while it's still warm.

You notice yourself smiling more often for no particular reason.

Your job is the same. Your family is the same. Your responsibilities are the same. Life still asks a lot of you. You've begun choosing a steadier rhythm within it. You enjoy the simple pleasures of everyday life again. And somewhere along the way... you begin to feel more like yourself again.

These four days won't change your life overnight.

They give you something just as valuable: the opportunity to experience a different rhythm.

As the days unfold, you'll begin to notice the moments that make the biggest difference to how you feel.

One of those moments often becomes your own Sacred Pause.

Something simple.

Something that fits naturally into your everyday life.

Something important enough to take home with you.

The retreat helps you rediscover it.

You decide to keep it.

Why Sacred Pause?

Sacred Pause gives you something that has become increasingly rare.

Time...

...to slow down.

...to breathe.

...to enjoy nourishing meals.

...to spend time in nature.

...to simply be.

Together we'll explore one simple question:

What changes when we stop rushing from one moment to the next?

The answers reveal themselves through yoga, walks, shared meals, reflection, Ayurveda and the landscape itself.

Meet your Retreat facilitators Helen & Katja

Between us Katja and I have nearly 40 years of yoga teaching experience. In fact Katja was my amazing yoga teacher trainer! Together we bring a mix of different styles, approaches and modalities and we compliment each other with our different personalities and our mixture of traditional and more modern techniques.

You can find out more about Katja and her amazing offerings here: https://www.zestforyoga.com/

Our beautiful venue is the stunning Yewfield Hotel, Ambleside

The first thing Katja and I noticed when we got out of our car arriving in Ambleside was the air. Clean, green and so fresh, we stood in silence and just breathed it all in. With fresh and airy rooms, cosy nooks to read and have a cup of tea, beautiful vegetarian food and views over the local tarn, Yewfield is a quiet and beautiful place to stay, perched on the edge of a hillside overlooking fields, woodlands and meadows. The Victorian hotel which was once owned by botanists has beautifully maintained gardens full of rare and unusual plants and a dedicated light and airy yoga studio with a wood burning stove all set within 80 acres of woodland and wild flower meadows. At Yewfield you are only two steps away from being out in nature with several beautiful walks to choose from right on your doorstep.

The Rhythm of Your Days

Each day follows an unrushed rhythm.

Morning yoga and breathing practices.

Nourishing vegetarian meals prepared with care.

Walks through the woodland and meadows surrounding Yewfield.

Time to rest.

Time to read.

Time to simply enjoy where you are.

The Sacred Pause Circle, where we explore how the pauses we experience here can become part of everyday life.

Evening practices include restorative yoga, yoga nidra or kirtan.

Nothing needs to be rushed.

There is space for each experience to settle before the next begins.

Over the Four Days

Thursday — Arrival · Dinner · Opening circle · Kirtan or yoga

Friday & Saturday Morning yoga and breathing practice · Breakfast · A walk · Lunch · Free time · Sacred Pause Circle · Dinner · Evening practice (kirtan, restorative yoga, or Yoga Nidra)

Sunday — Departure Morning yoga · Breakfast · Closing circle

Beyond the structure, there is simply space.

Time to sit by the wood-burner.

Time to walk further if you want to, or not at all.

Time, if the evening is right, around a fire pit by the small tarn nearby — unplanned, weather depending, the kind of moment that becomes the one everyone remembers.

The Sacred Pause Circle

This is the heart of the retreat.

Each afternoon we gather to explore the themes that naturally arise throughout our time together.

Drawing on yoga, Ayurveda, philosophy, and more than forty years of combined teaching experience, we'll explore simple ways to bring more rhythm, steadiness, and ease into everyday life.

These are conversations.

Moments to pause.

To listen.

To share.

So we can move forward with clarity and intent.

Is A Sacred Pause for you?

A Sacred Pause is for women who...

are looking for practical ways to bring a steadier rhythm into everyday life.
find themselves putting everyone else's needs before their own.
enjoy yoga as a way to reconnect with themselves rather than as a physical challenge.
appreciate time in nature, nourishing food and meaningful conversation.
would like to return home with a steadier rhythm and feel more like themselves again.

Sacred Pause may not be the right retreat if...

you're looking for an intensive yoga retreat with several hours of physical practice each day.
you enjoy a programme where every hour is planned and filled with activities.
you're hoping for a retreat focused on sightseeing or constant stimulation.
quiet reflection, meaningful conversation and time to yourself don't appeal to you.

There are many wonderful retreats offering those experiences.

Sacred Pause follows a different rhythm.

Perhaps it's exactly the rhythm you've been missing.

The Details:

From room choices to how to get there, we've got you covered.

All of the beautiful at rooms at Yewfield are en-suite.

Standard Room

Shared occupancy included in retreat price
Single occupancy +£135 (for the 3 nights)

Superior Room

Shared occupancy +£75 per room (for the 3 nights)
Single occupancy +£210

If sharing with a friend, please let us know their name at the time of booking.

Room allocation is made by the retreat organisers.

Room Options

Getting there…

Yewfield is a stones throw from the lovely town of Ambleside, in the Lake District, which is easily reached by car or public transport. The fastest way to travel is by car. The train takes a similar amount of time, and the coach is longer but a great budget option. Please take your time to research and plan your journey carefully giving yourself plenty of time to arrive on Thursday. We appreciate for many of you it will be a long journey so please factor in enough time for delays etc. We have kept arrival day fully flexible to accommodate everyone’s arrival. Please do your best to arrive before dinner in the evening at 19:00. (This time will be confirmed nearer the time) We will then hold an Opening Circle in the Yoga Shala after dinner. If we can help in anyway please do reach out to Katja or Helen and we will do our best to help you.

BY CAR:

The Satnav will bring you straight to the hotel going through Ambleside and then along lovely, countryside lanes. There is plenty of free parking available at the venue. If you are coming by car and are happy to have company we encourage you to car share! Closer to the time we will have a retreat Whatsapp group where you can all connect and arrange this. You will also have our contact details.

The address is:

Yewfield Vegetarian Bed & Breakfast

Ambleside LA22 0PR

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Yewfield/@54.3853314,-3.0197281,17z/data=!4m20!1m10!3m9!1s0x487cbfed8b8b45c7:0xcc61ae0091b

BY TRAIN:

The best way to get to Ambleside by train is to travel to Windermere and then get a connecting bus or taxi to Ambleside. There is no train station in Ambleside. Buses run regularly from the train station in Windermere into Ambleside. We will also be running pick ups from the train station on Thursday but we may not be able to cater for everyone as we wont have a minibus!

Avanti West Coast trains also run from London Euston to Windermere.

The trainline is a great website for comparing options:

https://www.thetrainline.com/

By Coach:

Travelling by coach is also an option. Flixbus run a direct coach to Penrith from Northampton town Centre. However Penrith is about an hours drive from Ambleside, so you will need to get a connecting bus or train to Windermere and then follow directions above. National Express also have similar options.

https://www.flixbus.co.uk/

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

Please reach out if you have any queries or questions on the above.

Superior Room

Standard Room

Joining A Sacred Pause Solstice Retreat

Booking your Place

We've intentionally kept Sacred Pause small, giving everyone the time and space to experience a different rhythm.

We'd love to welcome you. Here are your booking options:

PLEASE NOTE: All price tiers include accommodation and breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel (please see more details on the booking page) and all yoga sessions and activities. Please note price does NOT include travel to or from the venue, which must be organised yourself. Please see below for travel information.

Refund Policy

Payments are non-refundable.
Guests may transfer their place to another woman if they can no longer attend.
In the unlikely event that the retreat has to be cancelled for any reason you will be refunded in full.