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Step away from the frenetic pace of life this Autumn and join the Whitespace team for a fabulous nurturing weekend retreat just 40 minutes from Stony Stratford! Surrender into luxurious accommodation, surrounded by lush nature at Tofte Manor; a gloriously homely 17th century manor house, set in 50 acres.
This retreat is perfect for complete beginners and experienced practitioners alike; anyone who would like to deepen their practice. It is a wonderful, nourishing opportunity to pause and rebalance before the cold winter months ahead.
You will sleep deeply in sumptuous beds, soak in big baths, read in the private library and relax by the fire in the beautiful sitting room. You can wander around the landscaped gardens and enjoy peaceful private woodlands. The Tofte Manor labyrinth* is a serene, intimate place perfect for peaceful reflection and quiet time.
Several Whitespace team members will host the retreat. Nina will hold the space for the weekend, Pam will be preparing and cooking the food, various teachers will teach the yoga classes and other team members will join in at various points during the weekend. It will be a lovely opportunity to bring the Whitespace community together.
We are limiting numbers for this retreat to allow everyone sufficient space and personal attention for a truly relaxing and nurturing experience. It is a wonderful opportunity for many members of the Whitespace studio and teaching team to spend time with some of the student community. However, this is your weekend; you can join in as much or as little as you wish.
This retreat is perfect for anyone who hasn’t the time or inclination to travel, but yearns for a luxurious weekend to relax, deepen their practice while enjoying the tranquillity and beauty of a really special place.
All levels of yoga practitioners are welcome, and all classes are open to everyone. Bring your heart and spirit and work to your own level and ability!
| Sole occupancy room with shared bathroom – Manor House | £695 |
| Double room for two with private bathroom – Manor House | £1290 (£645 pps) |
| Sole occupancy room with ensuite – Courtyard | £695 |
| Twin room for two with shared bathroom – Courtyard | £1190 (£595 pps) |
| Suite for two – Courtyard | £1390 (£695 pps) |
If Whitespace choose to postpone the event due to changes in government restrictions, then your booking will automatically be moved to the new date and you’ll be notified be email. Any refund requests at this point can be made by contacting Whitespace.
Classes are held in two beautiful studios:
The Sanctuary is a delightful, tranquil octagonal room in the grounds and surrounded by nature. It has a beautiful collection of crystals and geometric stars suspended from the ceiling.
The Crystal Room, with lots of natural light from the window overlooking the formal garden. It boasts underfloor heating for some added comfort in our autumnal yoga sessions.
As has been customary in the studio in Covid times, you will need to bring your own mat and favourite props, to include a blanket for class, which can also be used at the firepit to keep warm too.
Friday
3.30pm onwards: settle into your room and meet the group
4.30-6pm: gentle all levels Yoga Flow “Autumn, a journey of transitions”
7.00pm: welcome drinks and dinner
Saturday
6.30am: tea, coffee & fresh juice
7.15-8am: a meditational walk “A Meandering Meditation”
8.30-10am: “Be-Activated” Healing Flow with essential oils
11am: leisurely brunch
Free time for relaxing, reading, walking, exploring or for a treatment
2pm afternoon tiffin
2.30-4pm: Vinyasa to Yin
5-6pm: Labyrinth Introduction & Candlelit Walk
6-7.30pm: Drumming Workshop around the firepit
7.30pm: dinner
Sunday
8am: tea, coffee & fresh juice
9-10am: Nourishing Autumn Flow
11am: leisurely brunch
Free time for walking, exploring, reading or a treatment
1-2.30pm: Sound Meditation (Gong Bath)
Afternoon tiffin
4pm: retreat ends
*The labyrinth at Tofte Manor is a source of inspiration and peace. Nestled in a quiet, secluded part of the garden, it is filled with a sense of tranquillity and ageless beauty, stirring feelings of enchantment.
The Tofte Labyrinth copies the design of the ancient pattern of the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France, but with a unique twist. It incorporates all the elements in its design: earth, air, fire and water. The water that runs through the labyrinth pathway can be drunk. It is delicious, pure and vital, energised potent water. Research has shown that walking a labyrinth creates balance in the body and brings peace and clarity to the mind.
** Sound Therapy/Reiki Private Session A body scan will establish any energetic stagnation. Tuning forks & singing bowls will then be used on & around the body to restore balance, with the addition of Reiki to harmonise Qi flow.
Crystal Healing/Reiki Private Session A dowser will be used to read the energy patterns in the body, using crystals and Reiki to clear the aura, energy pathways, and balance the chakras for enhanced flow and sparkle.
The interior of the Manor House has been sympathetically and exquisitely restored, featuring interesting architecture, beautiful antiques, exquisite paintings, and a harmonious interior décor. There are nine luxurious Manor House bedrooms created with imagination, and every attention to detail. One fabulous country house style bathroom is allocated to each bedroom on a 1 to 2 basis and there is also a washbasin in every room.
The old Stables Courtyard has been carefully restored and converted into seven beautifully designed and contemporary bedrooms in cottages surrounding a central courtyard.
Delicious, organic, home-cooking will be served in healthy abundance throughout the weekend. Freshly laid, organic free-range eggs are optional at brunch. An imaginative selection of welcoming freshly prepared dishes should offer you all nourishing satisfaction and buzzing vitality throughout your stay.
Tofte Manor energising spring water, fresh coffee, organic homemade juices and herbal teas are complimentary. Organic wine and soft drinks at dinner are optional extras. (drinks bills to be settled on departure)
Each day will start with fresh homemade juice, pro-biotic herbal teas and organic coffee.
After the revitalising morning Yoga class, we will serve a delicious brunch; a relaxing feast of various homemade dishes; both hot and cold, sweet and savoury.
A tasty afternoon tiffin will keep everyone going until dinner.
Each day draws to a close after Yoga with a scrumptious dinner made up of a variety of freshly cooked dishes to choose from. It will be a long slow meal aimed at bringing the community together at the end of the day for relaxed chatter and laughter.
Please discuss any food allergies & dietary requirements with us when booking
Autumn is a time of transition as we leave the vibrancy of summer behind and move towards a calmer and more restful place. This practice will explore the journey of transitions further. The session will open with a gentle embodied all-levels flow to mimic the spirit of summer, before moving towards a nurturing restorative practice that will facilitate deep relaxation and welcome the embrace of the darker months. Calming breathing practices will be interwoven throughout the session to create a rounded mind, body and breath experience. This is a session to soothe your soul.
Awaken your senses in this eyes-closed to eyes-open easy Meditation. First you will orientate your attention inwards, expanding your awareness through the breath, the heart and the mind. Mirroring the Autumnal trees, you too will experience how to effortlessly drop any downward spiralling thoughts and feelings that you may be holding on to. You will create your own heart centred personal mantra to use throughout the weekend. You will practice a silent, walking meditation, using your mantra as you meander through the beautiful grounds of Tofte Manor and fully absorb the vibrant colours of nature’s art.
Following the meditation, you will now awaken and fully inhabit your body using Be Activated techniques weaved into a gently energising flow. These muscle activations immediately give you more flexibility, more energy, more strength and more focus. Once learnt you can apply them anytime to rehabilitate the body and reduce the risk of injury. You will anchor in this new blueprint with the power of nature’s healing essential oils. This class is to prepare you to experience maximum enjoyment and to be fully open to receiving the gifts that the rest of your retreat brings.
Autumn is a time of transition and change. We see it in nature. We feel it in the cooler days and darker nights. During this Vin2Yin Practice we will also move through a transition. Starting with a gentle Vinyasa Flow we will then settle into the long held poses of Yin, working with both the Yin and Yang energy in our bodies. We will release the tension that so easily builds in our upper bodies, shoulders, neck whilst also working with the meridians of the upper body to help us shed, like leaves, that which no longer serves us well.
In this workshop will explore music as a tool for meditation, relaxation, self-expression, and communication. We will gather around the firepit, at the end of the day, engaging completely with the sounds of our environment in a deep listening exercise, then exploring our own creativity and communication, as well as rhythms from across the world, in a cathartic burst of powerful sound.
…to Honour the Seasons and the Body. As we observe and watch the ever-changing seasons, it can be a fantastic reminder that our bodies too, change. Just as autumn is constantly changing and moving in energy, our flow class will provide a morning energiser where we will honour our bodies exactly where they are, providing moments of strength, moments of heat and moments of reflection providing a full body stretch and opening. The perfect way to bring in the rest of the weekend.
Gong Bath. This is a deeply meditative experience – raising awareness of ourselves, stepping closer to harmony, energy balance and spiritual uplifting. A landscape of sounds will help you enter a deep state of meditation, allowing you to experience the healing effect on the body and mind. Excellent for stress, anxiety relief and relaxation, and to improve sleep and boost energy.
Tofte Manor
Souldrop Rd, Sharnbrook
Bedford MK44 1HH
There is plenty of parking onsite, which is located within the secure gated grounds of the estate.
– Eckhart Tolle
We invite you to escape with us, for a 5-night Yoga, Pilates & Wellness Retreat in a stunning natural riverside setting in Portugal
