New Year Retreat Day: Clear, Calm and Kind
Whether your holidays were busy or quiet, give yourself a whole day to come back to yourself.
A day to move, breathe and settle, gently letting go of the expectations we carry into January. Shared in good company, with a nourishing lunch in the middle of the day and time to simply be.
- Rest and rejuvenateA chance to let your body and mind thoroughly unwind after the busyness of the festive season.
- Clear the mental clutterBreath practice and meditation to quieten the noise and help you see what really matters to you this year.
- Move with easeThorough, unhurried asana that leaves you feeling spacious and grounded, with plenty of options along the way.
- Be kind to yourselfNo resolutions to set and nothing to prove, simply space to treat yourself with the same care you give everyone else.
The new year can arrive with a lot of noise and pressure to reinvent ourselves, just when the short, dark days are asking us to slow down.
This is a gentler beginning: a day to let go of expectations, meet yourself with kindness and nurture your inner light through the winter. You'll leave rested and clear, with a calmer sense of how you'd like the year ahead to feel.
The day
- 9.45amArrive and settleA warm drink and time to find your spot before we begin.
- 10am to 11.30amAsana with LauraA thorough, unhurried practice to wake up the body and find steadiness and ease.
- 11.30am to 12pmTea breakTea, coffee and a chance to chat or simply sit quietly.
- 12pm to 1pmPranayama and meditation with LauraAccessible breath practice and meditation to settle the mind and bring clarity.
- 1pm to 1.30pmLunchHomemade soup, fresh bread and salad, all vegan, gluten free and nut free.
- 1.30pm to 2pmYoga philosophyA relaxed exploration of letting go of expectations, and how that can bring us clarity and calm.
- 2pm to 4pmRestorative somatics and yoga nidra with CharlotteSlow, restorative somatic movement followed by yoga nidra, a deeply restful guided practice, to carry you home.
What's included
- A full day of practice with two experienced teachers
- Meditation and pranayama you can take home and use whenever you need it
- A thorough, unhurried morning asana practice with options to suit your body
- A short yoga philosophy session on clarity, calm and letting go of expectations
- Homemade soup, fresh bread and salad, all vegan, gluten free and nut free
- Tea and coffee throughout the day
- All mats, blocks, bolsters and blankets provided
- Restorative somatics and yoga nidra to close the day
Limited places, book early
Treat yourself to a day just for you
A full day of yoga with two experienced teachers, a nourishing homemade lunch and tea and coffee through the day, from less than £16 an hour. Book early to save, and save even more as a member.
Early bird
Book by Sunday 20 December
£120
Save £20£95
Save £45Standard
From Monday 21 December
£140
£120
Save £20How to book your price: enter code EARLYBIRD at checkout before Sunday 20 December. BSY members, you will find your members' code in your members' email. Members' prices are checked against our membership list.
Every price includes a homemade lunch of soup, fresh bread and salad, with tea and coffee through the day. Places are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Not a member yet? Members save on every class, workshop and retreat day, so joining before you book saves you £25 on this day alone. Explore our memberships
Your teachers
Laura Gilmore
Morning asana, pranayama and meditation. Laura founded Bristol School of Yoga and has taught for 27 years, training new teachers every year for the last 18. Her teaching blends the depth of the tradition with modern movement science, always with warmth and care.
Charlotte Ackary-Hawthorne
Afternoon restorative somatics and yoga nidra. Charlotte teaches our restorative classes at BSY and runs a community interest company helping people move well. She trained with us on our 200 and 300 hour trainings, and is loved for her warm, inclusive, trauma-sensitive teaching.
Kind words from our students
"As a fellow teacher, I can safely say it was wonderful. This was my first live experience of Laura's teaching and I found it just the right balance of challenge and support, kind and human! I would highly recommend her to experienced and new yogis alike."Emma P, on a previous New Year retreat day
"Laura is the best yoga teacher I've found in my 20+ years practising yoga. Her teaching is creative and sensitive, soft and challenging, always centred around breath and trauma informed, even in big groups. I always feel more calm after her classes."Lynn Burnett
"Char's teaching is calm and kind. Her restorative yoga and yoga nidra have supported me through some really heavy periods of my life, and I am so thankful for her warm and wonderful teaching."Tim Dawes
Your questions answered
Do I need yoga experience?
The day is best suited to those with some previous experience of yoga. The asana will be thorough but steady, with options throughout, so you can work at a level that feels right. You don't need any previous experience of pranayama or meditation.
What should I bring?
Wear comfortable layers you can move in, and bring warm socks and an extra jumper for the relaxation. We provide all mats and props, plus lunch, tea and coffee. You're welcome to bring a notebook and a water bottle.
What's for lunch?
Homemade soup, fresh bread and salad. Everything is vegan, gluten free and nut free, though it may contain seeds.
Can I come to just part of the day?
The day is designed as a whole, with each session building on the one before, so we only offer full-day places.
I'm feeling exhausted after Christmas. Is this too much?
Not at all. The day is paced to restore rather than deplete you, with a tea break in the morning and a whole afternoon of restorative somatics and yoga nidra. You can take any posture more gently or rest whenever you need to.
Can I get a refund or transfer my place?
As a small independent studio, our terms are what help us keep going. Places are non-refundable and non-transferable, so please be sure the date works for you before you book. We're sorry that we can't make exceptions.
You don't need a new you this January. You might simply need a little space to rest, breathe and hear yourself think. Come as you are, and leave feeling clearer, calmer and ready to meet the year in your own way.
Limited places
Save your place
We keep numbers small so the day feels calm and personal, which means places are limited and tend to go quickly. Book by Sunday 20 December and enter code EARLYBIRD for the early bird price.
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