June Sussex Retreat: Summer Solstice Weekend of Ayurveda and Yoga

Retreat Invitation

I invite you to join me for a weekend retreat, where I’ll guide you through my daily practices. 

Embark on a weekend of simple sense cleansing, yoga practices, cooking and eating to support your prāna (life force), time in nature, rest, silence, and self-reflection. As a householder, I understand the challenges of integrating self-care and spiritual practices with everyday life. Come join me, and I’ll show you how your inner and outer worlds can blend, bringing you closer to health, wholeness, and truth.

Venue: A private family home in Ticehurst, East Sussex

What's Included

  • Morning meditations, breathwork, and Ayur-Yoga (a blend of yoga with an Ayurvedic approach) ~3 hours per day

  • 2 nights of accommodation

  • Home-cooked meals aligned with Ayurveda, supporting digestion and seasonal rhythms

  • Nature immersion—fresh air, countryside walks

  • Rest and rejuvenation

  • A chance to build connections and share in meaningful conversation

  • Teachings on Ayurveda and Yoga philosophy

  • Fire ceremony under the stars

  • Spaciousness to simply be

A Weekend to:

Unplug—Explore inner stillness with morning silence practices.

Reconnect with Nature—Wander through 15 acres of gardens and woodlands.

Conversations on Truth Deepen Relationships—Share this experience with a friend or loved one.

Return to Ease—Leave feeling lighter, centered, and inspired.

Fees

  • Single Room - double bed and ensuite bathroom: £650

  • Single Room - double bed and shared bathroom (bathroom shared with 2 others): £550

  • Twin Share Room - en suite shower and loo: £495/person

  • Dorm Room (if numbers permit) - £415/person (3 people max)

    • x1 double bed shared between two with separate bedding

    • Double air mattress for one

Please note the cancellation policy for deposits and full payments before making payment.

Not Included:

  • Travel to Pickforde (the venue) from Wadhurst station

  • One-to-one sessions with Emily (Yoga, Energy Healing)

  • Treatments/Massages—Holistic Massage with Therapist

Itinerary

Friday


4:00 PM - Arrive and settle in
4:30 PM - Tea and logistics; Introduction to the weekend's Ayurveda theme: “Agni” (digestive fire)
5:30-6:15 PM - Pre-dinner grounding yoga practice
6:30 PM - Dinner
8:00-8:45 PM - Evening circle/relaxation practice
Quiet time

Saturday


Silence (mouna) observed from dawn until 12 p.m.—no talking, WiFi, or mobiles.

  • Agni Hotra sunrise fire prayer

  • 7:00 AM - Ayurvedic hot water treatment & fresh herbal tea

  • 7:20-8:20 AM - Morning breathwork & meditation

  • 8:30 AM - Breakfast

  • 9:00 AM - "It's all about Agni"—Digestive wisdom session

  • 9:30-11:00 AM - Free time

  • 11:00 AM-12:30 PM - Yoga asana

  • 12:30 PM - Lunch

  • 1:30 PM - Post-lunch yoga philosophy chat

  • 2:15-4:45 PM - Free time

  • 4:45-5:45 PM - Evening yoga session

  • 6:00 PM - Dinner

  • 7:00 PM - Fire circle

  • 8:30 PM - Evening tea/milk nightcap

  • Retire

Sunday


Silence (mouna) observed from dawn until 12 p.m.

  • Agni Hotra sunrise fire prayer

  • 7:00 AM - Ayurvedic hot water treatment & fresh herbal tea

  • 7:20-8:20 AM - Morning breathwork & meditation

  • 8:30 AM - Breakfast

  • 9:00 AM - Post-breakfast contemplation & discussion

  • 9:30-11:00 AM - Free time

  • 11:00 AM-12:30 PM - Yoga asana

  • 12:30 PM - Lunch

  • 2:00 PM - Departure

Food

All meals follow the natural rhythm of the day. Dinacharya—a fundamental principle in Ayurveda—teaches that aligning our routines with nature fosters vitality, mental clarity, and overall well-being. At the heart of this retreat is nourishment through thoughtfully prepared meals that support digestion, energy, and inner balance.

We Use:

  • Vegetarian, wholegrain-based meals

  • Homegrown vegetables or locally sourced organic produce

  • Fresh, raw, organic cow’s milk

  • Natural sweeteners (dates, raw honey, maple syrup, jaggery)

We Do Not Use:

  • Onions, garlic, chilies, or nightshades (tomatoes, aubergine, white potatoes, bell peppers)

  • Refined sugars

  • Fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, yeast, kombucha)

Meals include:

  • Light, augmenting breakfast

  • Midday main meal—the optimal time for digestion

  • Lighter evening meal

No alcohol or caffeine is served at the retreat.

Join us for a weekend of restoration, deep listening, and inner alignment. A space to tune in, slow down, and return home to yourself.

Guest Experiences

  • “It totally exceeded my expectations and I’ve come away feeling alive. I have slept so unbelievably well this week—it’s made me realize how little sleep I was surviving on and how awful I felt with constant anxiety and insomnia. It’s made me realize that I don’t just want yoga in my life, but I NEED yoga in my life, along with the wonderful meditations and relaxations we practiced. I slept seven hours straight last night, which I haven’t done for years! I just wish I was closer to your classes, Emily.”

    Davina, A. Surrey.

  • “Emily’s warmth and presence alone are enough to make you slow down, unwind, and embrace just ‘being.’ It was the perfect combination of yoga, meditation, delicious food, downtime on the couch, and embracing beautiful fresh country air. I’d recommend anyone take the time out of their day-to-day to ‘escape’ for a few days and reap the rejuvenating benefits in the days and weeks to come!”

    Danielle, B. London.

  • “Living in the environment of a family home, where every room has its history but has also been made available for the yoga retreat, was a wonderful feeling. The meditation, yoga—both restorative and more active—the chanting, fire ceremony, and little touches like hot drinks outside the Shala and books by the open fire all contributed to a magnificent feeling of being welcome and well. The practice was great, and being guided through it with generosity and competence was a pleasure. Emily, this is a very special way to run a retreat, and I say that with the confidence of someone who knows about running retreats! Thank you very much.”

    Marina, W. London.

  • “A deeply soothing, relaxing break where yogis of all levels can meet like-minded people and practice lots of meditation, pranayama, and yoga. No expectations are placed on you, and you can do as little or as much as you want, which is a lovely thing. Emily is a fabulously intuitive teacher who is able to gear her practices to cater to all levels. This is a restorative retreat that really helps those who need some time out!”

    Beth, H. London.

  • “I loved it. It was a present to myself—to unwind, stop, and nourish myself. It really helped me connect with myself again. I felt stronger somehow.”

    Chantal, C. Hertfordshire.

  • “The weekend definitely lived up to my expectations and was great value for money. The food was plentiful, delicious, and creative. The venue was perfect—lots of nature, peace, and space to just be if you wanted to. I had a very positive experience. You really inspired me to get out there and put into practice all that I have learned.”

    Carol, P. Yoga Teacher, Midlands.

  • “Thank you so much for everything given and shared this weekend. This preparation has given me the energy to start a new chapter of my life in a much more positive, calm, and open way.”

    Natalie. East Sussex.

  • “I had never practiced silence before the retreat. I was a little unsure how I would take it—or if I could do it! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It was the ability to not have to feel like I should be polite and make small talk. I could be alone or with people and not TALK. I felt so peaceful.”

    Anna, London.

  • “A heartfelt thank you… I enjoyed every minute of the retreat weekend! I loved your yoga practices and the calm they brought. The silent mornings and meditation with breathing could not have been better.”

    Shilinia, Heathfield.

  • “I had the most wonderful weekend at the retreat. The theme of a slowed-down, calming, and still weekend was extremely timely—indeed, an absolute tonic for me during a highly emotive and stressful period of life. The weekend gave me the opportunity to unwind, reflect, and quiet my busy mind and body, so that I was prepared for the next few weeks and was able to engage in a much calmer and more loving way. I do not think I would have been able to achieve this by myself. I also had the most amazing massage and craniosacral treatment and stayed in picturesque surroundings, with the most delectable food made with such kindness and consideration. I’m deeply grateful for the experience and the people I met.”

    Natalie, East Sussex.

  • “I felt so much peace during the weekend—I felt like a child with your motherly energy. The fire ritual, morning dew, Ojas milk bedtime nightcap… you brought my senses together to calm my heart. I will remember this magical weekend and the courage and inspiration you have given me. Thank you.”

    Shuyu, London.

  • “Thank you for the special weekend we all shared together in the nourishing, nurturing space. You are that playful, sincere, and inspiring light, Emily, leading us toward our own light. May you keep shining forever bright.”

    Carole, Leicester.

  • “I keep getting little flashes of the fire under the moon; the free-flowing creative yoga moves that helped me release things I had been holding; laughing with the other participants; reading out loud in a circle the words that matter most in life at the start of the weekend; reading inspirational books by the fire; the morning sunrise meditations—it was such a treat, not to mention the incredible food and treatments! How lucky I feel to have experienced it all in a weekend.”

    Natalie, London.