4wellbeing

Location was beautiful, would be even better in Summer. Food passed expectation and plenty of it. Paula put a lot of effort into making sure there was plenty of activities to join in throughout the weekend. Very welcoming and I thought good value for money.

I loved Paula retreat!

I really liked how the day and activities were structured. There was a flow and no pressure to take part in all the plans. I have learned new things and look forward to implementing them in my life. Also meeting new people was so nice.

Feeling re charged and can’t wait to book again with Paula.

The area of Buxton is beautiful with many interesting places to explore

Variety of activities and yoga practice.

Excellent instructor, friendly and very knowledgeable. A full schedule of activities and sessions. Really well thought out itinerary and very very enjoyable.

The location was wonderful. The staff were warm and hospitable. The food was excellent.

Paula was friendly and welcoming and provided a variety of activities during the stay mixing up yoga with mindfulness, relaxation and walking.

Yoga classes were good, lots of variety. Good location

The hotel and it's location.

Paula is a great yoga teacher and provided a fun, activity filled yoga break. It was lovely to share this with new friends and it was all very relaxed, with lots of laughter. Really enjoyed it.

Great treat to visit Buxton combined with the yoga sessions and additional activities. Hotel very grand with helpful staff, and good meals. Enjoyed the yoga movement sessions but found the post dinner evening sessions and some of the more spiritual sessions too long. Would have preferred more warm up and movement, perhaps more discussion with the group. The walk was beautiful and magical experience having a yoga session outdoors. Buxton is a lovely town- great for the weekend visit.

Knowledgeable and friendly instructor, nice group of people. Hotel staff welcoming and very efficient. A great yoga holiday.

The hole thing

Paula has a great energy, very relaxed, friendly, professional and extremely knowledgeable. She was able to adapt the Yoga for all abilities and levels seamlessly. The meditations, walks and sound bath were excellent. It was a great schedule that you could dip in and out of if you wished to do so.

The yoga was very accessible and enjoyable which was entirely down to Paula's teaching skill and positive energy. I also enjoyed the walks around Buxton as a juxta to the yoga. The gong bath was particularly wonderful. All attendees were really lovely people who made the experience of attending on my own far more comfortable and pleasant than it could have been. Overall the facilities at the Hotel were good: my room was spacious, clean and peaceful, the yoga room was large and airy, and the lounge and dining areas were well maintained and staffed.

Everything, loads of yoga with different styles and experiences to try in a safe place. Friendly and supportive. Loved the chanting.

This was my second weekend with Paula and I brought a friend with me this time. We both loved that there was a pretty full itinerary, rather than a weekend break with a couple of hours of yoga available, you can do as much or as little as you want without any pressure. We loved doing yoga outside, the highlight of the weekend being the Sunday walk with salutations in the sunshine at Soloman's temple. A lovely group, supportive, non-competitive environment, we shall book again.

Arrived in Buxton for our yoga retreat and were impressed by the grandeur of the hotel and the perfect location for shops, park, theatre etc. The yoga teacher and allocated room was great as were the walks she organised for us. What let the hotel down were the spa facilities. Very tired and massage disappointing . The food was plentiful if not very adventurous and repeated on both days. Breakfast was the best value although the coffee was not good. staff were helpful even the poor one member of staff on the bar who was inundated with orders and a long queue. Clearly understaffed as there was a wedding on. She did not complain but it was frustrating for us and her.

Beautiful location, lots to see and do. Great walks . Great hotel, easy parking, friendly staff, clean, well equipped rooms . Comfy beds , plenty of bedding and clean towels and toiletries. Lots of choice with meals, breakfast was amazing. Superb lobby and bar too . Pool was lovely with a. Added sauna & steam room . Spa reception staff were helpful and so friendly .

Yoga room was warm , sunny and spacious with nearby toilets . Yoga was amazing , lots of different practices & Paula worked so hard to give a variety of classes . She really is an exceptional teacher .

The yoga and mindfulness was excellent, Paula was very knowledgeable about all the subjects, everyone was very friendly, not been on a yoga retreat before but I will certainly be going on another,

A wonderful experience, including the spirituality of yoga, chanting, meditation and mindfulness. It was a packed 3 days with good company and a full programme.

The whole weekend was great. This was my first yoga retreat and I enjoyed every bit of it. Paula was lovely, really knowledge, friendly and had made everyone feel relaxed and welcome. Whalley Abbey was a beautiful setting, the rooms are basic but perfectly comfortable. The staff were friendly and accommodating.

I honestly can’t find a fault, all the other attendees were lovely too!

If you are considering a retreat I would recommend this one with Paula, whatever your yoga ability there will be something for you on this weekend.

Paula is a super host, instructor, and made the weekend fun. Her programme had great variety, including all aspects of yoga, mindfulness and meditation. The accommodation was beautiful too.

Paula was an incredible instructor with a wealth of knowledge . Truly lovely experience. Thanks to Paula and the other ladies on the retreat. Highly recommend doing Paula’s weekend retreats xx

Paula was a great teacher, friendly and funny, and clearly had loads of experience. She pitched the teaching at the right level for the group and, as well as yoga, she provided loads of useful information about chakras and mindfulness. There was a beautiful sound bath too, which was the best I've ever experienced.

I could not fault anything about this yoga retreat. The location was absolutely beautiful and was a perfect setting. Itinerary was so well thought out and varied. Thank you, Paula, and to all the lovely ladies on this retreat for making it such a very special experience.

Good company, excellent activities, interesting venue!

The instructor was excellent - she pitched the postures and timing so that everyone was challenged but no-one was overwhemled. The yoga and other activities meant that the weekend was full but not too full. I really enjoyed the weekend and learned so much more about yoga.

I had a fantastic weekend with like minded people. The yoga, mindfulness and all other activities were brilliant. Paula is a great instructor. I particularly enjoyed the sound bath and candle gazing, which were new experiences for me. I'm looking forward to booking another one soon. Helen

Lovely teacher, people, place, food, hotel, walks

Beginners yoga, suitable for total newbies.

Meeting like-minded individuals and focusing on improving your mental health and well-being.

The weekend was a full and thorough event that allowed me to experience yoga & meditation on a really deep level. I feel renewed and invigorated!

I cannot praise Paula Holden enough, her knowledge, teaching, patience, kindness, incredible talent, generous nature, honesty. I would definitely recommend her yoga retreats. We were extremely fortunate to be with a wonderful bunch of ladies from all walks of life. Highly recommended and would book again.

I felt the the quality of the yoga was excellent, a varied programme which included a mindfulness workshop, candle gazing, soundbath, walking and time for self to explore the area/hotel whatever you wanted to do,

There was also the opportunity to meet other people with similar interests, I found the retreat relaxing and there was no pressure to join into any of the events if you preferred to do your own thing. Woud definitely attend another one.

Quite an intensive programme of different yoga activities but also with time to do our own thing. Enjoyed chatting with other participants. Anne xo

Paula was a brilliant guide on this journey and really put everything into an amazing yoga expierience

A really full, non judgmental, easy to follow yoga experience

I especially loved the Sound bath

Also the walks

Very relaxed but full weekend of yoga and mindfulness. The schedule was well planned and you could take part in all activities or as many as you wanted to. We had excellent weather so the two walks were fabulous, they felt remote but only a few minutes from Buxton. The hotel staff were friendly and the food was great. Paula was a great instructor, a very experienced teacher. We did so much more than yoga, the sound bath was excellent and the nidra yoga was wonderful. We learnt some chair yoga too, props give it a new dimension!

There's not enough I can say about Paula. This was my first yoga, mindfulness and meditation weekend. I went by myself and I'm not the most confident person. Paula is a skilled yogi practitioner. She was generous with her time, her teachings assistance and multitude of skills and very down to earth with a great sense of humour.

Hotel was lovely, parking great, staff down to earth respectful and helpful. A local Pianist played a baby grand in the foyer which was below my room and added to my experience at the hotel. Food was excellent and plentiful. Location perfect. Only problem was lack of hot water but there's a new system in place which means you have to run taps to run through the cold till you receive hot. This was the ONLY issue. I couldn't have asked for more.. very, very, very happy with this opportunity and experience.

Very friendly and relaxing retreat, with lots of meditation and mindfulness.

Good equipment.

Large enough room to practice yoga.

Excellent location for outside walks.

There was a lot of variety. The sound bath was a wonderful new experience for me. And I have actually come away from the weekend feeling in tune with myself and with a clear direction. Lovely people on the program and some great walks in the area. I will do another next year

Beautiful location with friendly staff.

Paula is a wonderfully knowledgeable instructor, in addition to yoga, we practiced meditation and chakra work. Some of us were new to the nose and mouth cleansing, so found this as hilarious as the laughing yoga on the last day.

Everything about the weekend was amazing. Paula was very knowledgeable and supportive and great to be with.

I can't wait to do the next weekend with her.

A good variety of yoga & meditation.

Enjoyed the walks. Lovely hilly walks.

Good to practice outdoor yoga in fresh air and surrounded by great views.

The way she illustrated and made everyone welcome and interacted with everyone

Weather was brilliant full program of activities food was lovely and so nice meeting other people

Instructor planned the weekend nice enjoyable walk

Paula ensured that beginner and experienced yogis alike were included. Each session was well explained.

The yoga sessions were innovative, invigorating and instructive.

The area provided much opportunity for walking in the breaks between yoga sessions.

Paula was attentive and guided the group on these walks and out door yoga.

A fabulous relaxing weekend.

The yoga content delivered by Paula was excellent together with the mindfulness, relaxation and chanting. We both learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the content. We loved the walk to Solomon's Temple and loved that the hotel was in Buxton.

The food except for the lunches were excellent and good value for money.

The hotel is looking a bit tired and perhaps in need of some TLC. The bedrooms were fine and clean. The hotel appeared to be quite short staffed but the staff were lovely, polite and helpful.

This weekend was exactly what I needed after a very stressful year. Paula's yoga sessions were wonderful, especially as she has opened my mind to the calming benefits of chanting and meditation. The mindfulness workshop and the evening yoga sessions (breathing techniques, candle meditation and sound bath) were particularly memorable.

Amazing yoga retreat in beautiful location with brilliant Yoga teacher.

I had the most incredible time on this yoga holiday. Paula was great and we had a very busy 3 days including chanting, candle gazing, yoga, breathing and meditation and 2 walks as a group which meant we all got to get to know each other better. The hotel was lovely and the veggie food was really tasty. I will be booking next year 100%

I enjoyed all aspects of the yoga sessions. Paula was superb and all classes were paced just right. The weekend went beyond my expectations and I would definitely like to repeat it again. I came away feeling calm and rejuvenated.

Everything....

Paula was amazing. There was a lovely mix of yoga and mindfulness techniques. Friendly group of people attending.

The positive after effects from the weekend will last....

This was a perfect yoga retreat, Paula is an excellent teacher and the weekend was varied , inspirational and thoroughly enjoyable

The itinerary was well thought out and adapted to the group who were a lovely bunch of people

I can’t wait to go again and would recommend it to any one.

Location

Paula made everyone welcome and has extensive knowledge in yoga practice and mindfulness. I even tried the morning chanting and Paula made you feel at ease even though I had never done this before. The weather was good and we managed to do yoga in the hotel grounds. The hotel accommodation was good and plenty of food at meal times. Very good location and lots to see and do in the area just a short walk away. I would highly recommend this yoga retreat with Paula. I will be going again next year.

Paula knows what she is doing and has a great aptitude for sharing her vast knowledge, skills and experience in a way suitable for the variation in these area’s of each of her students. Her attitude and manner is so naturally friendly and supportive. As a newbie to yoga and retreats, I worried I may not get as much benefit in comparison to the more experienced attendees. However, I could not have been more wrong! This retreat has quite literally changed my life.

The schedule was excellent and I partook in all that was offered, even though I was sceptical of parts (having never tried chanting, candle gazing or laughter yoga) and actually found these to be some of the most enjoyable parts of the weekend. Although plenty to do, which I did, I left feeling energised and strong - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The other retreaters were amazing people too and added to the excellence of this experience for me. I have already booked for another retreat with Paula next year and am certain I will be a serial retreater with Paula. If I could score Paula and this retreat experience higher, I would have no hesitation in doing so. Thank you Paula. See you next year xx

My first yoga retreat and it was wonderful, cannot recommend Paula highly enough. All the different classes were accessible to a novice like me, evening sessions very relaxing just before bed. Good company, mixture of couples and singles worked really well. The hotel is quirky, but it added to the enjoyment. The setting is stunning.

Coming away with more knowledge. Feeling relaxed and energised at times.

Yoga in the evening could have finished slightly earlier 9.15-9.30 as felt quite tired.

Relaxing experience with knowledgeable instructor and a beautiful setting.

Our instructor was excellent and it was a joy to spend the weekend with 10 like-minded ladies. The programme was varied and interesting, introducing me to many new elements that I could add into my own practice.

Excellent location with a lovely, experienced instructor. Brilliant weather meant we could practise yoga outside and swim in the nearby river!

Great teacher, good range of yoga and other related activities,

Really improved my practice.

The yoga sessions were relaxed yet instructive and Paula created a wonderfully inclusive atmosphere. The hotel was a little querky but this just added to the experience, it is situated in some beautiful woodland which you look out into whilst swimming in the pool which is delightful. I came away feeling relaxed and revived.

Relaxing, beautiful surroundings, right pace itinerary, learned new things, lots of space, chilled environment, knowledgeable, professional instructor.

I found the yoga and pace of the days really relaxing. The walks and surroundings were lovely and pool were particularly good. Food was excellent, especially because I had dietary requirements that were catered for.

Paula is a wonderful yoga teacher, with a vast knowledge of how to improve your whole well being. The positive energy she projected was gratefully received by myself.

The weekend was well organised in this most beautiful of locations, will definitely be attending another retreat with Paula in the future. I met some incredible people and enjoyed every single moment.

The weekend was relaxing and calming with a variety of different yoga and mindfulness exercises. I felt comfortable straight away in Paula's prescence and the group I met were lovely. I loved the outside yoga and trying new forms of yoga such as laughter yoga, chanting and the Indian head massage. Wonderful experience for my first yoga retreat and I would definitely consider returning next year.

Our Instructor was amazing, we had a full schedule starting early and finishing late, with enough free time, nothing was rushed it was a truly mindful time, trying out new practices, the laughter Yoga was a hoot! having been concerned over who I would be joining, the group were really lovely from all walks of life with one common goal in loving yoga there were all levels. The location, scenery was fantastic. I am looking forward to going again.

The relaxed approach from Paula

I really enjoyed my 3 day retreat at this amazing location, with incredible views and perfectly chosen. I met some lovely people, the weekend was carefully planned out with scheduled yoga and mindful activities too! The yoga instructor was experienced, telaxed and friendly.........and adapted to suit the individual. I loved the food too there was lots of it! I will definitely book again in the future.

It was my first Yoga experience and what an experience it has been!!

I learnt about all sorts of techniques: relaxations, chanting, meditations, laughter, pair yoga and and yoga .

Paula also gave us useful tools to use once we get home when things are getting a bit too much.

With what is currently happening in my life it couldn’t have been a better fit. Paula despite a really bad cold was just amazing. The right level of attention to each one of us. It was just brilliant and Yoga will now be a permanent feature in my life.

A massive THANK YOU! and I hope to see you in your next course x

This was my first yoga retreat and it was wonderful. I met an AMAZING group of women and I enjoyed the company of every single one of them. Paula (instructor) put enormous effort into our time together. I found it all beneficial and did return home very relaxed and in a better mental zone. I also came away with good correctional advice on my positions, new positions to practice and determination to practice more regularly on my own.

I appreciated the 'full on' programme, though some of the events were optional (no additional cost and no pressure to attend),which left what was for me sufficient periods of 'free' time for wandering about. The grounds and surrounding area were outstandingly beautiful and we were very lucky with the weather. Nonetheless, I went for the yoga so wanted to attended everything. The paired yoga was a lovely way to end our yoga practice together and was also fun to do.

I attended with a friend but it would have been completely fine to have come on my own - as others of those who attended did. I wouldn't hesitate to attend again by myself if anyone reading this has concerns about this.

I would attend again full stop.

The setting was absolutely gorgeous, very peaceful with beautiful views. Paula's teaching style was gentle and inclusive and the practices over the weekend were plentiful and varied. The other people on the weekend were lovely - always the most important factor! - and the group gelled together as a whole. It was both a relaxing and stimulating weekend, and altogether enjoyable.

This was my first ever yoga retreat/holiday.

I had a great time. I met lovely people and did lots of yoga as well as other things I'd never tried before like candle gazing and Indian head massage.

I enjoyed Paula's teaching and came away feeling reassured about my yoga practice.

The setting was fabulous and we were able to have some great country walk. The pool was perfect for a dip.

Overall reasonable value for money. Disappointed with the yoga though, felt it could have been better organised with more flow and levels of difficulty to meet needs of all. Basic instructions in and out of postures was poor and breathing techniques could have been incorporated more into the basics of yoga.

The walk and the yoga classes. I loved the meditation too. It was a very positive experience.

Paula is an excellent instructor who created a fantastic atmosphere amongst the group. The yoga sessions were a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions catered to all different abilities and with some wonderful meditation/more spiritual elements too. The extra sessions offered, such as hand massage, yoga nidra, bowen technique and walks in the peak district really added to the experience. The hotle is set in a beautiful location and the accommodation, though a little basic, is comfortable, quiet and private. The food was lovely and seemingly never ending. An all round great experience which I would do again.

The weekend was very enjoyable. Paula was very easy going and there were lots of things to do, such as walks and creative activities as well as obviously yoga, without any pressure to do everything. I enjoyed the yoga classes, that were very accessible, but also added to my existence yoga practice. Always good to notice that your own practice feels different after a retreat!

Cromford is a lovely location, also for the guided walks we did. The on-site pool provided opportunity for a proper swim.