“Deepen or kickstart your yoga practice”
Five Day Summer Yoga Retreat, Bala Brook, Dartmoor, Devon
Bala Brook Retreat Centre, Diamond Ln, South Brent, Devon TQ10, United Kingdom
Walking and Yoga Retreat in Devon
This yoga retreat is an opportunity to really deepen or kickstart your yoga practice in the late summer. Over the five days, you will explore dynamic and quiet practices to different effects including asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing practices), deep relaxation, body centring and meditation. All practices are designed to bring us to our own energized and calm centre.
Meet the instructors
Neville
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Highlights
- Daily yoga classes
- Main asana sessions
- Pranayama and meditation classes
- Silence sessions in the morning
- Free optional guided walks
- 4 nights accommodation
- 3 daily vegetarian meals
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
5 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 15 participants
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
16:00
Facilities
- Dining area
- Kitchen
- Yoga studio
- Library
Bala Brook has a fantastic, recently refurbished, and extended yoga room (with underfloor heating), a large kitchen-diner / conservatory area, a library, and common sitting areas. Accommodation is simple, comfortable, and warm if necessary. Retreat prices reflect the standards.
There is a very large garden with fantastic trees and the brook flowing through. There is also a little waterfall at the top of the garden. It is easy to walk directly out onto the moor from several directions or to take lowland wooded walks.
Rooms
There are plenty of single rooms and a mix of double and twin rooms rooms some en suite and some not ( but with a shared bathroom nearby).
- Singles are (mostly en suite or bathroom very close).
- There are two smaller single rooms (Kutis) with shared bathrooms in the outer building a little cheaper, please ask if you want one of those.
- Double or twin rooms.
- There is one triple room which can be booked as a triple.
All shared rooms must be booked by people coming together.
Library
The center has a library that has some fascinating yoga books, old and new; general interest books, books on Dartmoor, and is a nice comfortable room to sit in anyway.
Program
Yoga teaching: levels and experience
As an experienced teacher of 25 years, Neville Cregan can accommodate most levels of experience, from beginners through to teachers. If you are a complete beginner, Neville Cregan recommends you attend at least some classes before you come on a course like this. If you have significant health issues or body limitations, then please talk to Neville Cregan. Most things can be worked with in a group context, but not everything.
Daily structure
Wednesday
- 17:30 - 19:00 - Introductory class and wind down
- 19:00 - Dinner, free time, massage
Thursday / Friday / Saturday
- Morning silence until breakfast
- 07:45 - 08:30 - Pranayama (breathing practice) and meditation
- 08:30 - Light breakfast
- 10:00 - 12:00 - Main asana class
- 12:15 - 17:30 - Lunch, walks, massage, and/or free time
- 17:30 - 19:00 - Hatha yoga
- 19:00 - Dinner, free time, massage
Sunday
- 08:00 - 09:30 - finishing class
- Breakfast and depart - no rush
Instructors
Neville Cregan
1 Certificate
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Whilst Neville is respectful of the historical yoga tradition and timeless wisdom that has been handed down, he is equally interested in a yoga practice that is realistic and relevant in the current 21st century context. He would not place himself particularly in one style or another - he teaches yoga as he understands it after more than 25 years of practice and study.
Retreat location
The Bala Brook is a small residential yoga center on Dartmoor close to the large village of South Brent and about eight miles from Totnes in South Devon. It feels secluded and quiet and is not really within walking distance of anywhere apart from amazing Dartmoor and a nearby reservoir.
South Brent
This is the nearest village with shops and is a 10-minute drive or 45-minute walk away. Most forgotten things can be provided at the house.
Dartmoor
Atmospheric and wonderful – It is situated in a green river valley and it's possible to walk out onto the high moor from the house easily, or there are easy local woodland and valley walks.
Distances
- Totnes, 8 miles
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
All meals will be provided and will be vegetarian. Teas, coffees, and snacks are available at all times for free. Some special diets can be catered for, for example, vegan and gluten-free. Anything more complex than that then please ask. The kitchen can be flexible only up to a point as it has one cook not a staffed kitchen.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Walks and swimming
It is possible to walk onto the high moor from the house or there are also valley and woodland walks. Neville Cregan is not an outdoor leader but he will be happy to come out with you on the understanding you are responsible for your own safety and can assess your own ability to walk on the moor. The nature of any walks can be discussed. Or you can just strike out with a map by yourselves if you know the moor or have experience with hill walking. Either way, bring your boots if you fancy this. Outdoor swimming in one of Dartmoor's pools or rivers may be possible at your own responsibility.
Spa treatments
Thai massage
Please book treatments in advance if possible. Emma Cayless, a very experienced practitioner, will come in for this. Massages are generally one and a half or two hours. Lisa Wood will come in for reflexology.
What's included
- Yoga tuition
- Supported walks
- All bedding
- 4 nights accommodation
- 3 vegetarian meals a day
- Drinks and snacks
What's not included
- Towels are not provided so bring your own or they can be hired for 6 GBP
- Thai massage or reflexology
How to get there
Recommended Airports
EXT
Exeter International Airport
44 km
Transfer not provided
Driving directions from the A38 North
- Take the South Brent exit and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit signed for Avon Dam.
- Go straight over a small crossroads and then follow the road for a few miles. After a cattle grid, you will see Shipley Bridge and the car park for Avon Dam on your right.
- Go over the next cattle grid and down the hill. You will pass Zeal farmhouse on your right and then cross a small bridge over the Bala brook.
- Bala Brook is the next house on the right – look for wooden signs on the wall and gate – drive in and park in the car park on your left.
Driving directions from the A38 South
- Take the exit signed for South Brent.
- At the SB roundabout take the 1st exit into the village.
- At the junction bear right and then immediately right again onto Station Road.
- Go over the railway bridge and turn left (not into the car park!).
- After passing the village hall, the road bends to the right. Follow this road for a couple of miles. You will pass through Aish and past turning to Badworthy and Didworthy.
- After passing a peach-colored house on your right, Bala Brook will be the next property on your left – look for wooden signs on the wall and gate – drive in and park in the car park on your left.
Please do not enter any unsigned properties. Bala Brook is clearly signed.
Do not use the Bala Brook postcode as it is shared with other locations. Use the GPS coordinates instead:
- 50 26.802'N
- 3 51.710'W
If you get lost please call the landline above rather than knocking on doors.
Arrival by train
You can take a train from London Paddington to Totnes station, then you will have to take a taxi to get to Bala Brooke (8 8-mile taxi journey).
Arrival by taxi
Taxis from Totnes are 20 - 25ish GBP. Lift shares can often but not always be arranged through Neville or another student if you let them know in advance. If you get a taxi, ask them to take you to Shipley Bridge public car park, beside the river Avon. At Shipley Bridge, cross the River Avon, follow the lane turning around to the left, southwards over a cattle grid.
After 2 minutes down the lane, go past one farm on your right, down a little hill over a little bridge, and look out for the ‘Bala Brook’ sign on your right beside a timber gateway. This is the second habitation on your right after leaving Shipley Bridge. Most taxi drivers in Totnes now know where Bala Brook is.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 16.94% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 14 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.
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