Spirals & Cycles Retreat
a queer yoga retreat
24th - 29th May 2024
Golden Grove Retreat Centre, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8NE
A five-day queer yoga retreat, for LGBTQIA+ people to be held and hold one another in a brave space of svadhyaya (self-inquiry) and cyclical wisdom in the Welsh wilderness. Grounded in daily yoga nidra, breathwork, embodied movement, community living & sharing circles, we will spiral inwards & outwards to connect with our inner cycles (e.g. sleep, menstrual, life) and outer cycles (seasons, lunar, solar).
Complete this form to book!
Information booklet can be found here
Over the course of the retreat, we will move through each season, from Autumn to Summer. This will be interwoven with the elements and the Celtic wheel of the year. Arrivals from 4pm on Friday 24th (first session starts at around 5pm) and departure after lunch on Wednesday 29th).
An example daily schedule:
7.30am: meditation, breath & movement
9am: breakfast
10am: sharing circle, elemental yoga practice
1pm: lunch
Free time
4.30pm: workshop
7pm: dinner
8pm: evening practice
Workshop & evening sessions will include: cycle awareness for all*, cosmology of the body, grief tending, restorative yoga, yoga nidra, chanting, movement & fire circles.
All sessions are optional and the schedule may change depending on the needs & wants of the group at the time.
*depending on the identity and needs of the group, we may have protected time & space for bodies that bleed to share.
Why Cycles?
We live in a society where time is presented as linear, a race from A to B. In this space we either win or we lose, we are good or bad, we have or we don't have. It is exhausting & harmful, leading to widespread burnout, illness, injustice & disconnection. Ancient wisdoms and the direct experience of our queer bodies tell a different story. To subvert these harmful systems, promote healing & sustainable change, this retreat offers the space for deep listening & radical community connection. The opportunity to reconnect to inherent wisdom & expansiveness of inner & outer cycles.
Why Spirals?
Each cycle, be it the turn of the season, different stages of our queer journey or simply every breath we take, spirals into the next, offering the opportunity for reflection, learning and growth. Our ‘mistakes’ & our shadows become just as treasured as our ‘achievements’ in these spirals of learning. This is brave & vital work.
Who is this for?
This retreat is for queer people - anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ and/or socially and politically identifies as queer. Beginners to yoga are very welcome. Those with a brave heart & curiosity to explore the spaces in between. Perhaps you feel full or burnout. Perhaps you are in need of connection, to be in a queer only space, and/or longing to dive deeper into a yoga practice which expands way beyond the mat and binary thinking/language. For those who are open to self-reflection & wishing to connect their individual learning journey to serve collective healing & freedom.
Whilst the intention of this retreat is not to educate on topics related to queerness, anti-oppression & decolonisation, this is the lens through which I share my offerings. You do not have to be well versed in these topics to attend, only open & willing to learn.
My offerings are rooted in the values of accessibility and inclusivity. I facilitate from the lens of trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice. If you have any specific questions or needs around access, please get in touch.
Spirals & Cycles 2023 Feedback:
"Leonie created the most magical and deeply intentional retreat space, with unbelievable attention to detail and their huge capacity for gentle holding and loving guidance. The space they created held immense queer joy, silliness, play, connection and community, as well as room for grief, struggle, edge- finding/boundary pushing, deep introspection and reflection. It was yoga in its truest, most holistic, philosophical form where mind body and spirit are not separated and the practice is found in everything, from the mat to mealtimes to dancing round campfires to washing up and bedtime. Transformational, brilliant, profound. Thank you." [Laura, they/she]
"Queer space, energy, power and joy. All created through rest and fun. The opportunity to have a queer summer camp as an adult. Thank you"
"Wow! Deep community, joy that was bigger than I ever could have hoped for. Spiralling & cycling with you is probably the best decision I've made in a long time. Beyond grateful for the love, care, attention, and holding. So much healing, connection, laughter & joy!" [Ruth E. she/her]
"Transformative. It was such a gift, I'm so very grateful to you, truly let some serious shit go and let in buckets of queer euphoria." [Steph, she/her]
Accommodation, Massage & Catering
Golden Grove, run by Rob & Lou, offers a rustic, sustainable retreat centre in the rolling hills of rural Carmarthenshire. Accommodation is spread across the main barn converted house and two safari lodges.
We will feast together in the main house with catering from Babs Greaves (the founder of Eat Your Greens and quite simply the most exquisite gluten free & vegan food creator on the planet). Babs will be infusing their food with the theme of spirals & cycles, yum yum YUM.
We will also make use of the fire circle, spa facilities (sauna, hot tub & plunge pool) and over 10 acres of woodland & wild fields for group & individual reflection, nature connection and grounding.
Our daily practices will be held in the yoga studio & out on the land. You'll have time to for massages with the incredible Laura (Safer Space Holistic), explorations of local walks & river swims with the option to journey further afield to beautiful waterfall and coastal spots.
Booking & prices
There are four tiers of pricing:
£995 - private double bed en-suite in main house - SOLD OUT
£875 - twin room in main house (4 spaces) - 1 SPACE REMAINING
£800 - triple room in main house (3 spaces) / private double bed in safari lodge (2 spaces) - 1 SPACE REMAINING
£700 - single bed in shared room in safari lodge (4 spaces) - SOLD OUT
*To book, please fill out this form*
This includes all sessions, meals, spa facilities & accommodation. This does not include travel to/from the retreat centre or massage sessions.
20% non-refundable deposit required to secure your place, final payment required by end of April 2024.
Cancellation policy can be found here on my website.
Get in touch if finances are a problem to discuss payment plans. I am happy to be as flexible as possible to make it work.
Bursary Pot
Accessibility is really important to me and I know that making the choice to come on a yoga retreat is a huge investment. For some, finances are a deal breaker and I have worked hard to keep my prices as low as possible/offer flexible payment plans whilst also ensuring my livelihood is sustainable.
In order to support queer friends who on lower incomes and/or experiencing further intersections of marginalisation (e.g. race, ability, gender), I have setup a fundraising page to create a 'bursary pot'. This idea came from the attendees of Spirals & Cycles 2023 and is open for anyone to contribute!
To donate, please go here. Please share far & wide!
To express interest in a bursary contribution, please get in touch/make a note in your booking form.
