Yoga and Astrology Spring Retreat

Earth, Air, Fire and Water Yoga, an astrology deep dive and a special four elements sound experience

Monday 7^th- Wednesday 9^th April 2025

Body Wisdom Yoga invites you to a residential retreat at the beautiful, peaceful and deeply spiritual Ladywell. Set in the serene Surrey countryside, Ladywell Retreat Centre sits among lovingly tended grounds with lots of beautiful places to walk or sit, relax and re-charge.

The retreat theme- The Elements. Our yoga will focus around the astrological elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Explore the motivation and heat of fire, the grounding and stability of earth, the vast and expansive nature of air and the emotional and flowing energy of water. In each of the four yoga workshops we’ll investigate the strengths and challenges of each of these elements and see the ways we can embody the elements we most need in our attitude, behaviour and goals. Whether you want to fire yourself up, cool yourself down, feel more secure, go with the flow, let the winds of change blow through your life or simply become more aware of how the elements affect you in everyday life this retreat is for you. 

Central to the retreat will be an intriguing workshop with certified astrologer, Diana McMahon Collis (https://mindbliss.co.uk/), we will explore the nature and relationship of zodiac signs through their associated elements and qualities. We’ll study how these different but interrelated factors work together in our personalities, behaviours and interactions. Referencing your birth chart (which Diana will prepare in advance) we will cover:

- love chemistry

- family relationships

- work and business connections

Discover more about how the elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water manifest and express themselves, both together and apart. In each personal birth chart we are able to assess the balance of elements and qualities. This includes whether any of these elements may be dominant or ‘missing’ and how the rest of the chart can potentially compensate. Whether you’re a little curious about astrology, or an enthusiastic novice, Diana’s decades of professional experience and insight in interpreting astrology are not to be missed.

As part of our programme of events on Tuesday evening Sound Therapist Camilla Hamblin will take us on a journey through the elements using crystal bowls, a gong and healing percussion.

Accommodation- Every room at Ladywell is available for single-occupancy at no extra cost and each has an en-suite.  There are kitchenettes on every floor with tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge. Even though Ladywell is an old building the rooms were completely refurbished in 2020 and they have excellent heating and there is a lift for anyone who needs one. Visit https://franciscancentre.org.uk/about/gallery/ to see some pictures of the venue.

Food- The food at Ladywell is freshly prepared on site. Three buffet style vegetarian meals a day are served in the bright, airy dining-room and the following dietary requirements can be catered for- vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free. We’ll be full-board with tea and biscuits on arrival on Monday and dinner that night. There will be breakfast, lunch and dinner on Tuesday and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday. If you have more complex dietary needs than those listed above, please get in touch and I’ll speak to Ladywell to see if they can accommodate.

Arrival, departure and a rough schedule- You’re invited to arrive from 4pm for tea and to find your room before the first yoga session starts at 5pm (if you need to arrive later that’s no problem- just let me know). On Wednesday we’ll finish after lunch (at approximately 2pm). A full itinerary will be available nearer the time.

Cost- Full-board, including all sessions is available to book at an early bird price of £395 if you book and pay a deposit of £200 by 31^st January. The balance of £195 will be due on 28^th February.

From 1^st February the price of the retreat will be £415 per person. £200 due on booking and £215 due on 28^th February.

All payments are non-refundable. To secure your place email me at alison.stoker@gmail.com and I’ll send you the booking details.

If you’d like to come but need to spread out your payments the please get in touch. There’s always a way to make it happen.

Transport- The full address of the venue is Franciscan Centre, Ladywell, Ashtead Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1ST

There is plenty of free parking at the venue. Or if you’re travelling by public transport Godalming railway station is a 5-minute taxi ride away.

This spring retreat is a small gathering of 12 people, are you one of them? There are currently five spaces left.

Terms and conditions

All payments for classes are non-refundable* and classes can’t be carried over to the next term. However, you may change classes (assuming there is space in the other class) or receive a yoga video instead of in-person classes.

You may not transfer your place to somebody else without checking with me first.

You may not share any yoga videos I’ve sent on social media.

With day workshops and one-off day or evening events I can only refund you if I can find somebody to take your place. In this case I'll deduct a 10% admin fee. 

With residential retreats I'm unable to offer refunds or exchanges. I advise having travel insurance you can fall back on if you're unable to attend.