Cae Mabon Yoga Retreat

When I had first arrived home in April, a friend had posted onto Facebook that she planned to run a yoga retreat in Cae Mabon if she could find enough interested people. 

At the time I had thought I would to be struggling for things to occupy me and deep down I knew I was missing the yoga I had immersed myself in during my time in India, so I booked myself a place.

With three festivals now firmly stored beneath my belt, work sorted at the shop, the bar, and taxi's, interspersed of course with the various friends over for dinner parties that I loved to hold, I felt it was now time for a little me time!

As mid summer drew nearer e-mails were sent back and forth as car shares were arranged, modified and finalised. Lady Sage and myself could take two people to the Retreat but as I planned to visit Lou up in Chester on the way back, alternative lifts were needed for these peoples returns.

Sian, although well experienced at being a yoga instructor, had never actually run an entire yoga retreat in her own right before but then again I had never been on a yoga retreat either!

We arrived at Cae Mabon mid afternoon after only one wrong turn only to discover one of the other cars had made a few more wrong turns and was right behind us!!

Rooms were allocated, bags were unloaded and the area was explored.

I wanted to write words to describe this wonderland but the introduction on their web site says it all …. I quote …..

'Cae Mabon nestles at the foot of Elidir Fawr in an oak forest clearing by a little river that cascades down to the nearby lake. The summit of Snowdon lies just five miles to the southwest as the crow flies.

At the heart of Cae Mabon is a thatched Celtic Roundhouse. With a fire in its hearth and smoke rising from the thatch it’s been the home of many convivial evenings of song, story and chat.

Circling the Roundhouse is a family of seven elegant natural dwellings – a strawbale Hogan, an oak and slate Longhouse, a cedar log Lodge, a cob Cottage, a redwood Chalet, a Hobbit Hut and a cedar Cabin. Each is unique, snug and subtly lit by solar power. Together they accommodate up to 30 people.

A renovated barn contains a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious eating and meeting room. There is a fine composting loo, a stylish washroom, a thatched shower hut and, stunningly located by the river, a luxurious hot tub…'

…. un-quote.

Inside each room Sian had placed a welcome note explaining the summer solstice program beginning with a welcome meeting and meal in the large barn.

Over the next three days we did yoga, ate amazing food, sat in mindful meditation concentrating on the present and shared each others company. 

At the end of the three days I wrote this little poem in honour of the time I had shared with these great people …. the poem sort of explains all we did so I shall say no more except that the whole thing was amazing and I can't wait for my next opportunity to go on a Mindful Yoga Retreat.

Cae Mabon

It was in Cae Mabon 
they all met.
Those fabulous Ladies 
and gents from Mach.
Well from there, 
plus a few 
from the surrounding area.

A retreat had been planned,
By the amazingly talented Sian,
A retreat to nourish 
both their minds,
and their posteriors.

They all met 
In a wooded glade,
Where it is said 
the fairies play,
And were assigned 
to their various houses.

From cob buildings 
and thatched huts,
To straw builds, 
screed with mud,
They unloaded their blankets, their mats,
and their trousers.

It was mid summers day.
And the rain 
stayed away,
As they gathered 
to practice their yoga.

They stretched up 
and then down,
They put their hands 
on the ground,
Stood on one leg 
with their hands raised high 
above their shoulders.

In the mindfulness class,
They learnt not 
to live in the past,
Nor the future, 
just to be in the present.

They explored the beauty 
of a raisin,
Became the tongue, 
the mouth, 
it was amazing!

They walked through the woods 
for the first time 
fully aware of 
All their senses.

They swam in Lanberis lake,
With gasps 
that were not fake,
As cold water 
rushed over their gussets.

They saluted 
the sun,
Embraced the warmth and 
then for fun,
Meditated on the beauty 
of the world 
and the sunset.

We all ate communally,
For it was 
mutually beneficially
To mmmm 
and to ahhh 
all together.

The food was amazing,
The conversation 
stimulating,
Life really couldn't get 
that much better.

The only glitch 
in our plan,
Was the hot tub 
shebang,
As the water 
was hot enough to cook lobsters!

But at 6am 
while you slept,
Out of bed 
I had crept,
To watch nature awaken
as I sat naked 
in divinely hot water!

We did yoga 
in silence.
Ate our breakfast 
with an alliance,
Not to mumble a word 
nor a whisper.

When the clock 
reached eleven,
We were released 
from this heaven,
While others wandered away without even a murmur.

We sat in 
mindful meditation,
On the glories 
of all creation,
As we nestled 
in a woodland 
filled with oaks.

Birds lit 
upon the branches,
Scattering raindrops 
with their haunches,
Relieving 
heavily laden green leaves 
of their loads

We had endless 
gifts revealed,
Plus I'm sure 
we're all relieved,
To have escaped 
the endless chores 
and tasks 
of our existence.

To have the joy 
of here and now,
As we sit beneath 
these bows,
That were here before us,
and will still be here
as we step away 
into the distance.

And so in the NOW  
we gather together,
To give thanks 
to one another,
And to say farewell to this 

... beautiful hill side.

But before we depart 
this amazing place,
with a smile 
upon our face,
Remember loves not only an emotion... 
It's also

a life style.

Thank you everyone for an amazing few days and for the huge memories you all helped to create. 

X X X