What do you get when you put together a group of women who start a day of yoga, woodland walking, wild swimming and supported conversation as strangers? A group of women with powerfully forged connections and the firm foundations of new friendships, that’s what.
I arrived at the beautiful 400-acre Wasing estate in Berkshire for my first NOON retreat, looking forward to the experiences that lay ahead and to meeting the 15 other women I’d be sharing them with. I knew what the day would hold in theory, having not only heard a good deal about the first retreat back in November, but having written various posts about it for the NOON social media platforms as part of my work as Editorial Director.
But I didn’t understood just how meaningful and memorable the reality would be.
When you arrive
What struck me immediately, as we all gathered in the pavilion where we would be doing our relaxing and restorative yoga session, was just how quickly and easily women open up to each other. We made ourselves cups of tea and enjoyed the welcome start-of-the-day treats that the team had provided. The room was bright and lively with chatter, introductions and anticipation of the day ahead.
Yoga at the NOON Wasing Retreat
Then we grabbed a mat and sat down for yoga. The style is a combination of deceptively simple poses which we were guided through – gently and encouragingly – by the lovely instructor Lesley. The poses are easy enough that those who don’t yoga regularly can easily follow along, but they can be made more challenging by the length of time each one is held. Throughout we had time to do therapeutic, cleansing and loosening breathing.
It was the perfect start to the day, focussing and relaxing our bodies and minds. That left us open and ready for what was to come.
On to the Wasing estate walk
We put on our boots and warm clothing for the half hour walk across the adjoining field, then along a path through the ancient woodland that covers sections of the estate. The abundant canopy of trees dapples the ground on bright days and protects from drizzle on grey ones.
As walked, carrying our swimming stuff, we continued the animated conversations we had begun on our arrival.
Behold, the lake!
Here’s where the next part of our day would unfold. Our first sight through the trees of the glorious, peaceful, tree-ringed lake was the prompt for a ripple of delight and not a little anxiety-tinged speculation about just how cold the still, dark water would be. Eleanor reassured us that it really wouldn’t be that chilly – and certainly nothing like as cold as the group who had been on the November retreat had experienced. She also reminded us that there’s also a toasty, welcoming, wood-fired sauna at the head of the jetty that leads onto the lake. So we change into our swimwear and one-by-one clambered down the wooden steps into the bracing water. (And no, once you were in, it really wasn’t all that cold.)
What followed was 2 magical hours of swimming, sauna-ing (is there such a word? There should be), rinsing off under the ice cold natural shower, tea drinking and eating of burritos heated on a huge circular barbecue by one of the Wasing team. We perched on tree stumps and gathered in groups in a small clearing adjacent to the lake, chatting, sharing stories and getting to know one another better through yet more spirited conversation.
The Wasing Retreat Circle
Returning to the pavilion along the now sun-dappled path, across and past a number of glades and fields where different events and gatherings are held over the year (Eleanor had spent the summer solstice celebrating and then camping in one of them), we settled down with a variety of yoga bolsters and cushions for comfort under the shade of a huge oak tree beside a field. This is where we spent the last section of the day together, with a signature NOON Circle led by Eleanor.
This is where the conversations and connections that have been flowing and flowering throughout the day come together in a powerfully open, honest exchange of thoughts and stories.
I had known it would be interesting. What surprised me was how moving and deep it was.
Encouraged by the supportive, sympathetic responses of the rest of the group, we shared our reflections and our regrets, our heartaches and our hopes about life in midlife. We ended on a positive uplifting note, looking ahead to what the future might hold, with all its uncertainty and promise.
It was the perfect end to a day that left me feeling restored, refreshed, renewed (though clearly nor cured of my love of alliteration) and grateful for the chance to have shared it all with such a fabulous, stimulating and supportive group of women.
To join our next NOON retreat, book via our Events page.
– Diane Kenwood
