Norfolk Retreat
8-15 January 2027
Practices from the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra
This 7-night retreat will be an opportunity for a deeper dive into the profound practices of the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra and is aimed at more experienced practitioners who are looking to take time to truly immerse themselves in practice.
The retreat will include powerful yet practical meditation techniques from a text that is over 1,000 years old, which is still readily accessible and can bring insight and presence into modern daily life.
There will be the usual hatha yoga classes, Yoga Nidra and, like all our retreats, we will include walks and trips out, and some wonderful home-cooked food.
Venue and Accommodation
For this retreat we will be staying at Church Farm Barns in north west Norfolk. We use two beautifully converted barns that are spacious, welcoming and well equipped for a winter retreat, with a log burner in the sitting room, ideal for cooler winter evenings. There is a choice of rooms with either single or twin/double rooms. Most rooms are en-suite or the bathrooms are shared with just one other room.
We use the communal space in one barn for our yoga practice and in the other for socialising and eating. There are countryside walks from the front door and a range of lovely sitting areas within both houses for relaxing with a good book or talking with new friends.
Practices
Retreats provide an ideal opportunity to explore and develop your yoga and meditation practice. Throughout the weekend practices are built up systematically to ensure that whether you are new to yoga or an experienced practitioner you have the opportunity to truly explore the possibilities that lie within these time tested techniques. We hope you will leave with a wealth of practices and experiences to take back into your daily life.
Tulsi (Nickie) and Nick (Sw SatyaDaya) are passionate about the practices they share and aim to make these accessible and meaningful to all who attend.
On this retreat we will be using the shorter, darker days to drop more deeply into our meditation practice with a focus on the teachings of the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra. In addition to meditation we will be working with the practices of asana (physical postures), pranayama (breath awareness and expansion), Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) and meditation.
The Vigyana Bhairava Tantra is designed to bring insight and presence into everyday life. Written over 1,000 years ago, these teachings guide you effortlessly into meditation, transforming daily moments into opportunities for awakening.
At the heart of yoga lies the invitation to insight, a moment of profound inner revelation where the veils drop, and we glimpse the true nature of our being. The Vigyana Bhairava Tantra is a direct portal into that possibility.
Its title carries the essence of the teaching itself: Vigyana means insight or direct knowing, and Bhairava refers to the underlying Reality, the timeless presence that underlies all form and experience. Together, they point us toward the direct experience of the infinite, here and now.
It's an ideal text and body of practice for those looking to go deeper in their practice of meditation and in their understanding of their being.
Both Nick & Tulsi are truly grateful for having been initiated in these profound practices by Swami Nishchalananda, founder of Mandala Yoga Ashram.
Timetable
Arrival at the venue is from 4pm on Saturday with supper at 18:30, followed by a short session to meet each other and discuss our time together. The retreat the timetable will be as follows:
7:30 Hatha Yoga
9:30 Breakfast
11:30 Session
13:00 Lunch
16:30 Session
18:30 Supper
20:00 Session
There are spaces in the timetable each morning and afternoon for you to walk, read, share time with new friends and equally important to create spaciousness around our time in practice.
The retreat finishes with breakfast on Saturday.
Food
All food is home cooked and vegetarian. We prepare and cook all the meals on site each day.
Breakfast will be hearty and can include porridge, eggs with avocado or pancakes. There is also muesli, berries, nuts, yoghurt, toast, marmalade etc.
Lunch is a fulfilling main course and supper each evening is a hearty soup with cheese or hummus and a selection of bread and crackers. There is a pudding with one meal each day. There may be the option a group meal out one day (additional cost).
If you have food allergies let us know when you book and we will make reasonable adjustments to the menu.
What to bring
You will need to bring your own yoga mat and a blanket for relaxation, and any meditation cushions or blocks that support your practice.
If you like walking please bring appropriate boots and jackets.
Cost
£695 p/p sharing a twin/double.
£745 in a single room.
£250 non-refundable deposit will secure your booking with the remaining balance due 6 weeks prior to your trip.
Cost includes all accommodation, meals as stated above and all teachings. Travel to and from the venue is not included.