Ashley Court

Category

Late Autumn Yoga Retreat with Tara Fraser – FULLY BOOKED

Two night Yoga retreats at Ashley Court are an invitation to step back in time, away from the pressures of the modern world and relax deeply.

Slow down, reconnect with nature, tune in to the seasons and the weather. Eat seasonally and organically.

Movement and meditation tuition from expert teachers with decades of experience help you re-discover freedom and ease in body and mind.

FULLY BOOKED

Description

Weekends run from Friday late afternoon arrival to Sunday late afternoon departure

Address Ashley Court, Ashley, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 5PD

Contact hello@ashleycourtdevon.co.uk– 07725950683

2 nights fully catered, inclusive of all tuition

Pricing available for additional non-yoga-ing partners on request.

About your teachers Tara Fraser and Nigel Jones
Tara is a BWY qualified teacher and Diploma Course tutor with over 25 years of teaching experience. Her classes are gentle and immersive, influenced by her work as a Rolfer and the teaching of TKV Desikachar and Vanda Scaravelli.

Nigel is BWY trained and qualified and has been teaching astanga vinyasa yoga for over 20 years and has refined this into a practice that is suitable for all comers.

We both enjoy a kind of low-key, down-home yoga that is not to do with Instagram followers or lycra outfits. What it feels like is a lot more important than what it looks like and we enjoy passing on that kind of everyday, user-friendly approach to our students.

House and Grounds
Ashley Court is a grade 2 listed property, which has been largely unaltered since the early part of the 20th century, and was lived in continuously from 1946 – 2014 by a Mrs Yolande Shrubb.  It was a children’s hospital during the war and prior to that a home to several of Tiverton’s great and good including 3 of its Mayors! We are in the long process of restoring the house and gardens as lightly as possible to maintain the authenticity and character which we found so appealing on our first visit here.,    In it’s hay day it would have been staffed by numerous servants, you can switch between’ upstairs and downstairs’ experiences as you move through the building.  You will find open fires, grand hallways, servants bells and stable yards. The grounds are extensive and include formal areas, a large walled kitchen garden, 15 acres of woodland and fields, with some huge old specimen trees. We use the Drawing Room for our yoga studio and meals are served in the Victorian dining room, or outside on the terrace if weather permits.

Animals
We have horses and sheep in the fields and tortoises in the walled garden.  Please make sure that you close any gates if you go into a field, and treat all animals with respect and care.
Our cats spend time in and out of the house, but they are strictly not allowed upstairs in the bedrooms.

Directions
Driving: From Tiverton take the A396 signposted Bickleigh. After approx. 1 mile turn right at the small sign to Ashley and then immediately to your left, you will see the small white gatekeepers Lodge under the big oak at the bottom of the drive.

From Exeter take the A396 to Tiverton. Turn left at the small sign to Ashley and then immediately left again, you will see the gatekeeper’s lodge under the big oak at the bottom of the drive.

The house is at the top of the 200metre driveway. (Do not head on up Ashley Back Lane to the right of the cottage where the Sat-Nav might try to send you!)

Train: From Paddington to Tiverton Parkway – takes between 2 and 2 and a half hours.  Trains run very regularly.  If you are coming by train, please book a local taxi in advance as Tiverton Parkway station is rural and miles out of the town, .  Early booking recommended for cheaper fares. You can also take a National Express or Mega Bus from London to Tiverton.

Menu
All food will be seasonal vegetarian and /or vegan, predominantly organic, low food miles, locally sourced and actually grown in our walled kitchen garden where at all possible.
Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, we are happy to adapt for you.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms
Ashley Court was built in 1805 and has a clear division between the ‘front’ formal rooms and the ‘back’ service areas. We have a range of bedrooms available from grander front ones to the smaller servants quarters. Each one is decorated and furnished uniquely and in keeping with the period feel of the house.  One large room has en-suite shower room, the rest  share  shower rooms / bathrooms.  Most bedrooms have the original 1930’s sink in them.

Pets
No pets allowed I’m afraid.  We have  cats, sheep, chickens and tortoises, you are welcome to play with them!

Smoking
No smoking anywhere on the property, please – inside or out.

Additional information

Room

Holly Room (twin room with shared shower), Monkey Puzzle Room (single room with shared shower), Laurel Room (twin room with shared shower), Wisteria Room (double room with shared shower), Oak Room ( double or twin room with en-suite), Acacia Room (double room with shared shower/bath)

Event Details

What to bring
Please bring wellies or equivalent, waterproofs, indoor shoes/slippers. We will supply all bedding and towels.

Yoga equipment and classes
We have  yoga equipment here so no need to bring anything unless you have a favourite mat you want to use. We have an extensive yoga library with books on the history, philosophy and practice of asana.

Digital Detox
We encourage you to minimise or forego the use of your mobile phone while you are here. Enjoy our  large collection of modern, vintage and antique books, engage in a craft activity, take a walk or enjoy a conversation instead.

Typical Schedule  (Timings may be tweaked depending on circumstances / weather)

Friday – arrivals  and tea  from 4.00pm onwards
7.00pm – Dinner
8.30pm – short meditation and welcome session

Saturday
8.00-8.30am – yoga session
9.00am- breakfast
10.30-12.00pm - yoga session
1.00pm – lunch
2.00-5.00pm – free time –tour of house and grounds option
5.00 – 6.30pm – yoga session
7.00pm – Dinner

Sunday
8.30-9.00am yoga session
9.30am- breakfast
11.00-12.30pm - yoga session
1.30pm – lunch
3.00pm - departures

Start date: 17 November 2023

End date: 19 November 2023