4 Day “Tranquillity and Insight” Meditation Retreat
Monday 28th March – Thursday 31st March, 2022 (Sold Out)
Monday 14th November – Thursday 17th November, 2022
A Journey in Mindfulness to Soothe the Body, Heal the Mind, Restore Balance, and Cultivate Insight
About the retreat
Join us for a 4-day meditation and yoga retreat in the beautiful countryside of Oxfordshire.
During this retreat, led by Buddhist meditation teacher, David Johnson, and accredited yoga teacher, Manu Orozco, we will explore methods for cultivating tranquillity (shamatha) and insight (vipassana) through body, breath and mind.
David will explore the ancient teachings and practices of shamatha and its union with vipassana. Shamatha practice is all about training and improving our focus and concentration. It helps us to unwind, let go of stress and worry, and cultivate mental and emotional balance. With a calm, clear and focussed mind, we then venture into vipassana – getting to know ourselves better, investigating our mind and feelings, and coming to understand our lived experience.
To help deepen our practice and cultivate inner stillness, we observe silence in the mornings until lunch.
Manu will share practical breathing and asana practices from the yogic traditions which enable us to deepen our tranquillity and enhance our concentration. The soothing and healing yoga sessions also help to improve physical flexibility, strength and resistance.
About The Venue
Idyllic and peaceful 13th century Manor
Set in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, Charney Manor offers an attractive rural setting, spacious grounds and a sense of history. Parts of the Manor date back to the 13th Century. With its unique atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, tempting home-cooked meals and a warm welcome, this venue is the ideal setting for a retreat of relaxation, reflection and renewal.
Accommodation
Clean and comfortable ensuite rooms
All bedrooms come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, towels, and complimentary shower gel. Most bedrooms are ensuite, with two having private bathrooms. Each of the bedrooms has very different characteristics, which makes each totally unique. The character and history-filled rooms all benefit from beautiful stone windows with fantastic views over either the extensive front and side gardens, the paddock or the central courtyard, all of which comes to life in the summer months.
Catering
Vegan & delicious!
The retreat is fully catered with fresh and enticing vegan delicacies. Meals consist of a continental breakfast, two-course lunches and two-course evening meals with a choice of desserts. There will also be mid-morning and afternoon tea, coffee and homemade cookies or cakes. All meals are freshly prepared to the highest quality and cooked on site.
The Grounds
A unique atmosphere of peace and tranquillity
Our retreat takes place in 3 acres of beautiful grounds that include mature trees, horse paddock, a secret garden, a fruit orchard and tranquil seating areas, which all guests are welcome to explore and enjoy. There are also lovely walks through the old village and along the meandering river Ock.
Local Interest
Explore the quiet countryside
As well as guests being able to participate in a variety of local Countryside walks, starting at the Manor, there are also places of interest nearby. Charney Bassett has a lovely family-run village pub. This is a few minutes walk away from the Manor and has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The White Horse Hill, located in the small village of Uffington, is an incredible sight to see. Wayland’s Smithy is a neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb site near the White Horse Hill and Uffington Castle. The historic Kelmscott Manor is also a short distance away. The historical City of Oxford is just 23 minutes away by car.
What's included
Everything you need for a unique experience
- Tea, coffee and cake on arrival
- Three nights accommodation
- Continental breakfast with a wide selection of items to choose from
- Mid-morning tea, coffee and homemade cookies
- Two course freshly prepared lunches served in the 13th century Dining Room
- Afternoon tea, coffee and homemade cake
- Two-course freshly prepared dinners in the 13th century Dining Room
- Complimentary car parking for the duration of your stay (electric car charging available)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access in all delegated bedrooms
- Relaxing and restoring vinyasa yoga sessions every morning
- Vinyasa yoga sessions in the afternoon
- Pranayama sessions in the evening
- Workshops with international meditation guide and retreat leader, David Johnson
- Relaxing guided meditations – which are easy to follow and can be practiced at home
- Dharma talks – exploring the causes of stress, anxiety, and tips to calm and de-stress at home
- Mornings of Noble Silence
- A chance to discuss with others and ask questions
- 3 acres of beautiful grounds to explore and enjoy
- Local countryside walks and places of interest nearby
- BONUS* - 5-week online Mindful Living course for free!
Reviews
Hear from our previous attendees
Meet the Hosts
Reserve your place today
David Johnson
International Buddhist Meditation Teacher & Retreat Leader
David will lead this retreat, run the workshops and guided meditations, and be on hand as a mentor to support you.
David is an experienced Buddhist contemplative and meditation guide who has studied and taught internationally for several years. He is the Co-Founder of Samadhi and a qualified mindfulness teacher, Mental Health First Aider, and an active member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His teaching style is clear and practical, and his warm and humorous approach makes him a popular mindfulness teacher.
Manuel Orozco Jimenez
Accredited Yoga Teacher & Retreat Coordinator
Manu is our retreat co-ordinator and accredited yoga teacher. He will guide our morning vinyasa yoga sessions and, alongside our venue hosts, will be around to assist you during your retreat and make sure you have a wonderful experience.
He is the Co-Founder of Samadhi and a Mental Health First Aider. Manu’s laid-back approach and kind heart has a warming and inspiring impact on our retreatants and he is much loved by all.
Details & Schedule
What to expect
Availability
Monday 28th March – Thursday 31st March, 2022 – SOLD OUT
Monday 14th November – Thursday 17th November, 2022 – Plenty of places
Pricing
BOOK NOW, PAY LATER
**SPECIAL OFFER – For a limited time, automatically get £100 off. £725 £625**
The cost of this all-inclusive 4-day retreat is £625 for a limited time. You can reserve your space with just a £100 deposit, with £525 left to pay.
All bedrooms come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, towels, and complimentary shower gel. Most bedrooms are ensuite, with two having private bathrooms. Each of the bedrooms has fantastic views over either the extensive front and side gardens, the paddock or the central courtyard, all of which comes to life in the summer months.
A deposit of £100 is required to confirm your space or you can choose to pay the full amount if you wish.
The balance is due 3 weeks before the retreat.
This retreat is all-inclusive, and includes everything listed here.
Getting to the Manor
Charney Manor is readily accessible by car from the M40 and the M4. It is 12 miles from Oxford and from Didcot railway stations; there is a bus service from Oxford to Southmoor, just 2 miles away.
Driving by Car:
Oxford – 23 minutes
Cardiff – 1 hour 49 minutes
London – 1 hour 30 minutes
Southampton – 1 hour 12 minutes
Address & Postcode:
Charney Manor, Wantage OX12 0EJ
Typical Daily Schedule
8.00 am – Morning Vinyasa Elements Yoga (with Manu)
8.30am – Breakfast
9.30am – 11.00am – Session 1 – Meditation & Workshop (with David)
11.00am – Mid-Morning Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
11.45am – 1.00pm – Session 2 – Meditation & Workshop (with David)
1.00pm – Lunch in the 13th Century Dining Room
3.00pm – 3.50pm – Afternoon Vinyasa Yoga (with Manu)
4.00pm – Afternoon Tea, Coffee & Cake
5.00 pm – 6.00pm – Session 3 – Meditation & Workshop (with David)
6.00pm – Pranayama (with Manu)
6.30pm – Dinner in the 13th Century Dining Room
8.30pm – Evening Guided Mediation (with David)
Arrival on Monday is from 4pm and the retreat will begin at 6pm with a welcome session and guided meditation and dinner will be at 7.00pm. You are free to go home after afternoon tea on Thursday, from approximately 3.30pm onwards. You will be provided with a schedule on arrival.
During your free time between sessions, you can relax, read, speak with others, or take a walk in the countryside as you wish.
Cancellation
Our refund policy is as follows:
- Cancellation 6 weeks or more before the event: full refund minus a 10% admin and payment processing fee
- Cancellation less than 6 weeks before the event: deposit non-refundable (unless your place is booked by someone else, in which case a refund of your deposit minus a 10% admin and payment processing fee)
- Cancellation less than 4 weeks before the event: no refund (unless your place is booked by someone else, in which case a refund of any amount paid minus the deposit)
Full payments are due 3 weeks before the start of the retreat.
If we need to cancel this retreat due to changing restrictions any money paid will be fully transferrable to another of our retreats.
By booking you agree to our cancellation policy and the booking terms and conditions.
We strongly advise taking out travel insurance which includes cancellation insurance to protect yourself against medical or other emergencies.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Please read our health and safety information carefully.
While meditation, yoga and Buddhist psychology have been proven to be beneficial for mental health and wellbeing, our events are not presented as a treatment for serious mental health problems or addiction. Exploring the realm of the mind and emotions can be in itself an emotional experience and we always strive to create a safe, supportive environment for participants to embark on this exploration. However, for certain individuals experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties, this event may not be appropriate at this time. Read more.
Before booking, please read our full terms and conditions and contact us via [email protected] if you have any doubts.
Make a Booking
Reserve your place today
RESERVE NOW AND SAVE £100
THIS OFFER IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME
The cost of this all-inclusive 4-day/3-night retreat is £625 (for Early Birds)
When booking with us you are accepting our retreats terms and conditions.
FAQ's
Everything you need to know
Yoga sessions with Manu
Before the event, you will be asked to fill out a form related to your yoga ability and health and safety. The classes will be adapted to the group depending on the overall level.
Pranayama with Manu
Pranayama exercises are suitable for most people with no level of experience required. Some health conditions may prevent you from taking part.
Meditation & Buddhism with David
Some understanding or experience of meditation and/or Buddhist thought can be helpful, but this is not required.
Yes, the private chef does cater for a wide variety of dietary requirements. Please ensure you have submitted your dietary information to us at the time of booking to make sure that our private chef caters accordingly. If a diet is extremely specialised, then there may be a supplementary charge of £7.20 per 24 hours.
For the meditation and workshop sessions, you just need to wear something comfortable. During our first session, you will claim a spot in the meditation hall with a yoga mat and cushion provided (or chair, if preferred). We ask you to use this same spot, yoga mat and cushion throughout the weekend so as to prevent infection. If, weather permitting, the yoga sessions are held outside, you can take your yoga mat from the hall with you to the outside space. For the yoga sessions, wear some comfortable clothes in which you can move freely. You are welcome to bring any additional cushions, mats or blankets if you wish.
At our Oxfordshire venue, the maximum number of people on a retreat is 21 peoople. At our Yorkshire venue, the maximum number of people on a retreat is 16 people.
Yes, the Manor has ample free parking available for guests.
Arrival is from 4pm on Friday. On arrival, go straight to Reception where you will be greeted by our venue hosts. They will show you to your room and the welcome area for tea, coffee and biscuits. Our introductory session will begin at 6.00pm, with dinner at 7.00pm.
We will be following the relevant Government guidance in place at the time of the retreat. Details of what measures have been put in place can be found in the venue’s COVID Secure Risk Assessment. Please get in touch to request the last risk assessment.
You will be advised of all the health & safety details of the buildings and its facilities at your first group session. Manuel Orozco Jimenez, our retreat co-ordinator, will be your first point of contact in case of emergency. He will also hold the master key in case any individual locks themselves out of their bedroom. If it is an actual emergency, the Resident Warden of the site is available overnight.
Yes, Wi-Fi is available in all facilities and bedrooms
Yes, the venue does have an electric car charging point. There is an additional charge of £5.00 per full charge organised direct with the venue.
Please advise us in advance if you expect to be delayed. This will allow us to make arrangements for your key to be left in Reception, access will be available to you where you will find your bedroom details, directions to your bedroom and details of how to access your bedroom. If you are likely to arrive after dinner, we will make sure that your meal is plated for you and left in the Guest fridge in the Dining room. Once you have found your bedroom then you can arrange to have your meal in the dining room. There is also a microwave for guests use.
Have another question? Please send us an email or a message us using the chat in the corner of the screen.
