Women and Non-Binary Retreat 2025

Women & Non-Binary Weekend Retreat with Jaqui Wan, Dora Rubinstein & Lauren Azor 

 

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 2025

When: 

  • Friday 4th April – Sunday 6th April2025
  • Check-in starts at 3pm on Friday and the event finishes at 2pm on Sunday.

Where: Westwood Retreat Centre, Westwood Edge Rd, Golcar, Huddersfield HD7 4JY

Cost:  

The following prices are being reviewed and updated in the autumn of 2024

Accommodation options based on a first come first serve basis: –

  • £285 per person – Bunk bed in the main hall (you must provide own bedding) 
  • £335 per person – Sharing a double bed in an apartment – this option must be  booked by 2 people together (total apartment occupancy between 3-5 people) 
  • £415 per person – Single bed in a 3 or 5-bed apartment (total apartment occupancy between 3-5 people) 
  • £620 per person – Single use of a double bed (total apartment occupancy between 3-5 people)

 

REGISTER HERE – REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN THE AUTUMN 2024.

Please register before payment, the payment link is in the registration form.  

 

 
Join us in Yorkshire for a weekend-long acro retreat to celebrate the experiences, skills and abilities of women and non-binary people. A weekend to empower women and non-binary voices, and to explore the group dynamics of gender in amateur circus and acrobatics – as well as to have loads of fun and acro play!
 
What’s included:-
 
  • Multiple daily workshops in acroyoga and standing acrobatics;
  • Daily yoga and handstand classes;
  • Accommodation in a range of options, from beautiful boutique apartments to bunk-bed sleepover style; and
  • All meals and snacks are prepared by an in-house private retreat chef.

What’s not included: –

  • Transport to/from the venue (we are happy to help coordinate car-shares and taxi-shares from local train stations) and 
  • Travel Insurance
  •  

 

Venue Information 

Westwood Retreat Centre, a 19th century church building converted into an events hall and accommodation, surrounded by a lawn and gardens for private use and lush green countryside beyond.

Please note the venue operates a noise curfew from 11pm through to 8am, our retreat will also comply with this. 

Transport 

The nearest train station is Slaithwaite (pronounced ‘Slawit’), which is accessible from Huddersfield and Manchester Piccadilly. It’s a 1-mile very steep uphill walk from there so most guests prefer a 4-minute £5 taxi ride.

 

Example schedule:
Times Activity
8am – 9am  Breakfast 
9am – 10.30am  Workshop – Solar Asana
10.30am – 11am  Break
11am – 12.30pm Workshop – Same Size Flows
12.30pm – 2.30pm  Lunch
2.30pm – 4pm   Workshop – Handstands on Body Parts
4pm – 4.30pm  Break
4.30pm – 6pm Workshop – Trio Tricks 
6pm – 8pm Dinner and Chill 
8pm -9.30pm Workshop – Thai Massage & Therapeutic Flying 

REGISTER HERE

Please register before payment, the payment link is in the registration form.  

 

Your Hosts:


This retreat weekend is led by acroyoga, handstands and yoga teachers Jaqui Wan, Lauren Azor and Dora Rubinstein.

 

Jaqui is a yoga asana & acroyoga teacher based in London. She has been teaching full-time since 2008 and has had an ongoing yoga asana practice spanning almost 30 years. She is challenging yet playful and has an attention to detail that actively celebrates difference and group learning. She is the founder of Bodhitrix and the L Basing Compendium. She is an acrobatics elder in the London community and is one of the main organisers of the London Acro Convention.

 

Lauren is a playful teacher, who is keen to share her love for acroyoga. She is also a RYT300 Yoga teacher, who has taught Yoga in the UK & India. She currently teaches weekly Yoga and AcroYoga classes in her hometown of Brighton, workshops in the UK and Europe, and updates her experience at Acrobatic conventions.

 

Dora is a yoga and acroyoga teacher, and a theatre and circus performer. Classes are lively, light-hearted, and usually full of laughs! She is based in York, but teaches and performs internationally. Most recently a tour has taken her across the USA where she’s acro-jammed in Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and California. She can’t wait to share the fun things she’s picked up on her travels.

 

Catering is provided by Bilberry Bee, and will be a hearty, healthy and wholesome fare catering to dietary requirements. Expect breakfasts like turmeric porridge, stewed apples & pears, homemade granolas & smoothies. Lunches might be buddha bowls, flans or jacket potatoes with chilli. Dinners will always be 2 or 3 courses with mezzes, curries or lasagnas, plus homemade cakes and desserts for both lunch and dinner!

 

REGISTER HERE – REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN THE AUTUMN 2024.

Please register before payment, the payment link is in the registration form.  

 

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is open to all acroyogis and acrobats who identify as women or non-binary, and who are excited to train in a space primarily for those identifying as women & non-binary. We want to celebrate the diversity of what this means and embrace what we have in common.

There are a limited number of spots available, so to plan workshops and make sure everyone is catered for, we ask that you have some acroyoga or acrobatics experience. There are some prerequisites for this event which you can read below – please get in touch with one of the lead teachers if you are unsure on this or need help meeting these prerequisites.

 

Your acrobatic skills:

We are aware that every person’s experience will be slightly different. This retreat is intended to cater for people who would consider themselves ‘beyond beginner/improver’ – this could mean that you’ve practised acro consistently for at least 6 months; have a solid background in another field like aerial or gymnastics; or have done acro for years but had some time away due to injury.

We request that all participants have a familiarity base or/and fly as well as confidently spot the following: –

  • L basing Star – shoulder stand of feet
  • L basing Front Bird on hands
  • L basing low Foot to Hand
  • Standing Thigh Stand
  • Standing Two High

 

If you are unclear of any of the above, please email wnbacrofest@gmail.com or you can contact the three organisers on Instagram: –

 

REGISTER HERE – REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN IN THE AUTUMN 2024

Please register before payment, the payment link is in the registration form.  

AcroYoga Spring Series at Yonder Spring 2024

A Yonder Collaboration 

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ACROYOGA FUNDAMENTALS – SOLAR ACROBATICS 

When:  Saturday 24th February 2024 – 2-4.30pm

Where: Yonder, 4-6 Hookers Road, London, E17 6DP

Costs: £35

BOOK HERE 

The world of AcroYoga Solar Acrobatics is one of collaboration, building trust and play.

We will learn the foundations of a solar/acrobatic practice; exploring calisthenic and partner conditioning to dive our acrobatic bodies.  We will cover the elements of giving and receiving each other’s weight; the push-pull nuances of balancing; and the engagement and mutual calibration that allows the creation of structures, shapes and poses. 

Explore the wonders of partner collaboration and delve into your acrobatic potential.  We aim to build your confidence, to try something new, play safely and have fun.

No experience is necessary, beginners are welcome. You will be working in pairs or in groups of three.

Come with an open mind and willingness to play.  No partner needed

 

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ACROYOGA FUNDAMENTALS – LUNAR THERAPEUTICS 

When: Saturday 16th March 2024 – 2-4.30pm  

Where: Yonder, 4-6 Hookers Road, London, E17 6DP

Costs: £35 

BOOK HERE 

The world of AcroYoga Lunar Therapeutics is one of slowing down, cultivating connection and conscious listening. 

This workshop will introduce Thai massage techniques and the foundations of flying therapeutics.

Thai massage is: – 

  • the physical embodiment of the Buddhist concept of loving-kindness ‘Metta Bhavana’;
  • the practice of assisted stretches to aid flexibility, address alignment & rebalance of energy in the body; and
  • referred to, by many, as the lazy person’s yoga.

Flying therapeutics is: –

  • being suspended in the air on the base’s hands and feet;
  • being flown, often in an inverted position, where gravity aids length and space to the torso, shoulders and spine; and
  • through a sequence of assisted stretches, a feeling of flight of lightness can be achieved.   

Open to all especially those with an interest in massage techniques.

No partner needed. You will be working in pairs or groups of three.

Come with a willingness to learn something new.  No partner needed

 

 

 

 

 

AcroYoga Play Days in Godstone

AcroYoga Play Days in partnership with Annabel Broom

 

When: 

  • Saturday 17th February 2024, 10am – 4.30pm

Where: St Nicolas Hall, Godstone, RH9 8DT

Cost:  £75-£85 All bookings are made with Annabel Broom.

 

Our longstanding Godstone Play Days are open to all. Come and share your day with a regular and growing crew of big kids who want to explore the themes of connection and collaboration with the purpose of building their playing potential.

The day begins with a cup of tea and admiring the stockpiles of chocolate that are likely to be consumed during the day.  We get you comfortable in your physical body and at ease with working with others; it may range from partner stretches to full-on acrobatics conditioning, to get your body warm and ready for the day ahead.

Any such play day can cover: – 

  • inversions and partner inversions;
  • static balances and counterbalances;  
  • L basing calibrations, sequences & washing machines ; 
  • pyramid games;
  • trio tricks; and 
  • Thai massage & flying therapeutics.

There is a real supportive atmosphere throughout the day, coupled with copious amounts of laughter that will encourage you to try something new or revisit material with greater understanding and potential for success. There will be a 45-60min lunch break please bring a packed lunch. For info, chocolate buttons have become the Godstone standard sugar & energy supplement. 

 

 

Thai and Fly Workshop Dec 2023

Thai and Fly with Satori Silva & Jaqui Wan 

 

When: Sunday 3rd December 2023, 2.30pm – 5.30pm 

Where: Tokei / Hidden Gym Lion Court, 28 Magdalen Street, London SE1 2EN

Costs: 

  • £35 per person 
  • £60 two-person booking 
  • BOOK HERE 

Announcing a teaching collaboration with Satori and Jaqui.  A Sunday afternoon of Thai and Fly, a practice that encourages us to slow down, be present, listen and relax.

This three-hour offering will present elements of both Thai massage and flying therapeutics.

No partner or experience is necessary. 

 

Thai massage is: – 

  • the physical embodiment of the Buddhist concept of loving-kindness ‘Metta Bhavana’;
  • the practice of assisted stretches to aid flexibility, address alignment & rebalance of energy in the body; and
  • referred to, by many, as the lazy person’s yoga.

 

Flying therapeutics is: –

  • being suspended in the air on the base’s hands and feet;
  • being flown, often in an inverted position, where gravity aids length and space to the torso, shoulders and spine; and
  • through a sequence of assisted stretches, a feeling of flight of lightness can be achieved.   

 

Cancellation Policy

You are advised to give at least 48 hours’ notice via email to hello@jaquiwan.com should you wish to cancel and claim your total refund. Failure to provide sufficient notice will result in a £10 admin fee deducted from your refund for each workshop or person.

There are exceptions to this protocol if you have tested positive for Covid.  A full refund will be issued upon submission of evidence to confirm your circumstance.

 

Autumn Series at Yonder 2023

INVERSIONS & ACROYOGA AT YONDER 

Where: Yonder, 4-6 Hookers Road, London E17 6DP

Offerings: 

 

INVERSIONS 101 FOR BEGINNERS  | SAT 23RD SEPT | 2-4PM

An introductory workshop into the principles of basic inversions. 

Enter a brand new upside-down world! 

This is the perfect workshop for building new skills. A beneficial and fun addition to your own movement practice.

We will cover a variety of inversions that include the basic elements to three classics:

  • Sirsasana / headstands and their variations
  • Pincha Maryasana / forearm balances
  • Handstands

By the end of this workshop, you will have gained all the tools in alignment techniques, strength training, the embodiment of inversions and how to safely take weight on your arms and hands. 

We will build up progressively by working on upper body stamina, core conditioning, wrist strength and finger power. 

Open to all with an interest in being upside down

SAT 21ST OCT | 2-4.30PM | ACROYOGA FUNDAMENTALS 

The world of AcroYoga, an afternoon to connect, build trust and play.

This workshop is for:

  • People new to AcroYoga
  • Those with some AcroYoga experience that want to steer on the basics
  • Anyone who has played with AcroYoga but has lost momentum in this practice and wishes to reestablish their solid foundations


We will learn the built foundations of the AcroYoga practice; exploring calisthenic and partner conditioning to dive into our acrobatic bodies.
Moving into the partner balancing section of the session, you will play with nuances of calibration and collaboration, and explore the therapeutics that come from this practice, be it Flying or partner Thai massage.

No experience is necessary, beginners are welcome.

Our aim is to build your confidence, learn and try something new, and build on your potential to play safely and have fun.

INVERSIONS AND ARM BALANCES  | SAT 25TH NOV | 2- 4PM

An afternoon’s exploration into the world of balancing on your hands. 

This workshop is ideal for anyone with a regular yoga, movement or bodywork practice, especially for those who have been keen to discover more about their hands and arm balancing potential.

We will cover the three classic inversions:

  • Sirsasana / headstands,
  • Pincha Maryasana / forearm balances
  • Handstands.

We will explore a range of arm balancing including:

  • Tittibasana / firefly, 
  • Parsva Bakasana / side crow 
  • Eka Pada Koudiyasana / split leg arm balance

This class dives deeply into alignment techniques, strength training, the embodiment of inversions and how to safely take weight on your arms and hands.
We will build up progressively working on upper body stamina, core conditioning and wrist and finger power.

Prerequisites: 

  • Should be comfortable being upside down
  • Can hold a headstand against a wall for 30 seconds.

BOOK HERE

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