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.  

Thai & Fly at Tokei

When:  Sunday 20th November 2022, 2.30 – 5.30pm

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

Costs: 

 

An afternoon’s introduction to Thai massage and flying therapeutics; also referred to as the restorative ‘lunar’ side of AcroYoga. 

I will bring to this workshop, my 15 years of experience as both an AcroYoga teacher and Thai massage practitioner for more info about me see the following link.

This workshop is aimed at holding space for empathetic connections, therapeutic touch and the Buddhist concept of loving-kindness, “Metta Bhavana”.

We will start with: – 
  • a yoga practice to allow ourselves to be in tune with our own flexibility and alignment;
  • touch on partner stretches to explore the themes of collaboration and honest communication; 
  • introduce the basic principles of Thai massage by conducting a led sequence; and   
  • present the foundations of therapeutic flying.  

No partner or experience is necessary. 

 

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 full refund. Failure to provide sufficient notice will result in a £10 admin fee deducted from your refund for each workshop and or each person.

There are exceptions to this protocol if you have been told to isolate and or have had a recent positive covid test result.  A full refund will be issued upon submission of evidence to confirm your circumstance.

AcroYoga – Lunar Therapeutics @ London Bridge

AcroYoga: Lunar Therapeutics @ London Bridge

When:

  • 6th November 2021, 4.30 – 7.30pm

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

Cost:

As we are all heading back into acro land, consider balancing out your solar fire practice of acrobatics with the restorative chill of lunar therapeutics.

This workshop is aimed at holding space to encourage empathetic connections, exploring therapeutic touch and the Buddhist understanding of loving-kindness “Metta Bhavana”.
 
This workshop is for: –
  • people who are new to flying therapeutics;
  • those who have not done a restorative partner practice in a while; and
  • those are feeling rusty and would like a steer back into the lunar practice of AcroYoga.
We will touch on the different aspects of this lunar practice, ranging from partner yoga, assisted stretches, Thai massage and flying therapeutics.
You can come on your own, bring a friend or partner.

 

COVID Safety Protocol

Safety is still a priority and despite the encouraging signs of decreasing Covid cases and hospitalisations, the pandemic is still morphing and around us.  For this reason, we are requesting that EVERY PARTICIPANT be required to conduct a lateral flow test and present a -ve test result within 24 hours of attending our workshop.

We are aware that the science and guidance on this is constantly changing as we transition to a new normal with Covid. But at this stage, we still feel it’s important to know that you are safe and keeping others safe too. 

Failure to conduct a Covid test of any kind will mean you will not be able to participate in this workshop. 

We will be encouraging group mixing and contact.  You are welcome to participate with your mask on or off and we will be encouraging judicious use of hand sanitiser and maybe being a hand towel in case you get hot and sweaty. 

 

COVID Safety Protocol

Safety is still a priority and despite the encouraging signs of decreasing Covid cases and hospitalisations, the pandemic is still morphing around us.  For this reason, we are requesting that EVERY PARTICIPANT be required to conduct a lateral flow test and present a -ve test result within 24 hours of attending our workshop.

We are aware that the science and guidance on this is constantly changing as we transition to a new normal with Covid. But at this stage, we still feel it’s important to know that you are safe and keeping others safe too. 

Failure to conduct a Covid test of any kind will mean you will not be able to participate in this workshop. 

We will be encouraging group mixing and contact.  You are welcome to participate with your mask on or off and we will be encouraging judicious use of hand sanitiser and maybe being a hand towel in case you get hot and sweaty. 

 

Cancellation Policy

There is no certainty as to how the Covid pandemic will evolve in the coming autumn and winter months.  For this reason, there may be the occasion to cancel the workshop due to Government guidance on social distancing. We will endeavour to inform you of any changes as soon as we are able to, this could be via a newsletter or on our social media platforms Facebook or Instagram.  Under these circumstances, full refunds will be given.

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

There are exceptions to this if you have been told to isolate and or have had a recent positive covid test result.  A full refund will be issued upon submission of evidence to confirm your circumstance.

 

AcroYoga Lunar Day with Erica Montes and Jaqui Wan

An AcroYoga Lunar Day: A Thai & Fly Exchange

When: Sunday 15th October 2017

Time: 10-5pm

Where:  Reva Yoga, 2c Andrews Road, Broadway Market, London E8 4QL

Costs:  £75 per person or £130 couples rate

(£60 early bird bookings before 24th September 2017)                                                           (£100 for couples early bird bookings before 24th September 2017)

Your Sunday chill out day with a Thai and fly exchange  – open to all levels

Click the link for more information or get involved on the FaceBook event page

Lunar Day 1017

Take in a deep breath and sigh out the stresses and strains that hold you. Take this day to collectively reconnect and release, to ground, accept and witness.

The morning will consist of: –

  • an asana practice to prepare your physical and mental body into giving and receiving;
  • a Thai massage sequence to aid energetic flow in the body; and
  • attention to details: –
    • in working with the breath,
    • the sensitivity of touch with gravity and body weight, and
    • the use of harmonics and vibrations as a tool to release and unblock.

In the afternoon we will apply the skills from the morning into flying therapeutics. This involves a base and flyer; the base grounds and suspends the flyer with their hands and feet.  The passive nature of the flyer enables the base to sculpt the flyer into a variety of shapes that stretch and opens the flyer’s upper body, enabling the potential release of tension and muscular holding patterns. 

We will cover: –

  • what to look for: –
    • to see where hold patterns may be and
    • to witness, with time and space, changes in these holding patterns,
  • a series of passive flyer extensions, asymmetric stretches and twists, and
  • therapeutic flying transitions.

An opportunity to connect, to listen and be present in a supportive and collective way.  Be prepared for the cuddle puddles.

Payment options via Pay Pal using the links below or BACs via emailing jaquiwan@gmail.com


Price Options



CANCELLATION POLICY

  • Cancellations 7 or more days prior to the start of the event will be issued a refund less an administrative fee of £10.
  • No refunds, no transfers, and no credits for cancellations within 7 days of workshop start date.
  • No refunds or credits for failure to attend or failure to complete the workshop.

Lunar: Thai & Fly Course

AcroYoga Lunar: Exploring the elements of Thai and Fly

Where: Reva Yoga 2c Andrews Road, Broadway Market, London E8 4QL

Dates:

  • Thursday 16th March
  • Thursday 23rd March
  • Thursday 30th March
  • Thursday 6th April
  • Thursday 13th April

Times: 6.30pm – 8pm

Costs:

  • £75 for bookings made before or on the 5th March 2017
  • £90 for booking made after the 5th March 2017

A series of five weekly classes that explore the lunar principles to AcroYoga Lunar.  A practice that cultivates the art of deep listening, loving touch and the ability to give and receive.

course-flyer-0317

You will learn how to passively let go; the power of the breath in releasing fear and emotional holding patterns; and the qualities of grounding, accepting and witnessing.

This five week course will include: –

  • Thai massage techniques;
  • the use of gravity, body weight, touch and harmonics to release;
  • suspended therapeutics (involving a base & flyer); and
  • flying sequences and transitions.

Open to all and especially those interested in massage or other forms of body work.

Please note you will be asked to attend all sessions to make the most of our offering, you will be working in pairs and encouraged to work in small groups.

Registration details:

Please register using the following PayPal button.  If you do not use PayPal please email jaquiwan@gmail.com


Price Options



CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations 7 or more days prior to start of the event will be issued a refund less an administrative fee of £10.

No refunds, no transfers, and no credits for cancellations within 7 days of workshop start date.

No refunds or credits for failure to attend or failure to complete the workshop.

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