Favourite and Forthcoming Voyages!

Fire up and bliss out

Imagine laying on a blanket-covered mat, making the limestone floor feel oddly comfortable. Feel that with each strike of the gong your worries and anxieties are less acute, melting away like wax off the candles which fill the room with a warm glow. More than a dozen Tibetan singing bowls are placed around the room — some on the floor, some on the bodies of other retreaters — all humming with a soothing sound. Palms up, eyes closed, the gentle scent of lavender from your eye pillow is mixing with the sweet scent of Palo Santo…

If you’re craving that escape, peace and tranquillity, but also a somewhat more challenging physical practice, you’re not alone. The last few years have been extremely difficult and many of us feel the need to turn to a reset that is somewhat deeper than a beach holiday. We're looking for a time out that enables us to re-establish the connection within; to look after our bodies and souls in a way that is simultaneously nourishing, expansive and soothing. One of the places where you can experience this fine balance is at a Fire & Bliss Retreat.

Fire & Bliss Retreats was established in 2018 and started as a shared dream of a getaway that would be challenging and soul-soothing in equal measure. The retreats were built from a love of yoga, healthy eating and the connection between movement and mental wellbeing.

The dream has come true and Fire & Bliss is now one of the most popular retreats in the UK, with eight retreats each year held in luxurious but laid-back venues in the Cotswolds and Devon. The schedule is packed from the early morning with Rocket, Ashtanga or Jivamukti inspired flow, through Vinyasa, Mandala Yoga, Flow to Restore to Restorative Yoga, Yin, and walking meditation. For those needing extra TLC and a healthy dose of pampering, there’s an outdoor hot tub and multiple treatments available. The co-creators of Fire & Bliss Retreats — Ale Manning and Ola Lirka — are both yoga teachers and sound healers, and at every weekend retreat they host, you’ll also experience two evening sound baths, a form of meditation that studies suggest can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression.

Every retreat has a different theme: some are focused around seasonal transitions, others around the chakra system or the philosophy behind the Eight limbs of yoga. Depending on your particular interest, you can find yourself exploring the idea of letting go, stoking your inner fire or opening your heart — both metaphorically and on your mat through your asana practice. Each retreat ignites our artistic spark with creative workshops, where participants can learn how to make a dream catcher, a macrame, draw a mandala or create a mood board to set an intention for the upcoming months.

The food is Ola’s specialty and she creates the most delicious and nutritious dishes in the kitchen. Heart-warming, comforting and filling in the colder months, and lighter, energising recipes for when the weather is warmer. One thing is certain — you’ll never go hungry at a Fire & Bliss retreat!

The retreats are designed to create lasting changes for physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. It is no surprise that half of the participants are returning guests — yogis often come back a couple of times a year and bring their friends or family to share the transformational experience with their loved ones.