❄️ Wild Wintering on the Winter Solstice

Oak & Willow Yoga presents a workshop with Sam Gravestock (The Forest Path).

Join Sam and Sarah for Wild Wintering, a workshop rooted in nature connection, somatic presence and the quiet medicine of the dark months. This is a time to soften, to slow down and to remember that winter is a rite of passage.

Across languages, the Solstice is described as a pause in the heavens.Solstice is an English word derived from Latin. In Latin solstitium means “the sun stands still.”

In Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge), Grianstad means “the stopping of the sun.” The same word-shape appears across the wider Gaelic family in Scotland ((Gàidhlig) and the Isle of Man (Gaelg), each carrying the old sense of the sun standing still at midwinter.

In Sanskrit the Solstice is Uttarayana, the great turning of the sun’s path toward the north, a sacred hinge in the year. In Persian Yalda marks the birth of the returning light. In Norse Jól or Yule honours the rebirth of the sun in the deep dark of winter.
Every culture recognises the stillness and the turning.

A cosmic breath held at the darkest hour.
A moment when the sun pauses.
A moment of stillness before the return of the light.

This is the threshold we will gather at.

Wild Wintering is an online gathering designed to bring you back into relationship with self and land through the medicine of stillness. We gather at the moment when the sun appears to stand still, entering a season that invites slowing, resting and the soft, cosy nourishment of winter. 

Sam will guide us in land-based practice, You will be guided into creating a sit spot in nature, a small place on the land that becomes a personal sacred site across the turning year. He will teach us how to map this space, how to understand the directions and the rise and set of the solstice sun, and how a sit spot can become a place for mindful practice, reflection and where to foster a deeper connection with the natural world.. Sam will offer prompts that will be put in place on the morning and evening of the Solstice. He will weave theory with hands-on experience, moving between practice and reflection to root the learning in your body. Wild Wintering invites you to be in, with and as the land, rather than a visitor passing through, and to honour the seasonal wisdom that calls you back into purposeful pause, quiet regeneration and inner rooting.

Sarah will lead gentle somatic movement, lymphatic ymphatic activation to support winter stagnation, and a guided meditation to explore the internal pause that winter calls for. This is a time to recognise where your own life needs to soften where you might choose to winter in yourself, and how rest can become purposeful rather than something earned through productivity.

The workshop consists of an online gathering on
Saturday 20th December from 10am to 1.30pm,
followed by a second gathering on the evening of the Winter Solstice,
Sunday December 21st from 6pm to 8pm.

Between these two sessions you will be invited to take the tools offered by Sam and meet both the sunrise and the sunset at your chosen sit spot. This small piece of land becomes your own sacred site, a place to stand at the threshold of the Solstice and witness the stillness of the sun for yourself. Through this simple but profound practice you begin to create a personal relationship with the land, one that continues to deepen across the turning year.

Looking to recharge and reconnect with nature this summer?

Join Claire Murphy & Sarah Fox on May 27th for our Yoga & Nature Connection Retreat.

You'll have the opportunity to unwind, rewild, and refill your cup in beautiful Mount Hillary Holiday Pods, a peaceful retreat space in North Cork.

Our replenishing retreat will begin with a warm welcome in our introduction circle, followed by a gentle hike over Mount Hilary, where you'll connect with the blossoming energies of mid-summer and use nature to awaken your senses. Let the mountain energy ground and balance you as you connect with the elements and yourself.

Throughout the retreat, we'll continue to deepen our connection with our inner and outer landscapes through yoga practice, playful mindful movement, mantra, yoga nidra, meditation, and storytelling.

Your experienced instructors, Claire and Sarah, will guide you through rejuvenating and transformative practices that will leave you feeling refreshed, energised, and deeply connected to yourself and the natural world. Sarah's yoga class will cater to all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Claire's offerings will give you the opportunity to explore the great outdoors on guided hikes, taking in breathtaking views and connecting with the Land.

You'll enjoy nourishing meals, make new friends, and when you're not practicing yoga or connecting with nature, you'll have plenty of time to relax and unwind in the beautiful natural space, surrounded by Mount Hillary forest which offers natural stunning beauty & wildlife.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to refill your cup and recharge your batteries this summer. Limited spots are available, book now!

Cost:

Full Retreat with Eco Pod accommodation:

Three sharing one Ecopod - €185 each
(perfect for three friends who want to hang out and are comfortable sharing a space).

Two sharing one Ecopod - €205 each

One person in one Ecopod €260

DEPOSIT €25

When we work one to one, I can help you experience the benefits of a personalised yoga practice, dedicated to your needs.

Private Yoga is an invaluable tool for students of all levels and experience. Private lessons provide the perfect setting to address your goals and work on areas of individual interest. Private Yoga can help you deepen your practice, gain confidence, answer questions and provide guidance. I can help you develop a home practice tailored to your individual needs which you can continue to refine to grow and progress.

When we work one to one, I can help you experience the benefits of a personalised yoga practice, dedicated to your needs.

Private Yoga is an invaluable tool for students of all levels and experience. Private lessons provide the perfect setting to address your goals and work on areas of individual interest. Private Yoga can help you deepen your practice, gain confidence, answer questions and provide guidance. I can help you develop a home practice tailored to your individual needs which you can continue to refine to grow and progress.

Gift Vouchers available for Therapeutic Massage with aromatherapy herbal oils and balms that I make myself. Massage therapy will resume when Government guidelines allow. My style of therapeutic massage incorporates a variety of modalities that I've learned over the last 17 years to enhance the body's natural restorative functioning. Light to firm touch is used to release tension, relax muscles, increase blood and lymph circulation, and impart a sense of calm. I work from my beautiful therapy room in Gaulsmills, South Kilkenny.