Harmony & Balance is returning for its second year to the glorious countryside of Dumfries & Galloway. Once again we will be bathing in the divine teachings of St Hildegard of Bingen, a great composer, poet, healer & mystic who lived in the Rhineland in the 12th century and whose influence continues to spread far and wide.
Each morning and evening we will enjoy heavenly heart meditations, with harmony of the heart yoga each morning. Daily hridaya nidra (heart rest relaxation) after lunch will help us digest well and boost our energy for the day.
R&R after a picnic lunch at last year’s retreat
We will also be enjoying
Sacred Sound Baths & Heart Song
Writing from the Heart
Sacred Anarchy
Healing herbs & sattvic cooking
Quiet time to journal, contemplate, explore, connect and/or rest
Retreat Venue
Wysebyside
Wysebyside is a beautiful detached villa situated in its own grounds — a private rural retreat with private walled gardens on the Kirtle Water. It’s in Dumfries & Galloway, with the nearest train stations at Carlisle & Lockerbie and also not far off the M74 and M8, so easy to get to from England or other parts of Scotland.
The house is owned by the very lovely Laird Hope Vere Anderson who also hosted us last year at the nearby New Abbey Lodge. We hope Hope might grace us again with his presence and even join some of our events.
Our lovely yoga and meditation room with windows looking out to the gardens.
The house itself has six bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lovely modern kitchen and a nice big lounge looking out over the gardens. The room will be cleared of the larger furniture pieces so can enjoy our yoga and meditation there. Chairs will be available for those who would like them.
The house oozes charm with lots of beautiful antique furniture crafted with a great deal of care and tremendous skill. The walled gardens are large with plenty of space to get away for a bit of quiet or private conversation if you like. Beyond the wall, you can walk all the way down to the river side to enjoy the steady of flow of the Kirtle Water.
Walled gardens at Wysbyside
Sacred Pilgrimage
The house is near a number of special sacred sites in both England and Scotland, some of which we plan to visit during our retreat time together.
Kirtle Water is just a short walk from the house
What we decide depends on how we feel as a group at the time.
Rooms & Rates
Historic building on site
For four nights and five days of heavenly retreat in the Scottish countryside, the contribution is £350 (single bed) £375 (double bed), £435 (single room — currently reserved unless needed for health reasons) or £250 if camping. A £200 non-refundable deposit secures your place with the remainder to be paid by 1st August.
For those joining the online programme, this year with a dedicated online host to care for you, we ask £165 (or £50/day or by donation/session). We will have a dedicated host for our online guests.
Spaces are limited and early booking is highly advised. Last year’s retreat was an absolute joy and nearly everyone who came has said they are coming back for more!
To help keep costs down and enjoy the feeling of contributing together, each guest is asked to bring either a pasta dish or a curry dish to share. All the rest of the meals will be provided.
Karma Yoga (selfless service). We ask all retreat participants to help keep the areas we are using tidy and well organised, including taking turns to wash dishes after meals. Loving mindfulness towards our environment is a beautiful practice for coming into our natural state of harmony & balance.
If finances are an issue and your heart is calling you, please speak with us. Maybe we can help.
Any other questions, just ask!
Booking Form
Retreat Hosts
Hildegard Von Bingen (1098–1179) was a Benedictine nun, abbess, composer of heavenly music, medical herbalist and physician, poet, visionary, and heart-centred revolutionary living in the Rhine Valley. She is known for her dedication to honouring the sacredness of nature, including human life, and speaking out for justice and for joy. Her life and wisdom teachings are a central inspiration on this retreat.
Vishwam is an experienced yoga teacher, teacher trainer, wellbeing coach, poet and retreat leader. Spending time with a beautiful group of souls on a shared voyage of discovery absolutely makes his heart sing. Vishwam loves to listen, to laugh and to spend time in the healing presence of nature. He offers a special quality of inner silence and stillness for those who are seeking peace. Vishwam currently lives with his partner, Paul, in Shetland.
Mardava is a Reiki Master & yoga teacher, sound healer, heart singer and Heart Of Living Yoga Meditation Facilitator. She has a passion for cooking from her heart to nourish all levels of being. She is the living embodiment of gentleness and a great joy to be with. Mardava lives in Derbyshire where she is part of the local Heart Of Living Yoga sangha.