Practice of Peace: Gentle Silence & Creative Rest Retreat

Practice of Peace is a four day long silent retreat where we introduce gentle meditation techniques, offer yoga for increased embodied presence, invite you into the stillness of nature and lovingly take care of you. With plenty of opportunity for your own rest, relaxation, creative pursuits and self practice, we create precious quiet space, for you to rediscover yourself.

Step away from the outside noise – reduce the static; the over stimulation; the disturbances, distractions and intrusions. Take four days from the frenzy of modern life. Slow down, become silent and find your inner guide. Re-centre, regenerate, and practice peace.

Start the day in the therapeutic warmth of our hand-built Siberian sauna, gazing at the panoramic riverside view, before a refreshing dip in the sparkling waters. Flow from this into a morning yoga session with restorative movement and extended relaxation. Learn the mindfulness of breathing, a simple but astonishingly effective technique, and fundamental to all meditations which followed. Have afternoons free and full of time for yourself – rest, have a massage, create, practise, move as you please. Be guided into the emerald embrace of the native woodland for forest bathing. As evening falls, gather for heartwarming metta, meditation of loving kindness.

All of this with plenty of time in between for a slow, gentle pace to calm the mind. Freedom to dip in and out as you choose. Nourished with organic, locally sourced wholesome and delicious food to cherish your body. No interruptions, no responsibilities and no expectations. Just the Practice of Peace.

Who Is This Retreat For?
Do any of these call to you?

For those who need a break, a pause and a reset.

For those who have never practiced mindfulness before and would like a soft introduction.

For those who want space to focus on their creative endeavours in quiet solitude, without distraction.

For those who would like an accessible foundation course towards sitting a 7 or 10 day Vipassana retreat.

For those with a strong personal practice who would like the chance to engage with it deeply on their own terms.

What Are The Benefits?
To embark on a silent retreat means committing to a pause in your everyday. A weekend where you learn to see clearly – breathe in a calm reality, without the distractions and disturbances that usually clutter the mind.

The practice of mindfulness quietens the mind, improves concentration, develops memory and attention, and develops the skill of awareness and presence in the moment of now.

Coming on a retreat like this can facilitate:

Reduced stress and anxiety levels

Fewer fears and obsessive or compulsive thoughts

A clear and calm mind

Renewed sense of purpose and clarity of direction

A feeling of increased energy, vitality and excitement towards life

A refocus on your deeply held interests and life’s calling

Improved awareness and consciousness of the body

Developed presence in the moment and attentiveness to everyday activities

Less habitual and mindless reactivity to your environment

Cultivation of patience and thoughtfulness of action

What Makes This Retreat Special?
Practice of Peace is a retreat that we have honed through our decades of experience organising events, and from our seven years as Sadhama, running wellbeing retreats at Hardwick.

Over the years we have learned what really delivers – what is effective, accessible and profound. The program we have developed for Practice of Peace is a blend of all the best bits of our other retreat offerings – the serenity of silence, the softness of gentle guidance from authentic, mindful techniques that really work, space to breathe and be present in nature, calmness and tranquility away from digital devices – all rooted in traditional wisdom and proven ancient practice.

We know that what hinders people most on the path to personal wellness is simply not having the opportunity to focus on themselves without the interferences and obstructions that come with everyday living. We know that people find it hard to take time out from their lives and responsibilities to sit long Vipassana retreats. We also know that even the retreat environment can be overwhelming – when there’s lots of new people to meet, new experiences, challenging practices and high expectations.

That’s why we’ve created Practice of Peace – a four day getaway over a bank holiday, low commitment, easy to make to the time. No expectations of advanced yoga abilities, or the requirement for you to sit for hours of meditation – but if that’s what you want to do – you’re free to do it on your own terms. No pressure to socialise or put yourself out there. No phones, no emails, no social media.

Just you and your silence. Elegant, nourishing meals. Simple and effective meditation techniques taken straight from the sutras, ready for you to assimilate and put into practice. The forgiving wild of the English countryside – rivers, forests, ancient trees. Siberian sauna and skilled therapists. Embodied movement to restore your body and relax your nervous system. Space held for you to reflect, create and belong.

Low stakes, but super high reward.

Join us for this brand new retreat for 2026.

A journey of personal self care and deep stillness, and a culmination of all our work so far.