Root & Release: A Journey
Through Clay & Stillness

​Over the course of 2, 4, or 6 nights, this retreat brings together the sacred practices of yoga, clay work, and stillness in the embrace of nature. It’s designed for those who are weary of the world’s fast pace and are ready to reconnect — to their breath, their body, their creativity, and something older than language.

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Whether you're flowing on the mat or shaping soft clay, this is a space to release old patterns, remember your own rhythm, and let beauty emerge through the simplest acts of presence.

 

This is not a retreat of performance or perfection. It is a space of softness, slowness, and creative return. Through the tactile poetry of clay and the breath-led movement of yoga, you’ll come home to your senses, your stories, and your sacred self.

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What makes this retreat unique?

🌱 Earth as Teacher – Working with clay isn’t just a craft — it’s a metaphor for our inner transformation. You’ll witness how the Earth yields, holds, and reshapes, just as we do in times of change.

🧘‍♀️ Yoga for Integration – Each yoga class is curated to support the emotional and energetic landscape of the retreat — grounding, softening, empowering, or releasing — meeting you where you are.

🔥 Creative Ritual – Fire ceremonies, intention-setting, silent walks, and storytelling circles weave through the retreat, offering ritual and reflection.

🌳 Rooted in Nature – Hosted at Vala House, with its abundant stillness, big sky, and flowing river, you are gently guided back into harmony with the rhythms of nature.

🤲 Held in Community – With small group numbers, there is intimacy, connection, and space to be witnessed in your process — and to witness others in theirs.

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What’s Included

Every detail of the Root & Release retreat is intentionally crafted to create space — space for stillness, for reconnection, for expression, and for rest. Your experience includes everything you need to soften into the journey, and nothing you don’t.
 

🌄 Accommodation

• 2, 4, or 6 nights at the serene and soulful Vala House

• Thoughtfully designed private rooms

• Beautiful shared spaces, fireplaces, reading nooks, and outdoor quiet zones

• River walks, wild garden paths, and contemplative spots for personal retreat
   

🧘‍♀️ Yoga & Meditation

• Daily morning yoga practice aligned with the retreat’s emotional themes (grounding, releasing, opening, integrating)

• Restorative and yin yoga in the evenings to support deep rest and reflection

• Breathwork and guided meditations to support nervous system regulation and inner clarity

• All mats and props provided — just bring yourself
   

🏺 Pottery & Clay Work

• Daily guided pottery sessions with an experienced ceramicist

• Techniques include hand-building, coping, pinching, slab building and glazing (varies by retreat length)

• Materials, tools, and firing of finished pieces included

• Option to collect fired work post-retreat or have it shipped
   

🌿 Ritual & Integration

• Opening and closing circles to set intentions and anchor insights

• Fire ceremony and silent nature practices

• Reflective journaling prompts and optional 1:1 check-ins with facilitators

• Sacred pauses built into the schedule for naps, walks, or creative solitude

• Forest Immersion & Walking Meditation – Time in nature to restore and ground yourself, incorporating mindful walking and deep listening practices.

• Cacao Ceremony – A gentle ceremony using mother cacao to open our heart and help in our healing

• Inspirational Breathwork – An inspirational breathwork session to help you trqnscend and heal.

• Sweat Lodge – A sweat lodge is a traditional healing practice used by Indigenous cultures, involving a small, enclosed space where heated stones create steam, promoting physical detoxification, spiritual cleansing, and deep introspection.
   

🥗 Nourishment

• Three wholesome, seasonal, plant-based meals daily

• Herbal teas, coffee, fresh fruit, and healthy treats available throughout the day

• Meals designed to nourish the body and ground the nervous system
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Programme 

If you cannot join us for the whole week, feel free to join us for as long as you can!

 

Monday, July 14

• 2pm: Arrive and settle in

• 3pm: Welcome ceremony

• 4:30pm: Yoga 

• 6:30pm: Dinner

• 7:30-8pm: Meditation

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Tuesday, July 15

• 6:30am: Meditation

• 7am: Yoga

• 8:30am: Sauna and Ice bath

• 9:30am: Breakfast

• 10:30am: Pottery Workshop

• 1pm: Lunch

• 2pm: Pottery Workshop

• 4:30pm: Yoga

• 6:30pm: Dinner

• 7:30-8pm: Meditation
   

Wednesday, July 16

• 6:30am: Meditation

• 7am: Yoga

• 8:30am: Sauna and Ice bath

• 9:30am: Breakfast

• 10:30am: Pottery Workshop

• 1pm: Lunch

• 2pm: Forrest Immersion

• 4:30pm: Yoga

• 6:30pm: Dinner

• 7:30-8pm: Cacao Ceremony 

 

Thursday, July 17

• 6:30am: Meditation

• 7am: Yoga

• 8:30am: Sauna and Ice bath

• 9:30am: Breakfast

• 10:30am: Inspirational Breathwork

• 1pm: Lunch

• 2pm: Pottery Workshop

• 4:30pm: Yoga

• 6:30pm: Dinner

• 7:30-8pm: Image Sharing

​Friday, July 18

• 6:30am: Meditation

• 7am: Yoga

• 8:30am: Sauna and Ice bath

• 9:30am: Breakfast

• 10:30am: Pottery Workshop

• 1pm: Lunch in the forest

• 2pm: Pottery Workshop

• 4:30pm: Yoga

• 6:30pm: Dinner

• 7:30-8pm: Image Sharing

​Saturday, July 19

• 6:30am: Meditation

• 7am: Yoga

• 8:30am: Sauna and Ice bath

• 9:30am: Breakfast

• 10:30am: Pottery Workshop

• 1pm: Lunch

• 2pm: Pottery Workshop

• 4:30pm: Yoga

• 6:30pm: Dinner

• 7:30-8pm: Meditation

​Sunday, July 20

• 6:30am: Meditation

• 7am: Yoga

• 8:30am: Sauna and Ice bath

• 9:30am: Breakfast

• 10:30am: Closing and final sharing

• 1pm: Lunch

• 2pm: Farewell
   

Who is this for?

• Those craving a slower, more intentional rhythm

• Artists, healers, seekers — or anyone feeling disconnected from their body or creativity

• Yogis looking for more than a physical practice

• Creatives or beginners wanting to experience clay in a therapeutic, meditative way

• Anyone standing at a threshold in life, needing to ground and realign

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Costs:

Luxury Room: R22,700

Standard Room:R18,800

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Cost is all-inclusive and includes private, en-suite bathroom; all meals, drinks and snacks; all activities listed.

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