The Walking, Yoga, Meditation, Silence retreats are organised and managed by Roz and Derry Robinson who have lived at and looked after Gayles for most of their lives (indeed, Roz for all of hers). They have been hosting retreats, for both independent teachers and with Roz at the helm, since 2012. They both mind all aspects of the retreats and the estate with Roz focussing particularly on her practice and on growing vegetables, with Derry using the produce in the kitchen to provide thoughtfully prepared and substantial meals. They recognise the extraordinary privilege of being in such a place and strongly believe in the value and opportunity they offer in sharing it with others.
In 1994, as a young mother of four children, Roz began to practice yoga in order to give herself a little time in her otherwise frantic family life. As her practice deepened, she became interested in her own emotional landscape which lead her in 2000 to train initially as a Humanistic Counsellor and then, wishing to further develop her knowledge of psychology and her professional efficacy, she enrolled on a Human Givens Postgraduate Diploma course, qualifying with a Distinction. During her training Roz had carried out her placements in GP surgeries and, having completed her studies, in 2005 she was offered a post within the NHS as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor working in Primary Care. She also became Accredited with UKCP.
The first house at Gayles was built by Roz’s great-grandfather who moved down from Yorkshire in 1900 (and named it after the herb, Sweet Gale). Inevitably, the intervening years have seen enormous change; the estate was requisitioned and used as an airfield in WW2, further properties were built and later sold and eventually Roz became the last member of her family to continue living here and Gayles itself became a vision as much as a family home; an oasis of calm in an increasingly frantic and chaotic world.
Gayles is unique in that it is easily reachable by public transport whilst also being situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and surrounded by National Trust, Country Park and Forestry Commission land so we have open access to stunningly beautiful countryside all around.
We have taken special care to create a comfortable and peaceful space for you to enjoy during your retreat. The accommodation allows for you to have your own room or to share with up to five others in thoughtfully appointed buildings set in beautiful grounds and surrounded by rolling downland with breathtaking views all around.
We pride ourselves on making delicious homemade meals that are largely sourced from our own lovingly tended organic gardens, making the food as fresh and natural as possible with a virtually zero carbon footprint. We buy any other ingredients as responsibly as we can; organic where that’s practical, and avoid highly processed products or anything that’s been flown half way round the world to get here.
Our menu is Vegetarian and seasonal and changes through the year, reflecting what’s abundant in the garden at the time. We provide three meals a day: lunch and dinner have two courses and breakfast offers several choices. Usually either lunch or dinner is more substantial, the other will be lighter with fresh fruit provided for dessert. All our food is Vegetarian and we are happy to cater for you if you are dairy or gluten-free or Vegan. Ground filter coffee and a variety of teas, as well as fresh fruit, are always available. Where the practice allows, we offer homemade treats on your arrival and in the afternoon of full days.
When you come to Gayles you are welcome guests sharing our family home; we respect that you are investing in yourself and we hope that you will have a fulfilling and enjoyable time here.
With this in mind, we ask that you also respect the space, participate fully in the activities and are mindful of the others in your group. Our retreats look to allowing you time and space to reconnect with yourself and the world around you in a warm, supportive and extraordinarily beautiful environment.
