Profound Rest: A Deeply Nourishing, Supported Part-Silent Retreat

Profound Rest at Avalon Wellbeing is a six night immersion, with three full days in silence, set within the exquisite sanctuary of Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, UK providing an opportunity to deep dive into the inner realms. The retreat will centre around Eastern philosophy, non-dual tantra, yoga and earth connection, led by Paris Ackrill (co-founder of Avalon Wellbeing Centre) and Cornelius O'Shaughnessy (founder of Bodhimaya). The journey will centre around resting in our innate stillness, which will inevitably churn up parts of our “self” to burn in the fire of the heart, with three full days of silence. You will be nourished by supportive practices to align the mind-body-spirit and to ignite the heart, the seat of wisdom.

Path to Enlightenment

Religions, philosophies, and paths are an attempt to understand, realise and connect with the true nature of reality. At their culmination, every path to enlightenment brings us to the perception of reality as it is, beyond our ideas about it. This happens because the mind is bought into a state of profound silence. In this silence our mind bursts through the limitations of our thinking, beliefs, and ego into a deep, mystical, and incommunicable union with life. During this retreat we will bring the mind to rest and silence through meditation, enquiry, uprooting resistance and grasping, letting go of desire, allowing suffering to crumble by bathing in wisdom and by turning the mind inwards towards the simple experience of awareness and this present moment.

Profound Rest: Retreat Process

The first few days of the retreat will prepare you to move into three days of deep silence. You will of course be able to ask questions and speak about any necessary practicalities. You will be encouraged to switch off technology and truly immerse yourself in the experience.

The retreat journey will include meditations and Q&A with Cornelius, yin yoga, somatic flow, alchemy crystal bowl sound baths with Paris, time to unwind in Avalon’s state-of-the-art facilities and Pool Suite, forest bathing with Liz Dawes, earth connection, kirtan with Nitya Mukta, wild swimming and woodland sauna experience, delicious plant-based food, opportunities for individual therapies and more.

About Avalon, Broughton Sanctuary

Profound Rest will be held at the 3000-acre Broughton Sanctuary, situated in the very centre of the UK, in the foothills of The Yorkshire Dales and one of the most picturesque parts of the country. Established in 1097, Broughton Hall has been home to the Tempest family for over 900 years and enjoys a rich history stretching back over the millennium. Surrounding the historic Broughton Hall are formal gardens studded with statues, ponds, parterres and fountains offering a glimpse of 18th century fashion all set against contemporary architecture making the location a truly unique experience. The Broughton Sanctuary is home to one of Britain’s most exciting nature recovery projects, with an extensive tree-planting and rewilding programme. Broughton is a place dedicated to the journey of coming home and rewilding the spirit.

Avalon is the UK’s leading, state-of-the-art wellbeing and retreat centre and beating heart of Broughton Sanctuary. This stunning building is based on biophillic (organic) design with sacred geometry and the Fibonacci incorporated throughout. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience the unique Pool Suite: a low-chemical swimming pool looking out onto the adjacent woodland, a sauna, a steam room and hydrotherapy pool. There are many places beyond the building itself in the Sanctuary grounds to return to source, from meditation labyrinths, wild swimming reservoirs, a cosmic garden and much more.