Wellbeing (2019)
Wellness junkies do it in the wild - in the forest - lake-side. Taking body, mind and spirit to another level!
Lakeside Yoga
Yes sir, we have massage, yes Zen Ten Spa, the world’s first therapy suite on wheels, will be at Also offering massage, reiki and aromatherapy treatments in its 5-star luxury spa. Call to book on: 07709 101010 -and we'll aim to have some slots may be available to reserve when on site. Treatments are £10 for 15min tasters or £30 for half-hour full wellbeing therapies and Zen Ten tells us exclusive VIP arrangements are available for those who want a little bit more.
Yoga teacher and 4160Tuesdays founder, Sarah McCartney brings two of her super skills together to lead a Scented Yoga session. Book on this workshop for a most unusual and enjoyable yoga session in which you get to take away your own vial of perfume for your own practice.
Info & TicketsTales from the yoga mat is a fun fitness and storytelling experience for children from 0-7 years. Led by their yoga teacher and chief storyteller, the children become voyagers of literature and are transported through time and space to great adventures using their bodies to act out each tale.
Celebrating our “out of the woods” theme, Lucie will show you how to compose beautiful (and instagrammable) leaf sculptures. Source all of your materials from Capability Brown’s landscape and start your weekend by immersing yourself in a mindful playtime. By returning the creation back into nature, the elements’ reaction to it completes your piece. Wind, water and placement within the earth provide the stage for a kinetic installation.
Join Peace in an immersive, energetic exploration of laughter: an ever-evolving combination of games and guided interactions focused on the joy of laughing. You will sing arias, learn a language, visit the zoo- all using nothing but your own guffaws. Get ready to clear your mind and strengthen your lungs while also having a huge amount of fun.
Also Festival 2019 is keen to deepen our relationship with nature and to celebrate this we are encouraging you to take part in our extremely special sunset swim. Timed to see our extraordinary setting in the most magical light - guided by one of the leading wild swimmers in the country, Suzanna Cruickshank, this promises to be an unforgettable experience. Over 18s only, 16/17 year olds welcome with parents. Breaststroke is the preferred stroke for these swims.
Info & TicketsOn the Friday night, come along and understand the night-time world of the bat in this nocturnal safari. With our Capability Brown designed landscape, ancient woodland and a fantastic lake, we've heard it's bat heaven...
Also Festival 2019 is keen to deepen our relationship with nature and to celebrate this we are encouraging you to take part in our extremely special sunrise swims. Timed to see our extraordinary setting in the most magical light - guided by one of the leading wild swimmers in the country, Suzanna Cruickshank, this promises to be an unforgettable experience. Over 18s only, 16/17 year olds welcome with parents. Breaststroke is the preferred stroke for these swims.
Info & TicketsA HIIT of Mindfulness: You don’t have to be still to be present. Tune into your body and be mindful whilst moving High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is heart racing exercises interspersed with recovery. Learn to trust your body’s ability to respond. Join Sarah from MoodLifter in this short mindful workout.
Join us in a gentle 5k run around the beautiful Warwickshire countryside beginning and ending right slap bang in the Also Festival site.
Join Juliet in easing your body and voice into the Also day. Tuning in through a series of deep breathing exercises, energising stretches, followed by simple chants, nature-related songs and rounds.
A chance to experience this ancient Chinese art. As a moving meditation, Quigong’s practice helps to strengthen and balance the body while also bringing the mind into the here and now. With no previous experience required, this gentle physical exercise is suitable for all - so there's no excuse not to give it a go!
CSV yoga is an anatomically based dance of beautiful flowing movement which honours the spine and allows your body to move as nature intended. You’ll be stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually. Sarah’s class is all about empowerment, self belief, self love and transformation.
Info & BookingJoin ALSO's Outdoors Specialist and Master Herbalist, Simon Birbeck on one of his two morning foraging walking workshops. On this 75 minute exploration of the site and woods, Simon will explain how our ancestors survived off the land, how they foraged for medicines and food and understand how to forage for alternative food sources and free food yourself. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.
Info & Booking"Re-wilding the Body" is an invitation to deeply connect with the elements and energy of the universe through the practice of Outdoor Yoga. Explore the evocative power of the environment, while enjoying nature-inspired and revitalising postures by the lakeside.
Discover and explore the world of essential oils on this aromatherapy mist workshop. Learn about what benefits different essential oils have and then using your senses and with Suzie's expert knowledge you will create a blend you love to make a beautiful mist. This will be your unique bespoke face mist/toner to keep and take away with you.
Info & TicketsJoin ALSO's Outdoors Specialist and Master Herbalist, Simon Birbeck on one of his two morning foraging walking workshops. On this 75 minute exploration of the site and woods, Simon will explain how our ancestors survived off the land, how they foraged for medicines and food and understand how to forage for alternative food sources and free food yourself. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.
Info & BookingWhat can we learn about spaces and places by engaging our sense of smell? Become a scent detective with Nikki Shaill, project manager for Thames Festival Trust's The Barking Stink. Nikki will share olfactory facts about the growing role of scent and smell in heritage and creative projects, plus invite you to take part in some sensory experiments. Explore the festival site's own unique scent imprints and stories through sniffing and whiffing as you walk. All ages welcome. "The Barking Stink" is a scented heritage project run by Thames Festival Trust, with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund"
In this relaxing yoga session, enjoy exploring your spine through some gentle twists in the beautiful ALSO woods. As a trained yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner, Carolyn works with body, breath and spirit to encourage deep relaxation and kinaesthetic awareness. She teaches weekly classes and works 1-to-1 in west London. She also mentors yoga teacher trainees and newly-qualified teachers.
Bushcraftaway! We have Wild Adventures and Bushcraft supremo, Simon Birbeck as our very own eco therapist at ALSO Festival this year. Book on to one of the two bushcraft survival sessions he is running deep in the ALSO woods and understand from the experts how to manage the basics of fire, water, shelter, food when living off grid. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.
Info & TicketsAlso Festival is a fabulous chance to explore wild swimming – so grab your bikini (or trunks) and head lakeside for some swimming in this stunning spot designed by no lesser landscape gardener than Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown himself. The lake is half a mile wide and our wild swimming sessions are not only gloriously beneficial for your body – but it’s been found exercising in nature offer extraordinary benefits for the mind too. No wonder we all love it so much. #naturalicious
Join our invited speakers and ALSO guests deep in the woods at our pop up non-alcoholic aperific party hosted by ALSO and Æcorn Aperitifs. Their beautiful aperitifs are informed by 17th-century English herbal remedies and inspired by the European aperitif tradition, made from 100% English grown Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay grapes, pressed early and blended with appetite stimulating herbs, roots, and bitter botanicals and all alcohol-free.
Join Yogi, Sarah Reaves Towns for an empowering yoga session around the ALSO campfire. All ages and abilities.
The ultimate reset button. Rest, restore and rebalance in an immersion of sound. A unique experience which is both healing and life changing. The gong sound vibrations continue to work long after the Gong Bath has finished - healing mind, body and soul.
Embracing the Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku, discover the proven health benefits of Forest Bathing as our forest therapy guide leads you on a transformative walk around our site. Awaken your senses through the power of nature. Please note a self-guided session is available at other times at ALSO. Find out more at the Info Tent.
An introduction to mixing natural clays and wild-harvested herbal hydrosol waters to make your own bespoke face mask. Clays work to help draw out toxins from the skin and to help boost circulation helping encourage a glowing complexion. In this workshop, you will discover which natural clays will suit your skin type and under Suzie's expert guidance you will create your own unique mask blend to take home. Then learn how to mix, apply and remove a mask for beautifully rejuvenated naturally healthy skin.
Info & TicketsSwimming Wild with Suzanna Cruickshank. Explore the mindful benefits of wild swimming in the great outdoors. Leave constraints and concerns on the shore and let the water support you. ALSO’s wild swimming expert Suzanna will guide you through the mindful wonders of appreciating your surroundings, teach useful breathing exercises meaning you can fully immerse yourself in this unique experience. Over 18s only, 16/17 year olds welcome with parents. Breaststroke is the preferred stroke for these swims.
Info & TicketsOne of our big themes for 2019 is our relationship with nature, so how lucky are we to have David Lindo, aka The Urban Birder at our festival to help us understand how we can co-exist. He'll be leading a walk deep into the woods to understand the word from the perspective of our feathered friends. Don't miss it!
Bring your favourite cuddly and a blanket to feel snuggly. Lie back and let the sounds of the gongs bathe you in a sea of relaxation and dreams.
Come and join us for a sumptuous tea ceremony where we will use wild foraged plants to take in the essence of the forest. We will spend a little solo time working with nature invitations scrolls which will support us to write Haikus, capturing our experience. A truly unique way to spend an hour.
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