Wellbeing (2021)

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 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. To keep the Zen Spa COVID compliant, please bring your own laundered towel to your treatment, and a mask is optional as the therapist will be in PPE. Zen Ten Spa will be operating with the door open for increased air circulation.

Explore the fragrance materials used in perfumery to make animalic accords, and create your own Ancient Celtic familiar animal. Smell (synthetic cruelty free) musks, civet and ambergris, plant essential oils which perfumers use to evoke animal aromas, and hyrax. Take away a scented porcelain disc - made specially to hold fragrance by Les Parfumables in Limoges - perfumed with your favourite materials. Artisan perfumer Sarah McCartney of indie fragrance company 4160Tuesdays will share her materials and help you create the scent of your Ancient Celtic familiar animal.

ALSO CYCLE is go! Yes, brand new for 2021 there are a group of cyclists riding from Oxford to the site and anyone who takes part in the cycle will get a welcome pint in the bar when they arrive. Come along and join this very special ALSO welcome!

Following a grounding exercise, a series of asanas designed to open the heart and chest areas will increase energy levels. A pranayama and short meditation on love, compassion and self-respect will leave you with a warm heart and an open mind.

Twenties Charleston is famous as one of the first dances women could do solo but its roots in America’s Deep South go back to the square dancing tradition. Fiona Ring's MyCharleston takes classic moves such as the Cake Walk, Stomps, and shuffles to make a group dance experience which works just like a Ceilidh. Fiona will quickly get you up to speed with the basic Charleston step, before being the queen of call of the moves for the set dances. Experience all the humor and energy of this classic dance set to the early jazz music of New Orleans. Want to dress up? Of course you can - it's Friday night at ALSO. Let's get this party started. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Hold your lion pose. And connect body and your surroundings in our gentle morning yoga with Alex. We will breathe deeply, stretch our bodies and soothe our minds. No previous yoga experience, flexibility, or mat needed! This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

The ALSO Running Club is back for 2021. Decide whether you want to join our 5k or 10k and start your Saturday morning with a jog round our gorgeous Warwickshire countryside.

Join Ella from Rasa Teas for a Tea Ceremony + Movement Medicine. Rasa' is a Sanskrit word with many meanings - taste, essence, sap, the delight of the juiciest juice! This ‘sens-u-al’ experience will plug us into the intricacies of temperature, aroma, flow, resonance, and the unique taste of this Organic Earth Medicine: Chocolate Orange Rasa Tea. Enjoy immersing in the essence of cacao (sourced fairly from Chililique, Peru & Maya Mountain, Belize within an agroforestry environment) through the powerful practice of ritual. Stillness will be followed by somatic movement, free flow and a gentle yoga practice. All the asanas will be floor-based, to maintain this deeper connection with the earth. Please bring your own drinking vessel. 

Jemima will be leading an open-level morning Pilates session, suitable for people with differing levels of experience, including beginners. Bring your own mat and wear something easy to move in, such as leggings and t-shirt. Pilates is for everyone. It gently but profoundly works the entire body through a series of efficient mat-based exercises, helping to improve coordination, strength, mobility and alignment. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Run like the wind and explore your fantastic surroundings as Mike leads you across our Capability country and through the woods. Bring your trainers, but leave the adults back at the tent!

A session of morning movement meditation, based on a combination of Qi Gong and Tai Chi movements. Qi Gong, whole body breathing, focuses on slow movements, combined with meditative breathing, to relax the body and calm the mind. A very practical way to alleviate the symptoms of today's life style (stress and too much sitting). They are the perfect morning exercise, bringing calmness to your mind while gently promoting flexibility, strength and balance.

Join this discussion and introduction to the benefits and joy of cold water swimming with national ice swimming champion Caroline Saxon, to get your questions answered. Caroline is leading a number of swims in our wonderful lake and will be in conversation with Channel swimmer Justine Solomons. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

You will not want to miss our highly immersive session MOVE - the new science of body over mind from biologist and consultant to the New Scientist Caroline Williams, and her superb case for movement in our lives, and if there's ever been a year to reassess our relationship with movement this it! Lookout throughout the festival for many different opportunities to move your body in different ways as we bring Caroline's excellent research to practical life. Why not try as many as you can?

Join Sarah McCartney founder of 4160 Tuesdays, the brilliant, independent artisan London based perfumery who will be our in-festival perfumer and will be, for the very first time, leading us in a guided visualisation using perfume to heighten, deepen and enhance the meditation. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Join Sarah and Violet on a new adventure as they try to help Monkey find his Mum. Can you help them in their quest?

Join us for Mythic Yoga Flow, an integrated yoga practice with storytelling of myth, mantra, mudra, movement and magic. In a transformational fusion of form and flow in yoga, Claire will seamlessly weave in stories of the deities, mudras and mantras to create a dynamic yoga practice. This year at ALSO get ready to ride the tiger with goddess Durga, to cultivate courage and compassion. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Let’s SUP ALSO! Come along and join Anna from SUP Stratford for an introduction to standup paddleboarding (SUP). In this 45-minute intro session, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this SUPerb water sport - with a safety briefing, familiarisation demonstration of the equipment and instructions on how to get started - so you can begin your paddleboarding adventure. The paddleboards supplied are designed for stability and balance to help avoid tumbles into the water. SUP'ers are encouraged to wear unrestrictive clothing (i.e. gym clothes, swimsuit with leggings or boardshorts) and trainers. SUP Stratford will provide life vests and all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet for the activity. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

All mammals are designed to shake! It's one of our most primal responses to regulate ourselves and discharge stress and tension held in the body. Allowing ourselves to shake helps us to sleep better, feel calmer and more in control of our emotions, eases muscle tension and pain from old injury, amongst other reported benefits. So come along and experience 'the great love' - the energy that shaking allows us access to. Yes in this 60-minute TRE (tension, or trauma release exercises) class you’ll learn how to embrace your own inner animal, and bring this 'shaking medicine' into your own life. Feel the power of your own shake! This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Outdoors Specialist and Master Herbalist, Simon Birbeck is at ALSO to take us on a foraging walking adventure. On this 90 minute exploration of the ALSO countryside, Simon will weave in his knowledge of how our ancestors survived off the land, find out how they foraged for medicines and understand how to find alternative food sources for yourself. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

If you are 11-19 years old and want to learn something new, destress, or if you've enjoyed yoga before, then come along to ALSO’ Teen Yoga class! You’ll learn how to let out all your pent-up energy in a series of sequences, including sun salutations, and learn breathing techniques to help you relax. Taught by Claire Saunders of YogaBright and with assistance from her teenage daughter, Olivia who are both qualified TeenYoga Foundation teachers and want to bring yoga to all teens everywhere. Olivia is particularly passionate about yoga for neurodivergent teens.

Let’s SUP ALSO! Come along and join Anna from SUP Stratford for an introduction to standup paddleboarding (SUP). In this 45-minute intro session, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this SUPerb water sport - with a safety briefing, familiarisation demonstration of the equipment and instructions on how to get started - so you can begin your paddleboarding adventure. The paddleboards supplied are designed for stability and balance to help avoid tumbles into the water. SUP'ers are encouraged to wear unrestrictive clothing (i.e. gym clothes, swimsuit with leggings or boardshorts) and trainers. SUP Stratford will provide life vests and all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet for the activity. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Join Sohan Kailey as he takes you dancing around the world with songs from his debut album Let's Naach (Let's Dance). Bhangra Pop Music for children and families. Get ready to sing and dance along to Bhangra Rave, Bhangra Pirates, Dinosaur Rock, Shake It Like (Bollywood style), party on the beach. Fun songs for all to enjoy. Audience participation a must!

In this special introductory session designed for all levels and abilities, the UK's leading movement coach Ben Medder shows us how to rediscover playful and meaningful movement and rekindle the child-like ability to connect and discover one's own unique and incredible human body. Come and rediscover what moves you. Ages 16+ but children can attend with adult supervision.

Wild swimming is glorious and restorative - and takes centre stage at ALSO with our lake swimming sessions open to all. 2-4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Our lake is a quarter of a mile wide and was designed by leading landscape architect Capability Brown (we hear to look like the Mississippi) it is designed to make you feel awe for nature and the natural landscape and nowhere is it easier to feel this awe than from in the lake. So please, be our guest, dive in!

A voice workshop for teens run by L.R.A.M. trained voice coach Tessa Morton. Tessa will help you to speak up and speak out! Incorporating breathing techniques, movement and singing, by the end of the session you will feel more confident and assertive, filled with strategies for how to be heard. Age 12+

As we approach the summer months - take a 'constructive pause’ to become present, release tension, and revitalise so that you can enjoy every moment. Come and experience a unique session of Yoga Nidra. Nidra is an ancient form of yoga. Unlike most customs, it encompasses no poses or movement. It’s a tranquil, gentle method, focused upon the surmounting of anxieties and fears. Akin to meditation, Nidra is a set of guided visualisations, designed to transport you into the deepest depths of your subconscious. Proven to restore health, balance and happiness, Kanan utilises a unique blend of ancient techniques to delve beyond the material confines of the human psyche. A truly transformative and restorative practice. 1 hour of this practice is equivalent to 4 hours of deep blissful sleep. All you have to do is lie down and allow your body to slumber and keep your mind awake. To ensure you get the full experience, please bring blankets/eye-masks/pillows.

Learn fun Bhangra dance moves with Sohan Kailey. Bhangra is an agricultural farming dance from the Punjab region of India. Dance to vibrant music. Suitable for all ages.

Don't miss the UK's leading movement coach Ben Medder at ALSO as he shows us how to move with the seasons in this 2-hour workshop. Drawing upon the inspiration and wisdom of the changing seasons to explore the relationships of body, people and place, MWTS is primarily an outlook on observing, coordinating and adapting (moving) with change. Moving with the rhythm of the changing seasons of our inner and outer landscapes. Ben will share ideas through guided individual movement practice, creative games and tasks to spark the imagination and fuel the muse for reflection. Shifting attention between working with your own body, with partners/within a group and interacting and moving through the beautiful ALSO festival forest. Ages 16+.

Outdoors Specialist and Master Herbalist, Simon Birbeck is at ALSO to take us on a foraging walking adventure. On this 90 minute exploration of the ALSO countryside, Simon will weave in his knowledge of how our ancestors survived off the land, find out how they foraged for medicines and understand how to find alternative food sources for yourself.  This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Jemima will be leading a dance session for the whole family that is aimed at connecting through our bodies with our beautiful surroundings and exploring our animalistic selves through movement.  After more than a year of social distancing, you are invited to come and be playful and to reembody what it is to be connected. Come and rediscover yourselves You Animals!

Outdoors Specialist and Master Herbalist, Simon Birbeck is at ALSO to take us on a foraging walking adventure. On this 90 minute exploration of the ALSO countryside, Simon will weave in his knowledge of how our ancestors survived off the land, find out how they foraged for medicines and understand how to find alternative food sources for yourself. 

Join Ella from Rasa Teas for a Tea Ceremony + Movement Medicine. Rasa' is a Sanskrit word with many meanings - taste, essence, sap, the delight of the juiciest juice! This ‘sens-u-al’ experience will plug us into the intricacies of temperature, aroma, flow, resonance, and the unique taste of this Organic Earth Medicine: Chocolate Vanilla Rasa Tea. Enjoy immersing in the essence of cacao (sourced fairly from Chililique, Peru & Maya Mountain, Belize within an agroforestry environment) through the powerful practice of ritual. Stillness will be followed by somatic movement, free flow and gentle yoga practice. All the asanas will be floor-based, to maintain this deeper connection with the earth. Please bring your own drinking vessel. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Our wild swimming expert, the GB Ice Swimming Champion Caroline Saxon, has designed a restorative Sunset Swim Experience timed perfectly to see our extraordinary lake in the most magical light. Experienced outdoor swimmers, over 18 only. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Our wild swimming expert, the GB Ice Swimming Champion Caroline Saxon, has designed a restorative guided swim experience timed perfectly to see our extraordinary lake in the most magical early morning light. Experienced outdoor swimmers, over 18 only. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

The ALSO Running Club is back for 2021. Decide whether you want to join our 5k or 10k and start your Sunday morning with a jog round our gorgeous Warwickshire countryside.

A therapeutic sound bath led by Iva who is currently completing her diploma with the British Academy of Sound Therapy. The session, which lasts approximately 45 minutes, includes gong, Himalayan singing bowls and light percussion (rain stick and shakers). Such tonal instruments, combined with specific sound techniques, have been shown to influence brainwave frequencies, enabling a person to enter a state of deep relaxation or meditation. Such states are very important for overall health and wellbeing. Think of it as restarting your computer! All you need is a yoga mat (or blanket) and something to cover your eyes. The session is free but please sign up to reserve your place as capacity is limited to 10 people. And kindly arrive 5 minutes early to sign a consent form and settle. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

A chance to experience this ancient Chinese art. As a moving meditation, Tai Chi 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! This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Join wellness practitioner Abbie MacFarlane on a journaling journey and learn how to make journaling an everyday practice to support your well-being. Start your Sunday with some uplifting and enlightening journaling designed to get your life and your mind sorted. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

We all have a spirit animal but what does yours say about you? Our spirit animal teaches us so much about ourselves including the values and qualities we would do well to honour most in our lives. Join Sarah as she takes you on a journey of discovery to unleash your wild. I am animal...hear me roar! This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Let’s SUP ALSO! Come along and join Anna from SUP Stratford for an introduction to standup paddleboarding (SUP). In this 45-minute intro session, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this SUPerb water sport - with a safety briefing, familiarisation demonstration of the equipment and instructions on how to get started - so you can begin your paddleboarding adventure. The paddleboards supplied are designed for stability and balance to help avoid tumbles into the water. SUP'ers are encouraged to wear unrestrictive clothing (i.e. gym clothes, swimsuit with leggings or boardshorts) and trainers. SUP Stratford will provide life vests and all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet for the activity. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Inspired by the first moon landing, Gravity combines hand-to-hand acrobatics with Motionhouse’s signature contact choreography. Using breath-taking balances and extraordinary trust, Gravity sees two white-clad performers in an evocative exploration of weightlessness and zero gravity. An overwhelming sense of isolation underlies the precise, haunting choreography.

New to outdoor swimming? Would you like to transition from pool swimmer to outdoor swimmer? Want to regain confidence, or refresh your skills? Our Introduction to outdoor swimming sessions with GB Ice Swimmer Caroline Saxon aims to introduce swimmers with a bit or no experience of swimming outside and give you confidence to swim outdoors. From water entry, acclimatisation, basic open water swims to developing your outdoor swimming adventures. Over 18s only. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Join Tessa for a fun, multilevel pilates session. Tessa is Stott trained to keep your class safe and effective. Move your body, find your balance and connect with your core. Bring a mat/towel, loose clothing and get teady to feel strong and feel alive. All welcome

All mammals are designed to shake! It's one of our most primal responses to regulate ourselves and discharge stress and tension held in the body. Allowing ourselves to shake helps us to sleep better, feel calmer and more in control of our emotions, eases muscle tension and pain from old injury, amongst other reported benefits. So come along and experience 'the great love' - the energy that shaking allows us access to. Yes in this 60-minute TRE (tension, or trauma release exercises) class you’ll learn how to embrace your own inner animal, and bring this 'shaking medicine' into your own life. Feel the power of your own shake! This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Let’s SUP ALSO! Come along and join Anna from SUP Stratford for an introduction to standup paddleboarding (SUP). In this 45-minute intro session, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this SUPerb water sport - with a safety briefing, familiarisation demonstration of the equipment and instructions on how to get started - so you can begin your paddleboarding adventure. The paddleboards supplied are designed for stability and balance to help avoid tumbles into the water. SUP'ers are encouraged to wear unrestrictive clothing (i.e. gym clothes, swimsuit with leggings or boardshorts) and trainers. SUP Stratford will provide life vests and all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet for the activity. This event has been so popular it is fully booked. Don’t worry though! Check in at info on the day to see if more space is available. 

Jemima will also be leading a fun and inclusive dance session for kids 7-12 years.  The workshop will start with a fun warm-up, followed by a creative session. Working with the festival theme ‘You Animal’ we will be discovering some new ways of moving and playing.  Participants will be supported to explore and create their own movement individually and together, culminating in short phrases they can share with one another.

Happy Hour is a playful and humorous male-female duet exploring the theme of meeting a stranger in a crowded place. How do 2 people who don’t know each other react when they meet for the first time? Dynamic lifts, athletic dance and split-second timing make Happy Hour a laugh-out-loud entertaining duet for all the family, events, parties and launches using the distinctive Motionhouse style.

Don't miss the UK's leading movement coach Ben Medder at ALSO as he shows us how to move with the seasons in this 2-hour workshop. Drawing upon the inspiration and wisdom of the changing seasons to explore the relationships of body, people and place, MWTS is primarily an outlook on observing, coordinating and adapting (moving) with change. Moving with the rhythm of the changing seasons of our inner and outer landscapes. Ben will share ideas through guided individual movement practice, creative games and tasks to spark the imagination and fuel the muse for reflection. Shifting attention between working with your own body, with partners/within a group and interacting and moving through the beautiful ALSO festival forest. Ages 16+.

As we gaze at our beautiful setting, seek inner calm and creativity as you let yourself go and discover your inner artist. Free from judgement and self-criticism, this experience is not about the finished product, it’s about you, achieving a state of relaxation and mindfulness, and, trust us, the creativity will flow. 

Knot sees two male dancers using extreme physicality, complex lifts and contact choreography, to explore the many facets of human relationships through physical expression. Twisting and turning, the balance shifts from one dancer to the other as they use their physicality to express their emotions. Inspired by Salvador Dali’s ‘Metamorphosis of Narcissus’, Knot asks questions about who we are; delving into our inner lives and our relationships with others. 

Wild swimming is glorious and restorative - and takes centre stage at ALSO with our lake swimming sessions open to all. 2-4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Our lake is a quarter of a mile wide and was designed by leading landscape architect Capability Brown (we hear to look like the Mississippi) it is designed to make you feel awe for nature and the natural landscape and nowhere is it easier to feel this awe than from in the lake. So please, be our guest, dive in!

Join the founder of The Street Tree and author of the acclaimed LONDON'S STREET TREES and LONDON IS A FOREST, Paul Wood as he takes us on a very special advanced Guided Tree Walk through the gorgeous Also Festival forest. Uncovering remarkably diverse habitats, venerable individual trees, as well as the intriguing history, plants and animals that have shaped it, he'll offer us a whole new way of experiencing the festival.

Lost explores the limits of what it is to be both physically and emotionally lost. The visceral and thought-provoking choreography of this male-female duet combines Motionhouse’s characteristic contact work, complex lifts and athletic precision with emotionally charged fluidity. Sensual connection between the two dancers is fused with raw emotion as one desperately fights to pull the other back from the precipice. The breath-taking lifts and instinctive quality of the dance make Lost an intimate, dramatic and passionate work.