Yoga retreats are a perfect way to reconnect to your practice and yourself.
I am delighted to be able to offer this new retreat so close to home (less than one hour drive from our studios!) 
and at the time of Summer Solstice, a significant time of the year – the time for inner power and brightness. 
Summer is the time to be playful, to recharge with the warmth of the sun and enjoy nature in her full glory and abundance. 
A perfect time to rejuvenate your body and spirit.

With morning and evening yoga practices, daily meditations and sound baths we will connect and ground our physical and subtle, energetic bodies. 
This retreat is a perfect mini break from the city, to fill your cup and belly! with some delicious plant based food. 
Surrounded by peaceful nature, with like minded souls. 
It’s a perfect way to unwind and connect back to your yoga practice. 

Booking now is open and I can’t wait to welcome you!
* and if you sign up from this email you’ll get £50 off from your booking 🙂

Create your magic!
Kasia x

The invitation to slow down, to reflect and refocus the energy.
Rest is a vital part of life. If we don’t preserve and replenish our energy now we won’t be ready for Spring. Take it easy, do the little things that make you happy, they may be little but they are everything. It’s in the small details, that we can find the real treasure. As we enjoy the nesting and slowness we can also allow our imagination take us into some future planning, like your next yoga holiday. I have a very special offering ready for you. 

A magical 6-day Yoga retreat 

5-10th May 2023

Prices from £800

I’ve been waiting to offer you this gorgeous retreat since 2020 when I myself visited this magical location. Imagine a yoga retreat venue secluded in the mountains and surrounded by nature, to fully replenish and unwind. 

The rooms are gorgeous, food delicious, the venue has a natural pool and a mini farm on site. We can go hiking in the neighbouring mountains – this is where I found crystals coming out from a bed rock and wild tortoises. If this wasn’t enough, the yoga shala, located on a little hill is beautifully decorated, all with a natural feel and look. A real opportunity to reset in nature. The most beautiful way to nourish your body and soul. 

~ Rumi

Enjoy the slowness and plan the magic 
Kasia x

The energy of the sun is prominent, giving us radiance, energy, vitality and joy. We can use the power of the sun to energise our bodies and our practice. Now is the perfect time to stay active, to explore where your practice can take you, perhaps to even set yourself a little challenge. The days are full of light, inviting us to wake earlier and be outside more absorbing the invigorating energy. 

The second Goddess and so perfect for this time of abundance in nature, is Lakshmi – the goddess of beauty, auspiciousness, plentiful and luxury. She covers the land with abundance of flowers, fertile soil and overall beauty. 

LAKSHMI
Lakshmi is one of the most sought after goddesses in Hindu mythology. The goddess of wealth and fortune, royal power and beauty. She is described as a beautiful goddess as lustrous as the moon who wears ornaments of gold and silver. Golden light pours from her.

She carries the inner qualities that make life lovely: love, harmony, kindness. When we have Lakshmi we have everything inner and outer for a beautiful life. 

I call upon Lakshmi in moments of self doubt and negativity, she brings me the radiance and confidence to shine my own light.

Here’s a beautiful mantra you can repeat when calling upon Lakshmi. Om Hreem Shreem Maha Lakshmi Namaha

And you can find a LAKSHMI practice out  https://kasiablackwell.com/all-downloads/

*inspired by awakening Shakti by Sally Kemton and The book of Devi by Bulbul Sharma 

Tea/coffee/fruit
8-9.30am Morning practice
9.30am breakfast
Free time – option for massages, pool time, hikes, Medina shopping 12.30pm light lunch
5-6.30pm Yin + Sound 
7pm Dinner
8pm evening meditation / Yoga Nidra


Enjoy the sun
Kasia x

I just returned from a mini family holiday, celebrating my 40th birthday! I must say at first I felt unsure how this ‘big’ change will make me feel, but now I’m proud of getting into my forties feeling healthy and stronger than I’ve ever felt before. Those little milestones can be a good time to make a promise to yourself, to release things that no longer serve and acknowledge what it is that makes us feel truly grounded, connected and happy. Making sure we dedicate our energy and precious time to doing more of that. If YOGA helps with reaching this clarity to recognise what is truly important in our life, it is worth investing in a regular practice. It comes with challenges for sure, but commitment pays off.

And as the energy is shifting from the fiery Aries season to more grounded Taurus it’s the perfect time to ground ourselves with nature and the beautiful outdoors. 

In the coming newsletters I will be introducing my favourite goddesses giving you the essence of their power and beauty that you can reach towards and embrace whenever you need these specific qualities. When we feel like our inner light is dimming, the life needs more spark and direction, we can turn to these Goddesses, that live inside us and ask for inner guidance and divine shine. To illuminate the path.

Starting with the supreme Goddess. 

DURGA
Durga is the great goddess with thousand names – the embodiment of female energy, Shakti. Earthy mother, fierce but wise, graceful and just. Durga comes to those who need help in crisis. 

Durga is probably one of the most popular Goddesses, we can invoke her name to give us the inner strength to fight our demons, to stay pure in our actions and thoughts. She’s a world protector. Fierce and loving mother. Riding her tiger with 8 arms holding various weapons, plus a lotus symbolising fertility and a rosary symbolising prayer. She invites us to turn to her in crisis, and promises to move mountains to rescue us from every form of evil – including the evil we ourselves create!*

I call upon Durga when I need the wisdom and clarity, strength and purity of my thoughts.

Here’s a beautiful mantra you can repeat when calling upon Durga Ma. Om Dum Durgaye Namaha

And you can find a DURGA practice out  https://kasiablackwell.com/all-downloads/

*inspired by awakening Shakti by Sally Kemton and The book of Devi by Bulbul Sharma 

Tea/coffee
8-9.30am Morning practice (WATER flow – fluid dynamic practice with hip opening focus)
10am Brunch 
Free time – option for massages, tarot with Lisa, hikes etc. 
5-6.30pm Yin + Sound 
6.30pm Dinner
8pm bonfire night Cacao setting intentions / star gazing 


Nurture yourself
Kasia x

I know it’s been a while since my last newsletter.. but I’m back with some fresh content and announcements and I will be sharing regularly each month. I hope you’ve been doing well despite all the constant changes and that you can find safe sanctuary via your practice. The main thing I find that truly helps, in the constant fluctuation and chaos, is consistency – keeping your practice alive, staying on your path, it gives us stability and sense of grounding we all need so much these days. I have a mini Spring ritual here for you, that comes from an old Slavic tradition, information about my retreats in 2022, my upcoming events and a delicious recipe. I hope you enjoy. 
x

Winter is finally fading away. We will officially welcome Spring on 21st March and I have a mini ritual for you. It comes from my homeland, from ancient Slavic traditions, bringing back fond childhood memories.
Each year on Spring Equinox we used to go down to the nearby stream to drown Marzanna (Morana) – the ancient goddess associated with winter’s death, rebirth and dreams. In this ritual saying goodbye to Winter we would clear and cleanse any thoughts or feelings we are ready to release, opening up for the renewal. The death of Marzanna at the end of winter, brings the rebirth of the Spring goddess. Through this ritual we can symbolically release the dark days of winter, celebrating the victory of life over death and the spring rebirth. 

You can make your own Marzanna from twigs and straw and decorate her with flowers and herbs then send her down the stream with your intentions.  

Here’s a playlist I have created recently. Did you know that our fascia responds directly to music? For me structuring a class together with the playlist is key. I believe in healing and moving power of sound, I hope you enjoy this one.

If you fancy a YOGA WORKSHOP my next Arm balance + Inversions will be on Sat 23rd April 2-4pm in Yoga House Catford 

And to finish on a sweet note, here’s a simple recipe of a very delicious raw vegan chocolate mousse – a must try!
You will need:
1 ripe avocado (medium size)
3/4  cup of plant milk
1/4 cup of dates *soak them before if they are hard
1 tablespoon of maple syrup 
1/4 cup of cacao powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
pinch of salt (I love pink Himalayan salt)

Blend all the ingredients together until they are all combined and smooth. Scoop an even amount to a few small containers and place in the fridge to cool before serving. You can top them with rose petals, dried strawberries or cacao nibs. Enjoy 


Create your magic!
Kasia x

I have created this newsletter to share my favourite tips and ideas with you, and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful. This month I’d like to share a nice and easy 3 day Ayurvedic cleanse, that will give your body a nice rest and boost before we enter the depths of Autumn. It is so important to look after your body and immune system, as it can significantly improve our mental wellbeing too. For me movement (and this can be any form of your favourite activity: yoga, long walks, HIIT or gym sessions..), good nutritional diet, and rest are key to stay balanced and healthy. Whenever you feel like running low on your batteries, take a moment to check in and see what you can do to support yourself in fining the balance again. I’m going to create fresh content each month, and if there is something you’re keen to know more about, reach out and send me your ideas and feedback.
Enjoy the read. x

The 3 day detox gives your digestive system and your taste buds a little rest and might feel particularly needed after the summer indulgence…. If you’re a coffee drinker I’d reduce the caffeine intake first before doing this cleanse. So go decaf first before you do 3 days of just herbal tea.

Ideally eat breakfast between 7 and 9am, lunch by 1pm and supper before 7pm. Bed by 10pm.

Doing this cleanse means 3 days of this strict plan:

Breakfast Stewed Apple with spices (simply stew a peeled apple with a hint of cinnamon and other spices like cardamon in a pan of water until soft)

Lunch and diner – kitchari (recipe below)

Drinking only herbal teas and water – try fennel, turmeric or nettle or other ones but no caffeine 

Before bed turmeric latte – (recipe below)

Autum is the season of Vata (air) and can trigger in balance of this dosha. Brining feeling of more air in the body and mind – feeling spaced out, anxious more nervous or dryness in joints and skin…. so to help with Vata imbalances, you can also add extra ghee to the recipes, and Vata balancing veg (especially root vegetables and fewer dry, rough leafy greens), as well spices like: cardamom, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt, cloves and mustard seeds. And lots of seasonal veg in your kitchari! Like Butternut squash, Brussel sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Kale, Leeks, Pumpkin, Spinach, Turnips.
 

Kitchari INGREDIENTS 

• 1 cup/200g yellow mung dal or lentils or green mung beans 
• ½ cup/100g white basmati rice
• 2 tbs ghee (or coconut oilto make it VEGAN) 
• 4 cardamom pods, cracked 
• 2 cloves
• 2 bay leaves
  5 cups (1.25 litres) of water or more
  
  Optional:
  2–5 cups of chopped seasonal vegetables ( I love adding carrots, kale or spinach)  
   

1 teaspoon of:

• Black pepper
• Ground coriander
• Ground cumin
• Fennel seeds
• Ground ginger
• Pink Himalayan salt

2 teaspoons of:

• Black mustard seeds
• Cumin seeds
• Turmeric

METHOD
Rinse the mung dal and rice until the water runs clear. 

GOOD TIP – soak your lentils/mung beans over night 

Here’s a playlist I have created after a few days away in sunny Turkey. Really hope this brings your a much needed warmth and JOY. It is so important to keep doing things that make us truly happy. The JOY can come from many sources. Yoga practice is not just about physical asana on the mat, it’s about stilling the mind and calming the ocean of thoughts. We’ve all been riding big waves lately, let’s stay KIND and COMPASSIONATE and whenever possible take JOY out of life. 



Create your magic!
Kasia x