Claire Murphy

"Nourish – mind, body and soul”

Yoga, meditation and massage have been a way of life for Claire Murphy for more than 25 years and she’s passionate about teaching them. Together we’ve created a unique seven-day programme to Nourish your soul, mind and body.

We’ll nourish your soul on rural walks and visits to ancient walled towns and hilltop villages, castles and convents. You’ll also savour the relaxed atmosphere of la bella vita italiana in local cafes, shops, restaurants and markets.

As well as yoga and meditation, we’ll venture a little journal writing and painting in The Watermill studio overlooking the river or under the shade of the vine verandah to nourish your mind.

And we’ll nourish your body with fresh, home-cooked, nutritionally balanced meals lovingly prepared by the Watermill cooks, with many of the ingredients freshly picked from The Watermill’s own gardens. There will be vegetarian options for every meal, of course. Private sessions with a local Shiatsu practitioner are also available, at cost, on request

Claire’s yoga retreat is inspired by the beauty of this area and by the elements, and she’s been working hard on an even more inspiring itinerary for next year. The theme is Nourish Your Elemental Self and it will include yoga, meditation, creative writing & art journaling.

Claire has been allotting specific themes for each day: Sunday:Earth; Monday:Water; Tuesday:Fire; Thursday:Air and Friday:Ether. Claire’s working up the itineraries, which will include activities in the Watermill gardens, along the millstream and river and, of course, breathing in the wonderfully pure air of this environmentally protected area.

"The air, the sun, the sound of the church bells brought a special feeling of lightness and childlike joy to the proceedings." That’s a comment from one of the participants on Claire's retreat at The Watermill last year. Another said: “The Watermill is such a stunning, peaceful, green and quiet. We are pampered and well looked-after.”

As for the yoga, here’s what another of this year’s guests had to say: “The yoga retreat was the perfect mix of physical postures, meditation and thoughtful contemplation in glorious mountain surroundings. I particularly appreciated how you created a gentle space for all attendees no matter where they were on their yoga journey or what physical issues they were dealing with. The journaling and art prompts offered the opportunity for creative experimentation and expansion. All in all, a fabulously revitalising week.”