I just spent a wonderful weekend facilitating a yoga retreat at Littleton Mill in Wiltshire. Littleton Mill is an Eco house and everything about it has been sourced this way. It is a working mill and the house is powered by the mill, so it feels almost like the house has a heartbeat when you lie on your mat in Savasana. The food is all home made on-site and was fabulous; organic vegetarian food and plenty of it. There were 10 of us on the retreat weekend and the group dynamics worked perfectly. 9 busy women taking some time out to practice yoga and "just be" or, as I like to think of it, a bit of "spiritual banking". During our Sunday morning yoga practice, two swans with their 5 babies swam up to the window to look at us. Everyone carried on with their practice, but it was with big smiles that they did so. Feel a spring retreat might be in the air.

International yoga teacher and author Liz lark will be running yoga retreats in Italy, Canary Islands and Ibiza this summer. Liz is a wonderful teacher with knowledge in many yoga disciplines. She leads Yoga Holidays in unspoilt locations of natural beauty, tapping into the raw elemental inspiration of practicing yoga in these environments, which inspire her teaching. A Board Member and teacher for Yoga campus Teachers Training Course in London, Liz is involved in training safe, competent, creative yoga teachers committed to maintaining a high caliber of yoga teaching in the UK and beyond. (see www.yogacampus.com) . She has written several books, and created a DVD, called ‘Yogalibre’, which draws strengths from different approaches to Hatha Yoga, inspired by flowing vinyasa, with structural foundation, and values creative visualization, the mystical, and philosophical seeds offered from numerous sources. For more details on these retreats and UK classes visit: www.Lizlark.com PUGLIA: F...

Here is an item posted on my friends blog Family affairs and other matters . It is an opportunity to win airline tickets with AirAsia and to view Sir Richard Branson eat humble pie. If you would like to enter or attend the event, visit the above blog or Twitter @familyaffairs . AirAsia have opened up a gateway to some of the most beautiful, destinations in Asia. Perfect for yoga retreats and a bit of spiritual banking Sir Richard Branson lost a bet with Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group some time last year. Consequently, on Sunday 1st May he has agreed to become an AirAsia flight attendant for a charity flight and allow the highest bidder to shave his legs in front of the world’s media and guests. Not only that but Alexandra Burke is going to be performing and we will also get a chance to attend a media press conference and a Q and A forum. They are going to take us to Stansted airport for the event on a bus leaving Liverpool Street Station at 10.30am – unless of course you live nea...

Following the recent film Eat Love pray, I thought I would post an item on my favourite yoga retreat in India, not to be confused with an Ashram in India (as depicted in the film). Purple Valley yoga retreat is a beautiful peaceful retreat set off the beaten track in Assagao, Northern Goa , where you can practice yoga with some of the world’s most highly respected Ashtanga yoga teachers. It is situated close enough to be able to venture into other parts of Goa, but feels like a cocoon if you wish to stay put on the retreat. The beautiful shala (studio) is very peaceful and is situated at the far end of the retreat. The amazing birdsong you hear while practising yoga is just wonderful. The accommodation is within two main houses or in small cottages located in the gardens. You can share rooms or pay a nominal fee to have your own room, if there is space available. I personally choose to take my own room, as I share my life with a family on a daily basis and Purple Valley is a bit of “...