Rooted & Rare: Our First Retreat in the Cabilla Cornwall Rainforest
In October 2025, we took Heist House Studios beyond the High Street and into the heart of one of the UK’s rarest landscapes, the temperate rainforest of Cabilla Cornwall. Our first ever studio weekend retreat, Rooted & Rare, was a long weekend of movement, stillness, and deep connection beneath ancient oaks and golden autumn light.
It was three nights that reminded us why we do what we do, to reconnect with ourselves, with nature, and with each other.
Morning Flow at Cabilla Cornwall - guests find length and steadiness in triangle pose during our Rooted & Rare retreat. Photo: Katherine J. Williams.
Where We Stayed: Koyt Cabins at Cabilla Cornwall’s Temperate Rainforest
Cabilla is unlike anywhere else. Set across 100 acres of ancient oak woodland and wildflower meadows, Cabilla Cornwall holds one of Britain’s last remaining temperate rainforests - a living ecosystem that hums with birdsong, soft rain, and that quiet, grounding wisdom only ancient places carry. The moment you arrive, the pace drops; breath slows; the forest does what it does best - invite you back to yourself.
We stayed in the Koyt Cabins - hand-built wooden sanctuaries tucked between trees, each with a log burner, soft cotton bedding, and windows with views straight into the forest. Mornings began with mist lifting through the oaks and light spilling across the floor; evenings folded into firelight, the gentle tap of rain on the roof, and the kind of silence that lets your nervous system unclench.
Between sessions there were slow walks beneath mossy branches, pockets of stillness beside the River Bedalder, and time to sit with tea and simply listen. The forest trail became a moving meditation; the meadow a place to stretch out and watch clouds drift. It was everything we hope for from a Cornwall yoga retreat, movement and rest braided with land that knows how to hold you.
Guests felt it too.
“Absolutely magical. The energy of the place is powerful, peaceful and deeply restorative.”
“Loved it, and I can’t wait to go back there.”
What stayed with us wasn’t just the beauty, but the afterglow: clearer minds, softer shoulders, steadier breath. Cabilla reminded us that practice doesn’t end on the mat; it carries into the way you walk through a rainforest, share a meal, or fall asleep by a stove’s warm light.
📸 All retreat photography by Katherine J. Williams.
The Experience: Yoga, Breathwork, Sound & Deep Rest
Across the weekend we explored what it means to be both rooted and rare - grounded in your body, open to transformation. The pace was spacious on purpose: enough guidance to feel held, enough freedom to explore what you needed most that day.
Led by Kate, with support from Lauren and Adam, each day wove dynamic yoga, breathwork, sound bath, and meditation into a gentle rhythm. We moved from fire to stillness, strength to surrender, play to deep rest- everything you hope for from a yoga retreat in Cornwall. Sessions layered gently so nothing felt rushed; reflection time and tea breaks helped the work land.
Yoga
Mornings built heat, coordination and focus; afternoons softened into restorative shapes and longer holds that let the breath do the heavy lifting. We refined alignment, explored yoga styles for all bodies, and used props with care so challenge stayed kind.
Outcome: steadier breath, looser shoulders, and that clear, grounded energy you can carry back to real life.
Breathwork & Sound
Guided patterns unwound the mind, lengthened the exhale, and gave simple tools you can reuse at home or at work. Bowls and tones settled the nervous system in a way words rarely can - the room got quiet, then quieter still.
Outcome: an “I can hear myself again” calm, better sleep, and a softer jaw you notice hours later.
Meditation & Space
Unhurried sits, forest pauses and short, guided practices helped attention soften rather than strain. Journaling prompts and silent walks by the trees offered room to integrate, not just consume another practice.
Outcome: a lighter head, an easier pace, and a felt sense of being in your own rhythm again.
What our guests said:
“The structure was perfect, enough activity to feel alive, with space to simply be.” “The sound bath and breathwork were powerful and grounding.” “Beautifully balanced. I felt held, with freedom to explore.”
Each session built a rhythm of movement and stillness that left people lighter, clearer, and deeply restored.
Food & Nourishment
Every meal was prepared by our wonderful private chef, Lexi’s Loving Spoonful. Her cooking is nourishment in every sense - plant-based, seasonal dishes full of colour, creativity, and care. Breakfasts were bright and grounding, lunches abundant, and dinners slow and comforting, the kind of food that supports practice on a Cornwall yoga retreat.
“Lexi’s food was unsurpassable.” “Incredible—so nourishing, thoughtful, and delicious.” “Visually and tastefully beautiful, like medicine.”
We ate together around the long wooden table in Cabilla Cornwall’s light-filled barn. Each meal became a gathering point, a place to connect, reflect, and laugh - before wandering back to the Koyt Cabins or out into the temperate rainforest. Dietary needs were happily catered for (vegan, gluten-free and other preferences), so everyone felt looked after from first bite to last sip of tea.
Breakfast by Lexi’s Loving Spoonful - seasonal vegetable frittata with avocado and greens, shared around the long table at Cabilla Cornwall.
Photo: Katherine J. Williams.
Connection & Reflection
Between the forest, the firelight, and the flow of practice, something quieter began to take root. People connected, not only with each other, but with themselves. The land at Cabilla Cornwall slowed us down; the shared practice opened the door. Little moments did the heavy lifting: a hand on a shoulder after class, silent cups of tea, rain on the cabin roof.
“The sense of connection with others and with nature was the most meaningful part of the weekend.”
We built small rituals, journaling before bed, slow walks to the River Bedalder, shared meals that turned into soft conversation. The combination of nature-led solitude and belonging did its work, and by Saturday night you could feel the room exhale.
“Most memorable was seeing and feeling people’s transformations. It was beautiful.”
By Sunday, conversations were gentler, breath steadier, and the space lighter. It’s the part you can’t plan on a yoga retreat in Cornwall, but you know it when it arrives and stays with you on the journey home.
“It was the mix of solitude, community, and the natural world that made it so powerful.”
As one guest put it: “It felt absolutely worth it - the experience, the teachings, the setting. Unforgettable.”
Breathwork in the forest at Cabilla Cornwall - a quiet outdoor session during our Rooted & Rare retreat. Photo: Katherine J. Williams.
Why Cabilla, Why Now?
Hosting Rooted & Rare at Cabilla Cornwall felt like a natural extension of Heist House Studios - the same intention, just held by ancient land. On the edge of Bodmin Moor, Cabilla’s 100 acres include one of Britain’s last temperate rainforests, a place designed by nature to help people come home to themselves.
Beneath those oaks, everything slows. You breathe differently, listen more deeply, and find your own rhythm again, the real work of a yoga retreat in Cornwall, beyond poses or perfect sequences.
“It was definitely worth every penny, it felt like an investment in myself.”
For us, wellbeing isn’t an escape; it’s a return to your body, your breath, your truth, and to the living world that holds you. That’s why Cabilla now sits at the heart of this retreat and why we’ll keep coming back.
What’s Next: Rooted & Rare 2026
After such a transformative first year, we’re beyond excited to return to Cabilla Cornwall next autumn.
After such a transformative first year, we’re thrilled to return to Cabilla Cornwall next autumn.
Rooted & Rare — 2–5 October 2026 Three nights of movement, stillness, and connection in the Cornish temperate rainforest.
Ready to join us? Learn more and secure your place here.
Spaces are limited, early booking is recommended.
In Gratitude
Thank you to every guest who joined us for our first ever studio retreat, for your warmth, openness, laughter, and courage to slow down.
Thank you to Lexi’s Loving Spoonful for her nourishing meals, Katherine J. Williams for capturing the magic through her lens, and to Cabilla Cornwall for holding us in such sacred, healing land.
Here’s to more movement, more stillness, and more wild connection in 2026.
Step inside Rooted & Rare, our Heist House Studios yoga retreat in Cornwall at Cabilla Cornwall — 100 acres of ancient oak woodland, wildflower meadows, and one of Britain’s last temperate rainforests. Across three nights we moved between dynamic flow, restorative/yin, breathwork, sound bath, and meditation; ate plant-based meals by Lexi’s Loving Spoonful; and stayed in hand-built Koyt Cabins with forest views. The result: steadier breath, softer shoulders, and a deeper sense of connection to self, community, and land.
Frequently Asked Questions - What You Need To Know About Our Rooted & Rare Retreats
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A calm, small-group weekend of movement, stillness and nature: morning flow, restorative/yin in the afternoon, breathwork, sound bath, meditation, and unhurried time to walk, journal, or rest. Think spacious schedule, warm guidance, and good food.
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All levels, including beginners. We offer options and plenty of props so the practice meets you where you are.
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We partner with nature-led venues such as Cabilla Cornwall (ancient oak woodland and temperate rainforest) and our next retreat will take place next to the Puglia italian ocean. Venues may vary; full details are shared on each event page.
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Accommodation (typically in cosy cabins, villas or lodges), all practices (yoga, breathwork, sound bath, meditation), plant-based meals, teas/snacks, and use of mats/props. Specifics vary by retreat, see the event page.
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You can learn more about all our upcoming retreats by visiting our Rooted & Rare page.
