Chetham Farm in Turton is set to be the centre for Eastern promise with Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Chinese painting on offer at a one day retreat in December, run by Ceri Lea, who used the practices to overcome major injuries after a horse riding accident.

“I delved deep into the world of Yin Yoga and traditional Chinese medicine to find peace and calm” says Ceri, who suffered a broken hip and pelvis after her horse bucked and threw her off during a lesson two and a half years ago.

“I was none weight bearing for 16 weeks and had to learn to walk again” she explains “And I had to change my style of yoga from fast dynamic flow to very still, relaxing Yin Yoga which helped calm my head. It also helped with my physical injuries because Yin Yoga uses a lot of props, bolsters and blocks, so I was still able to do shapes and positions using the equipment.”

Now in much better shape, Ceri, from Greenmount near Ramsbottom, who ran many retreats before her accident, wants to pass on her new techniques to help people cope with whatever life throws at them.

“I think we all live in a very busy, crazy world and I want to get people to take time out and slow down” she says “The world of Yin Yoga and Qi Gong is all about moving energies and slowing the mind using the physical body in a nice calm way.”

Ceri has teamed up with Louise Garman, director of neo:artist studios in Bolton, who specialises in Chinese painting…

“I will be helping people to learn the art of Sumi-e, or traditional Chinese painting, which is incredibly meditative and relaxing, even for those who don’t think of themselves as artists or who have never picked up a brush in their lives” says Louise.

“The images we’ll be using range from birds, to bamboo, flowers and landscapes using individual brush strokes on rice paper, and people can take their paintings home” she adds “It’s a perfect complement to Ceri’s traditional Far Eastern techniques.”

The pre-Christmas retreat will take place in a beautifully converted barn at Chetham Farm, overlooking the hills of Turton, handpicked by Ceri to match the karma of the day.

“When I found this place everything fitted together, the nature, the peacefulness, the quirkiness…and it just ticked all the boxes for me to provide a nice, calm relaxing day out.”

The Chetham Farm Retreat is on Saturday 6th December 2025 10am-5pm

It costs £95. For further details and to book contact Ceri cerilea@me.com  

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