Lean_in Nature • South England SUMMER Gathering
Three forms . One Journey
Somatics . Contact Improvisation . Tantra
A five-day immersive gathering of movement, contact improvisation, creativity, bodywork and community in the Somerset countryside, UK.
What Is Lean_in Nature • UK Gathering ?
The Somerset Gathering
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The Somerset Gathering is the original annual edition of Lean_in Nature, bringing people together each summer for five days of movement, nature and community. Set within the peaceful countryside of Somerset, it offers an immersive experience where contemporary movement, contact improvisation, embodied connection and shared living come together.
Through workshops, jams, communal meals, bodywork and time spent outdoors, we create a temporary community where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves and one another, and remember what it means to be fully human.
Contact Improvisation Retreat in Somerset
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Five Days of Movement, Nature & Community
What We Explore Together
Contact Improvisation
Train, explore and develop your practice.
Creativity
Express, explore and create together.
Tantra & Embodied Connection
Explore connection, authenticity and conscious relating.
Nature
Slow down and reconnect with the natural world.
Community
Share meals, stories and meaningful moments.
Care
Bodywork, support and embodied wellbeing.
A Day at Lean_in Nature
What to Expect
Each day at Lean_in Nature balances movement, connection, creativity and rest. While every gathering is unique, the rhythm of the day supports both personal exploration and shared experience.
Morning
Begin the day with Yoga Practise 'The Heart of Yoga', then embodied and community practices informed by the teaching of tantra, arriving into the body with awareness and intention.
Afternoon
Explore workshops, contact improvisation, somatics and creative sessions, with space to rest, reflect and follow your curiosity.
Evening
Gather for shared meals, jams, sauna sessions, performances, Jams and fireside connection as the day gently comes to a close.
The Spaces In Between
Some of the most meaningful moments happen between the workshops - sharing a cup of tea, sitting in the suana, walking through the fields or simply being together in conversation. These moments are just as much a part of the gathering as the formal programme itself.
A Place to Gather
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Set amongst the woodlands and rolling hills of Somerset, Picidae Peak Farm is a beautiful off-grid venue rooted in community, creativity and land regeneration. Once transformed through the vision of Crops Not Shops, the land now supports a thriving ecosystem of people, projects and wildlife. Surrounded by peaceful natural spaces and nourished by spring-fed water, the farm offers a unique environment where movement, connection and a slower rhythm of life can naturally unfold.
Picidae Peak Farm, Somerset
Woodland & Nature
Camping
Sauna
Communal Meals
Fire Circle
Movement Space
The Gathering
Voices from the Gathering
Words from Neil
"Hi, I'm Neil. I've been here at Lean Into Nature in this beautiful site just outside Glastonbury. Fantastic walks, gorgeous food, and incredible dancing. Such wonderful people, such great community and I've absolutely loved it. 100 percent recommend it."
Lean_in Nature 2025
Meet the Facilitators
Lean_in Nature is held by a team of experienced facilitators, movement practitioners and community builders who are passionate about creating spaces for learning, connection and growth.
Together we bring a diverse range of skills, perspectives and practices, while sharing a common intention to support a welcoming, playful and transformative gathering.
Josh Jones
Founder & CI Facilitator
Josh Jones is a contemporary dancer, facilitator and choreographer exploring movement, connection and creativity. Drawing from floorwork, contact improvisation and embodied practice, he creates spaces that support learning, community and personal growth through movement.
Melissa
Heart of Yoga Facilitator
Melissa is a movement, voice and yoga facilitator creating heart-led spaces for authentic expression, connection and presence. Rooted in Tantra, yogic philosophy and embodied practice, her work weaves movement, meditation, voice and deep listening.
Ana Chakora
Co Founder & Tantra Facilitator
Ana is a facilitator of embodied connection, weaving together tantra, breathwork and somatic practice. With over eight years of teaching experience, she creates heart-led spaces for presence, authenticity and meaningful connection.
Pheonix
Body Worker & Handy Human
Phoenix is a craniosacral therapist and movement practitioner whose work bridges embodied awareness, nervous system regulation and therapeutic touch. With a background in contemporary dance, he creates supportive spaces for healing, restoration and deeper connection to the body.
Everything You Need to Know
Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning to the gathering, here are some of the most common questions to help you prepare. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, we’d love to hear from you.
Preparing for the Gathering
Booking & Practical Information
Once you’ve decided to join us, here are the practical details to help you prepare. From accommodation and meals to what to bring and how the gathering is held, everything you need to arrive feeling ready can be found below.
What to Bring
Camping
Communal Meals
Booking & Payment
Holding the Space
Choose the style of camping that suits you best.
Bring your own tent, stay in your van, or reserve a place in our shared safari-style dorm tent. Simply bring your own bedding and settle into the rhythm of life outdoors.
Your place includes four nights camping, all movement sessions, jams, bodywork, access to the wood-fired sauna and nourishing plant-based meals from Thursday dinner through to Monday lunch.
Tea, coffee and hot drinks are available throughout the gathering.
Pack for comfort, movement and life outdoors.
We recommend comfortable movement clothes, warm layers, a yoga mat, towel, torch, water bottle, mug and camping equipment. You’re also welcome to bring a journal, musical instrument or massage oil if they support your experience.
Lean_in Nature is co-created by everyone who attends.
We practise consent, substance-free presence, care for ourselves and one another, and shared responsibility for the spaces we inhabit. Together we create a culture of trust, participation and belonging.
We use a sliding-scale pricing model to help make Lean_in Nature as accessible as possible, while supporting the continued growth of the gathering.
Supporter — £350
Regular — £325
Supported — £300
Part Exchange — £175
Book your place online through Dandelion, pay in full, secure your place with a 30% deposit, or arrange a personalised payment plan by getting in touch with us directly.
Arriving
Our aim is for your Lean_in Nature experience to start long before you step onto the land.
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Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a Welcome Pack with everything you need to prepare, helping you arrive feeling informed, connected and ready for the gathering.
Is Lean_in Nature for You?
Who Is Lean_in Nature For?
Lean_in Nature welcomes people from a range of movement backgrounds who share a curiosity for movement, community and personal exploration. Whether you’re an experienced mover, a contact improviser, a yoga practitioner, a performer or simply someone looking to reconnect with yourself through nature and embodied practice, you’ll find a place within the gathering. We value openness, respect and curiosity far more than technical ability. If you’re willing to participate, listen and explore, you’ll be warmly welcomed.
Join Us
Whether you’re coming to deepen your movement practice, reconnect with nature, explore embodied connection or simply take time to slow down, Lean_in Nature offers a space to arrive exactly as you are.
For five days we’ll move, learn, share meals, gather around the fire, rest beneath the trees and create a temporary community built on curiosity, care and connection.
We’d be honoured to welcome you into the gathering.
Book your place through Dandelion, or get in touch to arrange a deposit or personalised payment plan.
We look forward to sharing the land, the movement and the journey with you.