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Serenity Saturdays ar Rievaulx Abbey
Serenity Saturdays ar Rievaulx Abbey
An ancient tradition is being re-instated this summer at Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley in North Yorkshire, when visitors to the site will be invited to kick off their shoes and enjoy a cleansing foot treatment, as English Heritage hosts its Serenity Saturdays!
Each Saturday, from 12 July to 20 September, Helmsley-based therapist, Barbara Harding, will take up residence within the Abbey ruins to offer visitors a choice of complimentary complementary therapies, from a tension-relieving foot massage – ideal for those making the pilgrimage from Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx – to a spirit-lifting head massage.
“When the Cistercian Abbey was in use, each Saturday, the Abbot would wash the feet of his monks and any pilgrims visiting the Abbey, recreating the humility of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples,” explains visitor operations manager, John Lax. “Our Serenity Saturdays take inspiration for this by offering the modern-day equivalent of a footwash to help visitors better enjoy the peace and tranquillity that this remarkable site offers!”
Indeed, the Serenity Saturdays will be boosted every other Saturday from 12 July, when Barbara Harding will be joined by Rievaulx Abbey’s Tai Chi expert, Stuart Agars of the National Centre for Combat Martial Arts. With very slow movements that encourage meditation and poise as participants progress from one position to the next, Tai Chi is a fantastic discipline for people of all ages – and visitors will be invited to not only watch, but to try out this discipline under the guidance of one of the UK’s top Tai Chi instructors.
“People come to Rievaulx Abbey for a wide range of reasons, but one thing that visitors often remark upon is the very thing that drew Rievaulx’s founder, Aelred, to this spot: the peace and serenity of the Rievaulx valley, where people of all faiths feel a remarkable calm descend – highly unusual for today’s modern word of bustle and pressure!” adds John.
Serenity Saturday’s run each Saturday from 12 noon until 4.00pm, with the massages running from 12 July to 20 September, and have-a-go Tai Chi sessions running on 12 & 26 July, 9 & 23 August and 6 & 20 September.
As part of the Have-a-go Tai Chi sessions, people living around Helmsley and Rievaulx are invited to join a class, which – subject to interest – will be run each Saturday from 1.00pm to 2.00pm. Participation is free with entry to Rievaulx Abbey, so anyone with an English Heritage membership can get in completely free!
Rievaulx Abbey is open daily from 21 March to 31 October (reduced opening hours during the winter months) from 10.00am to 6.00pm daily. Admission is £5.00 for adults, £4.00 for concessions and £2.50 for children. For more details, please call Rievaulx Abbey on 01439 798228 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/rievaulx
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