Yorkshire Heritage

Active Heritage Events

Serenity Saturdays at Rievaulx Abbey
Free Tai Chi and Foot Massages

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 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.

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.

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.

For more details, call Rievaulx Abbey on 01439 798228.