Rejoicing in Ripon: New serene surroundings for Ripon’s International Yoga Day celebrations

🧘‍♀️🌿 Everything in The Old Deanery gardens is lovely and serene as Ripon prepares to celebrate International Yoga Day for a second successive year on Saturday June 20 ✨.

Liz Hill who, with her husband Kevin, owns the award‑winning Karma clothing and gift shop in Kirkgate, also specialises in Yoga Nidra guided meditation, which induces deep physical and mental relaxation 🌙.
She has a worldwide following on her YouTube channel @lizzyhill222 where her 20‑minute video has attracted a staggering 18 million views 🌍.

Less than a minute away from Kirkgate, Rebecca Layton and her husband Chris have gained a reputation for their stylish operation, which combines fine dining with high‑quality accommodation at The Old Deanery Hotel 🍽️🏨.

The stunning Jacobean building, which is across the road from Ripon’s magnificent medieval cathedral ⛪, has become a popular venue for wedding receptions and, under renowned chef Adam Jackson, earned a Michelin Guide listing last year ⭐ to add to the 3 AA Rosette award it received for culinary excellence in 2024.

With all the right ingredients in place from a Yoga and location perspective, Liz and Rebecca are ready to serve up a very special day in the tranquil, sylvan surroundings of The Old Deanery with its wonderful willows and manicured lawns 🌳💚.

Rebecca told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:
“We are delighted to be hosting the second annual Yoga Day, organised by Liz at The Old Deanery.
Last year’s event in Kirkgate Park was a tremendous success and we are thrilled to help it grow by holding it in our beautiful gardens.
Liz has some amazing ideas to use all of our hidden spaces around the garden, and we can’t wait to be involved.”

Rebecca added:
“Ripon is a wonderful city and we are thrilled to work alongside another independently owned business like ours to bring something special to residents and visitors alike.”

Liz pointed out: “We were encouraged by the public reaction to the 2025 event and learnt a great deal from it.”

The Yoga Sessions 🧘‍♂️✨

She added: “This year, away from the sight and sound of passing traffic on Minster Road, The Old Deanery’s picturesque private gardens provide a relaxed and visually appealing setting with a real wow factor 🌸.”

“We look forward to welcoming people of all ages, to attend free of charge and take part in the Yoga and Qi Gong classes that will be held between 10am and 5pm on Saturday June 20.”

There will be separate marquees for meditation and movement sessions, and the day will include Sound Baths, Sacred Mantras, Drumming, Meditation and a Cacao ceremony 🍫🪘, with stalls and food and drink available in the gardens. Wellness talks will take place inside The Old Deanery throughout the day.

Movement classes will be open to all attendees, and tickets for all other activities in the gardens will be available one hour before the start of each event.

Taking International Yoga Day to a new level in Ripon 🌟

Lilla Bathurst, the manager of Ripon BID, said:
“BID members Karma and The Old Deanery exemplify all that is good about the community of independent businesses that we are fortunate to have in our city.”

She added:
“Liz and Rebecca have combined their deep Yoga knowledge and expertise in hospitality to take this international day of celebration to a new level in Ripon.”

  1. Liz Hill (left) and Rebecca Layton pictured in The Old Deanery gardens.