Wellbeing by the Lakes Festival returns to Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorset this September, with an array of experiences to help you relax and recharge.

A varied programme of expert talks, guided meditations, fitness and movement classes, art workshops, healing therapies and wellness practices awaits, all set in the tranquil 26-acre sculpture park and gardens at Pallington.

Now in its third year, the 2022 event from September 8 to 11, brings even more to help festival-goers feel healthier and happier - more outdoor experiences, a dedicated workshop space and marketplace stage offering mini talks and demos to name just a few.

Simon Gudgeon, sculptor and founder of Sculpture by the Lakes, said: "Sculpture by the Lakes is such a calming, restful place - it lends itself perfectly to this event.

"Coming here is like entering another world, which helps people to fully engage with the practices, learning and experiences on offer, and come away feeling restored and even transformed."

There is plenty to explore, from inspirational talks on the Riverside Stage, to the Move and Flow area, offering the likes of yoga and Qoya. You can discover immersive sound healing experiences in The Retreat, get creative in the Art Area, and enjoy all manner of therapies in the Healing Zone. Forest bathing, drum circles and floating guided meditations out on the lake will also return, as will the lively marketplace, packed with unique stalls and street food. 

Among the array of practices available to try this year will be African yoga and workout sessions with the newly launched Swell Fitness Bag. Master Ha, a second-generation Korean Chi Master, will lead Chi Flow sessions, while Josie Daniels will create a healing soundscape of crystal bowls, drums, chimes, tuning forks and voice.

The festival programme now also features a range of daily workshops including the Art of Decluttering with Romana Reynolds, The Law of Attraction with award-winning coach and author Emma Mumford, and a Raw Writing Workshop with The Mind Mob.   

And the impressive line-up on the Riverside stage includes Sunday Times best-selling author and self-proclaimed 'tree hugger' Cheryl Rickman exploring why trees make us feel better, and Yellow Kite authors Dr Jenny Goodman, author of Staying Alive in Toxic Times, who for two decades has helped patients improve their health though understanding environmental factors, and Dr Radha Modgil, an NHS GP, broadcaster and columnist, offering insights from her book Know Your Own Power. 

Nasreen El-Mariesh, Wellbeing by the Lakes festival director, said: "This is a festival like no other, bringing together an incredible array of wise, passionate and inspirational people, ready to share what they know.

"We create a welcoming and relaxed environment where people can shed their stress and take care of themselves, relaxing, recharging and discovering new experiences, with a wealth of ideas and take-away tools to support their well-being for the longer term too."

Entry to Wellbeing by the Lakes is £17.50 which includes access to the park, the marketplace, the Riverside Stage, and some guided meditations. Other classes, treatments and workshops are additionally priced, and bookable separately, allowing each festival-goer to create a bespoke experience. 

Nasreen added: "We're inviting people to build a bespoke programme that's right for them. Some will want to book up a series of classes, others one or two, and some people may even just want to soak up the atmosphere, explore the park, enjoy the talks or meditations, and mooch about the marketplace. They can make their day as lively or relaxed as they want."

The festival is open from Thursday, September 8 to Sunday, September 11, 10am to 6pm daily. Tickets are available now for £17.50 at wellbeingbythelakes.co.uk

No children under 14 or dogs can be permitted.