Michelle - exercise and sunset stretch
After having her second child, Michelle decided to leave the world of PR and Marketing and embark on her true passion of getting people moving and feeling good. After completing her Exercise to Music qualification, Workout with Michelle was born.
Her Hermitage-based bootcamp business has grown and evolved to include all sorts of movement from mat-based body weight toning to boxercise and HIIT. Her classes are suited to everyone, with options and tweaks to get people moving safely and having fun in a group environment.
She says: "I truly have the best job in the world; there is nothing more thrilling than watching people gain confidence, feel better and connect with others while getting fitter and stronger both mentally and physically. I truly cannot wait to meet you on the retreat."
Sallie-Anne - pilates and cookery workshops
After a career in publishing, Sallie-Anne retrained as a Pilates teacher when her children started school. She now teaches several classes a week in local Berkshire villages. In addition to her initial training, she has completed several specialist courses.
More recently, she started Healthy Habits Mum to help families eat more veg every day. After 34 years as a non-meat eater herself, plants are the main event of each meal. She runs small cooking groups at her home, or in her clients' homes where she teaches them and their friends or family to cook new meals together.
Katy Gordon-Smith - nutrition and fermentation
Having originally obtained a Diploma in Nutritional Therapy with
Distinction from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, Katy then
completed a Master of Science Degree in Nutritional Medicine at the University
of Surrey, accredited by the Association for Nutrition. As part of her MSc, she
has completed primary research into the bioactive compounds of fermented kimchi
with the aim of making fermented foods more accessible to all.
Katy specialises in child and adolescent
health, with a special interest in nutrition for neurodiversity including ADHD,
Autism, Anxiety, PANDAS/PANS and restrictive eating. She also supports adults
with metabolic, immune, endocrine, and digestive health related concerns.
Katy is married with two young children and lives in Berkshire.
She adores the great outdoors: is a regular cross-country runner and forest
walker, and occasional marathon runner.
Sonya - forest bathing
Sonya started Adore Your Outdoors in 2019 when she left the corporate world behind to follow her heart. Now she lives her dream life: spending more time outdoors, making choices that serve humanity and the natural world alike, and building a legacy to leave behind. The aim of Adore Your Outdoors is to get more people outside to connect them to nature for health - the health of the planet and the health of humans. A deep nature connection is scientifically proven to result in improved health and happiness, a sense of purpose in life, a feeling of belonging to something bigger, as well as more pro-environmental behaviours.
Sonya overcame Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is now able to put huge arachnids outside and has even fallen in love with winter! She says: "As I grew up, I recognised I felt most at ease in nature and the minute I knew I was going to be a Mum, I knew the best gift I could ever give my child was a love for all seasons. Yes, even winter."
Nas - mala making and mindfulness
Nas says: "Sharing mala workshops is something which feeds my soul and my desire for inner peace, whilst keeping my love of India alive. Watching each person's process whilst they create their mala and sharing their joy when it is complete, so perfectly unique, is a wonderful experience."
Olivia - cookery workshops
Olivia has always had a passion for cooking. From 14, she would help out in any and every kitchen, and began to work for catering companies. She was eventually selected for an exciting job opportunity with The Vineyard - a 5* hotel in Newbury, where she learnt a great deal. While there, Olivia was awarded apprentice of the year for Thames Valley and runner up for the MSK ingredients challenge, creating a venison rhubarb tartare.
Olivia has now moved her career in a different direction but continues her journey in food by hosting private dinner parties and passing on skills to others.
Alara - art
Alara is co-owner of LoLA – Lots of Lovely Art – which creates
art boxes for artist-inspired projects at home.
She studied Islamic Art and
Archaeology at Worcester College, Oxford. From there, she went on to work in
museums and on art books before she started teaching art privately and in
schools. In 2005, she opened an art studio space in Istanbul which influenced
the creative lives of hundreds of children. In 2017, she moved with her family
back to the UK.
Mel - pottery
Mel has been doodling with clay since her love of it was rekindled doing a pottery class with her daughter and Mum in Spain 2014. She says: "I was touched by the the enjoyment of clay and the stillness it brought to everyone there. As most potters do, I started off creating functional pieces - mugs, bowls and plates. It was an unexpected pleasure after selling my mugs when people came back to me saying it was their morning cuppa mug. I'd poured my love into something which was now a moment daily of stillness in someone else's hectic life!
"During lockdown, I gifted myself my own garden studio to keep me sane in the uncertainty. I installed my lovely Keith the Kiln. Both have enabled me to scale up and experiment further. I absolutely love going with the flow, creating unique one-off statement pieces whether functional for the kitchen or purely bonkers.
"Post lockdown, I've been able to introduce others to the joy of clay with tailor made pottery classes. It is a real privilege to be able to provide and share a moment whether it's from the enjoyment people get from the tactile nature of the clay, hand building or spinning on the wheel. Or the pure happiness brought from the finished piece hot from the kiln."
Veronika - yoga
Gemma - massage and beauty
Calmingales Beauty is an established salon offering a boutique spa like experience. It is tucked away in a recently renovated and fully equipped premises situated in the beautiful village of Yattendon.
Gemma and her team will be joining the retreats to offer many of our relaxing treatments in the comfort of the retreat accommodation. These treatments will include aromatherapy back, neck and shoulder massages, mini manicures and Decleor discovery facials. Upgrades or additional treatments can be booked upon request.
Gemma says: "We look forward to helping you relax and unwind on your break away."
Hannah - mindset coaching
Hannah has spent the last year training to be a life coach and NLP practitioner and focusses on reframing limiting beliefs and behaviours. Hannah is also a primary school teacher and aims to support the well-being of adults and children, tailoring her approach the suit the individual needs to each client. She looks at setting well informed outcomes to support future goals and coaches her clients to overcome any barriers or obstacles getting in the way of achieving these. Hannah uses a lot of the NLP change processes in her coaching and teaches her clients different techniques and tools to deal with anxiety and limiting beliefs.
