Kate McCarthy, London

I am very grateful for this wonderful retreat and the brilliant guidance from Ellen. I was put on gardening leave as I left one large tech company to join another and I knew I needed to get away from my day-to-day and deeply rest my mind and body. The pandemic had affected me in more ways than I knew, and I felt like I was flat-lining through life, a sort of numbness to everything around me. With the added stress of my job, I felt I had lost a sense of self and direction. I accidentally stumbled on this retreat, but from the moment I read about the course and I spoke to Ellen on the phone, I knew it was the right fit!

I have to admit, I am not a deeply spiritual person so reading about the types of yoga and meditation we were going to do, I had a lot of skepticism. I shared my concerns with Ellen, but I need not be worried as it turns out there were a lot of people like me on the course and with Ellen's guidance, the process was well worth my time! She is a brilliant teacher, and explains both the science and the benefits behind the sessions, which for me was essential. The types of yoga, specifically Nidra and the meditation sessions for me were really powerful, and I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and clarity after the retreat. I took away some relaxation techniques and a better understanding of what is important to me. When you take the time to stop, focus on yourself and relax, its amazing what you can get from it.