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Nourishing mama + child retreats in the UK
OUR STORY
Alix Wenmouth is Soul Sanctum’s curator and facilitator. She has spent 20 years working in the music industry, representing high profile musicians and events, Alix has also practiced yoga for over twenty years and really began to deepen her practice in 2010, which brought with it an increasing desire for a different way of life.
She embarked on her new journey in 2018, when she left the city of London and bought a rural cottage, nestled at the foot of the South Downs, and had her first child.
In 2019, as her daughter was about to turn 1, Alix was becoming aware of a prolonged period of feeling low. She was exhausted and overwhelmed, trying to juggle her career and new motherhood. She decided she needed a break, some space, somewhere to get some perspective – and began searching for a mama and child yoga retreat.
To her surprise, they were few and far between, and they were all abroad. A seed was already being sewn, but it was deep, hidden underneath the darkness she was feeling. She was anxious about going abroad with her baby, but when Alix realised she was even more anxious about what would happen to her mental health if she didn’t take some time out, she took the plunge and booked a Holy Mama Retreat in Ibiza.
It was transformative, and, as the fog lifted, Alix realised that this was her calling, she had found her new path.
Alix joined the Holy Mama leadership mentorship and, under the guidance and support of Claudia Spahr, Alix manifested Soul Sanctum Retreats, a nourishing, self-care sanctuary for mamas and their children. She ran her first retreat in August 2021 in the South East of England, bringing together a team of wonderful women to support her vision to serve and nourish new mums.
Soul Sanctum Retreats flourished throughout 2022 and every 2023 retreat sold out. It has been a great honour for everyone on the team to welcome our guests into what has become a loving community of women, supporting and nurturing themselves, their children and each other.
▽ THE TEAM ▽
Brydie Rowan
Shelly Murphy
Shelly Murphy
Brydie co-facilitates and holds our morning and evening sessions of yoga, movement and sound healing.
With a dedicated yoga practice spanning 20 years and various disciplines, along with 8 years of teaching internationally, Brydie is known for leading joyful, creative classes in a deep, slow flowing style that gives students space to list
Brydie co-facilitates and holds our morning and evening sessions of yoga, movement and sound healing.
With a dedicated yoga practice spanning 20 years and various disciplines, along with 8 years of teaching internationally, Brydie is known for leading joyful, creative classes in a deep, slow flowing style that gives students space to listen and respond to their bodies’ needs.
A focus on intelligent sequencing, functional alignment and modification for the individual balanced with freer forms of movement and expression invites both beginners and seasoned practitioners to be present and explore their edges – building strength, clarity and openness in a safe, gradual, authentic way.
This personalised approach, coupled with a light hearted community spirit means that everyone can benefit – irrespective of age and experience.
The invitation is to feel and own the practice in a way that promotes a sense of belonging within ones self and the wider world.
It is her core belief that a true teacher connects the student to the teacher within and she wants you to leave her classes having come home to yourself.
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Shelly Murphy
Shelly Murphy
Shelly Murphy
Shelly is a renowned expert in the craft of holistic therapies and organic skincare. She boasts over thirty years’ experience and a full trophy cabinet. Here at Soul Sanctum Retreats, Shelly is delighted to offer you her unique and exclusive therapy style to sooth your mind, body, skin and soul. She combines ancient healing techniques and
Shelly is a renowned expert in the craft of holistic therapies and organic skincare. She boasts over thirty years’ experience and a full trophy cabinet. Here at Soul Sanctum Retreats, Shelly is delighted to offer you her unique and exclusive therapy style to sooth your mind, body, skin and soul. She combines ancient healing techniques and traditional therapies with the most modern technology to achieve the maximum results.
Whether it’s cognitive, energy, physical, or dermatological therapy, Shelly can combine any or all in a truly bespoke and unique package.
Listen to Shelly's interview on the award winning Podcast Dirty Mother Pukka here.
Trophy cabinet highlights
Best out of town therapist- Harper’s Bazaar
Prestige awards – Holistic Skincare Specialist
HSBC business awards – Best start up
Heath and Beauty awards – Best Day Spa UK
Treatwell – Top rated for most 5-star reviews
Sharon Smith
Shelly Murphy
Sharon Smith
Sharon holds the hearth on our retreats, preparing three delicious nutritious meals a day (including all stages of weaning), in our cosy yet spacious farmhouse kitchen. Her attention to detail, and the dietary needs of all of our guests, is spectacular. She's a mama, so she really knows and understands how to nourish mums and children.
Jack Cryer
Jessame Coulson
Sharon Smith
Jack heads up the Soul Sanctum childcare team. Jack is a qualified Holistic Baby and Child Care practitioner and works with both Emmi Pikler's respectful approach to infants' emotional welfare and innate physical capabilities and Rudolf Steiner's understanding of child development.
Jessame Coulson
Jessame Coulson
Jessame Coulson
Jess is on our holistic childcare team. She lives in West Dorset and is happiest by or in the sea. She loves going for runs on the cliffs and in the countryside and generally being outside in nature. She’s guided by the seasons and takes comfort in the cycles of the year and the moon. She enjoys going to look at art and making craft and
Jess is on our holistic childcare team. She lives in West Dorset and is happiest by or in the sea. She loves going for runs on the cliffs and in the countryside and generally being outside in nature. She’s guided by the seasons and takes comfort in the cycles of the year and the moon. She enjoys going to look at art and making craft and art things herself (usually out of things she’s found on the beach). Jess is in great demand as a holistic childminder and runs her own outdoor parent and child groups, Nurtured by Nature.
Jo Pearce
Jessame Coulson
Jessame Coulson
Jo is part of our holistic childcare team, alongside her daughters Willow and Amber. Jo likes to camp with her three big children and go swimming in Tooting Lido. She loves her dog, Alfie (a big, fluffy, golden-haired, loveable doggy!) who she takes for walks on the nearby Mitcham common with her husband. Jo runs ‘Bluebells’ outdoor and indoor parent and child groups for the London Steiner School.
Rachel Ash
Rachel Ash
Rachel Ash
Rachel is on our holistic childcare team and she also takes the mama + child yoga sessions on retreat. Rachel loves to be outside and is happiest playing in, and tending to, her wild and colourful garden with her two young children and their animals. She likes crafting and is inspired by nature and the seasons. Rachel is a trained primary
Rachel is on our holistic childcare team and she also takes the mama + child yoga sessions on retreat. Rachel loves to be outside and is happiest playing in, and tending to, her wild and colourful garden with her two young children and their animals. She likes crafting and is inspired by nature and the seasons. Rachel is a trained primary school teacher. She currently works in a Froebelian setting, and also runs Sunflower Yoga School, offering inclusive yoga for children.
▽ HOLISTIC CHILDCARE ▽
Meet our fabulous childcare team!
What does our on retreat childcare look like?
Morning childcare runs from 9am-1pm, giving you time for yoga, treatments, lunch and just being.
Our childcare team have been trained as Holistic Baby and Childcare practitioners, with an understanding of the holistic well-being of the child and child development. Their shared approach is inspired by, among others, the deep wisdom of Rudolf Steiner, Emmi Pikler and Friedrich Froebel and, between them, they have had many years’ experience working as child-minders, 1:1 care assistants, parent and child leaders, mothers and kindergarten assistants.
They strive to promote emotional regulation by employing a calm, gentle and beautiful space (outside and in), warm attitudes, natural toys, equipment and crafts and healthy food.
Each session has the same predictable rhythm of activity involving play, eating, singing, crafting and being outside, held together with focused and gentle transitions.
There is always an overall theme informing all the activities. The practitioners encourage a simple, respectful relationship with mamas in order to best serve the children. Our team respects attachment and should a child need their parent for reassurance or reconnection we will always come and find you.
Our team strive to help all the children feel safe, seen and supported and will compassionately acknowledge any struggles they may experience.
Our team knows from experience that, with careful observation, children can reconcile in their own ways. If they had a motto, it might be ‘time in, not time out’!
Our pre-retreat questionnaire means that the team is aware and prepared for any other needs your child might have and how they might best support them in your absence.
Our childcare ratio is 3:1, with 1:1 care available for children under a year old, and those that aren’t used to a kindergarten setting.
We are always happy to answer any questions you might have before you book.