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Nourishing mama + child retreats in the UK
Our day will start with breakfast before mums drop the little ones off at our childcare barn and head off for a nurturing yoga class. The female body goes through so many changes during pregnancy and birth that even the most experienced yogis tend to find that their practice alters once they become a mother, which is why our teachers are all specialist pregnancy and postnatal yoga teachers.
Afterwards there will be fresh fruit juices ready and waiting, followed by a seasonal, locally sourced, plant-based brunch prepared by our wonderful chef Sharon, who lovingly creates every dish and hand picks salad, vegetables and edible flowers on the morning of our retreat. All stages of weaning are catered for, along with all dietary requirements and a variety of milk (including whole cows milk, oat, pea, almond etc) for the little ones.
Mamas can turn their focus to essential self-care, feeling safe in the knowledge that the children are being taken care of by our carefully selected team of holistic, child-led carers. The barn has a separate quiet area for naps and snuggles, and for those that prefer to nap on the go, their designated carer will walk them around the grounds in their buggy or sling.
After yoga mums have some precious time to themselves to have a treatment, 1:1 session, connect with other mums, or perhaps they'd prefer to simply find a quiet place within the grounds to curl up and journal, read a book or take a nap.
The afternoons are dedicated to deepening the connection and bond between mother and child. We will have various workshops, such as nature foraging in the local ancient woodland, crafts and mum + baby / mum + toddler yoga classes.
After the little ones are tucked up in bed, we provide a listening service so that mums can enjoy a candlelit yoga nidra or sound bath.
It goes without saying that all activities on retreat are optional. If a mum feels that what she needs is to drop her child off with our carers and go back to bed, that is absolutely what she should do. If a mum would like to book extended childcare, we can also facilitate that. This week is for mums to really let go of self-expectation, the perceived expectation of others, and to tune into what it is they really need without judgement.
There are just 10 places available on our boutique retreats, meaning that your experience is intimate and, following a pre-retreat questionnaire, is tailored to each group before arrival.
THE SOUL SANCTUM EXPERIENCE
· Mid-week retreats - 4 nights accommodation with 3 full days of activities.
- Weekend retreats - 3 mights accommodation with 2 full days of activities.
- The main house has 10 ensuite bedrooms.
· Morning yoga classes.
· Afternoon activities such as a wild mothering workshop, yoga for all or family circle with craft making.
· At least 1 evening Sound Bath / Yoga Nidra with a listening service for the children.
· Opening welcome circle and closing circle.
· One complimentary on site treatment. Choose from a facial, massage, chakra healing, Reiki or Intuitive Healing. Further treatments can be booked with our holistic treatment team.
· Creative children’s programme each morning for 4 hours with carefully selected carers from Forest School / Steiner / Waldorf / Froebelian backgrounds.
· 3 meals a day for all, plus snacks for the children. These are delicious, organic, seasonal and plant-based prepared by high-end chefs. Children’s meals to include weaning foods and child-friendly dishes.
· Daily organic juice.
· Snacks and fruit.
· Unlimited coffee, herbal teas and water.
· Self-care gift bag, including perfume oil, wax melts etc.
· Free Wi-Fi.
An example of our daily schedule
7:30-8:30am
Self-service breakfast.
8:30-9.00am
Carers arrive and children are dropped off at the play barn.
9.15am
Yoga.
10.15-12.30pm
Free time for treatments, swimming in the heated pool, a dip in the hot tub, reading, sleeping, journaling, connecting with others, a walk in the local woodland or just ‘being’.
10.15am
Children’s snack supervised by carers
11.30am
Adults (child free) brunch
12pm
Children’s lunch supervised by carers
1pm
Parents and children reunited
2-4pm
Wild Mothering + Wildlings Workshop
5-6pm
Dinner
8-9.30pm
Sound Bath with Listening Service provided
JOIN US?
▽ THE TEAM ▽
Alix Wenmouth
Alix Wenmouth
Alix Wenmouth
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. After hav
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. After having her daughter in 2018, she joined Claudia Spahr on a Holy Mama retreat in Ibiza and was so inspired that she trained with Claudia to bring holistic mama + child retreats to the UK. Alix has trained in Hatha and Vinyasa Flow (E-200 RYT) and Pre & Postnatal yoga (85hr RPYT). She has also studied Aromatherapy and is a Reiki trained energy healer.
Brydie Rowan
Alix Wenmouth
Alix Wenmouth
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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Sharon Smith
Alix Wenmouth
Shelly Murphy
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.
Shelly Murphy
Jessame Coulson
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
Jack Cryer
Jessame Coulson
Jessame Coulson
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
Rachel Ash
Rachel Ash
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.
We offer 1:1 care 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.