Retreat Reflections and Opportunities from my latest Newsletter.

Dear Yinspired Friends,

As summer draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the abundance in my life. This may seem an odd place to begin, having been unwell and bedridden for several days, but perhaps it is precisely because of this that I have been reflecting on what is truly nourishing in my life.

The abundance I refer to is not in material wealth; far from it. Yet I feel rich in loving relationships that nourish me, deep satisfaction from work I love doing, and experiences of connection, learning and growth — particularly through my recent retreat in Italy and through working with women who are ready for change through embodiment coaching. Through such experiences I also continue to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.

I am still looking for the right term to describe how my work has been developing this year.

‘Coaching’ sometimes feels too formal, or perhaps too much like an externally-led process. What happens when women work with me feels different to that.

The process is led from within — from their own innate wisdom, their felt experience and, importantly, their bodies. I am not there to tell them what they should do or who they should become. I am there to create a space where they can slow down, listen inwards and begin to hear what they already know.

I hold the container, but the wisdom is theirs.

For me, this is embodiment. It is not simply being in our bodies, but developing a relationship with them — learning to listen to their signals, recognise their needs and trust the wisdom that can emerge when we stop overriding what we feel. Something we have been exploring in our Yin practice together over the last 6 years.

The Embodied Woman retreat was described as a Yoga and Vedic meditation retreat, but these practices became simply gateways inwards.

As the space, slowness and permission unfolded, the practices themselves seemed to fall away, allowing the women to listen to their own rhythms; to recognise how often those rhythms are betrayed by everyday life and by the roles and expectations that dictate so many of our decisions. There was permission to voice often-overlooked needs, to rest when tired, to talk when something needed to be explored, and simply to be.

There was no need to achieve anything. No need to keep going because something was on the timetable. No need to pretend.

Just space to be.

Working with two women at a time allowed this organic process to unfold. This level of intimacy speaks to where I am most comfortable. I find larger groups quite overwhelming, but there is also something about the group dynamic that can make authentic self-discovery more complicated. We are social beings, after all, and naturally look to those around us for cues about how to behave, what to feel and sometimes even what we should want.

For me, creating space for self-discovery and empowerment means allowing each woman to hear her own voice, rather than unconsciously following the voices around her or of her own conditioning.

I would love to find a suitable location in the UK where I can offer similar experiences for one to three women at a time, upon request. Watch this space for more details.

In the meantime, I want to express my deep gratitude for the trust that has been given to me to work in this way over these past few months. It is such a privilege to be part of these unfoldings — to witness women listening more deeply to themselves, reconnecting with their own wisdom and beginning to honour what they truly need.

As I look towards the months ahead, I am also offering three very different opportunities to step away from the usual pace of life and reconnect with yourself.

These retreats are open to everyone, not just women. They are also giving me the opportunity to work alongside some other inspiring women in my life.

Adele, who many of you will know from class, will be sharing her gift of Tarot in her own unique way on our day retreat.

My friend Sam worked with me during the brief life of our UniTea café at Centre Anahata, cooking beautiful vegetarian and vegan food. She will be joining me on our weekend retreat to offer you the same.

Another dear lifelong friend, Nicola, will be supporting our time in Thailand, alongside her cousin Jackie, the inspirational leader of Freedom Retreats.

The first of these is a local day retreat here in Kent, created around the theme of Transitioning — a day to pause, reflect and honour whatever changes may be unfolding, whether that is the changing season or a transition within your own life.

Then there is a winter weekend retreat, also closer to home, offering more time and space to settle, rest & go deeper.

And next spring, I am taking things much further afield, with a week in Thailand. Rooted and Free will bring together the grounding practices that underpin my work with a sense of adventure — exploring, swimming, kayaking and experiencing the freedom that comes when we feel more rooted in ourselves.

Three very different experiences, but with a common thread: creating space to step out of our usual roles and routines, listen inwards and reconnect with what feels true for us.

This is what I know to be at the heart of my work: that when we create the space to slow down, listen deeply and reconnect with ourselves, we can begin to live from a place that feels more authentic, more embodied and more fully our own.

Of course, to varying degrees, these experiences all require a financial commitment, and I know that this is not always available to us. If you would love to attend but aren't able to pay the deposit right now, or if you feel drawn to one of these experiences but need me to make it more affordable for your current circumstances, or if there are any other potential barriers to joining us, please do get in touch. I am always happy to have a conversation and see what might be possible.

The venues require confirmation within this month, so I do need to have sufficient bookings in place to be able to proceed. As always, I trust that what is meant to be will be.

I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you soon.

With Love,

Rebecca.

P.S. Here are some recent words from 1 of my guests in Italy:

I went on Rebecca’s embodied woman retreat in Italy and this was my first experience of a yoga retreat. I didn’t know exactly what to expect but everything exceeded my expectations. There was only 2 of us (guests) and the fact it was so intimate allowed me to feel completely safe to share my thoughts, fully embrace the experience and the release of emotions that came with the daily yoga practice. The house and surroundings are beautiful and create such a calming atmosphere, perfect for a retreat and allowed for deep rest. The daily practice and meditation was transformative for me. I was able to do some deep inner work, and Rebecca held such a safe space for us to allow reflection, insight and some personal pivotal change. Rebecca is so inspirational, she shares her own personal journey, experience and knowledge. Rebecca is gentle, open minded, kind, wise, calm, empathetic and a beautiful soul. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone who is on a personal journey of reconnecting with themselves and looking to make changes for the better.