A chance to rediscover the spring in your step,
the rhythm in your flow and the song in your heart.
FOR YOU?
Are you longing for genuine connection, meaningful conversation, and perspectives that lift rather than weigh you down?
Is your body calling for safety, tranquility, peace, deep relaxation, and simple unpretentious joy?
Are you seeking deeper and more meaningful relationship to yourself and those closest to you, be it a spouse, partner, family member, or a group of friends/colleagues, we welcome you all.
And if you’d like to be guided by two people who have always followed their intuition and walked (and danced) the paths less travelled, you’re in good company.
Carmen Rendell — global explorer and Walking Therapist.
Andrew Cuerden — former top international DanceSport competitor and BBC Strictly Come Dancing professional, now a therapeutic dance and life coach.
Our aim is to ensure that every participant experiences a sole-to-soul nourishing retreat. A environment that is held with gentle care, lived wisdom and deep presence, within beautiful, comfortable and nourishing surroundings, that will relax your mind, ground your body and uplift your spirit.
We believe wellbeing rests on simple, timeless foundations. From clean air (breath), water, food, shelter, movement, and sleep, to the inner qualities of honesty, love, and joy. When these are honoured, they naturally support the cultivation of awareness, discernment, alignment, integration, and self-expression of mind, body, and soul, enabling us to live as wholesome, valuable, and harmonious human beings.
We aim to live what we teach. Through direct, embodied exploration we bring together scientific, psychological, therapeutic, and spiritual insights to better understand ourselves and life. We welcome all faiths, beliefs, and wisdom traditions, provided they are grounded in love and honesty.
All of the practices we facilitate, and wisdom's we share, have been profound tools in our own wellbeing journey and pillars of our lives.
Mindfullness, Meditation, Deep Listening, Breath, Yoga, Walking and Dance.
Everything on our retreats is invitational. Allowing you the freedom to choose the depth and pace of engagement. You are always in control of your experience.
Welcome to our "WalkIn...DanceOut" Retreats: a mind, body, and soul enrichment experience.
A chance to step back into harmony with the dance of life... gently, naturally, and in your own rhythm and style.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT
BRINKBURN NORTHUMBERLAND
Brinkburn is a 50-acre wooded ravine, by the River Coquet, in the centre of Northumberland. Crafted by time.
Humans have gathered at Brinkburn for a thousand years. To celebrate, connect, relax, renew – and create lifelong memories. Harnessing what the past has gifted. Forests. rivers, wildlife, birds, fruits and flowers. As well as weathered architecture and luxurious indoor and outdoor residential and non-residential spaces envisioned, planned and designed for togetherness.
Days will begin...gentle, slow, quiet and reflective. After breakfast we will head out on walks to explore and enjoy the stunning countryside. Returning for lunch and rest with late afternoon joyful expression, exploration and connection through dance. Then winding down for dinner and evenings of reflection, integration and appreciation.
Our walks are all about the depth of presence, connection and appreciation of ourselves, each other and surroundings...not the distance, destination or endurance. Our walks are slow and intentional. Punctuated with mindful exercises such as breath based meditations that help ground, regulate and balance the nervous system as well as opening the heart and mind to inspiration, as well as genuine appreciation and expression.
The dancing, is not for performance, but for "transformance". It is mindful, metaphoric and joyful. Using movements and music that enable changes in ones mental, emotional and physical state. From gentle and slow to fast and fun, with and without a partner. A wonderful way of rediscovering and understanding the language of your body, to express what is true and release what is heavy.
Accommodations are luxuriously comfortable, with beds that allow deep and peaceful sleep within the darkness and tranquility of the Irish countryside.
Food is incredibly important to us. Not only in its nutritional and flavourful value but also it's power to bring people together with joy. We are also passionate about educating and inspiring people through food, which is why we are delighted to have not one but TWO incredible and inspirational chef's catering for us at Brinkburn. The first half of retreat will be vegan/vegetarian, with the second half will be a mix menu.
ROOMS & RETREAT BOOKINGS
The estate has a number of individual beautifully-designed cottages for small groups, and all have luxurious bedrooms as well as their own little communal spaces to gather.
Rooms will be allocated closer to the retreat, when we have all the bookings. If you have any specific needs or preference, please let Brinkburn know when booking.
RETREAT PRICES
Early Bird - Book before 12th February
Shared Room - £999
Single Occupancy - £1222
Full Price - Booked AFTER 12th February
Shared Room - £1200
Single Occupancy - £1425
If you are 100% committed but cash flow is an issue and want to book your slot. Feel free to pay £350 as a non-refundable deposit if booking is cancelled less than 30 days from start of retreat.
Prices are per person and inclusive of all meals, teas, coffees and activities.
Prices are exclusive of travel to and from Brinkburn and lunch on last day at Barn On The Bay.
Bookings are on a first come first served basis and are subject to Booking Terms & Conditions. We require a minimum of 8 for the retreat to work in all ways, and so a final go/no-go will be confirmed by 12th March, and all your payments will be made in full if we cancel.
SCHEDULE
Whilst we appreciate that some love to know exactly what's happening where and when. We may tweak the schedule slightly and throw in some joyful improvised experiences throughout the weekend.
We also appreciate the need to create spaces which are held, but not full. Therefore this is a holding schedule for you to join what you want to, and if your body asks for something else, then feel free to honour it. This is not a boot camp by any means....If you want to sleep in, sleep in. If you want time to journal, take time out.
Thursday 9 April
15:00 Guest arrivals & Check in
16:00 Reception - Drinks - Nibbles & Icebreaker
17:30 Tour of buildings and amenities
19:00 Dinner
20:30 Evening Entertainment
Friday 10 April
08:00 Gentle Stretch & Breath session
09:00 Breakfast
11:00 Soulwalk (Slow gentle somatic walk around estate)
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Free time (possible cold-dipping in the river)
17:00 Dance Session
19:00 Dinner
20:30 Evening Entertainment (Depending on weather - Night Soulwalk & Fire Ceremony)
Saturday 11 April
08.00 Gentle Stretch & Breath
09.00 Breakfast
11:00 Soulwalk (Slow gentle somatic walk around estate)
13.00 Lunch
15.00 Free time (possible cold-dipping in the river)
17.00 Dance Session
19.00 Dinner
20.30 Evening Entertainment (Weather depending – Night Soulwalk & Fire Ceremony or Dance in Barn)
Sunday 12 April
08:00 Gentle Stretch & Breath
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 Check out & bus/drive to beach. Walk and dance on beach with closing circle.
12.00 Lunch & goodbyes at Barn on the Bay (Lunch not included in Retreat price)
13.00 Onwards - Guests depart
THE NOSH
We have worked carefully with Mark at Brinkburn to select a perfect combination of 2 wonderful chefs for the weekend. Together they will bring a wonderful variety, richness and cullinary inspirationto the weekend.
PAULA
TOM
Thursday 9 April / Friday 10 / Sat 11
"Food that Feeds More than the Body" with every dish designed to support both body and spirit.
Wholefood and plant-based, celebrating fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared with love and care. We can happily include some meat options if neeced (Please confirm on booking).
The menu will reflect the retreat’s theme and energy. From vibrant Buddha bowls and earthy root-based stews to restorative herbal teas and energising juices — everything is crafted to enhance your experience and complement the work we're doing together. More than a Chef As a nutritionist and herbal wellness guide, Paula will be there to support your specific dietary needs, health challenges, or a curiosity about the healing power of food and herbs.
Saturday 11 April
Saturday Lunch: Sharing platters and salads, room temperature sides, grains with bbq cooked meat.
Saturday Dinner: Braai under the arches and in courtyard, BBQ plate with smoked beef cheeks, venison sausages, Northumberland Cheese toasties, ferments and pickles.
Sunday 12 April
Sunday Breakfast:
Continental and or cooked options. To be confirmed.
