In the past few years, both of us have been on separate journeys with ADHD, which inspired the idea to create a retreat specifically tailored for people with ADHD and their supporters.
We share a deep love for travel, nature, creativity, friendship, and curating joyous experiences. We've both seen the transformative power of retreats, yet we recognise a gap in catering to the distinct and diverse needs of ADHD minds.
Our retreats aim to strike a balance between sanctuary and adventure, where moments of laughter and learning seamlessly intertwine.
We want to break down barriers, cultivate genuine connections, and equip participants with practical tools and plenty of snacks—yes, we love snacks! Our food will be locally sourced (as much as possible grown on the farm) and nutritious.
Everyone will not only be welcomed, but celebrated, valued, and supported on their journey towards empowerment and well-being.
Yoga Teacher, ADHD Coach and Retreat Facilitator
Originally from London and now based in the Algarve, Portugal, I am a yoga teacher with a dedication towards guiding others on their journey to self-discovery and healing. I believe wellbeing requires a truly holistic approach.
My previous work in interior design took me to India, where I lived and worked for four years. It was there that I discovered the profound peace and strength yoga can bring. Immersed in the rich traditions of yoga, I deepened my practice, my consistency, and went on some truly empowering and affirming retreats which all reshaped my understanding of yoga.
Beyond the physical practice of asana (poses), I explored pranayama (breathwork) and the deeper journey of self-enquiry that yoga offers. I became passionate about how yoga can help regulate and sooth our nervous systems, provide insights into our true selves, and connect us to nature and the world around us.
Inspired by these transformative aspects of yoga, I trained to become a yoga teacher. For nearly a decade, I have been teaching yoga and been involved in organising and facilitating retreats. I've found immense purpose in supporting others, and I strive to adapt and tailor my classes to ensure that every client can connect deeply (in their way) with yoga and themselves. There is no one-size-fits-all!
My personal history with anxiety, combined with the global increase in anxiety during the pandemic, led me to do further training in Yoga Therapy for Anxiety in 2020. I've been a mental health advocate for most of my adult life, and this specialised training has enhanced my ability (and enthusiasm) to support others in managing their anxiety.
A few years ago, I moved to the Algarve with my then-partner. We'd fallen in love with Portugal on a trip away, and we were both craving a slower lifestyle with more space.
Having previously lived in cities, I have truly loved the shift to life on an orange and grape farm in the countryside.
However, the move also brought many challenges, and exacerbated my partner's undiagnosed ADHD, which we both see now added a significant strain on our relationship.
In the last couple of years several close friends, including the amazing Kila, have also been diagnosed with or are going through the diagnosis for ADHD. Witnessing firsthand the profound impact this condition can have on individuals, relationships, and families ignited my desire to create experiences put together to support them and offer the benefits I've found in retreat settings.
Identifying more with a neurodivergent than a neurotypical brain myself – I recently realised during a 10-day silent retreat how severe my misophonia (a disorder with an intolerance to specific sounds) is! Being a highly sensitive person and often an "over-empathiser," I am eager to share the tools I've learned for emotional regulation, which I believe are particularly relevant for our retreat community.
Event Designer and Creative Director
My journey with ADHD began long before I decided to seek a diagnosis. Like many, the forced slow down of the pandemic gave space for me to notice that certain behaviours were exacerbated. Seeing this and growing weary of the extreme obstacle course that I had turned our living space into or finding cups of tea in the fridge, my partner at the time prompted me to finally investigate what I, many a friend, and therapist already suspected I have – ADHD.
Despite having self diagnosed for a long time and often saying the words 'I have ADHD' I realised I didn't actually know that much about it, I had gotten this far with it so what did I need to know? However with more time on my hands than ever I found a new desire to learn more about how my brain works. So I thought it was time to look at why I thrive at problem solving at work yet I have things like crippling indecision, racing thoughts, chronic fatigue and lack of concentration in my personal life…AND perhaps why my flat is sometimes so messy that if a burglar turned up they would literally assume it had already been burgled and move on.
During this journey of self-discovery I am continually learning and understanding which has truly been transformational. One crucial lesson I've learned is the importance of intentionally taking time out from our distractive world, especially for those of us already prone to distraction. Yet! I am not very good at deciding to actually…just do it, which is why I feel so passionate about creating this retreat.
I have sometimes found difficulties with things like masking, concentration, RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) and people pleasing in traditional wellbeing spaces and currently feel a deep need to connect others who might be having similar experiences. A place where we can share evidenced based activities and practices to help optimise the power of our brains, be our whole selves and bring that into our everyday lives.
I am so lucky to have Lou who often "body doubles" for me and has helped me through countless anxious periods through her depth of knowledge and teachings whether that be pranayama (breathing) techniques, getting me moving and much more, so it feels like a no brainer to be doing this with her.
I truly believe that my neurodiversity has been a fundamental asset in many ways and is something to be celebrated and nurtured. With a decade plus career in the set design and events industry, I've had the pleasure of working with a myriad of brands and individuals across the globe. I absolutely thrive on creating memorable experiences that bring people together and I am excited to bring that same energy and passion to our retreats, where we focus on making meaningful connections and driving positive change.
We're committed to designing retreats that honour the beautiful complexity of neurodivergent brains. We aim to help participants discover their strengths, build meaningful connections, and leave with practical strategies that work in real life.
Every retreat is built on the foundation that ADHD isn't something to fix, but a different way of experiencing the world that deserves celebration and support. We're here to prove that when environments are designed with ADHD in mind, incredible things happen.
BUT there will be daily yoga classes (broken into shorter sessions of course), with a focus on yoga for anxiety, as ADHD and anxiety are closely linked (anxiety is the most common comorbidity associated with ADHD). Alongside this, harnessing our combined experience, we've carefully chosen a variety of group activities and ample downtime will be offered. Don't worry, nothing is going to involve sitting for hours on end!
It can also impact the people around them, and their relationships. This can be isolating when tackled alone, so we've intentionally kept this retreat open to partners, family members, and friends. We believe many struggles are due to a lack of understanding, and with better communication and knowledge, lots of these issues could be mitigated.
While we may not be experts, this isn't about us holding all the answers—medical advice is best left to the doctors! Our focus is on crafting gatherings that we ourselves would wholeheartedly embrace. All of this will take place on Lou's farm and in the beautiful surrounding Algarve countryside and coast, where we've both found immense enjoyment, solace, calm, regulation, and healing.
Have questions about our retreats? We'd love to hear from you!
