Our experience at The Wilderness Wellbeing Retreat in May was mindblowing. From the moment we stepped out of the car – seeing happy smiley faces all around, breathtaking views and such silence….astonishing. Being immersed in nature(I know that sounds weird) and taking part in various workshops designed to connect you with your surroundings was an experience that we will never forget & will talk about for many years to come.

Then there is the food!! Wow. So natural, tasty & clensing! Nothing was too much trouble, we felt comfortable & ‘at home’ from the get go & we will as a support group guide people to this wonderful bit of paradise for some TLC.

There is something about being surrounded by lovely people, scenery & care. Just wonderful x

Patrick & Wendy Mullery (James Support Group, Registered Charity SC050519)

Just firstly want to say that thank you doesn’t even cover it for having me part of the incredible weekend! You and your family are a powerhouse and so inspirational.

To try and articulate how the weekend impacted me is hard, but I’ll try! As you know, due to my TSW I’ve had a mad year and coming home from Thailand has been a challenge and a half, navigating my old life with its new rules dictated by my skin had got me in a dark place mentally and honestly I didn’t realise how much I’d isolated myself until coming to your home for the weekend! It was confronting in the best way possible to be out of my ‘safe space’ that I’d created for my skin to be ok, and suddenly out of control of the people I saw, the food I ate and the environment I was in.

The first evening I was almost crippled with social anxiety that I haven’t felt since I was a teenager, it was then that I realised how I was living was not healthy. Relaxing into the weekend the next morning with smaller groups and connecting with Alice and others in the Juicing workshop made me feel like myself again and was such a relief, I’d be longing for that sense of community that just ‘get it’ since leaving thailand and the clinic full of patients with the same condition as me.

My state of mind on Friday compared to leaving your home on Monday was completely night & day. Hearing such vulnerable stories being shared with people that were not long ago strangers was so powerful and really gave me the kick up the arse to stop letting my condition make my life limited and my vision for the future small. I can’t tell you how grateful I am, what you’ve created can only be described as pure magic and I can’t wait to be back and hopefully be able to share my story one day!

Courtney

An incredible wilderness retreat

It’s hard to describe how incredible a wilderness fitness retreat is, never mind adding the majestic Torridon into the mix!

Thank you so much, Yaz for creating something awesome. You nailed it!

Adele Gibb

I felt so energised

Wow, what an amazing experience! Yaz and her team have created something truly special and it was a privilege to spend the weekend with wonderful people in a stunning setting, eating wholesome and delicious food and taking part in amazing activities.

I loved that this wasn’t a retreat with a lot of sitting about (though you are absolutely free to do that if that’s what you want to do!) and, after embracing every activity on offer, I felt so energised!

Rebecca O’Hara

I took a lot of new practices not only from the workshops but the chats with fellow group members.

3 out of the 4 workshops I took part in I had never done before so learned from these and have already implemented them into my daily lifestyle and family life.

Go for it!

Thank you to Yaz – the most welcoming host – wicked fitness instructor, spectacular host and all-around lovely soul. Hannah – looking forward to my lovingly massaged sauerkraut in a couple of weeks, and wow- the fermented feast! Sarah for the most relaxing yoga I have ever done. LuLu for an epic massage and Eve for kicking it all off with pilates. And to the other guests I met – what a lovely bunch and lots of laughs!

If you have the opportunity to go on one of Wilderness Wellbeing retreats – go for it!

Moira Greene

What a rad weekend!

Woah what a rad weekend! Thanks so much Yaz for bringing us all together in such a lush space, for the super fun wilderness fit sessions i’m so excited to get out in the woods & explore, I definitely had muscles working that don’t always get to.

Chelle Parker

Being part of the Wilderness Fit team has brought so much more to my life than I had expected. Yaz has created an environment in which the facilitators and the participants are not in a hierarchical structure, we are all on the same level and therefore those who contribute to the weekends benefit from the experience just as much. I struggle with my mental wellbeing on and off, as most people do, and these weekends have become my opportunity to reset.

I feel incredibly lucky to get this opportunity so many times in a year. The uplift that I get is not just from me getting time in good company and in nature, but is predominantly through the moments of vulnerable connections with strangers. Both through the connections I make personally but also through observing the transformation in those who come along.

Words cannot describe the impact that one weekend can have on peoples lives, it blows me away literally every time. The lasting impact each time is that I leave feeling inspired from the new skills learnt from all of the facilitators, heart filled up from deep and vulnerable chats with strangers whom I may not have had the chance to meet otherwise and with hope from listening to peoples stories of struggles and the multitude of ways in which they have brought stability back into their lives.

Hannah, Wilderness Wellbeing facilitator

Life has continued to be moving in the right direction, Good vibes from the weekend continued into day to day life, the positive mindset has helped improved the small additions to my life like cooking.

Learned more about fermentation again based around the weekend

Deep work for body and mind

Yaz’s outdoor fitness sessions are way better than a gym, great fun and easily replicable on your own turf. The yoga was like no other yoga class I’ve attended, this was deep work for body and mind. And the professional massage and fermenting workshops were cherries on the cake! To do all this in the spectacular setting of Torridon, with outdoor swimming, hot tubs and live music was a balm for the soul.

Promise you’ll love it!!!

If you only do one retreat, make it this one. Connect or Reconnect with the Scottish highlands in a fully immersive experience that does wonderful things for your soul. Something magical happens on these retreats, and no part of me is left untouched by the warmth, knowledge, and passion this collective of beautiful souls shares over the weekend.  Don’t even think about it, GO!! Promise you’ll love it!!!

Amanda Christie

The ultimate yin and yang

The ultimate yin and yang- pushed, cold, wet and happy, rewarded with blissful warmth, companionship, beautiful food and relaxation.

Fiona Richardson

The first time I spoke with Yas I knew that not only was she creating something special at her retreat but the benefit that it would give some of our lads from ANDY’S MAN CLUB. I attended the first one with my colleague and both of us were very nervous about what to expect. Within minutes of entering the family home we were made to feel a part of the family straight away and that led to an amazing weekend of self discovery.

I know I grew on that first retreat and even seeing Kenny grow and learn to cook and challenge himself was amazing. The biggest challenge with anything is that first step into the unknown but everyone on the team helped take those steps. Such a special place to hold the events as well which makes it even better.

Alex, Andy’s Man Club

A renewed sense of purpose

Yaz’s Wilderness Wellbeing retreat was truly transformative for me. Before attending, I was struggling to come to terms with the car accident that had upended my life. The combination of physical activity, nature, the creative arts and deep mental health work offered at the retreat, helped me see things from a new perspective. I learned to forgive myself, accept my past, and find strength in my resilience. Yaz’s compassionate guidance and the supportive community she fosters made all the difference in my healing journey. I left the retreat with a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the future.

Ben

Beautifully balanced day.

Fun, Supportive, hard, relaxing. I’m leaving feeling contentedly worked and energised. Thanks so much

Lee Craigie

I never said anything over the weekend as I wasn’t ready to share, but the main reason my anxiety was so bad was because just before the retreat I was at the funeral of a young person I worked with and looked after. She was my key child and it hit me so hard. I didn’t think I would be in any state to participate in the retreat. I’m so glad I decided to push myself.

From the hug Yaz gave me on arrival to the friendly welcome from all the other attendees, it all made me feel welcome and started to ease my troubled soul. The food throughout the weekend was absolutely amazing and helped bring everyone together over mealtimes. The stories that were told over the weekend were so inspiring and all aimed at helping us heal. I did so many firsts over the weekend and learned so much from everyone I talked to.

I left the retreat feeling the best I had since the news broke of the passing of the young person. My batteries were recharged, my soul less troubled and I had made some great connections. It was my first ever wellness retreat and the community and friendship shown by everyone guarantee it won’t be my last.

Darren (Andy’s Man Club)