LAMBAY MIND & BODY RETREAT
Reflection and Mindfulness Workshops with
certified therapist ~ Sophie Samuel
POSTPONED TO 2022
(3 days, 2 nights)
RETREAT RATES
€595 to €875
(concessions available for local connections and Lambay Club members)
includes Lambay boat transfers, accommodation, all meals, regular refreshments, workshops and sessions, materials.
Join Sophie and Millie for a weekend of mind and body nurturing, for just eight people on the mystery-shrouded isle of Lambay. Millie, your host and therapist-in-training, will warmly welcome you into her island home and teach you about the place. Sophie Samuel, a trained and certified therapist, is your facilitator and guide, running optional workshops and exercises throughout your stay and guiding you in effective self-care practises. Our in-house island chef will provide you with nourishment and refreshments, specialising in seasonal, local produce with a focus on the nutritious, colourful and delicious.
Sophie Millie
Sophie says:
"For most of us the rhythm of life is busy, compartmentalised and often tough. We rarely get the time, support or space to be still and to connect. To connect your mind to your body, your self to others and engage with the extraordinary natural world around you. The intention of this weekend is to offer you that opportunity.
Slowing down and becoming in greater connection with yourself and the world around you can allow clarity and enable you to make more meaningful, deep rooted choices. Though uncomfortable at times, this process can free our energy and re-awaken that 'joie-de-vivre' from which the intensity of every day life can alienate us. The aim is to support you so that you can return to your life feeling enriched, engaged and open.
This retreat is a rare opportunity to travel across the sea and temporarily leave behind those powerful forces of planning, organisation and productivity. Come to an island where you will encounter something very different."
REGISTRATION & COST
Your all-inclusive retreat package includes €50 for the return boat transfer between Ireland and Lambay (departing from Malahide, just north of Dublin airport). The journey takes 20 minutes in a covered RIB, 12 seats and lifejackets provided.
RATES:
Concessions for local connections of Lambay and Sophie are available on request. Members of the Lambay Club are eligible for discounted rates, please enquire.
Included in Rates:
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Lambay boat transfers at beginning and end of your retreat (€50)
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A minimum of 6 optional workshops and exercise sessions with Sophie Samuel
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Luxurious island accommodation for 2 nights / 3 days in the Whitehouse on Lambay
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All locally sourced, seasonal meals prepared by your private island retreat chef: 2 breakfasts, 2-3 lunches, 2 dinners
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Morning and afternoon refreshments (tea, coffee, cake, fruit)
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Materials for the retreat workshops
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Optional wild swim and guided wildlife walk (see the deer, wallabies, puffins and seals!)
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Use of island wi-fi, sitting rooms, library, gardens, and local know-how
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Tea/coffee, herbal infusions and soft drinks available all day (self-serve)
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Personal hosting from the resident Baring family throughout your island stay
The standard per person rates are as follows:
€875 ~ private room with super king bed and private en suite
€725 ~ private room with super king bed and shared en suite
€695 ~ shared room with super king or twin beds and private en suite
€595 ~ shared room with super king or twin beds and shared en suite
Not Included:
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Travel to Ireland and transportation to Malahide Marina from where the Lambay boat departs (boat transfers included)
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Travel Insurance (highly recommended as there will be no refunds for travel changes)
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Extras or mainland expenses
Deposit:
A 20% deposit is required to secure your space. The balance is due 6 weeks prior to the retreat. Payment plans are available on request.
COVID-19:
Our hope is that this retreat will be able to go ahead as planned, and we will be taking all possible precautions to protect against COVID-19 throughout the retreat. However, in the event that we are forced to cancel the retreat due to government restrictions or safety guidelines, you will receive a full refund (less any bank transfer fees).
Registration & Further Info:
To register and for questions about Lambay, the region or local travel, please write to millie@islandclub.co
For any other questions about Sophie's Retreat, please write to sophiealsamuel@gmail.com
WHAT TO EXPECT
“The sense of deep time brings a deep peace with it, a detachment from the timescale, the urgencies, of daily life… a profound sense of being at home, a sort of companionship with the earth.” - Oliver Sacks
Sophie will be facilitating exercises that draw on person-centred theory, neurobiology, focusing, trauma therapy, mindfulness and eco-psychology. This includes individual reflective and group exercises, breathing exercises and mindful walks, and possible wild swimming on the island.
The four key pillars of the retreat:
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Be Present. An established body of research from figures such as Jon Kabat-Zinn has allowed the West to tap into the power of mindfulness and meditation for our psychological wellbeing.
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Be Embodied. From neurobiology and developments in trauma therapy by pioneers such as Bessel Van der Kolk we are learning about the centrality of the body in remembering and processing our experiences and even in re-wiring the brain. The hot topic of the microbiome and the 'second brain' of the gut again illustrates how our separation of the mind and body is so misconstrued.
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Be in Nature. Most people can speak from experience about the benefits of spending time in nature. In fact, both the physical and psychological benefits are well documented in eco-psychology. The famous psychiatrist Oliver Sacks wrote, "In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful than any medication."
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Belong. Some eco-therapists, such as Mary-Jayne Rust, go deeper by pointing to the fundamental interconnectedness of our universe. Human beings are a part of the universe but so often we see ourselves as 'outside of nature'. Being attuned to our position in this complex web of life can perhaps enable us to let go of some our fear and need to control. We can embrace a freer, wilder and more spontaneous way of being. It may also support us to develop a more reciprocal and respectful relationship with our Earth.
It is Sophie's intention on this weekend to draw on all these areas of knowledge and her core person-centred training to offer you the opportunity to 'unplug' and open up the possibilities this brings.
The course schedule is free-flowing and designed to give participants the best opportunity to relax and unwind. Sophie will be integrating aspects of self-care, improving focus, eco psychology and mindfulness into the weekend's exercises.
The power of this retreat lies in the location: Lambay offers a unique and incredibly enriching environment in which to focus on personal wellness and wellbeing. Millie and Lottie will be offering delicious seasonal food that nurtures the body as well as cosy fires, hot and cold drinks on tap and island know-how to further nourish your soul.
EXAMPLE SCHEDULE (timings will vary)
FRIDAY
13:30 Boat from Malahide
14:00 Arrive Lambay and settle in
14:30 Tea and Island Welcome from Millie and Sophie
15:00 Mindful Walk & Island Exploration
17:00 Introductory Session
19:30 Dinner in the Whitehouse
SATURDAY
08:00 Breakfast in the Whitehouse
09:30 Group Introduction
11:00 Tea/Coffee Break
11:30 Group Session
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Mindful Walk/Meditation
17:30 Tea & (Healthy!) Cake
18:00 Personal Time or Optional Wild Swim
19:15 Dinner
20:30 Optional Sunset Meditation
SUNDAY
08:30 Breakfast
10:00 Group Session
11:30 Tea/Coffee Break
12:00 Mindful Walk/Meditation
13:30 Lunch
15:00 Group Closing Session
16:30 Boat departs Lambay
Maritime weather can be unpredictable, therefore the boat times may vary within the tidal window. On the island, some time will be spent outdoors whatever the weather, but the activities and workshops may be indoors or outdoors depending on what is deemed most suitable at the time.
DELICIOUS SEASONAL FOOD
Our private in-house island chef will provide us with fresh, seasonal meals for the weekend. Please be sure to notify us as soon as you book your space if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.
LUXURY COSY ACCOMMODATION
Each bedroom has a super-king bed capable of conversion to two single beds, with mattress protectors, duvets and two pillows per bed. Extra blankets are available should they be desired. Electric blankets are not permitted on the island's off-grid energy supply, however hot bottles are provided in case of cold weather.
The central and upstairs bathrooms have showers; the corner room en suites have bath-shower combinations and the end room luxury en suites have freestanding baths and separate showers.
Please let us know if you would like to request a particular bedroom.
OUTDOORS ON LAMBAY
BOOTS - There is a large number of Wellington boots in a range of sizes, which you are welcome to borrow during your stay.
GETTING HERE
Please make your way to Malahide as soon as you have arrived into Ireland from abroad.
Dublin Airport to Malahide
Malahide is approximately 20 minutes by road from Dublin Airport; a regular size taxi costs approximately €15-20.
Dublin Ferry Port to Malahide
Malahide is approximately 35 minutes by road from Dublin Ferry Port; a regular size taxi costs approximately €30-35.
Directions to Malahide Town Centre
If you wish to stop off in town for supplies, head for Gibney's of Malahide on New Street, a traditional local pub in the centre of Malahide town. This is well placed between all the most useful shops (Boots, SuperValu, Donnybrook Fair) and restaurants/cafés if you have time for a bite to eat. The Marina Centre is a five minute walk from Gibney's and the town centre.
If heading straight for the Marina, tell your taxi driver to drive through the Marina Village (under the arch) and straight to the end where you will see a giant anchor sculpture by the Marina Centre. Our Lambay boat skipper will meet you outside White’s Laundry at the allotted time.
POLITE NOTICE: It is important that you do not enter the Marina Centre at any time unless accompanied by the Skipper, as it is private property. There are no bathroom facilities for visitors.
The boat transfers to/from Lambay adhere to the tides and, as such, must depart promptly at the scheduled time.
For those with flights, we strongly recommend flights that leave a minimum of 4 hours (preferably 6 hours) between your flight arrival/departure times and the scheduled boat transfer time. Please be ready at the Marina 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
20kg limit on luggage per person on the boats.
WEATHER
The weather on Lambay is generally milder and drier than on the mainland, with plenty of sunshine. However, the island is also open to the elements and can be very windy. Out of the sun this can make it quite chilly! and weather on the island changes fast so you must be prepared for rain and sun.
We suggest bringing plenty of layers and a light water/wind proof jacket to enjoy Lambay outdoors; cosy slippers or socks and a favourite wooly jumper for indoors, where you can warm up by the cosy open fire in the Whitehouse.
