Life is busy. I’m sure that’s a phrase we can all agree with. Despite many of us trying to slow down and make space for self-care practices, the truth is there’s often so much else going on. Whether you have work commitments banging on your door, household chores piling up, or parenting duties swallowing your energy, it can be hard to carve out time for yourself.
But here’s the thing. Taking the time to pause and truly reconnect with yourself can enable you to really dig deep into what’s going on in your life and the results can be transformational – as I recently discovered at a Soul Adventures retreat in Morocco.
Led by energy healer and all-round spiritual guru Trish Whelan, Soul Adventures retreats aim to help guests discover their true essence, clear energy blocks and awaken their inner power. It might sound a little spiritual for some, but let me tell you, there’s a heap of benefits to be had from embracing this style of energy work. I can honestly say there’s something magical about entering a space designed entirely to empower and enrich your soul.
Trish Whelan, founder of Soul Adventures (photo: Maria Missaglia) The power of inner work
We’ve long been told that for true healing and transformation to happen, we must look within, and this is an idea that Trish is passionate about. Her retreats are curated to take you on a deeply profound and meaningful journey, delving into what might be stopping you from reaching your full potential and clearing the way to release and reach new heights. It’s not always easy – and it can get messy at times – but Trish praises bravery and self-growth and it’s easy to get swept along with her encouragement.
Her long list of qualifications includes kundalini yoga teacher, shamanic healer, reiki master and sound healing therapist – but all you really need to know is that she understands how to give you the tools to reconnect with your body and mind, and free yourself from what’s holding you back.
I’ve tried my hand at spiritual work before, but this certainly felt like a new level – and the capacity for change felt very tangible.
The pool at Les Jardins De Villa Maroc in Morocco Location, location, location
Trish has been running retreats across the world for more than a decade, and it shows. It’s clear she has an eye for the right place and understands how the energy of a location can have a bearing on the experiences of her guests.
Previous gatherings have been hosted in places such as India, Ibiza and Mallorca and the spring retreat I attended was in Essaouira – a charming port town nestled along Morocco’s Atlantic coastline. Its laid-back, bohemian atmosphere and captivating walled medina makes it a popular choice for visitors to the region, and the area has a long history of mysticism and spirituality, too.
We stayed in unique eco domes, dotted about on the site of Les Jardins De Villa Maroc – a peaceful haven, just 15 minutes from the main centre. The pale domes are thoughtfully shaped to echo the contours and calm of their environment and the space fosters a quiet stillness and a natural sense of belonging to the earth. There are communal spaces here too – a gorgeous outdoor pool surrounded by olive trees and exotic plants, a minimalistic dining area, outside seating and little nooks and crannies to explore – a perfect setting.
The schedule
The itinerary for the five days suited me perfectly. There were three classes or workshops a day, with plenty of time to rest and recoup alongside (and make the most of that heated outdoor pool). It meant we could explore the local area, and I spent one glorious afternoon wandering the souks of the ancient medina and wishing I could take all the beautiful treasures home with me.
We had daily sessions of shamanic kundalini yoga, meditation, gong bathing and yoga Nidra, followed by workshops focused on sharing circles, chakra balancing and visualisation work.
Each day began with fresh, vibrant juices, followed by a post-yoga brunch. There were snacks on offer in the afternoon and a delicious two-course dinner in the evening.
If you could silence your mind and your stomach before brunch, a little quiet reflection was encouraged. Although it was difficult, I tried to limit time on my phone to fully disconnect. Creating a sense of distance to the outside world allowed me to immerse myself in my inner world much more easily.
(Photo: Maria Missaglia) Experiencing shamanic kundalini yoga
The shamanic kundalini yoga Trish specialises in is unlike any other form of yoga I’ve tried.
Kundalini yoga is traditionally more spiritual than other forms of movement-based yoga, with plenty of breathwork and meditation. This focus – combined with Trish’s shamanic energy and her unique musical elements – makes for a powerful experience.
The playlist for the week was incredible. I’m still thinking about the songs we listened to. Trish used to work in the music industry, and her choice of music is profoundly deep. You won’t find any wishy-washy ‘chill out’ background music so often found in yoga studios – instead there were carefully considered songs and beats designed to move us forward in our journey and resound with us internally. The music and lyrics stirred something deep inside me — I couldn’t resist giving in to the creative energy it sparked.
Trish’s use of gong meditation and the way she welded the power of that giant flat metal disk in tapping into our internal vibrations was extraordinary. The acoustics in our yoga room were amplified with emotion and each time she hit the gong, the room seemed to pulse, vibrating with potential.
Throughout the week, Trish also utilised the power of spoken word and read wise phrases and powerful poems, while wafting incense around the room. It was a completely sensorial experience.
I thought I knew what breathwork was, but these five days changed my view of it entirely. Every day we tried something new – there were times we held our breath for long periods, engaged in deep inhalations and exhalations, and other times we pulsed our breath – physically pushing it out our noses with our diaphragm. The latter exercise was the breath of fire – a favourite of Trish’s – and it aims to really help you move past blockages in your life. In all the exercises our breath was used as a pivotal point from which to release energy and tap into our potential. And I felt it. The shifts within were visceral.
(Photo: Caroline True) Powerful movement
It may sound strange, but one of the exercises we were asked to repeat involved shaking our bodies. And honestly? Standing in a room with more than 10 strangers, my eyes closed, shaking out my whole body while the beat of a song reverberated around the room was unbelievably freeing.
I began by simply wiggling my fingers, feeling self-conscious and uncertain, but I was soon overtaken with a sense of letting go. Allowing my limbs to flap around made me feel like I was honouring and celebrating every ounce of myself, and every time we did this (which was quite a few times over the five days) I finished with a huge grin on my face and an uplifting sense of gratitude.
Another powerful exercise saw us visualising water crashing over our body, with our hands scooping it up and washing away the things that we’d been holding on to that no longer served us. The sweeping movement of our hands and the rhythmic beat of the music were mesmerising and before long I realised that my cheeks were wet with tears. I found myself reflecting on things I hadn’t realised I was still clinging onto and then symbolically letting them go. The emotional outpouring was real.
Part of what is so wonderful about these retreats is that everyone’s experience will be totally different. They’ve been created in such a way to let you tap into exactly what you need and find what you’re looking for. Different exercises struck a chord with different people, and it was inspiring to see everyone on their own personal journey.
There’s no doubt that Trish is an exceptional teacher. She treads the line between challenging, nurturing and encouraging in just the right way. Part of what really stuck with me after my time with her is the way she creates space for each and every person on the retreat – taking time with everyone to understand their reasons for attending, recommending other exercises, books, workshops and more along the way.
One of Trish’s previous retreats (Photo: Maria Missaglia) A 360 approach
Trish has a network of other exceptional healers she works with and during this trip, we were joined by two of her favourite therapists: shaman Robin Tag and reiki master and masseuse Lizzie Broughton Steans . This is a regular occurrence on her retreats, and it adds a real sense of 360-degree healing.
Robin led a workshop drawing us to our chakras, which involved visualising the different colours around our bodies. He used his connection with nature to heighten our experience, and I enjoyed listening to his shamanic drumming and the way he described the texture and essence of each chakra.
Ever journeyed to your soul garden? Me neither, until I was fortunate enough to be guided by Robin. In our one-to-one session, he encouraged me to travel to this safe space within my mind, connect to my spirit guide and meet my ancestors. It’s a deep experience and one that I’ll remember for a long time. Robin has a very unique skill in making you feel completely at ease and understanding what you need out of a session. His questions made me realise I’d been worrying about something that I hadn’t yet had the insight to see and understand – and this helped me address my fear head-on.
Lizzie was on hand to offer reiki massages across the five days, and boy, was she good. Her long sweeping movements impart a deep sense of calm while also reinvigorating muscles and creating a sense of flow. She utilises various techniques including those from Ayurvedic, Swedish and Thai massage therapies and her aim is to help people feel a deeper sense of connectedness and wellbeing in their very core. It was one of the best massages I’ve ever had, and if you’re close to her London treatment rooms, my advice is to go now. You won’t be disappointed.
Oh – and if you’re looking for a new perfume, consider investing in the very special scent she’s developed over the past few years. Containing natural flower essences and crystal elixirs, she’s thoughtfully combined ingredients to activate specific healing qualities within the human energy fields of the body. It also uses a base of vibrationally charged sacred water from the Ganges in India – sourced by her.
The food
Of course, a big part of any getaway is the food and we were treated to a real feast over the five days here. Everything was vegetarian and gluten-free and there was also very limited caffeine available, and no alcohol.
As you’d expect, there was plenty of spice, fresh vegetables and herbs, and the most delicious tagines. I particularly loved the ‘snacks’ in the afternoon – which were main meals in themselves! A medley of tastes such as roasted carrots, authentic hummus and gluten-free breads, fresh tomato salad with herbs and more, they were a true delight.
Dinners around the table were a wonderful part of the day too. I’ve done retreats before, and I’m not shy about joining a group of strangers, but there’s always a slight concern when you’re a solo traveller as to whether you’ll connect with people there. I didn’t need to worry though. Trish’s work attracts a diverse range of people, but all of them are welcoming, friendly and open to the experience.
A real adventure
So, how to sum up the experience? Life-changing may feel a strong word, but I truly feel that the connection I made with myself and the work I did focusing on my inner wellbeing was transformational. Trish has called her retreats Soul Adventures, and they truly are an adventure for body and mind.
The real challenge, I think, is finding ways to carry these lessons into everyday life — and while it’s not always easy, I’ve learned it’s incredibly important.
Visit souladventures.co.uk for details of Shamanic Kundalini Yoga programmes, free content and energy healing retreats including Wales (21-25 August), Mallorca (12-17 October) and Jamaica (15-21 November).
