With Kate from Cocoon Luxury Retreats
This April we are welcoming Cocoon Luxury Wellness Retreats to Boconnoc. We caught up with the founder Kate, to find out about the ethos behind her business and what guests can expect from a luxury retreat at Boconnoc.
Hello, my name’s Kate – Cornish born, cat loving, wellbeing enthusiast! My early life revolved around an obsession for dance which I spent most of my teenage years pursuing with utmost dedication.
My passion for this had started dwindling by my late teenage years and eventually stopped altogether. By my mid-twenties, I started to become interested in natural health and wellbeing, starting with nutrition and then having my world totally opened up when I started training in massage. My massage training really kick-started my love for working with people on an individual basis and finding ways to nurture their health through a holistic approach. Soon, I really felt as though I’d found my path, I picked up martial arts which I hadn’t done since I was a young girl. I started noticing the connections between martial arts, meditation, massage, and mindfulness and began learning about the origins, different approaches and history. It fascinated me. Then, when I attended my first yoga retreat in 2022 I experienced first-hand just how powerful they can be. And so the dream began of what my own retreat would look like if I drew together all that I knew and loved into one nourishing, restorative programme. And voila – Cocoon Luxury Retreats was born.
The Cocoon ethos is based on a simple belief: that transformation can be achieved through proper rest and restoration
The average person spends their day-to-day life in a state of perpetual stress, surviving from one moment to the next, one challenge to the other. Because our lives are so busy and demanding, we find little time to pause and focus on our own wellbeing. Even if we did have the time, we often lack the tools, understanding or insight to work on ourselves positively. And so life whizzes by and we play catch up with it. The idea behind our retreats was to create an oasis for you to completely let go of those responsibilities and feelings of guilt so that you can reconnect with yourself. Our restorative programme is designed around providing you the best possible mind, body and soul experience so that when you leave, you’ll not only have reaped the benefits of what you have learned and practiced at the time, but you’ll also have tools to take home with you, so that you can continue to create positive, long-lasting effects in your everyday life.
There’s nothing more exciting than bringing together a group of like-minded souls and being witness to their transformative journey- this is truly special to me as everyone’s journey is different and entirely personal. As the role of host, I feel the most important thing is to create an easy, welcoming and friendly environment so that everyone feels comfortable to relax, open up and participate in conversation and activities. Along with my assistant, Silvie, we’ll ensure that everyone has what they need, knows where to find things or how to get things. We want to make the retreat experience as seamless as possible so all you need to do is enjoy the ride.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everywhere! Inspiration is not hard to come by these days particularly with the continuing rise of social media – it’s so easy to discover new practices, new people, new ideas…I’ve worked for a decade in natural health, so I’ve had the pleasure of exploring many wellness modalities as well as meeting many wonderful practitioners that I am continuously inspired by. I also try to read regularly and have found recent inspiration from titles: “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself” by Dr Joe Dispenza and “Breath” by James Nestor. My martial art practices have always been inspired by art house movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which I have always found beauty in and aspire to move with such grace and control. I’m lucky to live in the countryside and so it’s easy to get immersed in nature and enjoy the beauties of the natural world. I often find inspiration in those unexpected moments when exploring outside in nature.
About the Cocoon team
We are lucky to have a truly terrific team, each professional bringing their own flavour and specialities to the table. Our private chef, Debbie Thorpe was on Masterchef, The Professionals. Debbie prepares all our meals and refreshments and uses produce from the estate kitchen garden wherever possible. Kit Clancy is our fantastic clinical Aromatherapist who specialises in women’s health.
Kit will be with us on our first full day offering 1-2-1 consultations with everyone and then creating onsite your own bespoke essential oil blend. Ali Gunning is our experienced sound therapist who will host an incredible immersive sound bath experience. Her very presence is enough to soothe the soul but her workshops are extra special.
And hosting restorative yoga we have Amy Williams who has travelled the world hosting yoga retreats, we’re very grateful to have her join us and share her wealth of experience with us. Silvie Lucakova who will be our retreat assistant and massage therapist. Silvie has a spotless reputation who has the knack of creating an instantly tranquil environment for you to melt away in. And finally myself as your host, tai chi and qi gong instructor, meditation leader and mindfulness practice coach. I pour my love of movement and connection into every class and will support each of you through your personal journey. Together, we’re confident you’ll have the most nourishing, memorable and restorative experience.
What is your favourite thing to do on a day off?
I’m a sucker for exploration, so I like to take my campervan and go and find somewhere I haven’t been before. Usually a beach or woodland or area of outstanding natural beauty. I enjoy paddle boarding and surfing so if I can tie one of these in too then I’m a very happy bunny!
What can your guests expect from the upcoming retreat at Boconnoc?
In a word: restoration.
Our retreats are all about slowing down to reconnect with yourself and the natural world around you. It is a place to become present, quieten mind-chatter and practice ways of nourishing your mind, body and soul. Practices that can not only be discovered and practiced at the retreat, but also taken home with you to create positive long-lasting effects in your everyday life. Of course, The Stewardy and the Boconnoc Estate offer the perfect environment for this to happen, with a wealth of undisturbed natural beauty surrounding every moment. We believe that finishing touches are important, so every guest is gifted a luxury goodie bag on arrival. And we have plenty more thoughtful extras to add those luxurious touches. Expect professionally cooked, delicious, plant-based cuisine, boutique accommodation, gentle movement classes, meditations, sound healing, massage, mindfulness, aromatherapy and more! We can’t wait to welcome you.
BRAND NEW FOR 2023: 3 NIGHT RESTORATIVE CORNISH RETREAT
Cocoon Luxury Retreats launches its first 2023 wellness experience, from April 21st-24th, at the Boconnoc Estate – the perfect antidote to escape the stresses of modern life.
3-nights luxury accommodation at The Stewardry manor house on the Boconnoc Estate – including a welcome gift (Drowsy Sleep Mask) and bespoke aromatherapy consultation, plus a personalised essential oil blend to also take home
2 full days of guided Tai Chi, Qi Gong, yoga and candlelit meditation classes, gong baths, sound healing and a Thai Yoga massage workshop.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and refreshments are included in the price. The Retreat will serve a plant-based menu using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients
Free time to explore the beautiful Bocconoc Estate grounds – try wild swimming, spot for deer and wildlife, explore the gardens or play tennis
A choice of massages are also available as an optional addition to the retreat programme.
Price: From £979pp (based on two sharing a twin room) – inclusive of accommodation, guided tuition and sessions, luxury welcome gift, bespoke aromatherapy consultation (and essential oil blend to take home), all refreshments including breakfast, fresh juices, lunch, snacks, and evening meals.
For more information and to book please visit;
www.cocoonluxuryretreats.co.uk
Save almost £500 with your partner!
Join us at the Stewardry, on the Boconnoc Estate for our restorative Cornish retreat April 21st-24th or for our Autumn retreat (29th Sept- 1st Oct 2023)
Save £150 each PLUS complimentary full body holistic massage, worth £80 each. A total saving of £460!!
Use code: “Valentines”
Instalment payments available, available on double or master room options.
Offer ends 28th of Feb 2023
Only TWO places available! We allow up to two couples per retreat to keep our groups small, so get this offer before it goes!!
Book online at: www.cocoonluxuryretreats.co.uk/