Everything here is optional - we want you to have autonomy and agency over yourself. We’ll always check in if it’s fear stopping you and if it is we can help you through if you would like but if it's something else you absolutely do what you need to do.

If you are a non or not a confident swimmer, that is ok. You can still take part in the activities and wild swimming. Many non-swimmers who have attended have come to the wild swimming and walked into the water to a height of comfort for them.

If you have any concerns or fears, speak to Steph in advance or upon arrival and you can fully discuss your level of comfort in the water.

You are responsible for getting yourselves to and from any off site activities. Once you’re all together you can decide between you about car sharing.

Standard equipment you need for the activities will be provided including wetsuits where relevant but you will need your own footwear.

Each course is designed carefully to ensure the coaching and activities are fused together, each enhancing the other to provide you with an experience that will stay with you for your lifetime.

Everyone associated with Bodlondeb Studio & Retreat is qualified, certified and insured so you can be sure you're in good hands. Not only that but we're all coaches too which means you'll be supported physically, mentally and emotionally.

Bearded Men Adventures

Stand Up Paddleboard UK

Ruth Lewis (rescue horses)

Antony Fleming-Williams

It's easier to get to us than you think!

All our retreats are run from our home base Bodlondeb Studio & Retreat:

Bodlondeb Studio & Retreat

Dinmael, Corwen, LL21 0NY

You can get here by plane, train, bus or car - https://www.both-feet.co.uk/find-us

Good to know:

In order to ensure all retreat participants can have as much fun as possible, we try to encourage roughly three - four people from each group to drive. Often groups under this number will come together and hire a car for the period to allow flexibility.

(This can be confirmed the week prior to your retreat when your groups WhatsApp chat group is created.)

Rest assured that a week before your retreat you'll be sent a Welcome Pack with all the information you'll need. Within that there is a full packing list.

However, if you want to get ahead...

• Decent solid footwear for outdoor walking

• Decent footwear for wet outdoor activities (no crocs for Stand Up Paddleboarding, coasteering or canyoning where relevant)

• Wet shoes/crocs or trainers that you are prepared to get wet are suggested if you're coming wild swimming (they make the walk in kinder).

• Lightweight clothing such as leggings/shorts/joggers, t-shirt/synthetic top/fleece - We always advise having many layers available to you.

• Waterproof jacket/trousers (weather depending).

• Swimwear (and a little wet clothes bag)

• Wet shoes/crocs or trainers for swimming if relevant

• Hoodies, jumpers or fleeces

• Small rucksack

• Towels - Shower one and swim one

• Indoor studio shoes if you’d rather have footwear on in the studio.

• Hat, gloves and scarf (weather depending)

Consider what you'll need if one set is drying out...

Must haves…

• Bath towel & towel for activities where relevant

• Any special food requirements

• Bottle of water

• Notepad & pen

General suggestions

• Slippers & PJs

• Suncream (I’m being hopeful!)

• Insect repellent

• Cash for washing machine

Most forgotten items: Note pad and pen, waterproofs, towels, swimming stuff inc. shoes, walking boots and trainers.

Yes! All our courses and retreats are created to are designed to allow you some free time and reflection time.

When you sign up for a retreat you'll be given the opportunity to inform us of any dietary requirements and medical conditions we should be aware of.

In terms of food/meals...

Retreats under 2 days:

Your food will be provided in line with yours and the groups dietary requirements.

Retreats over 2 days:

We provide your first meal for your arrival day and a welcome breakfast for your first morning in line with the groups dietary requirements.

It is the groups responsibility to put in a group food order for your retreats meals. There is time scheduled in to do this upon arrival however, you may wish to this order through in advance.

If you feel you have additional needs, contact Steph and we can work through it together.

Simply click here and you'll find our full extended list of FAQs

Click here to read our full list of terms and conditions.

A Basic Outline*

Day 1: Arrive 4-5pm, make your beds and dinner, order food for the following day, meet Steph in the studio at 7pm. Days 2, 3, 4, 5: Discovering & exploring Meisner's exercises that help you listen more openly and respond more honestly + outdoor activities! Day 6: Morning off and afternoon walking in Snowdonia with Ant. Day 7, 8 & 9, 10 & 11: Working through the exercises that help with the impulse to move, living truthfully under given circumstances & Meisner's bold and powerful text analysis with time to explore taking direction + outdoor activities! ​ Day 12: Group meeting at 9am followed by 1:1s. Group disperses in the afternoon.

*this format can change depending on the weather and the needs of the group.

We can't allow people to miss days as it compromises the training not only for yourself but for the rest of the group. However, if you need to do self tapes during the retreat, speak to Steph as she'll always do what she can to support you.

The beds turn into excellent sound booths and many a self tape has been successful when done here on a retreat.

Steph will support you best she can.

Our retreats include optional morning wild swimming and many involve outdoor activities including stand up paddle boarding or tubing.

If you are a non or not a confident swimmer, that is ok. You can still take part in the activities and wild swimming. Many non-swimmers who have attended have come to the wild swimming and walked into the water to a height of comfort for them. If you have any concerns or fears, speak to Steph in advance or upon arrival and you can fully discuss your level of comfort in the water.

You have 4 main options:

1. Drive

2. Get picked up by another attendee from a station

Chester (if driving from the North) or Ruabon (if driving from the south).

3. Get the bus

T3 - Wrexham or Ruabon to Corwen OR T8 - Chester to Corwen

T10 - Corwen to our doorstep

4. Get a taxi (must book in advance!)

Chester Taxi Services, 01244 421024, 4 seater £70 from Chester

Crown Cars (Wrexham based), 01978 842000, 4 seater £30 from Ruabon

Simply Google Bodlondeb Studio & Retreat and it’ll bring you to the door.

The address: Bodlondeb, Dinmael, Corwen, LL21 0NY

NB: The postcode will take you OFF the A5. We are on it.

Extra details: You’ll go past the Maerdy & Dinmael sign, and past The Goat pub. Keep going until you come to the Dinmael sign. We are second house on the right (blue door). You should see our sign hanging on the fence. Welcome! Head up the drive and get the kettle on!

We are able to park around 7 cars stacked up the drive. If there are more cars you can park a couple of minutes walk away.

There's not many houses here in Dinmael but there are some so we do ask that you're mindful and respectful of their space by parking in the bays away from people’s homes.

We'll warn you now - the signal around here isn't great - both a blessing and a curse!

We ummed and ahhed about whether to get internet installed because really you’ve come here to connect with each other and we all know phones can restrict how we connect, but we respect it's important to check in with home.

So, we have installed it, and it'll be up to you whether you use it.

NB The Chaplin bedroom doesn't have wifi or phone signal (it's glorious!)

All bedding is provided. There’ll be hand towels in the en-suites but you’ll need to bring your own bath / swim towels.

Alcohol or drugs aren’t to be consumed on the premises during a retreat. We often use them as ways of escaping connection and the present moment and we want you to explore what it is to take these social crutches away and simply be you.

Let us know if you need some washing doing, absolutely no problem. It’s £4.50 for it to be washed and dried and handed back to you smelly lovely! Payment by cash is preferred or you can bank transfer or pay by card.

If you’re anything like me you’ll love a check list so I thought I’d make you one!

Whatever your needs are, talk to us and we'll work out how we can help.

When it comes to food, we'll cater for any non-flexible dietary requirements in the welcome package (coeliac, allergies, etc.). However, any other requirements will be your responsibility. So, make sure you bring whatever you need with you.

Check the details for individual retreats but generally if you're doing a retreat with us we provide a parcel with the ingredients and recipe for your first evening meal plus the following morning.

On your first evening as a group you’ll need to arrange a delivery slot from a supermarket, most deliver here. You can then organise what you want to stock the kitchen with for the rest of your stay. People tend to love the group cooking, it’s a beautiful way to connect and bond.

Typically days with Steph in the studio will start at 9.30 and finish at 5.30pm with an hour's lunch break and small breaks mid morning / mid afternoon.

You may have some outdoor activities built into those hours and you may have a couple of evening activities planned too (like going to see the horses or heading up to make dinner on the moors), you’ll be given a schedule upon arrival.

You’ll be invited to come for a walk and/or a swim, often at 6am (lighter days) and 8am (darker days). These are optional.

You are welcome to request a certain bunk or room. We’ll always do our best to get you where you want to be.

Our training is for committed actors with a fire in their bellies looking to do things differently.

The why makes all the difference, if you know yours or have even an inkling, get in touch.

We take each application as it comes in, no story is the same. So if our website resonates with you and you feel the pull to what we do here, register your interest and we'll take it from there.

We are specifically looking for people who are kind, curious and hungry to expand even if there's fear. We are excited about people who are both open and driven, no matter their age, size, background and stories.

We do things differently here, are you ready?

All of our retreats are application only.

Step 1: Register your interest on the correct page.

Step 2: You'll be contacted via email to start your application process.

Step 3: Some of them will require both a written and filmed application - we'll talk you through it.

Our top tip - be you and be honest.

Step 4: If you're accepted you'll be given 2 weeks to confirm your place.

You'll have payment options to pay in full or place a deposit.

Clearing

Sometimes due to changes in circumstances places become available. If that's the case we will open up applications 3 weeks before the course start date (for 7 days) to the wait list and welcome any last minute applications.

Places are highly sought after so we recommend you get your application in early when possible.

Sometimes places become available so it is worth registering your interest at any point in case we open up Clearing.

Clearing

Sometimes due to changes in circumstances places become available. If that's the case we will open up applications 3 weeks before the course start date (for 7 days) to the wait list and welcome any last minute applications.

Places are highly sought after so we recommend you get your application in early when possible.

We highly recommend digging deep and jumping in with the room sharing, it’s easier than you may think, especially with the curtains for that extra privacy.

However, we do understand that it’s just not an option for some so we’ve partnered up with our friend Sioned who has a spare room on the farm opposite. It has its own entrance, double bed and en-suite.

Get in touch if you’d like to find out if it’s available. £35/night

It will depend on the retreat. Some of the retreats are gentle and others are a little more vigorous with activities like Canyoning.

We can adapt the morning walks and swims to cater for different fitness and mobility levels.

Definitely talk to us, you’re probably more capable than you think.

Absolutely. We get all sorts of ages here and it’s that mix that makes it so special.

I actually don’t know many who aren’t when they’re thinking about booking something like this. It’s a beautiful thing, doing something that terrifies you - it takes a vast amount of courage to feel the fear and jump any way.

And it'll be worth it, I promise.

"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." - Dolly Parton

Please see our Ts&Cs.

We will always do our best to support you.