Finding Balance
A restorative retreat for busy minds and tired bodies
20th - 27th September 2026
Do you ever feel the need to slow down… just for a while?
That the pace of life and all your responsibilities are leaving you disconnected from what you truly need?
That you’re reacting more than responding… simply surviving rather than thriving?
If any of that resonates, you’re not alone.
Finding Balance offers you the chance to step away from the noise, the demands and the constant ‘doing.’
It’s a week to reset, with no pressure and no expectations, just space, support, and inspiration to reconnect with yourself.
At the beautiful Almeji Retreat Centre in southern Spain, the Equilibrio team will support you to explore simple, sustainable ways to regulate your nervous system, care for yourself more deeply, and feel more like you again.
Our Price Includes
What’s included:
- Comfortable ensuite accommodation in twin or single rooms, with stunning mountain views
- Delicious, home-cooked vegetarian meals, created by Ameji’s in house wholefood chef and qualified nutritional therapist Clare Soutar.
- A full programme of optional workshops and guided activities
- Two holistic therapies of your choice (Reflexology, Massage, Nutritional Therapy)
- Morning yoga, mindful moments, walks, and fun fitness
- A lazy day trip to the historic town of Ronda
- Free airport transfers from Málaga
Our workshops:
- Somatic Awareness & Nervous System Regulation
- Singing, Breath, and Nervous System Ease
- Hand & Face Massage for Relaxation and Renewal
- Food as Medicine- A Nutritional Approach
- Collage Art for Co Regulation
You’re welcome to join as much or as little as you like.
Everything is included in the retreat price:
- £1,280 per person (shared room)
- £1,480 per person (private single room)
Not Included
- Flights
- Any taxis.
Timetable
All activities on this retreat are optional. And you are welcome to enjoy all or some of them as suits your needs. The retreat centre is also a beautiful place to relax and just be.
The retreat closes at 10am on Sunday 14th June. There will be breakfast and time for fond farewells before the transfers depart for the airport. Please book a flight leaving at 2pm or later.
Day/Time
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
7:30-8:00
Mindful Moments
Mindful Moments
Mindful Moments
Mindful Moments
Mindful Moments
Mindful Moments
8:00-9:00
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga
Yoga
9:15-10:00
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
10:30-13:30
Workshop: Somatic Awareness & Nervous System Regulation
Workshop: Singing, Breath, and Nervous System Ease
Workshop : Hand & Face Massage for Relaxation and Renewa
Lazy day outing to Ronda
Workshop: Food as medicine- A Nutritional Approach
Workshop: Collage Art for Co Regulation
13:30-14:30
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
1430-17:30
Retreat centre opens
Free time Therapies available
Free time Therapies available
Free time Therapies available
Free time Therapies available
Free time Therapies available
18:00-18:45
Welcome
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement
19:30-20:30
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
21:30
Easing into Sleep
Easing into Sleep
Easing into Sleep
Easing into Sleep
Easing into Sleep
Easing into Sleep
Easing into Sleep
The retreat closes at 10am on Sunday the 27th of September. There will be breakfast and time for fond farewells before the transfers depart for the airport. Please book a flight leaving at 2pm or later.
What Will You be Doing on the Retreat
Workshops
Hand & Face Massage for Relaxation and Renewal
In this workshop, you’ll learn simple self-massage techniques for the hands and face to release tension, improve circulation, and support a sense of calm. Through guided practice, participants will explore how mindful touch can ease stress, soften facial muscles, restore energy to the hands and calm the whole body.
These gentle practices can be used anytime to relax and refresh.
Food as medicine- A Nutritional Approach
Nutrition has a major impact on mental wellbeing, through the types of foods we eat, the nutrients needed for brain neurotransmitters and the balance of our gut microbiome. Modern life, and the way we eat, is a significant contributor to the rising rates of mental health disorders – and arguably the most modifiable.
The workshop will provide knowledge and practical strategies about the anti-inflammatory diet, the foundation for good mental health. We will discuss specific foods and nutrients that can effectively enhance emotional wellbeing and help to alleviate stress, depression and anxiety. We will also introduce the concept of nutrigenomics and how natural genetic variations modify our need for specific nutrients. Finally, the links between our gut microbiome and emotional health will be introduced, with explanation of the gut-brain axis and how this can be supported to achieve optimal physical and emotional health
Somatic Awareness & Nervous System Regulation
In this workshop, we will explore how the body and mind are deeply interconnected, and how somatic practices can support resilience, grounding, and emotional regulation. Through gentle movement, breathwork, and guided awareness, participants will learn practical tools for noticing and shifting tension, stress, or overwhelm.
We will discuss our own nervous system states and develop regulation techniques that work best for our own individual circumstances.
This session is drawn from somatic psychology and body-based practices and is designed to be accessible to all—no prior experience is needed.
Participants will leave with greater awareness of their own nervous system responses and a toolkit of practices they can integrate into daily life to support balance, presence, and wellbeing.
Singing, Breath, and Nervous System Ease
This workshop invites you to explore the simple joy of singing as a way to connect with your breath, calm the nervous system, and free your natural voice. Through gentle breathwork and group singing, we’ll discover how voice and breath can bring us back into balance.
Together, we will:
- Use breath awareness to ground and settle the body
- Explore how sound vibrations support relaxation and energy flow
- Sing simple songs that anyone can join, no experience required
This is not about “perfect” singing — it’s about singing for fun, connection, and nervous system nourishment. Come as you are, breathe deeply, and let your voice move with ease.
Collage Art for Co Regulation
A facilitated creative space to come together, chat and do some collage based exploration. No experience is necessary as this workshop focuses on calm crafting and co-regulation. The session will have a warm up activity inspired by our learning in the week so far, followed by some time to work on collages of your own at your own pace, creating space for contented task based companionship in a relaxed space.
Other Activities
Food
The focus in the kitchen is on tasty and health-giving plant based meals, making full and fantastic use of the abundant local and homegrown vegetables, local olive oil, cheeses and other local produce. Special diets can almost always be catered for, so let us know your needs before you book.
Each day will be an opportunity to experience and gain information about eating well.
Mindful moments and Morning Yoga
Each day starts by nurturing your physical and mental well being. A short session we are calling ‘Mindful Moments’ will be followed by morning yoga
Equilibrio yoga sessions are suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced and individual requirements can be accommodated for.
Like the rest of the programme this session is optional, so if your needs are better served by staying in bed that’s fine too.
Treatments
Two treatments from experienced Equilibrio bodywork practitioners are included in your retreat experience.
Some Equilibrio team practitioners will be on hand throughout the week to share their knowledge with you in a relaxed and informal way.
Lazy Day
Our programme includes a ‘lazy day’. You can take this literally and spend a day relaxing at Almeji or join an excursion to the historic town of Ronda to experience some local culture before returning to the centre for your evening meal.
Meet the Team
Anna and Jane have over 20 years’ experience in therapeutic practice.. As founders of Equilibrio, they bring together a skilled and compassionate team, ready to support you fully — with warmth, kindness, and deep respect.
Anna Bartholomew, MAR
Host and facilitator Anna Bartholomew, is an experienced reflexologist and retreat & events host.
She has worked extensively as a therapist, organiser and educator for several established retreat centres and for many local events. Anna instinctively knows how to meet the needs of guests and facilitators alike!
Trained in Thai Reflexology Massage in Krabi, South Thailand and later in Reflexology at the London School of Massage, she has also undertaken training in Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART) and Advanced Spinal Reflexology and Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT). Anna has continued her professional development by attending workshops in Women’s Health, Mobilisation Techniques, Ayurvedic Reflexology and The Treatment of Pain.
She currently works with private clients in Orgiva, and is very experienced in supporting those with grief, anxiety, depression and stress.
Jane Bartholomew MAR ART
Host and facilitator Jane Bartholomew is a Reflexologist, Yoga Therapist, Somatic Practitioner and Coach. She specialises in Stress, Anxiety, Overwhelm and Chronic Pain and has extensive experience supporting those with trauma, chronic illness, depression, sleep problems, burnout, fatigue and cancer.
She has a broad knowledge of other complementary therapies and as well as working 1:1, runs educational programmes for health and wellbeing, both as part of Manchester Wellbeing Rooms CIC and in her role as a Yoga4health teacher.
Rebecca Heazell
‘Rebecca is a British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) Registered Nutritional Therapist and a member of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
She uses a Functional Medicine approach and evidence-based nutritional advice to support both emotional wellbeing and physical health, providing personalised and positive diet and lifestyle changes to help relieve symptoms and address root causes of imbalances. As well as working 1:1 she runs educational programmes and workshops.
Her specialist interest is women’s health and she works with women at all stages of their reproductive lives to help improve hormone balance and reproductive health, from fertility to menopause and beyond.
Kaiya Bartholomew
The Almeji Retreat Centre
Hotel Almeji, is a hidden gem nestled in the picturesque Andalusian countryside just a stone’s throw from the historic city of Ronda. Our family-owned hotel, originally a 200 year-old olive mill, offers a unique blend of rustic charm and warm hospitality, providing a perfect escape for those seeking tranquillity and authenticity in the heart of Andalusia.
Set amidst olive groves and rolling hills of the Genal Valley, Hotel Almeji boasts 18 beautifully-appointed bedrooms, each with its own distinct character. The hotel’s intimate size allows us to offer personalised service and attention to detail that larger establishments simply can’t match. Almeji is the perfect venue to host group events and retreats.
Please visit their website to find out more.
Hotel Almeji, is a hidden gem nestled in the picturesque Andalusian countryside just a stone’s throw from the historic city of Ronda. Our family-owned hotel, originally a 200 year-old olive mill, offers a unique blend of rustic charm and warm hospitality, providing a perfect escape for those seeking tranquillity and authenticity in the heart of Andalusia.
Set amidst olive groves and rolling hills of the Genal Valley, Hotel Almeji boasts 18 beautifully-appointed bedrooms, each with its own distinct character. The hotel’s intimate size allows us to offer personalised service and attention to detail that larger establishments simply can’t match. Almeji is the perfect venue to host group events and retreats.
Please visit their website to find out more.
