Nature, too, is a compelling partner. At each location, Dodd lets the surroundings shape the programme – a sunrise Elemental Water meditation on the beach in the Grenadines; a Welcome Circle woven with olive branches in the Peloponnese. “Practising near the sea or under trees is profoundly regulating,” Dodd says. “It reduces cortisol, it grounds you. You feel it in your whole system.” At Canouan, the backdrop is one of white powder sand, birdsong, slow-lapping waves, tortoises in the undergrowth. In Costa Navarino, its sense of place is rooted in golden hour at the infinity pool, the scent of mineral-rich olive trees and the flamingo-filled lagoon. And alongside the setting, local culture and cuisine are also woven into the retreats, from regional dishes to traditional practices. “An important part of wellbeing is soaking up what’s around you,” Dodd confirms. “The stories, the flavours, the community. It all adds depth.”
Her sessions blend breathwork and grounding movement with moments of music – often binaural beats to downregulate the nervous system. And always there’s the invitation to rest. “In a grounding practice, we go slowly, intentionally, connecting to breath, to earth, to the root chakra,” says Dodds. “In restorative sessions, it’s about stillness, support. That’s when the mind really lets go.”
