Through expertly guided Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® lessons, meditation, and carefully held space for rest and reflection, Helen and James share the depth of knowledge developed through years of working closely with people experiencing stress, pain, burnout, and disconnection.

This retreat offers an opportunity to rediscover ease, resilience, and trust in your body—while being supported in an environment that encourages deep rest, curiosity, connection, and renewal. This retreat is for you if…

You are feeling overwhelmed by modern life

Constant multitasking, screens, commuting, work and family responsibilities can leave the nervous system in a state of ongoing stress and overactivation.

You are tired of always needing to keep up

Many people are living with pressure around productivity, perfectionism, social comparison and the feeling they should always be doing more — or doing it better.

You want time away from the urban environment

Time in nature, restorative movement, deep rest and genuine human connection can help restore the balance between activity and recovery.

You notice the effects of chronic stress

This may show up as:

• tension and tightness

• anxiety or emotional overwhelm

• fatigue or difficulty switching off

• poor sleep

• hormonal changes, perimenopause or menopause symptoms

• feeling physically or emotionally depleted

You are tired of constant stimulation

Modern life often keeps us stuck between dopamine highs and crashes — scrolling, consuming, comparing, achieving and rarely fully resting.

Many people are longing for a slower and more grounded way of living.

You want a healthier relationship with movement and wellbeing

Through Feldenkrais, meditation and mindful movement, we explore more ease, awareness and nervous system regulation — without pressure, performance or self-criticism.

This retreat is open to all levels of movement experience, including those navigating stress, burnout, fatigue, physical limitations or emotional overwhelm.

Meet your Guides

Helen Pinnock

Helen Pinnock is a reflexologist, meditation teacher, mentor and author with more than two decades of experience in holistic wellbeing. She also owned and ran a multidisciplinary wellbeing clinic for 20 years, supporting a wide range of clients through stress, chronic pain, hormonal imbalance, burnout and emotional overwhelm. Through her work at Reflexology Norwich, Helen’s approach blends reflexology, nervous system awareness, meditation and compassionate self-inquiry to help women reconnect with themselves, soften patterns of stress and build lasting confidence from the inside out.

Helen’s work is deeply personal as well as professional. Her own experiences with chronic illness, pain and recovery led her to explore the connection between the body, emotions and self-trust, shaping the calm and grounded way she now teaches and holds space for others. Alongside her clinical practice, she leads women’s meditation groups, mentors reflexologists, and writes extensively on nervous system health, emotional wellbeing and embodied healing. Her retreats are designed to help participants slow down, feel safe in their bodies, and rediscover a quiet, authentic confidence in themselves.

James Jackson

James Jackson is a highly experienced certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and senior Pilates teacher with nearly two decades of professional practice helping people move with greater ease, resilience and confidence. He supports clients living with persistent pain, stress, injury, neurological conditions and movement limitations through a calm, intuitive and deeply compassionate approach.

Combining the precision of Pilates with the restorative and awareness-based principles of the Feldenkrais Method®, James helps people reconnect with themselves through movement, nervous system regulation and embodied awareness. His work is shaped by extensive professional training and his own journey through injury and recovery, bringing depth, sensitivity and genuine understanding to his teaching.

Alongside his work in the UK, James works internationally as a visiting practitioner within world-renowned luxury wellness resorts, including Aman Resorts, offering highly personalised experiences that blend refined teaching, movement and holistic wellbeing.

What You’ll Experience

A restorative time of movement, mindfulness and community in mountainous nature — designed to help you connect to the moment, simplify thoughts, balance your body and experience joy and confidence in yourself.

Gentle Feldenkrais® Movement Lessons

Slow, guided movement sessions designed to ease tension, improve awareness, and help you feel comfortable and confident in your body — without pressure, performance, or needing to “get it right.” Drawing on James’ years of experience working with stress, pain, movement, and nervous system regulation, these lessons offer a gentle and practical approach to feeling more at ease in yourself.

If you are new to the Feldenkrais Method®, you can read this article to learn more about this unique and transformative practice.

Meditation & Deep Relaxation

Practical meditation and relaxation sessions designed to calm stress, quiet overthinking, and support your nervous system in returning to ease, clarity, and emotional balance. Drawing on Helen’s years of experience supporting emotional wellbeing, these sessions offer simple and effective tools for everyday life.

For more information about the benefits of meditation for stress and anxiety, read Helen’s blog here.

Somatics & Embodied Awareness

Each morning, you’ll have the option to join either Somatic Pilates with James or a guided meditation in nature with Helen. Developed by James, Somatic Pilates combines the deep body awareness of the Feldenkrais Method with the structured principles of Pilates, creating a slower, more attentive approach to movement.

Helen’s guided meditations offer a space to slow down regulate your nervous system, breathe deeply and reconnect - inviting you to soften, listen inwardly and connect through stillness and nature.

Integration & Rest

Dedicated time to stop and breathe deeply. Properly rest and experience natural sleep. A daily rhythm that supports a present state of mind, organised thoughts, comfort in your joints, and steadiness from the ground up.

Supportive Group Connection

A warm, non-judgemental environment where you can relax around others, be yourself, and experience genuine connection without pressure to perform, impress, or fit in.

Time in Nature

Set within the mountains and forests of the Haut-Languedoc Natural Park in southern France, the area around Magic Hill is known for its peaceful atmosphere, hiking trails and wild swimming spots, including the nearby Cascade de Fréjo waterfall and the crystal-clear pools of the Gorges d’Héric. If conditions allow, there may be the chance to visit one of these local swimming spots during the retreat.

Practical Tools for Everyday Confidence

You’ll leave with simple, realistic practices you can continue using at home to help manage stress, move with ease, and feel confident in daily life.

Good Mood Food

Fresh, nourishing vegetarian meals made with local, seasonal and organic ingredients where possible, thoughtfully balanced with protein, fibre and healthy fats to help stabilise blood sugar, support steady energy, improve mood, reduce brain fog and encourage more focused attention throughout the retreat.

Confidence Is….

"Confidence Isn't being loud, being perfect, having no fear. Real confidence feels like ease in your body, space in your breath, not needing to push, it's quieter than you think and much more physical." In Helen & James’ words

Sample Day

A gentle rhythm to each day

For more information or to make a retreat booking, complete the form at the bottom of the page:

https://www.feldenkraiswithjames.com/confidence-the-retreat

Please read the T’s & C’s outlining payment accountability.

For any enquiries ahead of booking, or to set up a payment plan following deposit payment, please email Helen at: info@helenpinnock.com