

Reflexology and Mental Well-Being
September 27, 2020 - October 3, 2020
| ---Created by reflexologists for reflexologists, this Equilibrio reflexologists’ retreat brings reflexologists together in a beautiful and tranquil setting. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in your chosen healing art, recharge your batteries and inspire your mind.
Autumn Reflexology Retreat
Secure your place now!
For this retreat, we will focus on optimising well-being, for ourselves and our clients. Our special guest reflexologist Sally Earlam and workshop leaders Betty Favor and Sophie Paulding will look at building resilience in a world where avoiding stresses and strains are close to impossible.
Combine all this with 3 delicious and nutritious meals a day (except for lazy day, more info below), daily yoga, meditation classes, four workshop sessions, treatment exchange sessions and plenty of time to relax and share treatments with other guests and you can see why a week at Equilibrio is the perfect combination for hardworking and caring professionals!
Price
The price includes 6 nights accommodation in this stunning setting, in a single en suite room, or a twin room with private sun terrace and full use of the centre facilities including the outdoor pool.
Two complimentary therapies are included in your Equilibrio retreat. You can view the therapies on offer at Punto de Luz here:
http://www.centropuntodeluz.com/therapies.php
This price does not include flights or transfers.
Detailed Timetable
Each day starts by nurturing your physical and mental well being. These 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.
The focus in the kitchen is on tasty and health-giving meals. Each day will be an opportunity to experience and gain information about eating well.
Workshops given by Lynne Booth and Equilibrios nutritionalist and herbalist.
The team section on this page gives you more details about the workshops.
Making full and fantastic use of the abundant local and homegrown vegetables, local olive oil, cheeses and other local produce.
Two treatments from experienced Equilibrio bodywork practitioners are included in your retreat experience.
Equilibrio team practitioners will be on hand throughout the week to share their knowledge with you in a relaxed and informal way.
There will also be time and space in this session to team up with one of the other participants for a treatment swap and more in depth sharing should you chose to do so.
Whether you are a newly qualified or an experienced practitioner, learning from and sharing knowledge with peers can be interesting and rewarding. Experiencing each others techniques and discussing methods of treatment also allows us the opportunity to look at things in a different way. It can be a great opportunity to build confidence in our own skills and empower us as therapists, especially if we are working in practice on our own or returning to bodywork after a break.
Sunday morning will be free for you to explore the wider area, go hiking or horse-riding, visit the local town or the mountain villages. Your host Anna will be available to organise any trips you would like to take and picnics if required.
Alternatively you can spend the time further enjoying the retreat facilities. There are many interesting books in the library which you can borrow during your stay.
Another culinary delight, also including a sumptuous and surprisingly healthy desert.
Evenings are free time for moonlight swimming, star gazing or just hanging out.
The Team for the Retreat
Sally Earlam

Supporting clients who are living with stress anxiety and depression
Supporting emotional wellbeing is such a large part of our work as reflexologists. Sallys deep interest in how we can best support our clients mental as well as physical health began about 7 years ago when her daughter was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. This sent Sally on a journey of discovery – what is the physiology and how can we adapt our reflexology? And what self-help techniques are effective?
Sally will be sharing with you a holistic approach looking at what we can do as reflexologists including reflexology techniques and some evidence based self-help techniques that can be offered to clients to help support their journey towards emotional wellbeing.
Sally has been a reflexologist for 20 years and a qualified teacher for 13 years. She currently work part time for the Association of Reflexologist (AoR) as their Head of Training and Education. She also sees clients and teach CPD courses in SE London.
Her working career started in nursing and She has been a qualified Nurse for 34 years. After qualifying as a nurse She worked in several Central London Hospitals, was a Macmillan Nurse for 10 years looking at quality of life in patients with advanced bowel cancer, and then worked for the King’s Fund in the Nursing Development Team.
Anna Bartholomew, MAR

Host and facilitator Anna Bartholomew (MAR) is a reflexologist and an experienced retreat and events host. 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. She has continued her professional development by attending workshops in Women’s Health, Mobilisation Techniques, Ayurvedic Reflexology and The Treatment of Pain.
She currently works from her therapy room in Orgiva and at various retreat centres in the area as well as at one off events. She is very experienced in providing reflexology to clients dealing with grief, anxiety, depression and stress.
Jane Bartholomew, MAR, ART (registered)
Host and facilitator Jane Bartholomew MAR ART (reg’d) trained at the Oxford School of Reflexology. Since then she has continued her professional development by attending courses in: Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART); Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT); Pain Management Techniques and the treatment of pain; Clinical Reflexology; Maternity and Fertility reflexology; Baby reflex and Palliative and Supportive Care.
She worked, for 8 years, at a Holistic Health Centre in Cheltenham where she gained a broad knowledge of complementary therapies and experience of co-treating with professionals of other disciplines. She now lives in Manchester where she works primarily with maternity and fertility clients and those suffering from pain, stress and anxiety. She also works for a cancer charity.
Sophie Paulding, BSc. (Hons)

Our mental health is under constant attack from the stress associated with the expectations of others, relationships, family, work and society, leading to insomnia, panic attacks, anxiety, depression and other forms of mental stress. Prescriptions for antidepressants, antipsychotics and sleep medications have risen dramatically over the past two decades.
As a herbalist, Sophie has seen a lot of this in her clinical practice. Herbs can provide a strong support for someone dealing with mental health issues. In this workshop we will discuss the effective use of herbs for depression, insomnia and anxiety medication withdrawal as well as covering core holistic strategies for dealing with these conditions.
Sophie Paulding is a Medical Herbalist. Holding a BSc in Clinical Herbal Medicine (2006) she has been studying and using herbs for over 15 years. She currently speaks at various retreats and runs a successful clinical practice in our local town, Orgiva.
She is enthusiastic about effective herbal treatment and loves to share her views on how herbs can be used in varying ways depending on dosage needs and the therapeutic relationship.
Her workshops are always interactive and entertaining with an intelligent blend of down to earth information and more complex physiological scientific concepts which really add to and deepen our understanding. So, whether it is the first time you have attended a herbal medicine workshop or you already have a lot of knowledge in this field there is sure to be something for you!
Betty Favot,
Nutritional Therapist

Are you low on energy? Anxious and stressed? Suffering from brain fog In recent years, many pioneering studies, as well as neuroscientific research, has revealed a connection between the brain and the gut in a way that was simply unthinkable just a few decades ago. The gut effectively functions as your second brain.
This workshop will explore the “brain-gut axis” in relation to the intestinal microbiota and the many neurotransmitters that balance your mood.
You will, not only understand this fascinating area of your physiology, but learn how to look after your precious gut flora, keeping you healthy in body and mind.
Unfortunately, the modern Western diet is rather unfriendly towards our gut flora and this workshop will suggest methods you can use to correct this imbalance.
We will be discussing healing and protective foods, preparation methods, bacterial cultures and specific supplements for gut health.
Starter cultures will be provided to take home as part of this workshop.
Betty is a nutritional therapist and a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
At Centro Punto de Luz she works both on a one to one basis and as a group coach to guide participants towards a simple but powerful lifestyle shift.
She has 10 years experience practising as a nutritional therapist, designing balanced vegan and vegetarian menus for the retreat. She also runs nutritional workshops and courses at various locations on a variety of topics.
She is specialized in helping clients to move towards a whole food plant based diet,targeted to minimize toxicity and increase plant nutrients for vibrant health.
She believes in the innate ability of the human body to heal itself if offered the appropriate tools such as whole plant foods, naturopathic treatments and remedies.
At Centro Punto de Luz she works both on a one to one basis and as a group coach to guide participants towards a simple but powerful lifestyle shift.
David, Yoga Teacher

David is a yoga practitioner, instructor and therapist, and an Ayurveda practitioner, trained in India and Turkey (RYT 500 in Hatha/Power Yoga & Yoga Therapy). Through years of practice and study of many different styles of Yoga, he has developed a unique practice, with a simple and effective method of teaching, with an emphasis on adequate body alignment, breathing & mindfulness. Spiritually inspired by the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhist tradition, each practice becomes a holistic journey that cultivates awareness & acceptance, authentic and universal values that give us the opportunity to discover who we really are, and to find our true place.
Because David’s style is enhanced by his experience as an Ayurveda Practitioner and Yoga therapist, all classes, from a restorative/relaxing approach to the more powerful and challenging practice, are designed according to the students’ levels and needs (especially during Yoga Therapy individual sessions).