Come Up for Air
A restorative retreat for women in midlife
you deserve to breathe again
you deserve to thrive
and it starts here
31 July 2026
4.00pm–9.00pm
and
1 August 2026
9.00am–5.00pm
Where : Southport, UK
You’re holding everything together.
Your work. Your family. Your emotions. Your mental load. The endless decisions, responsibilities, and expectations.
From the outside, you may look as though you’re coping brilliantly.
But inside, you’re tired. Not just physically tired: mentally crowded, emotionally stretched, and quietly overwhelmed by the constant pressure of keeping all the plates spinning.
If that sounds familiar, this retreat was created for you.
''Come up for air' is a safe space, an in-person retreat designed specifically for women in midlife who have been carrying too much for too long.
Over two days you'll experience deeply restorative sessions, including yoga nidra, visualisations and reflections and practical sessions that can change your outlook and habits, for example managing technology, and a cooking demonstration - and have the chance to connect over great food with warm company.
This is not about “fixing” yourself.
It’s about listening to what your mind and body are trying to tell you, and creating practical, sustainable changes that help you feel calmer, clearer, and more in control again. You deserve to breathe again. And you deserve to thrive.
What makes this retreat different?
This retreat will be deeply relaxing, it combines science, psychology, nutrition, nervous system regulation, lifestyle support and reflective coaching.
You’ll take away lasting tools as well as
A clearer understanding of what triggers your overwhelm
Insight into what’s happening in your brain & body during midlife
Practical strategies to reduce stress & mental load
Tools to manage technology & overstimulation more effectively
Support with making meaningful changes that actually last
Space to reflect on your future self & what matters most now
A realistic personal plan you can take home & begin immediately
A sense of calm, connection, & possibility
Most importantly, you'll spend time with women who understand exactly how this time of life can feel ... and who are ready to cheer you on.
This retreat is for you if…
You feel mentally overloaded most of the time
You’re constantly juggling other people’s needs alongside your own
You’ve lost sight of what you need
You’re exhausted by the pressure to keep going
You’re aware that midlife is changing you physically and emotionally, and in ways that are hard to name
You know something needs to change, but you’re not sure where to begin
You want support, insight, and practical tools, not toxic positivity or unrealistic advice
You’re craving space to think, breathe, reset, and reconnect with yourself
You do not need to arrive with the answers.
You simply need to arrive.
Your Retreat Experience
.Friday 31 July 2026
Understanding overwhelm
4.30pm – 9.00pm
Our Friday evening session is designed to help you slow down, exhale, and begin untangling the overwhelm you’ve been carrying.
Together we’ll explore:
What overwhelm really is, and how it shows up differently for each of us
The hidden triggers beneath stress and emotional overload
Self-limiting stories, emotional patterns, and mental habits
The emotional shifts of midlife, including grief, identity change, and evolving priorities
What’s happening in women’s brains and bodies during midlife
Deep nervous system restoration through Yoga Nidra
You’ll also have time for reflection, conversation, connection, nourishing food, and genuine support.
Saturday 1 August 2026
Creating change that lasts
9.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday is all about practical, sustainable solutions.
The theme of the day is simple: the solution to overwhelm is not doing more.
It’s becoming more intentional about who you want to become next.
Across the day, we’ll explore:
Lifestyle habits and nutrition that directly affect stress and overwhelm
A practical cooking demonstration
Real-world tactics to reduce overwhelm and reclaim mental space
Managing technology and constant stimulation more effectively
Qigong for grounding and energy balance
Habit change that works in real life
Guided future-self visioning
Creating a realistic, personalised action plan
This is not about leaving with a perfect life plan.
It’s about leaving with clarity, momentum, and your first meaningful steps.
What's included
Two transformational retreat days
Guided workshops and practical sessions
Yoga Nidra and Qigong practices
Workbook and reflective exercises
Cooking demonstration
A healthy, nourishing evening meal on Friday
A balanced, sustaining lunch and refreshments on Saturday
Supportive small-group environment
Practical take-home tools and strategies
Optional ongoing accountability and community support
What to bring
We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and bringing:
A blanket or shawl
A cushion if you’d like extra comfort
An open mind and permission to prioritise yourself for once
Where we're meeting
Southport Conference Centre
Leyland Road Methodist Church
Leyland Road
Southport
PR9 9JQ
Free parking is available and the venue is easily accessible by public transport.
The nearest railway station is Meols Cop (approximately 15–16 minutes' walk), while Southport Station is around 20 minutes on foot. Several bus services stop nearby including routes 49, 2, 44, 47 and X2, with stops on Zetland Street, Park Road, and Alexandra Road all within short walking distance.
You don't need to keep carrying this alone
Midlife asks women to navigate enormous change - physically, emotionally, mentally, professionally, and personally.
Yet many women try to manage it by simply pushing harder.
This retreat offers another way.
A calmer way.
A more compassionate way.
A way that helps you reconnect with yourself, not just your responsibilities.
If you already know us, you know this won’t be superficial. We combine warmth, honesty, evidence-based insight, practical tools, and grounded support.
You’ll leave feeling seen, steadier, and more equipped for the next chapter.
You've been last in line for long enough.
It's time to come up for air.
It's time to thrive.
Reserve your place
Places are intentionally limited to create a supportive and personal experience.
Meet your coaches
We typically work with our Mid Life Thriving clients and each other on line, which makes our annual in-person retreat especially precious - a genuine opportunity to be together with the amazing women in our community and to make new connections.
Between us, we bring diverse backgrounds. interests, career paths and life stories. What unites us is a deep commitment to supporting others to make positive, sustainable changes to their wellbeing, relationships and lives. And, we all have first hand experience of overwhelm ... and what it costs.
Erica Gibbon
Registered nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner,
offering tailored, evidence-based advice and
practical tools to optimise
your health and wellbeing.
Sophie Carvin
Mindset coach,
helping you build self-
confidence, helpful habits and embrace
your full potential.
Aaron Listhaus
Leadership coach,
empowering you to take
charge and lead with purpose,
in all areas of your life.