Why Grief Retreats Can Be So Helpful

Rest, Renewal and Reconnection: Lessons from Our Women’s Health Retreat in Menorca

When life has been turned upside down by loss, it can feel almost impossible to find space to breathe, let alone rest or heal. Grief affects not only our emotions but also our bodies.

Many people describe exhaustion, poor sleep, or foggy thinking symptoms that can linger for months or years when our nervous systems are overwhelmed.

This autumn, we witnessed what can happen when people are gently supported to restore balance. In Menorca, a small group of women came together for a week of wellness, a retreat designed around rest, renewal, and reconnection.

Creating the Space to Heal

Our guests arrived depleted and running on empty. Some were struggling with stress, hormonal changes, or emotional strain; others were living with the long shadows of grief. We chose a peaceful finca in the heart of Menorca, surrounded by olive trees and open countryside, a place that immediately invited calm and reflection.

Each day offered a careful balance of activity and stillness:

• Yoga, Pilates, meditation and breathwork to reconnect body and mind

• Gentle hikes and visits to quiet beaches, helping guests move through emotion in nature

• Women’s Vitality Workshops, exploring how gut health, sleep, and balanced blood sugar support emotional as well as physical wellbeing

• Nutritious, colourful meals that nourished from the inside out

Between moments of movement and quiet rest, guests learned small, sustainable ways to nurture their resilience, from what to eat for better sleep to how to create daily rituals that support calm and clarity.

The Power of Rest and Connection

The results spoke for themselves. One woman, who described herself as a “functioning insomniac,” slept seven full hours for the first time in years, and has continued sleeping well since returning home. Another called the experience “life-changing.” By the end of the week, many left feeling lighter, clearer, and more in tune with their bodies.

This is the quiet power of a grief or wellness retreat: it allows space for true healing to begin. When we step away from daily demands, surrounded by supportive company and restorative practices, our bodies and minds have the chance to catch up with our hearts.

Grief Retreats: More Than a Getaway

A grief retreat isn’t a holiday, it’s an intentional pause. It offers what most of us don’t give ourselves after loss: time to rest deeply, receive care, and rebuild strength in safe company. Through movement, nourishment, nature, and guided reflection, people often rediscover small sparks of energy and hope that felt lost.

Following the success of our Menorca retreat, we are now preparing new retreats for 2026, focused specifically on women’s health and recovery after loss. These experiences are for those who:

• Need time away to reset after bereavement or emotional strain

• Want to understand how food and lifestyle support healing

• Wish to rest deeply in a peaceful, nurturing environment

Each retreat blends gentle learning, private support, and practical tools to take home, helping you continue to feel nourished long after you return.

Individual Grief Support

For those not yet ready to join a group, private grief consultations are available with Emily (Emy) Skinner, trained by renowned grief specialist David Kessler. Emily offers compassionate, one-to-one support to help you navigate loss and begin rebuilding emotional and physical wellbeing.

You don’t have to face grief or exhaustion alone. With the right care and surroundings, healing becomes possible, one gentle step at a time.

About Emily

Emily (Emy) Skinner is a grief specialist in the UK who also runs Women's Health Retreats in Spain. Emily provides gentle guidance, and tools to help rediscover joy again while never forgetting our loved ones we have lost. To learn more about upcoming retreats or book a private consultation, please contact Emily Skinner here.