Hello, we are Joanne and Damian and we run St Marks Stays and have lived here since 2017 after moving from city life in Leicester. It took us until ours 40s to realise life is too short not to be enjoyed more. We don’t have children so had the time to have a mid life change of plan and adapt to life in Cumbria and all the adventures it has rewarded us with.

We have personally attended either classes, adventures, sessions, or retreats and spent time with all of our experts and our chef, so they have been chosen because we love what they do and who they are as people. We know you are going to love them too.

Andy will be our co-host in May and as a qualified Wim Hof instructor, he will be introducing you to the benefits of cold exposure and breathwork techniques. He gives the best hugs, inspired coaching and genuinely wants everyone to be happier in life. His life story is incredible and we are very lucky to have met him.

https://www.dare2become.co.uk/

Dan and Karyn will be our co-hosts in October, bringing both of their expertise to the retreat. Dan as a qualified Wim Hof instructor and Oxygen Advantage breathwork coach,  will be introducing you to the health and wellbeing benefits of cold exposure and breathwork techniques. Karyn is also an Oxygen Advantage coach but also a reflexologist and wellbeing coach and the perfect team with Dan. They have an incredible back story in life that means they understand. A dream team to have on the retreat.

https://www.vitaevi.co.uk/

Jacqui is the yoga instructor that is going to be settling you in to the retreat with movement, breathwork and Yoga Nidra. Having attended Jacqui’s classes since moving here 7 years ago, Joanne is thrilled to have Jacqui’s talents as part of this and Jacqui also gives an amazing Thai Yoga Massage if you have extra time before, or after your retreat. Even Jacqui’s artwork is in St Marks Stays – yes she is blimmin’ multi-talented!

https://www.yogasapien.co.uk/

Come prepared because we love Charlotte because she likes to get you out in nature on the garden decking, or lawn to introduce you to her Qi Gong morning session. It’s a beautiful way to start the day and Charlotte’s smile will have you beaming even if you are not a morning person.

https://kendalqigong.co.uk/

Even Joanne’s friends can testify to the great night’s sleep they had after having a sound bath healing session in our studio here at St Marks Stays. Laura-Jane will explain just how these crystal singing bowls work with the energy of your body and her knowledge and experience across her lifetime is highly impressive.

https://asacredpath.co.uk/

I know technically this is not a photo of Chelsea, but her dogs have been trained to be on her paddleboards and that’s impressive. Chelsea managed to get Damian and Joanne to stand up on a paddleboard and her introduction session will be so much fun in May.

https://lakes-sup.co.uk

Featured in magazines, on TV and regular presenters at the Kendal Mountain Festival, we have been on a few adventures with Dan and Backi and their skills at making any wild adventure feel totally within your comfort zone is wonderful. You are going to have an amazing, laughter filled time canoeing with them in October.

https://www.intotheoutside.co.uk/

Kate has talents in yoga, catering and Ayurveda and we met her on the Isle of Skye. We loved her food and personality so much, we convinced her to come and be our retreat chef. Now trust us,  a chef that can please Damian as a meat eater and Joanne as a wannabe Vegan, Kate is the perfect combination of talents that we needed for you.

https://kategray.co.uk/