When Were You Last Taken Care Of?

Josephine Warren
Aug 13
6 min read

My Partner and myself joked last night about the effort to walk upstairs to bed: 'Wouldn't it be nice if someone just scooped us up, brushed our teeth and tucked us in'.... as we laughed, I commented, 'maybe we all just wanted to be mothered forever, but we know we can't be'.

Some of us weren't even so lucky to get that when we were truly small, but I use it as a more general term.

In a world that moves faster and faster, feels harder, harsher, more dystopian, maybe there's even more grief around the fact we don't really have anyone to take care of us, from those in power, to the Billionaires, to our neighbours we might hardly see or chat too(Covid feeling a lifetime ago).

Maybe this doesn't apply to you, maybe it does.

In October, I am taking a group of women back to Greece, a small group(oh and FYI, 1 space has opened up) and why I've chosen to introduce this Autumnal format. Why it feels rather radical, has taken a leap of faith, while grappling with imposter syndrome. With a dash of trust, we arrived in the space of the 'Deep Rest' Retreat.

When was the last time you moved your body slowly, softly, where stillness morphed from an external intention towards your inner state of being?

A loaded question, but one I intend to explore deeply on this Octobers’ retreat. On this retreat, we are leaving dynamic practices behind in the UK (although I love them and they hold SO much value), but it's not what this week is about. When I teach somatic work, gentle hatha yoga, yin yoga, Nidra, Qigong influenced practices, the palpable change with my clients is noticeable: the jaws unclench, the breathing deepens, the face softens. In this radical space of rest, emotions rise to the surface. To rock your hips, glide your body slowly through repetitive movements the nervous system not only responds but thanks you. The safety and support leads us towards a space of presence like no other.

Why Somatic Practices Resonate Deeply

Speaks the nervous system's language: Logical thoughts like "I am safe" often fail to calm anxiety because the nervous system operates through physical sensations, breath, and posture.
Completes stuck survival responses: When a threat causes a freeze or shock response, the body can get locked in survival mode. Somatic work allows stored physical tension, tremors, or energy to safely discharge.
Bridges mind and body: It addresses physical manifestations of emotional stress—such as chest tightness, shallow breathing, or chronic aches—that talk therapy alone may not fully resolve.
Builds internal safety: Consistent micro-exercises help retrain vagal tone, teaching the body that it can shift safely out of hyperarousal or numbness into regulation

When you watch children in nature, they almost become part of it, not just viewing it from place of separation. So, I ask, when was the last time you felt truly connected to nature, called in the mantra of 'So Hum' I am that, I am not separate, I am all and one?

In Greece, we built the open shala in the Olive groves of my mother's home. The trees are hundreds of years old cradling us, supporting us and teaching us. Birds swoop through the shala mid-practice. A watchful Owl hoots during the soundbath, the wave of the jackals echos across the mountain side. We greet the view of the sea and bay in our morning practice, and witness the rise of deep pinks in the evening, swallows and bats dancing across the calm surface of the pool. We weave art, mandala making, expressive interpretation and more through each day, from our visit to the un-touch local beach, found at the foot of the mountain, where the water is so clear you can count the pebbles while you swim.

I feel that for many of us British folk, nature is a necessity, it’s a ancient deep call to be well, present, inspired, healed. In Greece this is supplied in abundance. We spend most of our days on retreat outside. Away from our screens.

Physiological Calm

Lower stress: Natural settings drop blood pressure, slow heart rates, and reduce muscle tension.
Chemical boosts: Trees emit antimicrobial chemicals called phytoncides that help increase disease-fighting white blood cells.
Circadian alignment: Natural daylight regulates the body's internal clock for better sleep and stable moods.

Mental Restoration

Attention recovery: Nature offers soft fascination, meaning it gently holds attention without the mental fatigue caused by screens or urban noise.
Less overthinking: Walking outdoors quiets brain activity tied to negative repetitive thoughts.
Sense of awe: Vast natural wonders help shift focus away from personal worries and reduce mental distress.

Food glorious food… but when was the last time someone cooked for you? Sourced healthy, delicious, wonderful food for you, morning, lunch and dinner? Was it a one off? Was it all glorious? Did you feel guilty, or like you had to return the favour?

We take care of you here. Often women who come on retreat with us(who resonate with my mum and I) are very good at tending to others' needs. Who make lists, are the doers, the fixers, the helpers, the cooks, the whatsapp group repliers, the ‘let's not stop because we don’t know what we might find’ women.

Food is an integral part of the retreat, no it’s not a gormet, micro-plated-vegan-looks-good-on-insta type food. But it is delicious, hearty, full of love, full of inspiring flavours, and FRESH. Food pulled from the ground, from healthy soil and hands of love. Whether it’s from my mum's garden or the local market in Petalidi, the spectrum of flavour is like nothing else.

Breakfasts are full of joy, post-yoga and full of goodness. Fresh salads, breads, dips, veggies and more for lunch and other-worldly dinners created with such care and attention from mum. Drawing on cuisines from all over the world.

You will be held, through the absolute joy and nourishment of food and connection while you’re here. Sitting together by the pool, always outside.

The mind can be a trickster; the voice we hear we often believe to our own detriment. Have you been reacting or responding recently? Does that internal voice shrink your world? View of yourself, your capacity, self-worth, or love?

When it comes to sound I feel sometimes I could write a book, and yet other times getting stuck on how to actually express the profound essence of this practice.

Sound is woven throughout the retreat, every session has a sprinkling of vibration, tone and wonder. The healing benefits, emotional release and expansion of thought will reset your mind, body and soul. All sessions are outside, the natural world supports this.

I draw on mantras, linked to the class sankalpa(intention), you will have moments to find your own voice, as one of the most radical but simple ways to metamorphose your life.

We use these sacred days together to energetically ‘reset’ you. You do not need to be fixed, improved, or achieve anything, but purely come back to who you are, away from the noise, chaos and tech of the modern world.

Nervous System and Physiological Shift

Parasympathetic activation: Shifts the body out of fight-or-flight mode into rest-and-digest.
Hormonal balance: Lowers levels of cortisol and adrenaline while boosting feel-good hormones.
Vagal tone improvement: Stimulates the vagus nerve to enhance emotional regulation and physical recovery.

Brainwave Entrainment

State shifting: Guides the brain from alert beta waves down into relaxed alpha and restorative theta or delta waves.
Effortless entry: Offers immediate access to meditative states without requiring years of meditation practice.

Cellular and Sensory Impact

Bottom-up processing: Relieves tension through direct sensory experience rather than cognitive storytelling, which benefits individuals with emotional overwhelm or trauma.
Blood Flow: Mechanical and sonic vibrations dilate tiny blood vessels and improve local blood circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients to damaged areas.
Mechanotransduction: Physical energy from sound or vibration waves creates microscopic stimulation at the cellular level, prompting cells to repair tissue, synthesize collagen, and reduce inflammation.
Bone and Tendon Repair: Specific low-magnitude frequencies (such as 35 Hz to 50 Hz) have been shown to assist bone fracture healing and stimulate tendon cell activity.
Muscle Activation: Whole-body vibration forces muscles to contract and relax rapidly, which helps retain muscle tone and flexibility when active movement is difficult.

How Sound and Rhythm Help Neurological and Functional Recovery

Neural Synchronization: Rhythmic auditory cues help coordinate movement patterns during physical rehabilitation, improving balance and walking after a stroke or brain injury.
Brain Plasticity: Specific sound frequencies, binaural beats, and music engagement can modulate brainwave activity, encourage neural repair, and lower stress hormones.

There is so much more to write about, to say about these days, from the art class, to sea swims, the views from the pool, journalling tools and questions, to ceremonys, circles, meditation, yoga nidra...So maybe, your body, heart and mind might be yearning for these few precious days away in a truly magical place with like minded souls.

Maybe, just maybe I'll see you there.

With love,

Josephine