Sophie Zadeh

Retreat Facilitator, Sophie — Mindfulness, Breathing & Creative Workshop Leader MSc (Dist) Communication, Behaviour & Credibility Analysis BDes (Hons), Former Professional Artist (Ceramics & Wood Carving, 15+ years) As the key facilitator, Sophie brings creative energy and design to every retreat aspect. A professional artist and art education consultant for over 15 years in the UK, she’s the creative mind behind the accommodation’s eclectic, arty interiors. Sophie’s career began as a professional artist, spending 15+ years specialising in ceramics and wood carving. She created commissions for museums and galleries, ran workshops, received multiple awards, and has sculptures in Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s permanent collection. She then transitioned into nonverbal communication, earning a master’s degree and becoming a specialist in body language, embodied cognition, and behaviour analysis. Blending artistic sensibility with scientific understanding, Sophie explores how the body influences mental and emotional states — helping guests harness mindfulness for greater focus and well-being. Her approach breaks from traditional meditation stereotypes, offering accessible techniques suited to busy lives and active minds. Sophie’s breathing sessions draw on neuroscience, showing how intentional breathwork activates neural pathways to regulate stress, sharpen focus, or boost energy. With her warm teaching style and dual expertise in creativity and body-mind connection, she equips everyone — beginners to experienced practitioners — with practical well-being tools. She has a particular passion for women’s empowerment, bringing extensive experience, training, and coaching women and girls. Vegan & Whole Food, Plant-Based Cooking Retreats After experiencing the health benefits themselves, Sophie and Lee serve delicious, nutritious plant-based meals to all retreat guests for a full-circle, holistic experience. Some retreats teach vegan, whole food, plant-based (non-processed) cooking. Sophie had been a vegetarian from a young age; Lee was a lifelong meat-eater. That changed post-wedding in 2018 when — motivated by health, environmental, and ethical reasons — they switched together. Within weeks, they saw weight loss and renewed well-being; blood tests confirmed impressive health improvements, including exceptional heart health for Lee’s age. Their transition sparked learning, creativity, and the discovery of flavour. Today, they’re passionate about sharing this — helping guests cook confidently, prepare healthy meals quickly, and enjoy plant-based food as rich and exciting as traditional fare.