sanctum

between seasons, within self

A DEYA Retreats and Kindful Experience

Always available for others, rarely available for yourself? You're not alone. Self-compassion research demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing anxiety, depression, and burnout whilst increasing emotional resilience and life satisfaction. Yet for many busy and accomplished individuals, self-kindness remains elusive—often feeling indulgent, unearned, or simply impractical within demanding lives.

This retreat addresses why so many capable, kind people struggle to extend themselves the same care they freely give everyone else. Over four days in Nyuh Kuning village, you'll develop practical self-compassion skills through evidence-based methods, enhanced by hands-on cultural learning that naturally supports this inner work.

Located in outer Ubud, Nyuh Kuning maintains its traditional rhythms while welcoming international visitors seeking meaningful personal development. The village sits between rice terraces and the Ayung River, offering an environment that naturally supports reflection and the space needed to step back from constant giving and doing.

nyuh kuning village, Ubud

april 22-26, 2026

Our approach combines established compassion-focused therapy methods with respectful engagement in local healing traditions. You'll gain practical tools for managing the perfectionism and self-criticism that exhaust so many accomplished women, cultivate greater capability for kindness to your self, whilst contributing to meaningful cultural exchange with local knowledge holders.

April represents Bali's peralihan musim—the seasonal transition from wet to dry periods—a time of natural renewal that mirrors the inner shifts you're seeking. This timing offers optimal conditions: cooler temperatures for active learning, peak potency of medicinal plants used in traditional healing, and abundant local markets that support hands-on cultural engagement.

your daily experience

Self-Compassion Training

Structured workshops applying compassion-focused methods developed by leading clinicians and validated through research. You'll learn specific techniques for managing self-criticism, perfectionism, and the emotional patterns that keep you stuck in cycles of self-judgment.

Traditional Healing Methods

Engagement with local healing practices including medicinal plant preparation, traditional massage techniques, and ceremonial food preparation. These activities provide embodied learning experiences that complement the psychological work whilst supporting local practitioners and their knowledge.

Movement and Meditation

Daily yoga and meditation sessions designed to support nervous system regulation and help you reconnect with your body's wisdom. Practices are adapted for varying fitness levels and focus on integration rather than performance or achievement.

Cultural Learning

Guided engagement with Balinese traditions, including market visits with local families, preparation of traditional medicines, and participation in food-based ceremonial practices. Activities emphasize respectful learning and authentic cultural exchange that enriches your understanding of care and community.

Integration and Application

Structured time for processing insights, developing personalized self-compassion approaches, and planning integration into daily life. You'll receive written materials combining research findings with practical applications you can actually use when you return home.

  • “I really see the retreat as a major turning point in my life and my relationship with myself.”

  • “I found the practices so soothing and calming and the setting sublime. I felt truly held by the whole experience."

  • "i am so grateful i took this time for myself; it was perfect in every way."

  • "thank you for helping me to come home to myself, to hold myself in compassion and to remember what truly matters."

Suites and Rates

Pool Suites

Each suite has a king bed + daybed, private bathroom, and private pool. USD$2000 per person triple share | USD$2400 per person twin share | USD$2800 single occupancy.

Deluxe Suites

Each suite has a king bed and private bathroom. These suites have a separate living space or terrace and can accommodate an extra guest on a single bed. USD$1600 per person triple share | USD$2000 per person twin share | USD$2400 single occupancy.

Superior Suites

Each suite has queen bed and private bathroom. One single bed can be added. USD$1400 per person triple share | USD$1800 per person twin share | USD$2200 single occupancy.

Standard Suites

Each suite has a queen bed and private bathroom. All suites have beautiful garden views. One single can be added to some rooms. USD$1200 per person triple share | USD$1600 per person twin share | USD$2000 single occupancy.

A cozy bedroom with a green accent wall, wooden furniture, and a view of lush tropical plants outside. The bed has white linens, embroidered pillows, and towel art. There are two night tables with lamps, and a wooden bench at the foot of the bed. The
Living room with wooden ceiling, large windows showing greenery, and various furniture including a dining table with chairs, loungers with cushions, a side table with a lamp, and area rugs.
A tropical hotel room with a four-poster bed, canopy, and mosquito net, surrounded by windows showing green lush foliage outside, with wooden furniture and bamboo ceiling.
A cozy hotel bedroom with large glass sliding doors overlooking a lush garden. The room has a bed with a patterned runner and decorative orange butterflies, a wooden desk with a chair, and a small wooden cabinet. There is a ceiling fan, wall art, and
A tropical hotel room with a wooden four-poster bed with white curtains, a small wooden table with two chairs near large windows, and lush green trees outside.
A backyard with a small pool, surrounded by tropical plants and trees, with a lounge chair on the right side.
A rustic four-poster wooden bed with a canopy and sheer white curtains, topped with decorative pillows and a throw, situated in a jungle or tropical forest setting with lush greenery outside
Open-air wooden lounge area with built-in seating and cushions overlooking a lush green jungle landscape
A woman standing on a large rock in a lush tropical jungle surrounded by large green leaves and plants, wearing a patterned brown dress.

a note from amy

Self-compassion is about relating to ourselves with patience, wisdom, understanding and kindness. It is about uncovering and strengthening these qualities in ourselves and learning how to apply them during the times when it feels the hardest.

It is the practice of slowing down to take time to listen to what is in our own hearts and bodies. Self-compassion involves the courage to look at where we turn away from our pain and where we shut down on ourselves.

Years of studying and practising self-compassion has taught me that self-compassion is at the core of our capacity to heal. Yet self-compassion is not something that can simply be understood intellectually. It must be practised, felt and deeply embodied if we are to truly benefit from it. This practice is personal yet is greatly enhanced by community.

On this profoundly nurturing retreat, we will take the time to experience and embody a very different way of relating to ourselves - one that is inherently wise, compassionate, and oriented to genuine caring.

I hope you will join us.

TRAVEL INFOrmation

+ Airfare + transport not included — The retreat is located approximately 90 minutes from Denpasar (DPS) airport. We are happy to connect you with a driver who can transport you to the retreat, otherwise taxis are readily available.

+ Check in is from 2:00pm on Wednesday, April 22nd and check out is by 11am on Sunday, April 26th. We recommend that you plan to arrive the day before the retreat starts so that you feel ready to commence on the first evening of the retreat.

CANCELLATION POLICY

While we're committed to making your retreat experience wonderful, we want to be transparent about our refund policy. Your deposit to Kindful unfortunately isn't refundable, but our balance payment refunds work like this:

If you need to cancel more than 90 days before your retreat begins, we're happy to refund 100% of your balance payment (though we can't return the deposit). For cancellations between 60-90 days before the retreat, we'll refund 50% of your balance payment. Within 60 days of the retreat (after July 1), we're unable to offer refunds. This policy applies to all situations, including weather challenges, health concerns, or personal emergencies. We also can't provide refunds or credit if you miss the retreat, arrive late, or need to leave early.

We understand that life is unpredictable! While everyone books with the best intentions, unexpected things happen, which is why we recommend considering travel insurance for extra peace of mind.

Should we need to cancel a retreat for any reason, you're welcome to transfer your full payment to another wonderful retreat experience, or request a refund of your payment (excluding the deposit, which you can apply to a future retreat). Please note that Kindful can't cover expenses you've incurred while preparing for your trip, such as flights, lost work time, or other travel arrangements.