ILLUMINATE: A Breathwork & Sound london Day Retreat to Awaken Your Inner Light.
on Saturday 16th May 2026 | 10am - 5.30pm | Seven Sisters Sanctuary, North London
Join us; Brenna (Arise Breathwork) and Michelle (Mind Like Water Wellbeing) for an intimate and transformative day retreat at cosy and welcoming Seven Sisters Sanctuary in North London.
Reserve your spot now with a £77 deposit.
Pay the rest by 8th may 2026.
We'll gently guide you through a deeply nourishing day of breathwork, therapeutic sounds, meditation, creative expression and a cacao ceremony. Designed to help you shed what's dimming your light and step fully into the radiant,vibrant version of yourself this summer.
Expect to move, breathe, draw, journal and rest while being held in the warmth of live sound and a heart-centred space.
Saturday 16th May falls on a new moon in Taurus, one of the most grounded, sensory, and abundance-rich signs of the zodiac. New moons are nature's invitation to begin again: to plant seeds, set intentions, and turn toward the light. A powerful time to illuminate your path forward.
We've designed this day to move you gently from grounded and rooted in the morning, where you'll breathe, sip tasty cacao, and give colour and shape to your visions through sound-guided drawing and journalling. Towards a more expanded and open afternoon, where a longer, deeper Transformational Breath® journey (conscious connected breathwork) and live sound healing will help you feel lit up from the inside out.
Our seasonal day retreats are popular, and with only 9 spaces available, they often book up quickly. We offer a supportive, cosy and welcoming space where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with others, and our hope is that you’ll leave the sanctuary feeling more connected to yourself (and others), lit up, replenished and deeply grounded.
💫 What people said last time
“Thank you again for today. I’m currently sitting and journaling in the park and I feel like a completely different person to this morning. You guys are so magic!”
“It was a truly amazing day! I feel that it has shifted some really deep-rooted stuff :) I have noticed a big change in my anxiety levels this week & have stayed balanced. Thanks for creating such a safe, healing & transformative experience!”
“It was such a transformational experience - the combination of sound & breathing was cosmic, and I’m excited to do some more with you!”
What you'll experience
✨ Grounding Breathwork – You’ll be guided through a grounding breathwork practice to fully land in your body.
✨ Cacao & Intention Setting – A heart-opening ritual to deepen and support your experience, allowing you to connect more deeply with your heart and yourself.
✨ Sound-guided drawing & journalling – You’ll journal and/ or get creative (we’ll provide the crafty bits!) whilst listening to a beautiful sound journey.
✨ Transformational Breath® – You’ll be guided through a powerful and fully facilitated conscious connected breathwork journey, incorporating bodywork and acupressure for deep release.
✨ Sound Journey – Rest and integrate the breathwork experience with a full sound journey of binaural beats, ambient soundscapes, soothing vocals and therapeutic instruments.
✨ Movement – Gentle practices to energise and align your body and mind.
✨ Sharing & Connection – Reflect, share, and connect with like-minded souls (completely optional).
✨ Tasty, healthy lunch – Nourishing, delicious and included in your day.
Why join us this MAY?
🌙 Step into the energy of the Taurus new moon - a portal for planting intentions
🌙 Drop into two deeply nourishing breathwork journeys - one to ground and one to help you open
🌙 Express your inner world through sound-guided drawing and journalling (no artistic experience needed)
🌙 Reconnect with yourself and your body through breathwork, sound and meditation
🌙 Tap into your subconscious mind and intuition through altered states of consciousness
🌙 Release emotions and old stories that may be keeping you stuck
🌙 Recalibrate and balance your nervous system
🌙 Generate motivation, momentum and inspiration for your summer ahead
🌙 Cultivate presence, creativity, radiance and joy
🌙 Feel held in a warm, supportive, and heart centred space
🌙 Build connection with others on a similar path of self discovery
“Brenna & Michelle create a very welcoming & inclusive environment. The session was curated very well – from the intro to the reintegration it flowed seamlessly. I was completely lost in the moment throughout both the breathing & sound. I had a deep dive into some interesting subconscious spaces with some profound personal insights. Still floating the day after!”
what we’ll get up to on the day
10am: Opening circle: Arrive & add something to the altar (crystal, photo, letter - anything meaningful - you will take it home at the end of the day!)
10.30am: Gentle movement & grounding breathwork to arrive in your body and settle your nervous system. Followed by a Cacao Ceremony: rooting into the new moon energy and setting your intentions for the season ahead followed by drawing & journalling with sound: give colour and shape to your intentions, dreams and visions while Michelle plays the gongs and instruments live.
1pm: Nourishing lunch
2pm: Transformational Breath® journey with live sound healing: longer, more expansive, and designed to take you all the way in
4.30pm: Integration, journalling and sharing circle
5.30pm: Close
(Subject to change depending on flow of the day)
Why breathwork?
Did you know we take over 20,000 breaths a day? Yet most of us don’t even notice our breathing.
When we consciously control the way we breathe we can change our state, settle our nervous system or release anything that might be stuck.
The morning breathwork session will blend with a cacao ceremony. A gentle, grounding breathwork practice will help you arrive fully in your body and connect with the earthy, abundant energy of the Taurus new moon. Think of it as planting your roots before you reach for the light.
The afternoon is where we will go deeper with our breath, and experience a longer conscious connected breathwork journey (a type of breathwork used for deeper healing) accompanied by live sound healing. With your nervous system settled and your intentions held in the morning, you'll be perfectly prepared to go a bit deeper in the afternoon.
“Such a lovely day connecting with beautiful souls and kind spirits. Thank you Bren and Michelle for your genuine and compassionate care xoxo”
Drawing & Journalling with Sound
After your morning breathwork and cacao, rather than moving straight to lunch, we invite you to linger in that open, receptive state a little longer. With Michelle playing the gongs and instruments live, you'll be guided to draw, doodle, and journal your intentions, dreams, and visions freely. No artistic experience needed, just curiosity and an open heart.
There's something uniquely powerful about expressing what arises after breathwork through mark making and colour rather than words alone. Sound keeps you in that altered, intuitive space while your hands do the work - bypassing the analytical mind and letting your subconscious speak. What emerges often surprises people. Consider it a window into what your inner world is already illuminating.
BENEFITS OF SOUND THERAPY
Sound therapy helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, releasing emotional blocks and restoring balance to your body and mind. It promotes deep relaxation, reduces stress, and supports the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.
By harmonizing your energy, it enhances mood, improves sleep, and strengthens immunity. It also fosters self-awareness, creating space for deep reflection, intuitive insights, and a greater connection to yourself and others. Through the transformative power of sound, you’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and more in tune with your inner wisdom.
ABOUT CACAO
Ceremonial-grade cacao is a non-psychoactive heart-opening, mood-boosting plant medicine that lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and enhances well-being. Unlike commercial chocolate, it’s minimally processed and packed with minerals like magnesium, iron, and calcium. Rich in phenylethylamine (PEA) and anandamide (the "bliss molecule"), it naturally elevates mood, while theobromine provides a gentle, calming energy boost without a crash.
Cacao supports focus, heart health, and emotional balance, making it a powerful ally for deep, intentional experiences.
If you are pregnant, on medication (anti depressants or 5_HTP), or have dietary concerns, please check suitability before consumption.
Please note: Arise Breathwork/ Brenna Duncan or Mind Like Water/ Michelle Cade can't be held responsible for any reaction if you have not disclosed dietary needs, health concerns or medication you're taking. It is ultimately a personal choice to consume ceremonial cacao, so please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss the above.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE
💫 Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy meals beforehand.
💫 Wear loose, comfy clothing (ideally nothing tight around the waist).
💫 Bring a water bottle and journal for post session reflections
💫 Bring a little something for the altar (crystal, photo, jewellery, something foraged from nature etc)
💫 Mats, pillows, blankets and bolsters are provided
💫 Don't arrange anything for straight afterwards as you'll need time for integration
WHO CAN JOIN?
This workshop is open to anyone over 18 (younger participants, please email me first). It’s great for all levels of breathwork experience, whether you’re a total beginner or a regular.
⚠️ Please check with your doctor first if you have:
Any pre-existing heart conditions
Epilepsy or history of seizures
High/low blood pressure with a history of fainting
Pregnancy (not recommended in the first trimester)
Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, or personality disorders
Untreated/severe PTSD
Pre-existing lung disease
Recent major surgery
History of stroke
Glaucoma/detached retina
Asthma (please have your inhaler nearby)
If you have any medical conditions or concerns, email me at brenna@arisebreathwork.com before booking.
The essentials
📍 Location: Seven Sisters Sanctuary, London N15 (very easy transport links!)
📅 Date: Saturday 16th May 2026
⏰ Time: 10am – 5.30pm
🎟️ Tickets:
Pay £77 deposit now to confirm your place
Pay remaining £100 before 8th May 2026
Only 9 spaces available, ensuring you receive a high level of facilitation and interaction with us/ the group. The price reflects this, but we always offer a discounted community ticket. If you or someone you know is facing financial difficulties but would love to attend, please don’t hesitate to reach out at brenna@arisebreathwork.com.
Please note, all tickets are non-refundable. If you're unable to attend, you may gift your spot to someone else or if we have someone on the waiting list we will try to sell it on - email me to let me know at brenna@arisebreathwork.com.
P.S. We have two adorable studio cats who won’t be joining us, but if you have allergies, please take note!
🌐 www.arisebreathwork.com | Instagram: @arise.breathwork
🌐 www.mindlikewaterwellbeing.com | Instagram: @mindlikewaterwellbeing
WHO ARE WE?
Besties and house mates, we set up Seven Sisters Sanctuary together three years ago. We love sharing our passion for breathwork and sound individually, but there’s a certain kind of magic that happens when we share them together.
FAQS
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Just yourself in comfy clothes (ideally loose around the waist), water bottle, journal & pen plus anything you'd like to feel more comfortable/ add to your exp, eg. fave crystal, photo etc. Mats, blankets, pillows & bolsters are provided.
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I'll talk about Transformational Breath, the benefits & demo the breath technique, before you set an intention. You'll usually breathe for around 40- 45 mins, followed by 10-15 mins integration/ relaxation. There'll be an opportunity to share your experience at the end and connect with other participants.
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A sound meditation is a relaxation practice where you lie comfortably and are immersed in layers of sound and vibration.
Setting: Quiet, dimly lit space with mats, cushions and blankets.
Sound Journey: A variety of instruments are used such as crystal singing bowls, gongs, Tibetan bowls, chimes, drums, tuning forks, and voice.
Effects: People commonly experience calm, physical sensations (tingling, warmth), emotional release, and meditative or dreamlike states.
Brainwave Shifts: The tones are designed to entrain your brainwaves into more meditative states, similar to deep relaxation or the moments before sleep.
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Transformational Breath® Foundation is an accredited breathwork school with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance and was awarded ‘Best Complementary Medicine Organisation’ by the Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine.
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We've a maximum capacity of 9 participants, so it's always a nice intimate group setting.
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There are some contraindications with breathwork, so if you have any medical complications or concerns please get in touch on brenna@arisebreathwork.com and let's chat before you book.
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We sometimes have a waitlist so if we can find someone else to buy your ticket then we can offer a refund (minus fees). Alternatively you could transfer your ticket to another person, as long as you update us beforehand.