Shed your skin, a Women Retreat

SHED YOUR SKIN RETREAT - Honor the Old, Embrace the New

Celebrate the Beauty of Constant Transformation.

This retreat is for the mother who finally needs a break to simply be, the peri-menopausal woman navigating change, the one going through divorce, the one moving house, the one grieving a recent loss, or a woman who just needs some quality time to reconnect with herself.

It’s for every woman who needs a space to reflect, heal, and step into the next chapter of her journey.

Join us for a nurturing and transformative Rite of Passage Retreat at Le Petit Paradis.

Through sacred rituals, mindful movement, and meaningful connection, you’ll honor your past, release what no longer serves you, and embrace the new with an open heart.

• Here’s what you can expect as we journey together:

We start with a warm, grounding meal and an opening circle, a space where each woman is invited to share her intentions, opening her heart and connecting with others. This circle sets the foundation for a weekend of self-discovery and community. Then, we invite you to engage in gentle movement and dance, allowing you to shake off tension, awaken your body, and connect deeply with your feminine energy. This movement is our preparation for the transformative ceremonies to follow.

The Sacred Sweat Lodge ceremony, themed “The Snake”, brings a sacred opportunity to release and transform, mirroring the life cycles of Maiden, Mother, Enchantress, and Crone. In this heatfilled space, we will honor each stage of life, voicing what we are ready to let go of and opening ourselves to renewal.

A unique Constellation Ritual awaits, guiding us through the stages of life. With natural elements from the land, we will explore and honor our life paths, witnessing and supporting one another in moments of healing and insight. In our nurturing Closing the Bones Ceremony, the rebozo wrapping ritual, herbal oils, and gentle massage techniques are used to close cycles, release stored emotions, and reconnect each woman with her body’s strength and resilience. A Moon Bath under the stars in a salted pool offers a serene moment of reflection, inviting you to float, release, and absorb the moon’s energy in quiet reflection. We continue our journey with Celebration Dance, symbolizing freedom and joy as we embrace ourrenewed selves. Finally, in a creative Art Process, we bead a Key Ring as a symbol of our journey and the keys wenow hold for our paths forward.

There are no pre-requisite, come as you are and we trust this is going to be just wonderful.

• Where is the retreat happening?

Just 2.5 hours from Cape Town, nestled in a secluded paradise in Robertson

• Who are the facilitators?

Ayla Nowell: I am a mother of 6 and grand mother to 3 beautiful beings.I have worked with women all my life as a midwife bearing witness to their incredible strength, courage, resilience and beauty. As a family constellation facilitator and soul integration therapist I am interested in using these modalities to continue to strengthen and empower women ?? As A shamanic practitioner I value the balance between masculine and feminine principles. Honouring mother earth through her cycles and support of life, honouring father sky for the support, structure and inspiration that is provided to guide one’s life journey.

Valerie Lopis: I am a mother to vibrant boys and a caregiver to furry and feathered companions who share our home. At Le Petit Paradis, I am devoted to creating a haven where people can connect deeply, feel safe, and allow the magic of transformation to unfold. Here, I nurture not only the soil to grow the food we consume but also a philosophy of living in harmony with nature, making use of its abundant gifts in sustainable and thoughtful ways. As a shamanic practitioner, I cherish the art of holding space for intimate ceremonies, weaving the natural elements of this sacred place into meaningful and transformative experiences.

Claire Bossard: I am a mother of 2, birth doula, yoga teacher, and dance facilitator, passionate about guiding women on their journey to coming back to source and empowerment. Dedicated to creating spaces where women feel heard and can reconnect with themselves through their body's inner wisdom and movement. As a shamanic practitioner, I see life as a series of our own rebirths, where new parts of us emerge as others fall away. I find deep joy in guiding women through these sacred passages and transformations.