About Us
We create transformative experiences that help you feel less alone in your human journey. In a world full of chaos, our retreats offer a sanctuary where you can advance your personal growth and reconnect with the joy of being alive, through wellbeing practices, shared experiences, and travel. We hold space for the full spectrum of your human experience — joy, pain, growth, hope and healing.
Each retreat is unique. No two are the same. Every detail is designed to create an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. The carefully curated schedule, the specially chosen location, and the entire beloved team, from the teachers to the chef, to the photographer, and last but not least - you - our guests. Your presence, your energy, and your care make our retreats what they are.
The core principles behind every one of our retreats
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lightness, play, and a celebration of life.
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the adventure, awe and wonder of travel and the transformative power of self-discovery
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Cultivating meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging
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Inspiring growth and transformation in all aspects of life — spiritual, emotional, and physical.
A letter from our founder
In every retreat I’ve guided, I’ve witnessed life-changing growth and transformations. I’ve seen guests share their deepest darkest secrets and be embraced by new friends with loving arms. I’ve watched those who arrived as strangers become close friends, even months after their retreat. I’ve seen participants leave so inspired by yoga workshops that they train to become yoga teachers. You always come away from a retreat with what you need.
Perhaps being in a beautiful environment overlooking the mountains sparks the inspiration to start a new project.
Or a personal breakthrough you have in a workshop gives you the clarity to repair a relationship with a loved one.
Maybe you discover a new meditation practice that becomes a saving grace next time you go through a rough patch.
Or maybe you’ll look back at the experience months later and it’ll click. How that one shift in perspective changed the course of your life.
Whatever you’re going through at this moment in life, I know you’ll take home something special.
It is one of my greatest honours to facilitate these spaces for you. If you’re looking for answers, for inspiration, or human connection, I know you’ll find what you need here, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
Simone Topel, Founder of HELD
Simone is an ICF-certified life and mindset coach, yoga teacher, and international retreat leader passionate about creating spaces for deep connection, transformation, and self-discovery. With a background in body and art practices, she blends creativity, somatic awareness, and holistic well-being to guide individuals toward a more authentic and expansive way of living.
She holds an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths, a BASc from University College London and trained as an ontological coach with the Newfield Network in the U.S. With over 650 hours of training between Rishikesh, India and London, U.K., she has trained in Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa and Rocket yoga and completed specialised training courses on Yoga and Depression, Yoga for Running, Pain & Injury Management and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as well as a yearlong apprenticeship with her teacher.
Through her work she’s supported coaching clients across the UK, Spain, France & U.S., led self development workshops for companies like Meta, Moët Hennessy, and BMW, and taught yoga everywhere from top studios, to schools, to corporate offices, to groups of 300 people on the beaches of Barcelona. She has run sold-out international retreats in Spain, France, and Morocco. The through-line in her work: to share just how powerfully transformative self development work can be.