Testimonials

“I wasn’t sure what to expect but this retreat has completely changed the trajectory of motherhood for me. The space, sessions offered and incredible support I received have left me feeling so much more established and empowered in my identity as a mother and helped me to integrate aspects of myself that I had thought I lost after birthing my baby. It has been so special to share this experience with my baby! I was anxious before coming on retreat but would recommend all mothers to give this wonderful gift to yourself and your babies and book without hesitation.

I only wish the retreat could have been longer than 2 nights, I could definitely have stayed a couple more at least.”

“I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart the biggest THANK YOU!!!! I didn’t know two nights could have such a transformative effect. I’ve returned to real life so much calmer, clearer, more connected to myself and my baby. What a true gift you give women at such a fragile, vulnerable time. I’d love to come to your next Mamaheaven”

“Thank you so much for the most amazing few days. I didn’t know what to expect, but it definitely exceeded anything I could have imagined. Everyone was so kind and welcoming from the moment I arrived. I absolutely loved all the sessions, from morning yoga (I wish I could start my day like that everyday), to the Mama Circles, where it felt like a very safe space to share and feel understood. I had one of the best massages I think I’ve ever had and enjoyed the delicious food at every meal time, I felt utterly spoilt. It was such a perfect set up. Thank you so so much. I would definitely love to come back soon for another retreat”

“This is a bit of heaven. It’s a community of women supporting, caring and nurturing other women. I feel lighter afterwards (though maybe not from all the amazing food I ate!) I feel refreshed and a bit more free. I felt like I was understood. Great to meet other mums and share experiences and just be together. A lovely place and space to spend time with your baby. Thank you Mamaheaven.”

“I just returned from my Mamaheaven retreat this week and I cannot rave about it enough. Having never been on a retreat before I thought there was no better time to treat myself than after giving birth and those first 3 challenging months with a new born. The time I spent at Florence House was so special to me and I’ve left feeling nourished, rested and completely inspired. I’d had very little one-on-one time with my second daughter since she arrived. We both flourished during the two days we spent at Mamaheaven. It was the perfect space and I immediately felt at home after being greeted by the team of wonderful women. They created an intimate and safe environment for us to share parenting/birthing stories amongst other women. I was so relieved to see how amazing they were with all our children allowing us to relax into the scheduled classes should we choose to participate. You have freedom to mother as you choose with full support and no judgement.
I came away feeling empowered and full of gratitude for this nourishing experience. I would recommend any mother go for it whether it’s your first or fourth child. It’s a unique and exceptionally special couple of days. I am sure I will be visiting again if not next year perhaps when I hit menopause!”

“Mamaheaven is a little bit of heaven on earth.
It was by far one of the best things me and my baby could ever have done. To share such a magical experience with such wonderful women, I feel truly blessed.
My memories that were made there will never ever be forgotten.”

“From the moment we arrived at Florence House, my little girl and I were met with warmth, friendliness and support. We enjoyed three days in the company of a group of fabulous women (both mamas and the Mamaheaven team); were nurtured by amazing therapists (the best massage I’ve ever had!), delicious food, empowering conversation and gentle and restorative yoga practise in a beautiful environment. Morning yoga outside in the Autumn sunshine was a high point, as was a walk down to the ocean to watch the waves crashing against white cliffs. I left feeling rested, reassured and cared for. It felt like a true holiday in every sense.”

“I had the most incredible experience at Mamaheaven. I felt so cared for, respected and understood. Every aspect of the retreat is so well considered from time to chill and be pampered a little, time to meet other mums and to most importantly to reflect upon our new roles as mothers, from talking in ‘Mama Circle’ about our births to the life changes parenthood brings in a positive, constructive and meaningful way. I also had an amazing time with my little girl, beautiful memories to treasure in the future, dancing together, walking by the sea and doing baby massage, just magical. I came away feeling like me again, so much more relaxed, calm and centred. I feel like I can be a better mum now as I have had time and support to reflect. It’s had a real impact on our lives as a family, can’t recommend the retreat enough.”

“Thank you so much for such incredible amazing days we could spent with you. From the first minute on I felt totally blessed and warm welcomed. I am so proud and pleased Karla and I took this trip to England. We came back with lots of positive experiences, input and energy. We will miss you and all the understanding and emotional support you gave us. Lovely to have been part of a wonderful mother-and-baby-community. It was the best Karla and I could have ever done so far! Thanks for all!”

“The retreat was the break I needed whilst being close to my baby. The highlight for me was the supportive company of females and mothers. It helped me lose fear of leaving my baby in a creche and appreciate the joy of being with my baby when I am refreshed rather than strained. The yoga classes were tailored with an understanding of what mothers need. The food was delicious (I am not vegetarian but loved it). Totally worth the money.”

“I booked Mamaheaven because I wanted some time to enjoy my baby girl without the daily chores getting in the way. But I gained so much more than that. The few days we spent at Florence House were blissful, inspiring and surprising… Within minutes of checking into my luxury accommodaiton I truly relaxed for the first time since my beloved baby landed in my arms, six months previously. Relaxing came easy because we were in a beautiful, calm setting, surrounded by a team of amazing women with innate nurturing skills. And after creating a small being, bringing them into the world safely and nourishing them that’s EXACTLY what all new mothers need: a chance to slow down, be cooked for, listened to and told that we’re doing a great job. What surprised me about Mama Heaven is that once cocooned in that safe, nurturing environment fears and joys of motherhood, that I was entirely oblivious to, came bubbling up. Expressing those emotions and being acknowledged provided some deep healing, and helped make my new role as a mother a bit less scary and even more joyful. Thank you Mamaheaven.”

“Such a good weekend, thank you to the entire team. I have to admit I was a little nervous about turning up with my “lively” toddler for a retreat weekend where he was on the upper cusp of the age recommendation, knowing all the other babies would be so much younger and less mobile than him! I thought others may wonder why I was on the retreat having got through the “tiny baby” stage and now being well into toddlerhood - but I honestly think I may have needed it even more now than in the early days!!... Life seems to have got even more exhausting for me at times since returning to work, starting a training course and now being pregnant again with number 2!!... it was really lovely that everyone was so welcoming and supportive and no one made me feel out of place in any way and I definitely got what I needed - rest and relaxation, some lovely relaxing yet also energising yoga sessions, quality time with my son, an opportunity to be listened to, time to talk with and listen to others and hear their inspiring stories/experiences, delicious, nutritious food and time to reflect and enjoy some “space” where I didn’t have to do or think about anything else - bliss!! I hope to be back in the near future.”

“It’s over two months since we’ve returned from the retreat and I only now find the time to write something about how very wonderful my experience with Mamaheaven was....this is telling in itself - it gave me time, breathing space, an opportunity to reflect and be nurtured. By coming up for air it reinforced what an amazing bundle of troublesome loveliness my little boy is and I’m excited about the rest of our journey together whilst savouring exactly where we are at right now. Go, it’s so worth it.”

“The retreat has a really amazing energy, such an inviting and warm place to be, I felt incredibly welcome and very relaxed about being there with little Vincent. What an amazing idea to create a place of such comfort and safety where a mother can go with her baby and just be looked after with so much love. You are all really making a difference in peoples lives in such a positive way, its so nice to know places like this exist in the world! Thank you!”

“I felt more rested after Mamaheaven than I did after our two week family holiday! As mum of two girls three and under I loved having delicious healthy food and supportive interesting company where I didn’t have to make the meals or clean up. Massage, yoga, birth stories and other sessions were inspiring, deeply restful and healing and my baby girl had a marvellous loving time whilst I was looking after mama. Florence House is a beautiful and comfortable place in a gorgeous location. Eye opening and unique, I might have to have a third baby just so I can come back again.”

“Quite simply a beautiful experience and full of wonderful memories. I was unsure if I would be able to actually “switch off and relax” but due to the magical staff and perfect planning (babies being loved and cared for so well and amazing food among other things) I had a wonderful time with my baby son and enjoyed meeting other Mums in similar positions to me. I would recommend it to everyone - in fact can you start a DadaHeaven please?”

“I have often thought I should write a testimonial about my time at Mamaheaven. For the purpose here, I will keep it brief because to detail the ripples sent out into my life after that long weekend would mean I’d need to write an essay.
I arrived at Mamaheaven with my fourth baby in my arms. I was good at this mothering thing by then having been in the throes of it for almost a decade! From the outside I think I gave off a good impression of knowing what I was doing and how I wanted to do it. However, underneath all of that front, I was struggling. Not with my babies so much but life was hard. I was about to split with my children’s father and I didn’t know what I was going to do about it all.
The women at Mamaheaven create a space where you can just drop down and let go of being capable for a while. It is such a blessed relief!
I had never had any of my children cared for by anyone else and to my surprise it was easy to leave my lovely boy in the creche and take time to stretch out in the yoga room and get reacquainted with my body. The body work and talking circles were amazing and just being fed with delicious, carefully thought out food was such a treat.
However, the real magic for me was realising that I had something of value to offer to the world outside of being a mother. I love my children. They are everything to me and that hasn’t changed but what I am has changed. I remember sitting and observing the Mamaheaven team and wishing that I had a tribe of women like that in my life. They were passionate about mothering and to them it seemed that meant supporting women to be everything they can be. I was totally rocked by that.
I left Mamaheaven with the seeds of a way to grow a new way of being and a renewed confidence that maybe I was more than enough (instead of not feeling good enough). I have watered and nurtured those seeds over the last few years training in what I am passionate about. Now my baby is no longer a baby, I am able to work towards getting the work I do out into the world. I also have my tribe of women in my life now and I never thought life would be so lovely. Thank you for those seeds Mamaheaven. I think the work you do is so important and so necessary for new mothers. It is such a gift to have a chance for mother to be looked after for a while instead of having to do all of the looking after. I am so glad I came along that Autumn weekend.”

“Occasionally, time magically stretches. A few days appear so much longer, richer and more intense. This is exactly what happened at the Mamaheaven retreat. From our arrival to the good-byes, every minute was made precious and important for both babies and me. We felt cared for, looked after, listened to and taken seriously. We got spoilt with lovely food and drink, walks at the coast, massages, cranios and yoga and time to talk. Thank you to everybody from Mamaheaven to create this wonderful, refreshing and empowering break for us!”

“I was just pontificating about the wonderful time I had at Mamaheaven. I came in June 2015 and I remember the food and the lovely warm people. It felt like a holiday and it was so safe and warm and just delightful.

I didn’t spend much in the way of gadgets when the baby was born as I think it’s all superfluous stuff, but Mamaheaven was the best money I ever spent on myself and my son. Truly magical.

I recommend you often, but I meet price resistance. I actually think it’s an accessible price and good value so keep doing what you are doing!

I just recommended Menoheaven to my mother-in-law!”

“It was a really special atmosphere and community that was created in such a short time – the team, the idyllic setting, the welcome and that first session really set the tone from which the rest of the weekend grew. The whole team were so good at what they did, and gave so hugely.”

“Thank you for a really special weekend. Driving back home I was reflecting on the experience and like a thunderbolt it dawned on me that I’d learnt something really valuable about myself...I’d learnt how much I love my son! Quite overwhelming.”

“I guess it always feels like a lot of money to spend on yourself – and it’s good organic food, great rooms, wonderful treatment – so I guess it’s great value.”

“If you were to ask me what I wanted to gain from the Mamaheaven retreat, I think I would have answered, some quality time with my daughter and time for me, but I have gained far more than that. I’ve learnt to love every moment that my daughter brings me and to take stock of me time, which I have found I’ve been thinking about a lot since I came home. I’ve just finishing applying Dr Haushka rose cream and have booked my first yoga group for next week, I feel like a new woman is emerging!!
Watch out world!!! Thanks to all for everything this weekend, great experience!!”

“In the eye of the storm of being a new mum, the gift of Mamaheaven was invaluable and regenerative. I felt like I was a part of something amazing, a sisterhood as old as the hills, where each and every one of us is connected through our bellies, through the universal cord of being mothers. And this in turn gave me a sense of inner strength, grounded-ness, self-belief - funnily enough all the things I most want to be able to instil in my children.”

“If life was fair, Mamaheaven would be offered on the NHS. As it is, this country’s first weekend retreat for mums with babies up to the age of 18 months doesn’t come cheap. But it’s worth it for a myriad of reasons, not least because it offers a chance to relax and reflect on motherhood.”

“For me, having complete confidence in the childcare was key to being able to fully indulge in everything else on offer, and it was immediately obvious how relaxed my son was in the crèche and what great attention he was having. I think it’s a fantastic project and you do it so well! I’m looking forward to more babies so that I can come back.”

“I’ve come back re-energised and focussed possibly for the first time since I had my first child five years ago.”

“I had to persuade myself that I was allowed the indulgence of the weekend, but in hindsight it was worth every penny. The team that you have brought together, from yoga teachers to masseurs to therapists to cooks to child-minders, seem all to be the ‘cream of the cream’ - and what is more, they do their jobs with such wonderful calm and peacefulness. I am particularly grateful to the women in the creche, who always made me feel that I could leave K without anxiety or any sense of indebtedness.”

“I have come away a little more patient, a little more tolerant, a little more confident, a little more thoughtful, a little more gracious, a little more .... me. Thank you.”

“If I remember only one thing about the first year of my baby’s life it will be spending this special time with him at Mamaheaven.”

“It’s over two months since we\’ve returned from the retreat and I only now find the time to write something about how very wonderful my experience with Mamaheaven was....this is telling in itself - it gave me time, breathing space, an opportunity to reflect and be nurtured. By coming up for air it reinforced what an amazing bundle of troublesome loveliness my little boy is and I\’m excited about the rest of our journey together whilst savouring exactly where we are at right now. Go, it’s so worth it.”

“The retreat has a really amazing energy, such an inviting and warm place to be, I felt incredibly welcome and very relaxed about being there with little Vincent. What an amazing idea to create a place of such comfort and safety where a mother can go with her baby and just be looked after with so much love. You are all really making a difference in peoples lives in such a positive way, its so nice to know places like this exist in the world! Thank you!”