18 September 2026, Essenden, Herts, UK
Autumn Equinox Leadership Retreat
The Pause
Retreats: The Pause
A strategic pause for high-performing leaders to reflect, reset and reconnect
Many leaders spend their lives moving from one demand to the next - leading teams, making decisions, solving problems, firefighting and carrying responsibility for everyone around them.
But few are ever taught how to pause.
Not to stop ambition.
Not to slow down permanently.
But to create intentional space for reflection, clarity and sustainable leadership.
Celebrating the Autumn Equinox
The point in the year where light and dark meet in equal measure - The Pause is a half-day immersive retreat designed for the modern leader who is seeking a more balanced and intentional way of living and leading.
This is not a wellness retreat.
It is a strategic pause for leaders who understand that sustainable
success requires more than constant performance.
Friday, 18 Sept 2026
Cucumber Fields, Essenden, AL9 6JB
1 PM - 6:30 PM
Half-Day Immersive Retreat
Investment: [TBD]
Why the pause matters?
Modern leadership often glorifies:
urgency
productivity
over-responsibility
constant availability
pushing through
And while many leaders outwardly succeed, inwardly they are often:
mentally overloaded
emotionally exhausted
disconnected from themselves
operating in survival mode
struggling to find balance between ambition and wellbeing
The Pause offers something increasingly rare.
Space to breathe.
Space to reflect.
Space to reconnect with yourself beyond the noise of constant doing.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing a leader can do is pause before reacting, pause before pushing harder and pause long enough to truly listen to themselves again.
Balance at the Equinox
The Autumn Equinox represents a natural moment of transition and recalibration.
A threshold between seasons.
A moment of equal light and dark.
A reminder that nature itself moves in cycles of growth, reflection and renewal.
Throughout the retreat, we’ll explore what balance looks like within modern leadership:
Ambition and wellbeing
Performance and presence
Logic and intuition
Drive and restoration
Control and trust
External success and internal alignment
This is not about abandoning drive and ambition.
It’s about learning how to lead, perform and succeed in a way that is sustainable and deeply aligned with your values.
What We’ll Explore
The experience blends leadership development, nervous system awareness, coaching and reflective practices in a grounded and accessible way.
Sessions will include:
Leadership Coaching
understanding stress responses and nervous system regulation
the concept of “The Power Pause” in leadership and communication
reflective journalling and guided self-enquiry
breathwork and restorative wellbeing practices
mindful movement
group discussion and meaningful connection
seasonal reflection and intention-setting
Every element is designed to help you move from reactive leadership into more conscious, intentional leadership.
By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave with:
greater clarity, perspective and mental space away from day-to-day operational demands
a deeper understanding of your stress responses and how they impact your leadership, communication and decision-making
practical tools to regulate pressure, improve emotional resilience and avoid reactive leadership
greater awareness of the habits, patterns and expectations that may be contributing to stress or imbalance
dedicated time to reflect on priorities, challenges and what needs to shift moving into the next season
feeling more grounded, present and connected to yourself beyond constant performance and pressure
renewed focus, energy and a clearer sense of how you want to lead moving forward
Most importantly, you’ll leave having experienced the value of intentional pause — and the impact it can have on how you lead, perform and make decisions under pressure.
Who this is for
The Pause is designed for:
senior leaders and executives
founders and entrepreneurs
people leaders and business owners
high performers navigating pressure or transition
leaders seeking greater clarity, balance and sustainability
You do not need to be burnt out to attend.
In fact, this experience is designed to help you reconnect with yourself before you reach that point.
We also recognise that this could be a powerful experience for you and your team.
We are happy to offer The Pause as a private, exclusive retreat experience allowing space for deeper reflection, stronger connection and conversations tailored to your team’s specific needs and objectives.
FAQs
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You will be doing activities with the horses that are designed to elicit specific learning objectives or awareness-building. The activities require no specific skills or experience, but all are hands-on and interactive. There is no right or wrong way for the equine coaching experience to play out. Individuals have unique experiences based on their intentions for the session, along with what they are drawn to doing with the horse.
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Water bottle
Closed-toe shoes are required
Pre-work (if relevant)
Journal and a pen
Your phone if you want to take pictures
An open heart and mind
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All activities at the ranch for the day are included.
A short pre-work questionnaire to make the most of the day.
Light snacks and water.
We will provide a packed lunch.
Please note, there are no stores nearby. Please bring along any additional food/beverages you may enjoy on the day. There is no coffee facility!Unfortunately, there are no refunds for this program as the workshop fee is covering costs only.
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We will be outside for the day, so bring appropriate layers and wear something comfortable.
Choose clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting a little dusty.
Always wear closed-toed shoes and no sandals, please!
A hat and sunscreen.
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This workshop will be held outside and interactions with the horses are usually in a sandy arena and require some moving around on uneven ground at the stables. Opportunities to sit down are provided. Talk to us if you have questions, concerns or special requirements to consider.
Nature does not sustain itself through constant growth.
There are seasons for expansion.
And seasons for reflection.
The Autumn Equinox reminds us that balance is not weakness — it is wisdom.
The Pause is your invitation to step out of constant performance and reconnect with a more intentional, sustainable and grounded way of leading.
Join us on Sunday, 26 January, at the beautiful Red Velvet Ranch in Acton, CA, for a restorative day envisioning your goals for 2025.
Meet Your Instructors
Martina Hodges-Schell
Martina is an executive coach who helps leaders pause, recalibrate, and shape what’s next — in their work and in their lives.
Drawing on 30 years at the intersection of design, innovation, and tech leadership with Fortune 100 companies and startups, she brings a rare blend of hands-on strategic clarity and creative depth to her work with executives and high-performing teams.
Her retreats offer a grounded, restorative space to step back from the noise, reconnect with creativity and what matters most, and return with renewed clarity, energy, and direction. Martina holds an MA in Applied Imagination and is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC).
Amy Gallagher
Amy’s purpose is to help leaders and teams raise the standard – replacing ego, power and control with courage, connection and trust. She is passionate about shaping cultures where people are recognised, developed and inspired to thrive.
In collaboration with
