Here's What I Learned from Our First Summit & Soul Retreat
- emmakatec
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Reflections from the Summit & Soul retreat, Lake District, October 2025
How It All Unfolded
In early October, six women joined our team in the Lake District for the first Summit & Soul retreat - a long weekend of hiking, yoga, mindfulness, and a lot of honest conversation. And if I'm completely honest, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Would everyone get along? Would the hikes be too challenging? Would the weather be awful? Would people be willing to try vegan food for a long weekend?
Turns out, I needn't have worried. We were blessed with glorious weather, and what I witnessed over that long weekend reminded me why I do this work - and taught me a few things I didn't expect too!
Saying Yes is the Hardest Part
Every single woman who signed up for this retreat was already choosing courage. Some had never hiked a mountain before. Others had never tried yoga, mindfulness, or a sound bath. A few had never kept a journal or spent three days away from their usual routines with people they didn't know well.
But they said yes anyway.
And here's what I observed: your thoughts will absolutely try to keep you safe and comfortable. They'll give you every reason why something might not work out, why you might not be ready, why staying home is the sensible choice. But when you take action anyway - when you book the thing, pack your bag, and show up - something shifts.
On day 1, we hiked through the crags surrounding Grasmere - six hours of varied, challenging terrain. The following day, we climbed Helvellyn, two miles almost straight up. And when we reached the summit, we experienced an inversion: clear skies above us while mist and fog blanketed the lowlands below. It was genuinely magical.
But honestly? The real magic wasn't at the summit.
The Messy, Muddy, Human Bits
Look, not everything went perfectly - and thank goodness for that! A few people took a tumble in the mud (completely uninjured, I promise), which made us all giggle a bit. There was also a memorable moment on the side of Helvellyn when a few of us dramatically re-enacted Mufasa's death from The Lion King. If you know, you know.
These moments - the unplanned, slightly chaotic, definitely-not-Instagram-perfect ones - were some of my favourites. They reminded me that growth doesn't have to be serious all the time. Sometimes it's just plain messy (and muddy)!
What Actually Moved Me
The thing that stays with me most happened during our closing circle on the final morning.
We sat together in our circle, and each woman shared what she'd learned about herself over the long weekend. The openness was beautiful, and the willingness to be vulnerable in front of people they'd only really just met a few days earlier - well, that takes real courage.
And then they took time to write kind words for each other. Not the surface-level "you're great!" kind of stuff, but genuine reflections on what they'd noticed and appreciated about one another. Watching that unfold, seeing how an experience like this bonds people in unique ways - it was really special to witness. And I'm not going to pretend I wasn't a bit teary by the end of it!
What I admired most though was the women's determination. Every single one of them was committed to completing the hikes AND enjoying the experience - not just ticking a box or proving something, but genuinely being present for it all. The yoga sessions, the mindfulness practices, the sound baths, the journaling, even trying vegetables some had never tried before. They showed up fully, and that's not always easy to do.
What's Next?
I'm hoping to plan the next Summit & Soul retreat for late spring 2026, and I'd genuinely love for you to consider joining us.
This isn't about being the fittest or most experienced. It's about being willing to say yes to something that challenges you - and maybe falling over in the mud and laughing about it with new friends!
Before the retreat, I offer pre-retreat coaching with each participant to help clarify what you're hoping to get from the experience. Because showing up is one thing; showing up with intention is another.
Email me to register your interest and you'll be the first to know when I have more details.
If the retreat feels too far away but you're ready to challenge yourself now, I'm launching a 3-month strength training programme in January 2026 specifically for women in midlife who beginner lifters. It's called Foundations, and it's about building physical strength in a private, supportive space - and discovering what else becomes possible when you prove to yourself you can do hard things.
Learn more about how I work or book a free discovery call to explore whether it might be right for you.
Your thoughts will try to keep you safe and comfortable. But the life you want? It's probably just outside that comfort zone of yours. And while you don't have to climb a mountain to find it, it certainly does help!
Emma-Kate x
Thank you to all of the women for sharing your photos from the weekend. All credit for the beautiful photos is yours x
