A Festive Day of Wellbeing, Connection & Creativity
WINTER PAUSE
A Day to Enjoy The Magic too
Before the Christmas rush, a little time that’s yours.
Step away from the preparations and into a day of warmth, laughter, beautiful food and festive creativity.
A thoughtfully curated day in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, where you can slow down, reconnect with yourself and rediscover the simple pleasure of doing something just for you.
Sunday 6 December 2026 | 10am–5pm | £149
Only £70 deposit to secure your space
Book two places — save £30
Norton Grounds, near Chipping Campden.
WHY WINTER PAUSE EXISTS
This Christmas, be part of the magic too.
The organising, the shopping, the planning, the endless lists, and somewhere amongst all that doing, it’s easy to lose sight of our own enjoyment.
But what if, for one day, you could experience the season differently?
To step away from the responsibilities, let someone else take care of the details and give yourself permission to be fully present. To enjoy meaningful conversation without watching the clock, and become absorbed in something creative without worrying about getting it right.
Not another thing to fit into Christmas, but a chance to be part of the magic yourself.
YOUR DAY
A little wellbeing. A little creativity. A lot of joy.
More than a collection of activities, Winter Pause unfolds gently through the day — from slowing down, to receiving care, to making something beautiful for the simple pleasure of it.
Pause & reconnect
From thinking ahead to being here.
Warming cacao, gentle winter reflection meditation -a chance to lighten the load before the end of the year. Qi Gong gives you time to settle, move and reconnect with the present moment.
Savour & connect
From responsibility to receiving.
A seasonal lunch, lovely company and time for genuine conversation — without needing to organise or look after everyone else.
Create & enjoy
From perfection to pleasure.
In the heated tipi, enjoy relaxed festive floristry. Work with natural foliage, trust your creativity and leave with something beautiful you made yourself – either a wreath or centrepiece.
MORE THAN WREATH MAKING
A whole day to enjoy, not just another thing to do.
Of course, you’ll leave with your own handmade Christmas creation and you can choose to make a wreath or centrepiece. But Winter Pause is about so much more than what you make.
It’s about experiencing what happens when you put your own enjoyment a little higher on the list. When you allow yourself to slow down, receive, connect and create without needing to achieve anything.
Perhaps you’ll leave feeling lighter, more present and more connected to yourself. Or perhaps you’ll simply have had a wonderful day. And that, in itself, is enough.
Because you deserve to be part of the life you’re so busy making lovely for everyone else.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Everything is taken care of.
All you need to do is arrive.
| ✓ Warming cacao ceremony | ✓ Guided festive floristry |
| ✓ Gentle winter reflection | ✓ All floristry materials and equipment |
| ✓ Gentle Movement with Qi Gong | ✓ Your handmade Christmas creation |
| ✓ Delicious seasonal lunch | ✓ Refreshments and festive treats |
No prior experience is needed. Come on your own or with someone special.
BETTER TOGETHER
Make a day of it with someone special.
Bring a friend, your mum, sister or someone you’d love to spend more time with. Or come on your own — you’ll be warmly welcomed.
£268 for two · save £30
Simply select the bring a friend option at the checkout
THE SETTING
Norton Grounds, Cotswolds
There is something about stepping away from your usual surroundings that makes it easier to slow down and hear yourself again.
Set within the Cotswolds countryside, Norton Grounds gives us the space to step away from the noise of everyday life and settle into a slower rhythm for the day.
Private, peaceful and surrounded by countryside, it feels less like somewhere you have simply gone for an event — and more like somewhere you have genuinely retreated to.
YOUR INVITATION
This Christmas, be part of the magic too.
Before the Christmas rush, give yourself one beautiful day for wellbeing, delicious food, laughter, connection and festive creativity.
Sunday 6 December 2026 · 10am–5pm
Norton Grounds, near Chipping Campden
£149 per person | £70 deposit to secure your place
Treat yourself to a beautiful day of wellbeing, connection and festive creativity.
You can pay in full when booking or reserve your place with a £70 deposit, with the remaining £79 due by Tuesday 1 December 2026.
Book Together — £268 for two people, saving £30.
We’d love you to join us!
YOUR HOST
MEET JOANNE
I’m Joanne Turner, founder of The Zen Academy and creator of FLOURISH and RESET women’s retreats.
I believe the quality of a woman’s life is shaped by the quality of the relationship she has with herself.
Sometimes that means reflection and inner work. And sometimes it means giving ourselves permission to have fun, try something new, connect with others and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
That’s exactly what inspired Winter Pause. I’ll guide our morning wellbeing experiences, alongside our professional florist for the afternoon workshop.
WHAT WOMEN ARE SAYING ABOUT
THE ZEN ACADEMY DAY RETREATS
“Before coming to this retreat, I felt lost and disconnected. After just one day, I felt re-energised, deeply connected, and at peace with myself. If you’re hesitating — just do it.”
— EMMA W.
“Even if you’re unsure or feeling nervous, just trust that the experience will meet you exactly where you are. The space is welcoming, supportive, and completely judgement free.”
— RETREAT ATTENDEE
“Absolutely wonderful retreat, I came away feeling so much better. Joanne has such a calm, reassuring nature. Such a relaxing, safe space to be. It set the start of my year off wonderfully — I’ll definitely do another one!”
— RETREAT ATTENDEE
“Such an amazing experience in beautiful surroundings with incredible ladies and no judgement. A day that held laughter, tears, love and support. Do it — you won’t regret it.”
— RETREAT ATTENDEE
“I’ve been on other retreats, and this was unique. You held the space so well. I always come away feeling so much better and crave the next one. I recommend it to everyone.”
— RETREAT ATTENDEE
“A lovely, relaxing day with so many benefits. Great venue, beautiful experiences, wonderful company. I always leave feeling so much better and can’t wait for the next one.”
— RETURNING ATTENDEE
QUESTIONS
Things you might want to know
Do I need any experience in wellbeing or creative wreath/Decoration making?
Not at all! Everything is suitable for beginners. You’ll be gently guided through the morning wellbeing experiences, and our professional florist will show you how to create your own beautiful festive decoration. There’s no pressure to get anything perfect — it’s all about enjoying the experience.
What will we be making in the floristry/creative workshop?
You’ll be guided through creating your own beautiful Christmas wreath or festive decoration using seasonal foliage and natural materials.
All materials and equipment are included, and you’ll take your finished creation home with you.
We’ll confirm the available designs and any choices before the event.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely! Many women attend our retreats and events on their own, and you’ll be warmly welcomed. Winter Pause is a lovely opportunity to meet like-minded women, share some laughter and make new connections.
Can I book with a friend?
Of course! Winter Pause is a lovely experience to share with a friend, mum, sister or someone special.
We also have a Book Together offer of £268 for two places, saving £30 on the standard ticket price.
Where is Winter Pause being held, and is parking available?
Winter Pause takes place at Norton Grounds, near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, in the beautiful North Cotswolds countryside.
We’ll be using the barn for our morning wellbeing experiences and lunch, followed by the heated, enclosed tipi for festive floristry.
Parking and arrival details will be shared with you before the event.
What's included in the ticket price?
Your ticket includes the full day of wellbeing experiences, a delicious seasonal lunch, the guided festive floristry workshop, all materials, refreshments and festive treats.
There are no additional charges for the included activities or standard materials.
Can I Pay A Deposit to Secure My Place?
Absolutely! You can reserve your Winter Pause place with a £70 deposit rather than paying the full amount upfront.
The remaining £79 will be due by Tuesday 1 December 2026, one week before the event.
Alternatively, you’re welcome to pay in full when booking.
Do I need to bring any mats, blankets or cushions?
For the cacao and meditationpractices all mats, blankets and cushions are provided.
Please bring anything additional if you would like to that will help with your comfort on the day!
Chairs are available if more comfortable.
What Should I Wear?
Comfortable clothing is ideal for our morning wellbeing experiences, particularly gentle Qi Gong. You might also like to bring an extra layer for the afternoon workshop.
The tipi is heated and enclosed, but we recommend dressing comfortably for a winter’s day in the Cotswolds.
We’ll send you all the practical details before the event.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
We’ll do our best to accommodate dietary requirements. Please let us know about any allergies or dietary needs when booking so we can confirm arrangements with our caterer.
If you’re unable to have cacao, please let us know in advance so we can discuss an alternative.
Is there parking at the venue?
There is plenty of parking and instructions will be sent nearer the retreat.
What if I am running late or cannot now attend?
If you find that you are going to be late please let me know on – 07859 731707, as depending on how late you are going to be a decision will be made if we may have to start before your arrival.
If you are unable to attend the event is non-refundable. If you let me know with enough time I will try and fill your space.
Are there any restrictions for attending the retreat?
I will check your suitability for cacao before the ceremony. If you have a heart condition, you may not be able to participate. Please contact me before booking if you are unsure.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
Guest cancellations
As Winter Pause is a small, carefully planned event with venue, catering and practitioner costs committed in advance, bookings are non-refundable, subject to your statutory rights.
If you’re unable to attend, please contact us as soon as possible. You’re welcome to transfer your place to another person, provided we’re notified in advance.
Where possible, we’ll also make reasonable efforts to fill your place from a waiting list. Any refund will take account of costs already reasonably incurred and any losses we’re able to recover.
Cancellation by The Zen Academy
Winter Pause requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead.
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel, whether due to insufficient bookings or circumstances beyond our control, you’ll be notified as soon as possible and receive a full refund of all payments made to The Zen Academy for the event, including any deposit.
If the event is rescheduled, you’ll be offered the opportunity to transfer your booking to the new date or receive a full refund.
We recommend that guests consider suitable insurance for any additional travel or accommodation arrangements if not local to this event.
FUTURE DATES
Not quite ready yet?
Join the waitlist and be the first to hear about future Zen Academy retreat dates — with an early bird discount reserved for waitlist members.