Bearwolf Coaching

Bearwolf Coaching Welcome to a journey of personal transformation and growth.

Our one-to-one coaching services are tailored to empower you in areas, including personal transformation, mindset, resilience, breathwork, cold exposure, exercise and nutrition.

29/08/2026

Elemental Retreat - 21st - 23rd November

COME AND PLAY. COME AND BE.

Alongside the incredible food, breathwork, sauna, cold water, nature, craft, learning and science-backed tools we’ll be sharing across the weekend, there’s another part of the Ynyshir Elemental Retreat that matters just as much: having fun.

As adults, we can become so consumed by responsibility, work, productivity and the constant pressure to keep moving forward that we gradually lose touch with that more playful part of ourselves. The part that looks at the world with curiosity, wonder and awe, that tries things without worrying too much about being good at them, and that simply enjoys being in the moment.

James talks beautifully in this video about the importance of reconnecting with that part of ourselves. Not because we need to become children again, but because there is something incredibly valuable in recovering that childlike ability to explore, laugh, be curious and experience things with fresh eyes.

That sense of playfulness is a huge part of what we want this weekend to feel like. There will be moments of learning, reflection and challenge, but there will also be laughter, brilliant conversations, time outside, cold water, fire, food, creativity and the simple pleasure of doing things purely because they feel good and bring people together.

For some people, that sense of fun might feel like something that has disappeared somewhere along the way. We don’t think it has. It may simply have been buried underneath everything else life asks of us.

The retreat is an opportunity to make some space for it again, to invest in yourself, reconnect with that sense of curiosity and remember how good it feels to be fully present in what you are doing.

Come and have fun with us. Come and play. Come and be.

Ynyshir Elemental Retreat | 21st - 23rd November

26/08/2026

Elemental Retreat - 21st - 23rd November

FORGE SOMETHING THAT LASTS.

One of the most extraordinary parts of the Ynyshir Elemental Retreat is the chance to work alongside master blacksmith Lee Jones, who has spent more than 30 years refining his craft and creating one-of-a-kind knives used by chefs and collectors around the world.

Over the weekend, every guest will have the opportunity to make their own.

You’ll work with the steel, learn directly from Lee, experience the process of forging and create a completely unique knife using Welsh steel and wood sourced from the Ynyshir estate itself.

It’s more than an activity. It becomes a permanent memento of the weekend - something that carries the memory of the people, the place, the learning, the laughter and the experience long after you leave.

And there’s another side to Lee’s story that makes his involvement even more special.

After meeting James earlier in 2026, Lee was introduced to some simple breathwork techniques to help him manage stress and support his wellbeing. James didn’t know how seriously Lee had taken it, but when they met again around three months later, he noticed a very different man - lighter, calmer and more present.

Lee had quietly been practising for around 20 minutes a day.

No huge intervention. No complicated programme. Just the decision to try something new, practise it consistently and see what happened.

That journey is part of what the Elemental Retreat is all about. Learning from people who have spent decades mastering their craft, while also remaining open to learning something new about themselves.

So Lee won’t only be there to teach you how to forge a knife. He’ll also be sharing his own experience of what breathwork has brought into his life.

You arrive with a piece of steel.

You leave with something made by your own hands, a story behind it, and a memory designed to last a lifetime.

Ynyshir Elemental Retreat | 21st - 23rd November

23/08/2026

Sunday run day 🏃‍♂️

Got out this morning for a beautiful 8K run around the lake here in Leighton Buzzard and just felt really good.

Very fluid, very loose and everything felt like it was moving as it should.

We’re now on day 23 of the 5K a Day Challenge, which means 115km completed so far this month.

Everyone in the group is going great and there’s a really positive energy around it. Personally, I’m feeling light, no injuries to report, and just feeling very grateful and positive about life at the moment.

A lot of that comes back to movement for me.

Getting outside, moving your body, clearing your head and doing something consistently that you know is good for you.

It’s also why Move is the second principle of the Unguarded Method, which we’ll be launching in the autumn.

We’ll have a whole module around movement and why it matters, not just for our physical health, but for our mental and spiritual health as well.

Ultimately, so much of what we’re creating is about giving people the tools and roadmaps to empower themselves to take back control of their health and wellbeing - their body, heart, mind and soul.

Lots more to come on that.

For now though, 8K done this morning, 115km done this month, and a very good way to start a Sunday.

Happy Sunday everyone ❤️

22/08/2026

Elemental Retreat - 21st - 23rd November

DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT.

We’ve never had access to more information, more technology or more ways to stay connected.

But the cost of that constant connection is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

We’re consuming vastly more information than previous generations, carrying an enormous cognitive load and asking our brains to process a near-continuous stream of messages, notifications, news, work, content and stimulation.

We’ve become hyper-connected, overstimulated and, in many ways, undernourished.

That’s why one of the most important parts of the Ynyshir Elemental Retreat is simply creating the space to step away.

Put the phone down. Step out of the noise. Spend time outside. Eat incredible whole food. Sit around a fire. Breathe. Move. Get into cold water. Spend time in the sauna. Talk properly. Laugh. Sleep. Be present.

And alongside that reset, James and I will be sharing the science-backed tools that have had such a profound impact on our own lives, and that now form part of The Unguarded Method.

Breathwork. Sauna. Cold exposure. Nature. Movement. Whole food. Human connection.

They’re simple practices, but when you understand why they work and learn how to build them into your life, they can have a powerful effect on the way you feel, think and show up.

This weekend is a genuine investment in you. A chance to reduce the noise, reconnect with what matters and return to everyday life with greater clarity, energy and focus.

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to step away for a while.

Ynyshir Elemental Retreat | 21st - 23rd November

20/08/2026

Zen Room! Workplace wellbeing

I spent today delivering corporate training around mindset, resilience and wellbeing, and ended the day experiencing something that says a lot about how workplace wellbeing is evolving.

This office space .mcr has created a dedicated Zen space within its Manchester office.

Meditation chairs and cushions, a quiet reading area, views across central Manchester, calming music and aromatherapy all combine to create somewhere employees can genuinely step away from the noise of the working day.

I finished my day with a breathwork session to regulate before the train home and it was a brilliant reminder of the value of creating environments where people are encouraged to decompress, declutter their minds, breathe and reset.

When I first started working in this space in 2018, there was often a lot of lip service paid to workplace wellbeing. Initiatives such as Mental Health First Aiders and EAP programmes have been incredibly valuable, but much of the focus was still on supporting people once they were already struggling.

What I love seeing now is the shift towards something much more proactive and preventative.

Creating spaces like this gives people permission during the working day to pause, regulate, read, meditate or simply sit quietly before returning to their work calmer and more focused.

And this isn’t just about individual wellbeing. Done properly, proactive wellbeing can support healthier cultures, psychological safety, creativity, engagement and more sustainable performance.

For me, that is where workplace wellbeing needs to continue heading: not simply asking “How do we support someone when they’re struggling?”, but “How do we create an environment that helps people stay well in the first place?”

One of the areas I work with organisations on is wellbeing strategy. We analyse their current approach and provide practical recommendations, alongside tailored training programmes and one-to-one coaching.

If your organisation wants to move from reactive wellbeing initiatives towards a more proactive strategy, give me a shout.

19/08/2026

Elemental Retreat - November 21st - 23rd

SAUNA & SANCTUARY.

The performance matters. But so does the person behind it.

To become one of the world’s leading chefs takes extraordinary dedication, resilience, sacrifice and thousands of hours spent pursuing the highest possible standards.

But somewhere along the way, Gareth realised that there also has to be balance.

If he wanted to continue performing at that level, while actually enjoying his life, being present with his family and protecting his health, then looking after himself couldn’t be an afterthought.

So Ynyshir began to evolve.

Not only as one of the world’s great food destinations, but as a sanctuary. A place where Gareth could reconnect with the natural world, slow things down and build practices into his life that helped him feel healthier, happier, more grounded and more present.

His own transformation has been remarkable. Four stone lost, a completely different relationship with his health, and a return to some of the simplest things we often overlook: time in nature, grounding, cold water, sauna, movement, breath and proper whole food.

Many of these are the same foundations that sit within The Unguarded Method, the framework and have created as a practical roadmap towards a healthier, more connected life.

And Gareth’s personal journey has become a huge part of why the Ynyshir Elemental Retreat now exists.

Over the weekend, guests won’t just experience extraordinary food. They’ll swim in wild water, spend time in the sauna, reconnect with nature, breathe, move, eat incredibly well and create some space away from the constant noise of everyday life.

Because ambition and wellbeing don’t have to exist at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Sometimes looking after yourself is the very thing that allows you to keep showing up for everything else that matters.

Ynyshir Elemental Retreat | 21st - 23rd November

18/08/2026

50% SOLD! Six Weeks to go!

MIDLANDS DAY RETREAT | 26 SEPTEMBER 2026

We’re heading to the beautiful Lavender Hall Lakes in Balsall Common, nestled between Birmingham and Coventry in the heart of the Midlands, this September for a full day built around slowing down, reconnecting and doing more of the things that help us feel human.

Across the day we’ll bring together breathwork, sauna, ice baths, whole foods, nature and community - giving people the space to step away from the noise of everyday life, reset and reconnect with themselves and with others.

And with just under six weeks to go, more than 50% of the tickets have already been sold. We expect this one to sell out, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us, now is the time to get involved.

The retreat is a collaboration between Bearwolf Coaching, James O’Keefe , alongside our official event sponsor and partner, Why Design Matters

We partnered with Why Design Matters because their philosophy aligns so closely with our own. Their work focuses on beautiful spaces, biophilic design and Passivhaus architecture, with nature at the heart of how environments are designed - bringing the outside in, taking the inside out, and creating spaces that help people feel better, connect more deeply and live more intentionally.

That same thinking sits at the heart of what we create through our retreats: connection, presence, challenge, recovery, great food, time outdoors and the opportunity to properly switch off from everyday life.

📍 Lavender Hall Lakes, Balsall Common
📅 Saturday 26 September 2026
🔥 Sauna
❄️ Ice baths
🫁 Breathwork
🥗 Whole foods
🌿 Nature
🤝 Community

Over 50% sold.

Drop us a DM if you’d like to hear more, or follow the link in our bio to book your place.

16/08/2026

The Elemental Retreat - November 20th - 22nd

Five dining experiences. A weekend unlike anything the world has seen before.

Food is going to be such a huge part of the Ynyshir retreat weekend.

What Gareth and the team do at Ynyshir is built around incredible whole ingredients, meticulous preparation, knowing exactly where the food has come from and an almost obsessive attention to detail. It’s that approach that has helped make Ynyshir a two Michelin star restaurant and established Gareth Ward as one of the most distinctive and exciting chefs in the world.

But this weekend gives him the opportunity to do something different.

The usual Ynyshir experience is its incredible multi-course tasting menu, developed and refined around the seasons. For the retreat, Gareth gets to step outside of that format, have some fun and create five completely different dining experiences across the weekend.

Some will be indoors. Some outdoors. There’ll be food cooked over fire and on the barbecue, different settings, different styles and a real sense of experimentation running through it all.

And that’s one of the things we love most about what we’re creating with this retreat. It isn’t a restaurant experience with some wellness added on, and it isn’t a wellness retreat that happens to have great food. We’re bringing world-class food, nature, sauna, cold water, breathwork, craft, connection and play together into one completely different experience.

You’ll also actually get to spend time with Gareth. Not just eat his food, but talk to him, hear how he thinks, understand his approach to ingredients and cooking, and get to know the incredibly grounded person behind everything Ynyshir has become.

For Gareth, it’s a chance to play and create. For us, it’s a chance to experience food, and Ynyshir, in a completely different way.

Ynyshir Elemental Retreat | 20–22 November

10 days in sunny Spain 🇪🇸 Beautiful time spent with family - super simple - beach, pool, nature and good food! Hannah Po...
15/08/2026

10 days in sunny Spain 🇪🇸

Beautiful time spent with family - super simple - beach, pool, nature and good food! Hannah Power

Plus a cheeky visit from James Jonathan Okeefe to plan our next steps for our new venture.

My world has been busy this year and for that I am very grateful. I truly am doing what I love in life. Within all that, rest and down time is important and coming back refreshed and ready for more adventures

08/08/2026

5k a day challenge! 1 week in.

Thirty of us have now completed the first seven days of our 5K a Day challenge. That’s 35 kilometres each and 1,050 kilometres covered between us already.

What I’ve loved most is that nobody is competing. Everyone is simply showing up, choosing time for themselves each day and keeping the commitment they made.

The energy in the WhatsApp group has been amazing. The encouragement, the photos, the videos, the support and the genuine camaraderie have become such a big part of this challenge.

People are sharing how they’re feeling more energised, more positive, more connected to nature and more ready to take on the day. They’re noticing things around them, lifting their mood and creating space for themselves.

One of the things James O’Keefe James Jonathan Okeefe and I talk about a lot through Bearwolf and The Unguarded Method is putting yourself at the top of your own to do list. When you create more energy, resilience and compassion within yourself, you have more to give to the people around you.

That’s exactly what we’re seeing here.

This challenge was never really just about walking or running 155K in August. It’s about showing yourself that you can keep the promises you make to yourself and making those choices part of who you are.

Scroll through and watch some of the videos from the group sharing what the first week has meant to them. Their words say it better than I ever could.

Much love everyone! Hope you’re having an amazing August.


Michelle Mcleish Hannah Power Tomas Tuominen Nick Adby Beverley Knight How DOES she do it?! Soul voice by Jo Ferrone Rachael Fahey 🦊 Si Martin Beaumont Parminder Degan WhyDesignMatters Unguarded Warrior Rachel Lockett Anna Lockett Kieran Cahill Lisa Hopkins Mark Parkhouse Jam Sauna

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