Get Out Mindfulness Retreats

What We Do

'Mindfulness is focusing on being highly aware of what you’re sensing in the present moment – without interpreting and judging it.'

I help you to be more mindful of what your mind and body need and together we GET OUT of everyday life, out of our heads, away from all the To Do’s and into Nature.

My goal is equip you with tools you can use when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed or upset in everyday life situations. I strongly believe that everything we need is already within us – sometimes we just need a little help to access it.

About Me

Hey! I’m Lene, I’m from Germany and moved to Wales in August 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. I was only supposed to stay for a year, but fell in love with Penarth, its community and the welsh scenery and decided to stay for good.

After I had suffered from a severe eczema outbreak for months in 2018, I got into Mindfulness during a 6-week stay in a holistic skin clinic. The Relaxation Exercises helped me calm down enough to fall asleep within minutes after I had suffered from insomnia caused by pain for more than half a year.

After realising how powerful those tools are and experiencing what an impact the exercises had on my mental and physical wellbeing, I started practising Mindfulness regularly.
I changed my whole way of being and for the first time in my life really listened to what my mind and body wanted and needed. As a result of this, I quit my job and moved to Wales. Last year I added daily sunrise sea swims to my routine to build a healthy habit that gets me out of bed each day, excited for another morning.
That's when we accidentally founded the Dawnstalkers.

After a year of coaching people into the cold water every morning at dawn, a full year of meeting amazing people and building a community at the Seafront, I am now building Get Out! with the desire to contribute positively to people's lives full time.
If I have learned one thing, it is that I will never stop learning and there will always be new things to do and think about – I have started the Get Out! journey with an Outdoor First Aid Course and a Mental Health and Suicide First Aid Course. Then I did my Hill and Moorland Leader Training and am currently working towards the assessment.
Until then, I will have an experienced Mountainleader with me on all of my Retreat Days to make sure we get out into Nature – safely.

I am grateful to be in the position to take this leap of faith and it already has been so rewarding. I can't wait to spend more time with more people who want to go through life and all the ups and downs that come with it – in the most self-compassionate way possible.

Retreat Days

Check dates and book yours here!

A full day out in nature, away from all the To Do's, time for yourself, a break from every day life, all you have to concentrate on is YOU – that's what my 1 Day Retreats are!

Just like on a plane where we have to put on our own oxygen masks before we can help others, in life we also need to look after ourselves before we can look after anyone or anything else. Having regular breaks from every day life ensures that we stay energised enough to live up to our demanding modern lifestyle and go through each day having fun, enjoying the little things and embracing life as it happens for us.

The Get Out! Mindfulness Retreat Days are an opportunity for you to come along and for once not be in charge. All you do is show up and join in: I plan the route, provide lunch and you get a bespoke Kit List in advance. I guide you through several Mindfulness Exercises along the way (you don't have to have any experience in meditating) and you get the opportunity to try a cold water dip in a lake.

Being in cold water is the easiest way to be present. In this moment your mind doesn't concentrate on anything else but what the water feels like and how your body reacts to it. It's a truly exhilarating experience, especially when surrounded by green mountains and stunning views.
Even though I encourage everyone to join me in the lake, it is entirely up to you how far you go and if you want to try it. There is no pressure or judgement if you decide you're happy to stay out of the water and just enjoy the views instead.

Group Hike

Mindfulness Exercises

Cold Water Therapy

Local Mindfulness Walks in Penarth

Check dates and book yours here!

For everyone who doesn’t feel comfortable being in the Mountains all day: The Mindfulness Walks are the Retreat Days, just in shorter and more accessible!

For two hours in the afternoon, we walk along Penarth’s coastal path and tune into everything that we don’t usually take in. A local walk becomes a short but powerful break from everyday life where you come closer to yourself in little Meditations, take in what you usually miss and recharge for the following days.

Wellbeing Workshops

Check dates and book yours here!

For our workshop series all about mental and physical well-being, I'm teaming up with Nutritional Therapist Clementine Gregory.

Each workshop comes with a specific topic that will be covered from a holistic perspective.

In two hours in the evening, we meet up once a month in Cardiff to share Mindfulness Techniques, Nutritional Tools, and reflective exercises that will help you to feel your best. We're creating a calm environment which allows conversation, sharing and also very important: fun!

Testimonials

Here is what my participants think!

Mari D.

My Get Out! Retreat Day was a wonderful and much needed experience. I signed up as I was looking to get a break from my busy and chatic everyday life and learn to slow down a little. I got so much more than that. It was a fantastic experience on so many levels! The Mindfulness Exercises were calming and relaxing and made me feel extremely connected with the world around me.
Such a magical feeling.
The route was beautiful, with stunning views for days. The cold-water dip was incredible and made me feel so alive. The group was perfect, I met some genuinely nice people and we shared lots of laughter throughout the day. Finally, Lene was a superb group leader, always attentive and respectful and really really good fun! What a lovely day!

Seamus Sullivan

I went to a Get Out Day with Lene Hops in May and the outcome was very refreshing. Life slowed down, we paid attention to our senses, had periods of silence and meditations. Conversations were relaxed and open and there were things that challenged us. Some people were unsure about cold water therapy which isn't compulsory but those that experienced it were buzzing. Lene coached us into the water with care and consideration. She looked after us the whole time, checking if we were okay and waiting when necessary.

Thank you Lene, it was very rewarding, I had a really great experience with good people and didn't want the day to end.

Amanda H.

Being plus size, I was feeling nervous about whether I'd be able to do the walk. Lene soon put me at ease, saying we could take it at our own pace. And I'm so glad I did it! Each step I took I felt supported by the whole group and especially by Lene herself.

Every mindfulness moment filled me with more and more knowledge of myself and how I was feeling. And I took away so much from the whole day and really gave myself the best chance to Get Out of my every day life.

John Lomax

I recently took part in a GET OUT Mindfulness Retreat with Lene and I have to say I was impressed with both the structure and the flexibility of the day. It really helped me to get out of the business world and connect with myself, nature and the other people around me.

The location was great and the cold-water dip was something I unexpectedly enjoyed. I took away memorable moments and a closer connection with my friends that I joined the Retreat with.

I will be recommending Lene’s Mindfulness Retreats to my family and friends, as it really helped me relax and made me feel refreshed.

Liz Davies

I was lucky enough to be gifted a day out with Lene and as I'm absolutely terrible at taking time for myself, being mindful and relaxing (what's that?!) I was really looking forward to the experience. It did not disappoint.

From lying by a lake in silence and taking in the stunning views, the delicious, locally made lunch, to an invigorating dip in Llyn Y Fan Fawr, I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

I felt calm, happy and looked after the entire day. Meeting a great group of people and coming home feeling very full of joy and very glad to roll into bed!

Anthony Williams

My daughter Shinae and myself joined Lene on one of her Retreat Days in the Black Mountains. We weren't quite sure what to expect even though we were given lots of information and kept up to date. We did a hike in the moutains over a 6.5 hour period, within that time Lene took us through various Mindfulness Techniques that we would never have experienced if we had been on our own.
There were plenty of breaks and a long lunch break relaxing at the side of a gorgeous lake, we finished off with a cold water dip and short hike back to the car.

I can honestly say even though we were knackered afterwards, we both thoroughly enjoyed the day and would recommend it to anyone. Thank you, Lene!

Clementine Kench

Lene has such a way with words and her energy is so grounding.

Her meditation practice helped me to let go and in seconds I felt more connected to my being. It was so easy to be present.
My nervous system felt truly nourished afterwards and I just didn't want it to end! Thank you, Lene!

Haydn Wakeling

I'd like to recommend Lene's Retreat Days based on our recent trip to the Brecon Beacons with herself, John, Seamus and some lovely strangers. Getting into the mountains with great company, meditating, and doing other exercises was a great way to get my head out of work and into nature.

If you love a stunning view, great company, and great catering, all led by a wonderful leader, get out for a hike with Lene.