Terms & Conditions
1. About these terms
1.1 These terms apply to all bookings for retreats and retreat holidays run by Soma Rising Retreats/Rachel Bednarski and/or Amanda Ashy. By booking a place, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to them.
1.2 Your contract is with Soma Rising Retreats and Rachel Bednarski and Amanda Ashy trading in partnership as Soma Rising Retreats of St Leonards on Sea, UK. ("we", "us", "our"). "You" means the person making the booking and every guest named on it.
1.3 If you book on behalf of other guests, you confirm that you have their authority to do so, that they agree to these terms, and that you are responsible for payments due under the booking.
1.4 Guests must be aged 21 or over at the start of the retreat.
1.5 You can contact us at somarisingretreats@gmail.com
2. Booking and payment
2.1 A deposit of £500 for The Oracular or £300 for The Cave is required to secure your place on the retreat. Your booking is confirmed when we have received your deposit and completed booking form, and have sent you written confirmation.
2.2 The deposit is non-refundable, except where we cancel the retreat (section 4) or where the law requires otherwise.
2.3 The balance is due no later than 90 days before the retreat start date. If you book within 90 days of the start date, the full price is due at the time of booking.
2.4 Optional: You may pay the balance in instalments by arrangement, as long as the full amount is received by the date in 2.3.
2.5 If the balance is not received by the due date, we will contact you. If it is still not paid within 7 days of that contact, we may treat your booking as cancelled by you, and the cancellation terms in section 3 will apply.
2.6 The retreat price includes: accommodation in a shared/private room, all meals during retreat hours, all sessions and workshops. It does not include: flights/transport, travel insurance, travel to and from the venue, optional treatments, personal expenses.
2.7 Once your booking is confirmed, we will not increase the price.
3. If you cancel
3.1 To cancel, you must tell us in writing by email to somarisingretreats@gmail.com. Your cancellation takes effect on the date we receive it.
3.2 If you cancel more than 90 days before the retreat start date, any payments made beyond the deposit will be refunded, less a £50 administration fee and any unrecoverable costs already paid to suppliers on your behalf.
3.3 If you cancel 90 days or less before the retreat start date, all monies paid will be retained, and any outstanding balance may still be payable, to the extent necessary to cover losses and unrecoverable supplier costs arising from your cancellation. If your place can be filled, we will always aim to reduce losses where reasonably possible.
3.4 No refund is given for any part of the retreat you do not use, including if you arrive late, leave early or choose not to take part in any session.
3.5 Transferring your place. You may transfer your booking to another person who meets the requirements of these terms, by giving us written notice at least 7 days before the retreat start date. You and the new guest will be jointly responsible for any unpaid balance and any reasonable costs of the transfer, which we will tell you about in advance. The new guest must complete our booking and health forms and agree to these terms.
3.6 No cooling-off period. Because retreats are leisure services provided on specific dates, the 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply to your booking.
4. Changes and cancellation by us
4.1 We are a small business, and while we understand that cancellations can be deeply disappointing, these terms are needed because accommodation, venue and supplier costs are often committed to in advance.
4.2 Minor changes. We may need to make minor changes to the programme, schedule, session content, room allocation or activities. We will tell you about these as soon as reasonably possible. Minor changes do not entitle you to a refund.
4.3 Teachers. If the named teacher is unexpectedly unable to attend, we reserve the right to provide a suitably qualified substitute teacher or make another reasonable change to the programme.
4.4 Significant changes. If before the retreat we need to make a significant change, such as a change of venue, dates or location, we will tell you as soon as possible. You may then accept the change, transfer to another retreat of equal or lower value (with the difference refunded), or cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid to us.
4.5 If we cancel. If we cancel a retreat, all monies paid to us for the retreat will be refunded within 14 days. We may also offer you a transfer to another retreat instead, which you are free to accept or refuse. If we cancel because too few people have booked, we will tell you at least 90 days before the start date.
4.6 We cannot be responsible for third-party costs not booked directly with us, such as flights, transport, accommodation outside the retreat, insurance premiums, visa fees or other personal expenses.
4.7 Events outside our control. If the retreat is affected by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disaster, government action, travel disruption, illness outbreak or venue closure, we will communicate with you as soon as possible and set out the options reasonably available at that time. These may include transfer, credit, partial refund, or refund of sums recovered from suppliers. Please ensure your insurance covers these risks.
5. Health, safety and suitability
5.1 Our retreats include breathwork, somatic and bodywork practices that can be physically and emotionally intense. They are not suitable for everyone.
5.2 Before your booking is confirmed, you must complete our health questionnaire honestly and in full. This includes telling us about any physical or mental health condition, injury, pregnancy, medication or recent treatment that may affect your participation. Conditions that may make some practices unsuitable include [e.g. pregnancy, epilepsy or seizures, cardiovascular conditions or high blood pressure, glaucoma or detached retina, recent surgery, osteoporosis, a history of psychosis or bipolar disorder, severe mental illness]. You must tell us about any change to your health before the retreat starts.
5.3 We may ask you to provide confirmation from your GP or medical practitioner that you are fit to take part.
5.4 We may decline a booking, or adapt or exclude you from any practice, where we reasonably believe this is necessary for your safety or that of others. If we decline your booking before it is confirmed, we will refund any money paid. If you did not disclose relevant information, the cancellation terms in section 3 apply.
5.5 Our retreats are not medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment and do not replace it. Our facilitators are not medical professionals. Please continue any treatment or medication as advised by your doctor, and do not stop medication without medical advice.
5.6 You take part in all practices voluntarily and are responsible for working within your own limits. You can choose to step back from any practice at any time. Please tell a facilitator if you feel unwell or unsafe.
5.7 Some retreat activities, such as hiking, sauna, cold water immersion, breathwork, dancing carry their own risks. Please take part only if you feel physically able.
6. During the retreat
6.1 Conduct. Our retreats depend on a safe and respectful space. We may remove you from the retreat, without refund, if your behaviour endangers, harasses or seriously disrupts other guests, our team or the venue. This includes being under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during sessions. This is a strictly alcohol-free retreat, and no recreational drugs may be brought on site.
6.2 Accommodation. Rooms are allocated by us in order of booking / according to room type booked. If you have booked a shared room, we will pair you with a guest of the same sex / your choice where possible. We will meet dietary requirements where possible if you tell us at booking, but cannot guarantee a kitchen free from allergens.
6.3 Venue rules. You agree to follow the reasonable rules of the venue. You are responsible for the cost of any damage you cause.
6.4 Your belongings. You are responsible for your own belongings during the retreat.
7. Travel and insurance
7.1 We strongly recommend that you take out suitable travel insurance at the time of booking, covering cancellation, medical costs, repatriation and the events described in 4.7. We also recommend that you know you can cover the full cost of the retreat before booking.
7.2 You are responsible for making sure you have a valid passport, any visa and any other travel or health documents needed to reach the retreat, and for arriving on time.
8. Our liability
8.1 We will provide the retreat with reasonable skill and care.
8.2 Nothing in these terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot be limited or excluded by law.
8.3 Subject to 8.2, we are not liable for loss or damage that is not a foreseeable result of our breach of these terms or our negligence, or that arises from your failure to disclose health information, follow reasonable instructions, or work within your own limits.
8.4 Subject to 8.2, our total liability to you is limited to the price you paid for the retreat.
9. Your information, photos and recordings
9.1 We collect and use your personal information, including health information you give us, only to run your booking and keep you safe. We handle it in line with UK data protection law and our privacy policy. We share it only with those who need it, such as the venue for dietary or room needs.
9.2 We may take photos or video during the retreat for our marketing. Please respect other guests' privacy and do not photograph or record them, or sessions, without their consent.
10. Complaints
10.1 If something is not right during the retreat, please tell a facilitator straight away so we can try to put it right.
10.2 If you still wish to complain, please email somarisingretreats@gmail.com within 28 days of the end of the retreat.
11. General
11.1 These terms, together with your booking confirmation, form the whole agreement between us.
11.2 These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. You can bring proceedings in the courts of England and Wales, or, if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, in the courts of the country where you live.
11.3 Your statutory rights are not affected.
By booking your place on a retreat, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these terms.
Last updated: 23 October, 2027
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