Beyond The Noise is an immersive men’s retreat created for those who feel the weight of responsibility, expectation and constant mental demand - and know it’s time to pause.

Hosted at Eremito, a restored 14th-century monastery in the UNESCO-protected Umbrian countryside, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to step away from modern distractions and return to what matters most, yourself. 

This is not about fixing or improving yourself. It’s about remembering who you are beneath the roles you carry - provider, leader, partner, father, professional and allowing space to breathe, reflect and reconnect.

Over five days, you’ll be guided through a carefully curated experience that blends meditation, breathwork, time in nature, reflective practices and meaningful group conversations. There is also intentional silence woven throughout the retreat, including a signature Silent Dinner, allowing deeper awareness, clarity and presence to emerge.

Eremito as the location is itself a teacher. With no televisions, limited technology and a design rooted in simplicity and contemplation, the monastery invites a natural slowing of the nervous system. Surrounded by forest, hills and stillness, you are supported to disconnect from the noise of daily life and reconnect with yourself, others and the natural world.

Beyond The Noise Men's Retreat is for men who want more than a break or holiday. It’s for those seeking clarity, connection, and a deeper sense of alignment - not just during the retreat, but in how they return home and show up in their lives.

You’ll leave rested, clear, and reconnected - better equipped to be a present partner, father, leader, and human being.

The retreat is guided by two men deeply committed to helping others slow down, reconnect and live with greater clarity and intention.

Steve Hodgson

Steve Hodgson is the founder of Beyond The Noise Collective and host of The Noise of Life Podcast. With a background spanning leadership, business and in more recent years, mental health support and advocacy, Steve brings lived experience of burnout, identity loss and the pressure that comes with carrying responsibility for others.

Steve is known for his grounded, relatable approach, creating environments that feel safe and free of judgement. His facilitation style invites honesty, reflection and meaningful conversation. You'll find that he interacts and engages as much as a participant, as he does a host.

Dr Rob Williams

Dr Rob Williams is an educator, author and breathwork teacher.  With a background spanning academia, environmental history and human performance, Rob brings a unique blend of intellectual depth and embodied practice to the Beyond The Noise Men’s Retreat.

Rob’s work centres on helping people reconnect with the body through breath, presence and conscious challenge. Drawing on breathwork, cold exposure and nature-based practices, he supports men to build psychological resilience, regulate the nervous system and meet discomfort with calm and clarity.

Rob is known for his grounded, steady presence and his ability to hold space without judgement. His facilitation style encourages curiosity, humility and honest conversation, inviting men to slow down, listen deeply and reconnect with what’s happening beneath the noise - both within themselves and with others.

Together

Together, Steve Hodgson and Dr Rob Williams bring a powerful blend of lived experience and embodied practice, combining deep personal insight with evidence-informed tools for nervous system regulation, reflection, and resilience.

Their shared approach creates a safe, human space where men can slow down, step out of constant doing and reconnect with themselves, others and what truly matters.

• Meditation and breathwork sessions

• Cold immersion practices to build resilience

• Facilitated group circles and reflective conversations

• Time for journaling, rest and personal reflection

• Hikes through local forest and nature trails

• Periods of intentional silence, including signature Silent Dinners

• Single-occupancy hermitage-style rooms (simple, quiet, no TVs)

• Dedicated yoga and meditation room

• Communal dining space with nourishing vegetarian meals

• Forest walking paths and contemplative outdoor spaces

• Relaxation area with Jacuzzi and Turkish bath

• Optional opportunity for personal massage

Eremito’s UNESCO-protected surroundings, candlelit evenings and absence of modern distractions create a calm, grounding atmosphere where men can slow down, disconnect from the noise of daily life and reconnect with themselves, nature and what truly matters.

Eremito is the ideal place for those who realise that peace and quiet are essential ingredients to find inner peace. It’s a mystical place, fruit of a long journey of self discovery. The place is majestically located within Umbrian valleys, this amplifies the sense of spirituality enchanting the eyes and the soul.