Join WE CREATE SPACE, UNLOCK and QUEER RETREATS for a 7-DAY LGBTQ+ RETREAT outside BARCELONA with ORA ÖZER.

Leading With Heart offers a unique seven-day journey that guides you to discover the wellspring of authentic leadership residing in your deepest self. Through practices that integrate vision, embodiment and community engagement, you'll learn to lead from the alignment with your most profound values and clearest vision.

You’ll leave this retreat with practical techniques to embrace your power, reclaim your agency and embrace leadership practices that align with your vision, values and wellness.

• Daily yoga, movement and meditation
• Guided nature and forest bathing to awaken the senses
• Group workshops and activities designed to cultivate heart-centred leadership that aligns with your vision, values and wellness 
• Practices to support self-inquiry, reflection and integration
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with ingredients we sustainably source from producers in the region
• Time to rest and relax, including use of the pool and sauna
• On-site support from our team
• One-to-one coaching session with our lead facilitator
• Membership to WCS | Campus
• Pick-up and drop-off from Sants Estació to our retreat home, Casa de ColorEs

Nestled in the stunning Catalan countryside and surrounded by majestic vineyards and mountains, our charming 16th-century masía is a relaxing escape just 50 minutes away from the vibrant city of Barcelona. Its serene environment, modern comforts and beautiful natural backdrops provide the perfect retreat setting.

Through a carefully sequenced seven-day journey, we'll explore how contemplative wisdom traditions, somatic practices and community-centred approaches are translated into practical leadership capacities. 

Each day builds upon the previous, moving from personal clarity to embodied presence to relational wisdom. The experiences are designed to be both immediately applicable and cumulatively transformative, offering concrete practices you can implement in your leadership contexts while facilitating deeper shifts in how you understand and express your leadership identity.

By the retreat's end, you'll have experienced how leadership from integration feels distinctly different from leadership from fragmentation. 

For LGBTQ+ leaders who have often been told explicitly or implicitly to compartmentalise aspects of their identity, Leading with Heart's integrated approach represents both a personal reclamation and a pathway to more effective and sustainable influence.

• Discover the source of authentic leadership within yourself rather than external models or techniques
• Master practical tools to align your leadership actions with your deepest values
• Learn to cultivate supportive environments that bring out the best in those you lead
• Integrate mind, body and emotion for a more holistic and sustainable leadership approach
• Gain confidence in facilitating meaningful community engagement and collective wisdom
• Develop a sustainable practice for continued inner development long after the retreat ends
• Join a community of like-minded leaders committed to personal growth and positive impact

Our experienced team will guide you through your retreat journey:

Ora Özer (all pronouns), Facilitator

Ora supports creatives, leaders, and change-makers in crafting bolder and bigger visions for the future and walk the steps to reach them, weaving together ancient wisdom traditions such as meditation with modern neuroscience and psychology to offer fresh perspectives on well-being.

Jano San (he/him), Co-Facilitator

Jano has been practicing yoga from an early age, training in India as a teacher specializing in Hatha, supported by Asthanga Vinyasa. He  approaches  yoga as a holistic discipline, beyond the asanas. 

Veronique Charlotte (she/her), Chef 

Veronique seamlessly blends her expertise with her passion for design, offering a unique combination of culinary artistry and design sensibility, ensuring every experience is both visually stunning and gastronomically unforgettable.

Michael Stephens (he/they), Host

Michael is a community builder and connector. His mission is to create spaces that allow and encourage people to forge meaningful relationships to their work, themselves, and each other.

Mealtimes will be a time to come together, connect as a group, and nourish our bodies. We'll be serving three healthy, delicious 'flexitarian' meals each day; incorporating a wide selection of locally sourced ingredients.

We've arranged group transport to and from the retreat centre. Please aim to arrive at the pick-up point in Barcelona City Centre at least 15-30 minutes before the scheduled departure time so we can depart on schedule. If you plan to make your own way there or back, please let us know in advance so we can share details of the retreat location.

BCN PICK UP:

Thursday 21 August @ 2pm

Exact Location tbc (Barcelona City Centre)

BCN DROP OFF:

Wednesday 27 August @ 1pm

Exact Location tbc (Barcelona City Centre)

Please note that any other transport is not included. If you're flying into Barcelona, we recommend arriving the day before or arriving into Barcelona as early as you can on the day. If you miss our transport, you'll have to arrange your own transport to the retreat venue.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Comfortable attire for yoga, workshops, and outdoor activities
• Personal toiletries (e.g., sun cream, insect repellent)
• Personal wellness items (e.g., water bottle)
• Sunglasses and a hand fan in summer
• Casual clothing for group meals and free time
• Swimwear if you plan to use the pool and sauna
• A pair of trainers or walking shoes for hikes
• A sweater for the evening, as it can get cold
• An open mind and readiness to connect

LUGGAGE: Please try not to travel with large suitcases. We have limited storage space in the private bus and at the masía.

PHONES & INTERNET: Phone reception and Wi-Fi are available, but please do not expect to be online much or to send or receive files.

BUGS: We do have mosquitoes sometimes, so bring insect repellent with you.

SHEETS AND TOWELS: Your rooms all have sheets, towels and blankets. There are also pool towels provided, however, they should not be removed from the property and should be used more than once. Sarongs are highly recommended for use by the pool, at the beach and on excursions.

MONEY: There are no ATMs in the village, so please bring a bit of cash with you if you want to buy something during an excursion or activity.

SECURITY: There is a master safe in the house, where you can lock away your passports, money and valuables, which you will not need during your stay. All the bedrooms also have locks. We recommend not travelling with unnecessary items of value, such as jewellery, watches, excess currency and laptops/tablets.

We will not take responsibility for any lost or stolen items. 

MEDICAL: Please ensure you have travel insurance and/or medical emergency cover. We have a small first-aid kit, but we recommend you bring the ‘usual’ medicines such as paracetamol, band aids, etc. Please inform us if you have any allergic reactions to food or insect bites. If you do, please bring an antihistamine or any other medication you may need. 

LAUNDRY: We do not provide laundry services.

YOGA EQUIPMENT:  We provide yoga mats, cushions and blankets, but no blocks, straps or bolsters.

We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and non-sexualised environment for everyone. Our space is designed to promote mutual respect. Any form of harassment or discrimination is strictly unwelcome, and we reserve the right to ask anyone who does not adhere to these values to leave.

• Full Refund: Available for cancellations made at least 90 days prior to the retreat start date.
• Partial Refund: A 50% refund is provided for cancellations made at least 45 days before the retreat.
• No Refund: Cancellations made within 45 days of the retreat start date are non-refundable.

Please review our full cancellation terms during the booking process.

Who is this retreat for? This retreat is ideal for LGBTQ+ community members who are ready for an immersive experience in personal growth, wellbeing and community connection. 

What if I need to cancel? Please see our cancellation policy above for details.

Do I need any prior experience to come to a retreat? No prior experience is needed to participate in our retreats.

How do I get to the retreat venue? We'll pick you up in Barcelona city, or if you drive, we’ll let you know how to get there.

If I drive, can I park? Yes, there are parking slots. Also, let us know if you are open to car-sharing with other guests.

Will I be sharing my room with someone? Unless you book a private single occupancy room, yes. You’ll be sharing with other participants. But bedrooms are big, comfortable, and each has a private bathroom.

What is the bathroom situation? There are private bathrooms inside each bedroom, as well as a few others in various parts of the house.

Can I choose who I share my room with? If you choose a private 'twin' or 'double' room, you can book for yourself and either your partner or a friend. If you choose a shared 'dorm' or 'twin', you'll be allocated a room with another guest. If you'd prefer to share with someone of a specific gender, we will do our best to accommodate to make things as comfortable as possible.

Can I bring my pet? We’re animal lovers, but no pets are to be brought to the retreat centre, please.

Will there be alcohol? We might share a glass of natural wine during dinner, but other than this, do not expect alcohol to be around.

What if I have food intolerances or allergies? No problem. We'll ask you about all this as part of the booking process.

Do you offer any subsidies? We want to make our retreats accessible to people who feel a strong call to do the process, and whose financial situation currently prevents them from paying full price. Each request for financial assistance is assessed in terms of the specific need and availability. If this applies to you, please reach out to us at [email protected], and we will gladly explore the options available.

How is the payment processed? To secure your spot, a 50% deposit of the total amount is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due at least one month before the retreat begins.

  Is there a minimum number of participants required for the retreat to take place?  To run each retreat, we require a minimum of 5 participants confirmed. This minimum must be reached at least one month before the start date of the retreat. If this number is not met, we will unfortunately have to cancel the retreat.  

If you have questions that are not answered here, please do get in touch, and we'll be happy to speak with you: [email protected]