The Turning Retreat

Koh Samui · 3–9 April 2027

Every woman has a turning point in her thirties. This is yours.

A seven-day coaching retreat for women in their thirties, to let go of the timelines and expectations, and walk away clear on the life that’s truly yours.

Reserve your spot See the week
Three women laughing together on the beach at sunset

Your turning point is coming

There’s a moment where you decide your life is going to be different.

Maybe yours has been building for a while: the restlessness, the sense of being behind, the feeling that you’re meant for more than this. You don’t need another sign. You need the space to finally choose yourself.

The Turning Retreat is where you get to do that. Seven days in the jungle in Koh Samui, away from the timelines, the comparisons and everyone’s opinion about where you should be by now. Just you, a small group of women doing the same brave work, and the space to remember who you really are.

Through daily coaching workshops, somatic practices and the power of ceremony, you’ll get clear on what you truly want, let go of what’s been holding you back, and leave with a real plan for the life that feels like yours.

Not a holiday that makes you feel good for a week and then you go back to your life. The week you look back on as the turning point, your “line in the sand” moment.

What October’s 14 women said

14/14

would recommend it to a friend

9.5/10

average rating of the retreat experience

13/14

said it exceeded their expectations

14/14

gave the emotional support a perfect score

The transformation

You’ll arrive one woman. You’ll leave another.

You arrive…

  • Sensing that something needs to change, but not sure what
  • Unsure what you really want, or who you are without all the roles
  • Carrying old stories, patterns and shame you’re tired of repeating
  • Making yourself smaller to fit the life around you
  • Nervous, a little lost, and wondering if you’ll belong
  • Running on autopilot, disconnected from your body and your intuition

You leave…

  • Knowing exactly what’s shifting, and why
  • Clear on what you want, with a plan to bring it home
  • Lighter, having let go of what you came carrying
  • Ready to stop hiding and take up the space you’re meant to
  • With a circle of soul friends for life
  • With coaching and somatic practices you can come back to, long after the jungle

Takeaways from the week, in their words

“I can stop hiding. Stop playing small. I’m deserving, I’m enough, and it’s time to show up fully.”

Nirit, 36

“I was able to put the last three years of chaos behind me and release the shame I’ve carried for so long.”

Steph, 35

“That I can be my whole self and don’t have to make myself smaller.”

Meg, 37

“I get to write the pen to my story. I’m not alone. The best is yet to come.”

Nicole, 33

This retreat is for you if…

  • You’re in your thirties and craving space away from the noise, pressure and expectations
  • You can feel a turning point coming, and you’re ready to meet it instead of waiting it out
  • You’ve outgrown the life you built, and you’re ready to build the next one
  • You’re done measuring yourself against timelines you never chose
  • You want real clarity on what you want, felt in your body, not just figured out in your head
  • You’ve been putting yourself last for a while, and you’re ready to put yourself first
  • You’re a little nervous about coming alone, and you’re coming anyway
  • You want to come home changed, not just inspired

If you’re reading this and something in you is saying “yes”, that’s your sign.

A woman meditating with her hand on her heart in the open-air shala

The journey

Seven days. Seven versions of you.

Each day has a theme and each one builds on the last. Mornings are a coaching workshop with Emma. Late afternoons are an embodied practice that carries the day’s work out of your head and into your body.

Emma and Tinu hugging at the opening ceremony in the shala

Day 1 · Saturday

Arrival

Settle in, swim, breathe out. We open the week together with a welcome ceremony in the Jungle Shala.

Women sitting on cushions in the shala, sharing

Day 2 · Sunday

The Original Self

Back to who you were before the world told you who to be. Inner child work, then Conscious Connected Breathwork with Kady.

The jungle shala set up in a circle

Day 3 · Monday

The Authentic Self

Question the stories you’ve been living by with Byron Katie’s method and live hot-seat coaching and an Embodied Boundaries session.

A woman lighting a small ceremonial fire on the lawn

Day 4 · Tuesday

The Not Self

Shadow work: the beliefs and old versions of you that you’re ready to release.

A woman meditating beside a flower mandala in the shala

Day 5 · Wednesday

The Soul Self

Finding your soul purpose through Kabbalah and your Tikkun and a Kundalini Activation session in the afternoon.

The October women together on the beach at sunset

Day 6 · Thursday

The Future Self

Meet the woman you’re becoming, then dance as her with an ecstatic dance workshop.

The women forming a love tunnel in the shala at the closing ceremony

Day 7 · Friday

The Sovereign Self

Meeting for our final Closing Ceremony, so you leave empowered, clear and ready to bring it all home.

Hear it from them

In their words, from the last retreat

Nicole, Cath, Meg and Athena joined us for the October 2026 Turning Retreat in Koh Samui. We filmed these at the retreat, so you can hear what the week meant to them, in their own words.

Nicole, 33
Cath, 35
Meg, 37
Athena, 35

Their stories

In their own words

Two women talking on the beach at sunset

“It feels less like a memory and more like a well I can return to again and again.”

For the first time, I felt like I had the space, emotional safety and community of like-minded women to truly explore who I am. Removed from the routines, expectations, relationships and responsibilities of my everyday life, I was able to meet myself more fully. Because the retreat felt so sacred and spiritual, it gave me the rare opportunity to discover who I am when the pressures of the world aren’t pressing down on me. And now that I’ve met that version of myself, I recognise her. I know how to find my way back to her and carry her with me into my daily life.

Just as meaningful were the relationships that formed there. There is a Gaelic term, anam cara, meaning “soul friend”: someone with whom there is no need to perform, explain or hide. Every woman on this retreat felt like an anam cara. This retreat will always hold a sacred place in my heart.

Kelsey, 35

“I was lost, broken and didn’t know what to do.”

I was afraid of being alone after being attached for the past 15 years, and had been trying to be more comfortable on my own this year. I went to the retreat not knowing what to expect and afraid I wouldn’t fit in, but hoping to heal and find myself. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. An eye-opening, life-changing experience.

Everyone was so open and vulnerable, and we shared our life stories with each other. It was so comforting to know I was not alone. I really let go of what I was holding on to, and I feel so much lighter and happier now.

Jolyn, 35

“All shades of me were welcome here.”

I felt naturally welcome. I didn’t have to try to fit in, and I felt great without performing. I was so happy to be absolutely free to be myself, without any masks. If I wanted to cry, it was OK. If I wanted to laugh, it was OK. If I wanted to be angry, it was OK.

Every day gave me at least one insight that I’m now integrating into my life, a lesson that’s easy to use in real life. I also took home things from my subconscious, the things that aren’t on the surface. Those are the things I can work with to change my life for the better.

Anna, 40

“The perfect balance of connection, growth and personal activation.”

This week was a life-changing experience for me. I’ve done coaching, personal development and somatic work before, but this retreat was something else. Emma, Kady and Anna held space for me to be my true, authentic self and to feel supported and encouraged in my journey. The location was stunning, and the teachings and practices let me discover parts of myself I had never witnessed before. I feel connected, inspired and optimistic for the future.

Nicole, 33

“I was very nervous leading up to it, but I am so glad I did it.”

I had this feeling, a calling, to sign up, and I just knew it was right for me at this time of my life. It exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I felt welcome, relaxed and comfortable in the group from the start. The guidance made sense and it’s made me think about everything on a bigger, deeper level. It’s one of the best things I’ve done. I feel proud of myself.

Cath, 35

“I’ve been reminded to have some fun.”

I’ve followed Emma’s work since I was 29. I’d been thinking about a long trip to Southeast Asia for years, and when Emma announced her retreat I just knew it would be the start of my adventure. I’d been so anxious about the journey, but the retreat was the perfect start. I left with new friends, a new sense of self and the confidence that, no matter what happens, I can trust my future and sovereign self. Oh, and I’ve been reminded not to be so serious all the time just because I’m in my thirties!

Emma, 35

“Go to the bottom of your soul, and you’ll set yourself free.”

You have to be willing to go to the bottom of your soul to find yourself again, but when you do, you’ll set yourself free. You will meet friends for life, and it will be one of the most transformational and healing things you’ll ever do for yourself. I left knowing my worth. I can’t recommend it enough.

Athena, 35

“The growth and self-discovery after seven days will surprise you.”

You’re safe in a group of incredible, like-minded women who understand your situation. If you ever feel you can’t overcome something, if you’re lost or stuck with no idea who you are or where you want to go, if you’re fighting old wounds, I would highly recommend one of Emma’s retreats. It’s been completely life-changing in the best way possible.

Steph, 35

“The best decision EVER. Treat yourself, girl.”

I signed up knowing full well it coincided with my 33rd birthday, and it was the best decision ever. It’s SO profound. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but my god, you will make the most beautiful memories and meet such fabulous women. Do it!

Kim, 33

Who holds the space

The three women taking you on this journey

Emma laughing with her laptop in the shala

Emma Wilson

Turning Retreat Host

Emma is a life coach who has spent the past 9 years learning and developing coaching tools by working with thousands of women in their thirties.

Emma has worked as a fully booked 1:1 life coach, helping women in their thirties follow their own path and build lives they love. She is the creator of the Turning Community, a thriving space designed especially for single women in their thirties, where hundreds of women from all over the world come together to support one another through this pivotal chapter.

Emma also hosts the chart-topping “Turning 30 Podcast,” which dives into love, relationships, and the many other topics that define the thirties experience.

With a community of 170,000 women on Instagram, Emma creates daily content to help women navigate their thirties with intention and authenticity.

She has run tens of successful coaching group programs and courses, serving hundreds of women through transformative group experiences. Emma previously hosted the Align Retreat in 2023 and is now bringing her retreat experience to this Turning Retreat.

On the retreat, Emma leads the morning coaching workshops and the opening and closing ceremonies. Her work is direct, warm and practical, built for real change rather than inspiration that fades by Monday.

Kady guiding a woman through breathwork

Kady Gummerson

Special Guest and somatic facilitator

Kady is a holistic empowerment coach, breathwork and kundalini activation facilitator with a wealth of experience in running in person events and retreats for women. She stands for radical authenticity, unapologetic self-expression & transforming shame into self-empowerment.

She loves to help support women to break free from the doubts, fears and insecurities that keep them stuck, small & settling for less so they can go & create lives they are obsessed with.

Using the power of the breath and tapping into Kundalini energy, Kady will support you to tap into your highest self during the retreat and to process what we are learning in the workshops.

She has a rare gift for meeting women exactly where they are, including those who have never done breathwork before. In October, her sessions were where many of the women said the biggest shifts happened.

Anna dancing with her arms raised in the shala

Anna Denysenko

Retreat Assistant and photographer

Anna is a movement and embodiment facilitator, photographer and videographer, and she’ll be supporting us throughout the retreat as both assistant and photographer.

Her path has led her deep into meditation, somatic practice and ecstatic dance, and she’s fascinated by what the body can say once we stop trying to control everything with the mind.

The spaces she holds are curious, playful and alive, with no need to perform or be “good” at anything, just room to move, feel and be yourself.

Anna sees all of life as a practice, from motherhood to relationships to letting go, and she values being fully inside the process over reaching some perfect version of ourselves.

Where body, mind and spirit meet

What the practices actually involve

Every practice is guided and explained before we begin, and you’ll get a full “what to expect” guide before you travel.

Emma leading a workshop in the shala Women sitting together on mats in the shala A woman with her hand on her heart during breathwork Women moving in the open-air shala Women in a circle with their arms around each other Women sharing in pairs in the shala

Coaching workshops with Emma

This is the heart of the retreat. Every morning, we explore a new theme on the journey back to yourself, from your Original Self to your Sovereign Self. You’ll learn, reflect, close your eyes for guided meditations and visualisations, write from your inner guidance, and share in a circle that feels safe enough to be real.

Conscious Connected Breathwork

You’ll breathe in a continuous, rhythmic wave that supports the body to access an autopilot reset mode. Helping you drop out of thinking & into feeling. In this space, old emotional energy, beliefs & subconscious patterns that have been running the show can begin to move & shift.

Embodied Boundaries and Voice Activation

Every yes you didn’t mean teaches you to stay small. Here, you’ll learn to feel your boundaries in your body first and to speak them out loud. It’s not about being louder. It’s about finally using your voice where it matters.

Release and Reclamation Ceremony

A three-part ceremony of journalling, breath, sound and movement to release what you’ve been holding and let every part of you be seen. Drop the mask, get a little unhinged, and draw your line in the sand.

Kundalini Energy Transmission

Beneath everything you learned to be, there’s a part of you that has always known why you’re here. In this deeply feminine practice, you soften, surrender and let your life force rise, shedding old identities layer by layer. You don’t become someone new. You remember who you truly are.

Ecstatic Dance

Free movement to a music journey that builds from grounded to wild and back to stillness. There are no steps, no performance and no one watching. Just your body, finally allowed to lead.

Floating Sound Bath

An evening floating weightless in the pool while crystal bowls and gongs wash through the water and your body. With nothing to hold and nowhere to be, it’s deep, dreamy rest for your nervous system.

The rhythm

A day on the retreat

  1. 7:30 amWake upWake up to the sounds of the jungle in your private (baby pink) room.
  2. 8:00 amMorning movementGentle movement to wake up your body and ground you before the day begins.
  3. 9:00 amBreakfastA beautiful, nourishing seasonal breakfast.
  4. 10:00 amImmersive coaching workshop with EmmaEach day we gather together for live workshops designed to expand your awareness of how you’re truly meant to live; shift limiting patterns and internal narratives; create somatic, embodied changes that ripple into every area of life; and activate your voice and vision. This is the juice of the retreat.
  5. 1:00 pmLunch togetherA delicious lunch, catering to all your culinary desires.
  6. 2:00 pmSpace to integrate and just beRest, relax in nature, try the sauna or spa, get a massage, swim, or simply lie in the sun. This time is yours to do whatever your body needs to absorb all the learnings, expansions and realisations.
  7. 5:00 pmSomatic practiceAs the heat drops, our facilitators share the magic of their wisdom: breathwork, boundaries, Kundalini, ecstatic dance or ceremony, carrying the day’s work out of your head and into your body.
  8. 7:30 pmNourishing group dinnerWhere we connect and share about the day.
  9. 8:30 pmEveningEach evening is different: a floating sound bath, a sharing circle, or a free evening to rest. Then time alone, preparing you for a nourishing deep sleep.

Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui

The wellness resort that has it all.

The retreat venue offers the perfect environment to disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself, nestled in nature in the jungle with a stunning shala overlooking the sea. Absolute Sanctuary is a wellness and healing centre which provides the perfect backdrop for our week together.

Each retreat participant has the privacy of your own hotel room, delicious healthy meals, a swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, ice bath, sauna and a range of additional healing activities. You will have everything you need to support you to not only have a meaningful retreat journey, but also a full holiday experience.

The infinity pool at Absolute Sanctuary under a blue sky A pink arched window framed by a tree at the venue The pool lit up at night with floating day beds Palm trees and jungle gardens at sunset Sun loungers and umbrellas beside the pool The white arched entrance with palms and a reflecting pool
The group sharing a long dinner table

Nourishing food, all week

Three nourishing meals a day are included: fresh, healthy and genuinely delicious, made to support your body and nervous system through the week. The food is sugar and seed-oil free. Dietary needs are catered for.

What’s included in your retreat experience

Included

  • Six nights in your own private room
  • Three healthy, nourishing meals a day
  • Daily coaching workshops with Emma
  • A printed workbook to support you on your coaching journey through the week
  • Breathwork, Boundaries, Release and Kundalini sessions with Kady
  • Ecstatic Dance with Anna
  • Morning movement
  • A floating sound bath in the pool
  • Opening, Closing and sunset beach ceremonies
  • A beach dinner by the sea
  • Candid photos of your week by Anna
  • Airport transfers to and from the retreat venue
  • A curated gift bag full of treats
  • Spa discounts, and a few more surprises

Optional add-ons

  • Massages and spa treatments (organised with the hotel)
  • Extra nights before or after, at a discount
  • Superior room upgrades

Not included

  • Flights to Koh Samui
  • Travel insurance (required)

3–9 April 2027 · Only 14 places

Your investment

Early bird · until 30 November

$3,500

Everything on this page, in your own private room.

Standard

$3,999

From 1 December 2026.

A deposit of $900 secures your place. Balance due by 28 February 2027. Prefer to spread it out? Opt to pay in three instalments.

Reserve your spot

Questions

Questions, answered

I’m nervous about coming alone. Will I fit in?

Most women come on their own, from all over the world, and many arrive nervous. All of the women who attended the October retreat strongly agreed they felt welcome from the very start. By the end of the week, they shared they had found friends for life.

How many spots are available?

This retreat is for an intimate group of women. The maximum number of spots is 14.

Is it just for single women?

No. It’s for all women, whatever your relationship status. The work we do on the retreat is all about ‘the self’ and is not specific to being single or partnered.

I’ve never done coaching or breathwork before. Is that OK?

Completely. Every practice is guided, explained before we begin and fully optional, and you’ll get a “what to expect” guide before you travel.

Will it be too intense?

The week is deep, but it’s held with a lot of care. Heavier days are followed by quiet evenings, and there’s free time every afternoon. All 14 October participants said the pace was just right.

Will I get time to explore Koh Samui?

Whilst on the retreat a majority of our time will be spent in the retreat program. There will be breaks in the day, where it is recommended you spend integrating between the coaching sessions or relaxing at the resort pool and facilities.

If you want to explore the island in more depth, we recommend extending your flights on either side of the retreat so you can have time to travel.

What time does it start and finish?

Check-in is from 2pm on Saturday 3 April, with the Opening Ceremony at 5pm. The Closing Ceremony finishes at 12pm on Friday 9 April.

What’s the weather like in April?

April is one of the driest, sunniest months in Koh Samui: hot, bright and perfect for the pool. Sessions are timed to avoid the midday heat.

Is transport included?

You are responsible for making your way to Koh Samui. Free transfers between Koh Samui Airport and the retreat venue (a short drive) are included, both on arrival and departure. In Koh Samui you can get taxis using the Grab App and there are some shared taxis that run the main route of the island.

What about food and dietary needs?

All meals are fresh, healthy and nourishing. Let us know any dietary needs when you book and we’ll pass them to the kitchen. The retreat and venue are alcohol-free.

Do you have a payment plan?

Yes, flexible payment plans are available. Once you have paid your retreat deposit to reserve your spot we will be in touch to discuss the payment schedule.

What is your refund policy?

Because of the financial commitments that come with hosting a retreat, we’re not able to offer refunds. If you need to cancel, you’ll receive a voucher valid for one year, which can be redeemed for coaching with Emma (unless you cancel within two weeks of the retreat start date). If we cancel the retreat for any reason, your full payment will be transferred to a future retreat within one year. Travel insurance is required. See the full Terms & Conditions below.

What if travel is disrupted?

Choose flexible tickets and insure your flights. If the retreat can’t go ahead for reasons outside our control, it will be rescheduled, with a new date or a full credit note.

Any other questions? Email support@coachingwithemma.com

Terms & Conditions

Due to the financial liabilities that come with hosting a retreat, we are not able to provide refunds. In the case of cancellations, a voucher valid for a year will be provided unless the cancellation is within two weeks of the retreat start date. Voucher can be redeemed with coaching with Emma.

If the retreat is cancelled by the retreat hosts for any reason your full payment amount will be transferred to a future retreat within 1 year of the scheduled retreat date.

Emma smiling warmly at a table in a bright white room

A note from Emma

Last October, 14 women flew in from all over the world. Most of them arrived not knowing a single person.

By the end of the week, one said she’d stopped hiding, another said she’d finally let go of three years of shame and another simply wrote: I’m not alone.

That’s what this week is all about. Sacred sisterhood coming together to step into your authentic self. Tapping into who you really are, not a new version of you, but the real one who’s been there all along, waiting to come back. This retreat is your permission slip and it’s my pleasure and privilege to guide another group of incredible women on this journey.

If you’ve felt the pull to be there, trust it! I can’t wait to meet you in Koh Samui.

Emma x

Two women on the beach at sunset with their arms raised

Your turning point is waiting.

3–9 April 2027 · Koh Samui, Thailand · Early bird until 30 November

Reserve your spot