Themes for 
2026/27

26 years ago, I decided to realize my dream of living a better life. I wanted to live off-grid, and be as self-sufficient as possible. After looking at over 300 properties (my only criteria being water, land and seclusion) I came across 52 magical acres in the region of Murcia, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Espuna mountains. It was here where Bagend was born.



The dream has now developed with even greater passion to incorporate many exciting ventures: yoga and meditation retreats, workshops, sustainability, serious off grid living and too many other projects to name. 

​

​As a Chef my passion is to excite your senses with taste. The menu is all homemade in our mountain kitchen with locally produced organic produce. Can't wait to share the recipes & tastes you will experience!

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Over a decade ago, my yoga journey began in a small room above a café in Brighton, UK — at a time when I was feeling low and disconnected (and it definitely wasn’t love at first practice). But something quietly called me back, again and again. Meditation followed, and together these practices have become the cornerstones of my life, supporting me physically, mentally, and spiritually.

For the past ten years I’ve had the privilege of teaching and sharing these tools with others. Alongside my yoga teacher training, I’ve studied Yoga Therapy, with an approach that’s both scientifically informed and deeply holistic. I also weave EFT and Reiki into my work as a qualified practitioner and Reiki Master.

My teaching is rooted in presence and compassion — creating space to slow down, reconnect, and honour whatever is true in the moment. Facilitating this programme at Rustic Retreats, a place that means so much to so many of us, is a dream come true.

I found yoga completely by accident — I turned up to a class in Manchester to meet a friend who never showed. I stayed anyway, and fell in love with the movement and the sense of calm it brought me straight away. My yoga journey began in 2019, and since then I’ve completed a 200-hour training in Burscough (UK), followed by a 300-hour training in Varkala, India.

I love the spiritual side of yoga, but I’m also a big believer in keeping things light — I bring a sense of humour and warmth wherever I go, and I see laughter as a kind of healing in itself. After travelling across Asia over the last several months, I’m now looking forward to settling into mountain life and meeting you at Rustic Retreats this season.

My path into yoga and meditation has been shaped by years of study and practice in Thailand, Bali, Sweden, and Poland. I spent several years living in the Norwegian mountains, where I held regular yoga classes surrounded by nature, deepening my connection to simplicity and embodied presence.

​

With a background in dance, movement has always been my language — a way of listening inward and returning to presence. Yoga has profoundly transformed my life, teaching me patience, self-compassion, and a deeper connection to myself.

​

In my yoga classes, I create a grounded and calm atmosphere where people can move gently, reconnect with themselves, and feel supported just as they are.

Alongside yoga and meditation, I also offer intuitive tarot sessions as a reflective tool for self-inquiry and clarity, held in the same spirit of softness and presence.

Krissi is an International Yoga teacher serving in the form of studios, retreats, teacher trainings and her favourite line of work - within prisons and rehabilitation.

Within the last 2 years Krissi has been studying Ayurveda and Yoga for Neuroscience which she believes together has a profound impact on mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Krissi is deeply passionate about cultivating community linking all of these together and helping people to reclaim their true self away from life's hardships and distractions.

Krissi will be offering Ayurvedic consultations whilst she is with us in June. 

Lena is a 600+ hour certified yoga teacher whose path began in 2017 in Rishikesh, India, where she first trained at the foothills of the Himalayas. She continues to return to India to deepen her studies in yoga, pranayama, and traditional healing practices, and the grounded spirituality of these teachings shapes the way she holds space.

​

Her journey into nervous system–informed practice grew from personal experience. While working in a high-responsibility role, she found herself living in constant overdrive. Real change began when she integrated small, consistent regulation practices into her daily life.

​

Lena’s classes weave together Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and breathwork, balancing dynamic morning practices with deeply restorative evenings. She feels most at home teaching in retreat settings, surrounded by nature, where yoga becomes a return to the body’s wisdom and a reconnection to the earth.

Alongside her yoga path, Lena holds two Master’s degrees in Sustainable Development and Education and works in international cultural projects in Germany, bringing clarity and thoughtful facilitation to group spaces. She is also devoted to portrait painting, using art as a quiet exploration of human depth, presence, and the subtle stories held within a face.

She also offers Traditional Ayurvedic Oil Massage (Abhyangam), trained in Rishikesh - a nourishing ritual supporting grounding and energetic balance.

A certified hatha yoga teacher (200 hrs YTT), Benni seeks to unite practice and nature through her background as a freediver and surfer.

Her approach is guided by breath, fluidity, and body awareness. Fluent in five languages, she creates an inclusive and accessible space, guiding each person toward balance, presence, and connection.

I’m Jen, a yoga and breathwork teacher passionate about creating spaces where people can step away from the noise of daily life and reconnect to themselves. My work is rooted in nervous system regulation, guiding students to feel safe in their bodies through breath, slow awareness, and intentional movement. I teach yin and vinyasa yoga, weaving together creative, intuitive flows with moments of stillness and deep rest. My approach prioritises sensation over aesthetics, less about how it looks, more about how it feels inviting each person to move in a way that honours their own body.

I’m deeply inspired by being outdoors, soaking up the sun, and the simple joy of slowing down. I don’t take myself too seriously, and I love bringing lightness and laughter into my classes because feeling at ease is often where the real shifts happen. Whether it’s through a grounding yin practice, an energising flow, or conscious breathwork, my intention is always the same: to help you feel more present, more connected, and more at home within yourself. And ideally… we do it all alongside good company and really tasty food.