the story of Ellasfield: A Healing Journey

Ellasfield owner Kim in yurt hosting cacao ceremony

“Ellasfield Retreat Centre was born after the birth of my daughter, 20 years ago. Ella was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at one week old, so I had to dig deep, pause my spiritual exploration and learn a new skill set to support this life-changing event. I had already discovered mindfulness meditation during visits to Plum Village, the Buddhist monastery in the South of France. This practice offered me a new way of taking care of my suffering, with kindness and compassion instead of harsh and critical self-impatience, that for many of us is our go to program. My new, gentle mindset was so powerful and effective I knew I had to share it, so that others could also benefit from this alternative way of managing fear, anger and frazzled nervous systems.” 

Kim Bryant
Owner, Facilitator and Compassionate Seer at Ellasfield  

From the moment you come through the gates of Ellasfield, you feel a deep sense of relaxation and trust in the safe, nurturing and natural space created here.

From the moment you come through the gates of Ellasfield, you feel a deep sense of relaxation and trust in the safe, nurturing and natural space created here.

Ellasfield original logo

Ellasfield first started out as a safe haven for parents and carers

A place to find a sense of stability and connection in the midst of uncertainty after receiving the diagnosis their child has a disability or life-changing illness. Over the years, Ellasfield has evolved into a sacred place of spiritual practice and is dedicated to supporting individuals come back to a place of self-love and balance after times of suffering. Through compassion and kindness, sacred movement, contemplation and shamanic wisdom, visitors can find their true, joyful selves again, free from self-judgement or criticism, and discover a deeper calm, authenticity and peace. 

From the moment you come through the gates of Ellasfield, you feel a deep sense of relaxation and trust in the safe, nurturing and natural space created here. With Kim and Lee’s warm, gentle guidance you are able to reconnect with your soul, share and embrace your truth and develop a genuine loving kindness towards yourself, sending ripples of love throughout every aspect of your life. 

More About Kim

Kim’s spiritual path started as a small child, learning the ways of her grandmother who showed her the medicine in plants and the wisdom of nature in her little Sussex garden. However, upon reaching adolescence, Kim left these ways behind her until coming up against several life crises in her twenties and thirties.

These turbulent times in Kim's life led to deep dive into her own healing journey where she gathered wisdom from many philosophies and practices including those of various shamanic healers and the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh. His teachings showed Kim how to take care of personal suffering through kindness and compassion. 

For over 20 years, Kim diligently tended her wounds with a tenderness that most of us are not accustomed to in Western culture. She has gathered many effective personal practices, including yoga, meditation and conscious dance, to bring balance and harmony into her life and her surroundings. It is these practices, and more, that she shares with visitors to Ellasfield.  Through her commitment to foster a deeper connection to spirit, her ancestors and the ancestors of these lands, Kim is remembering and re-dreaming ways to support others and plant the seeds of a more harmonious existence for all - including the various animals on the site. 

Kim’s qualifications include: Usui Reiki Level I and II | Reiki Master | Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher | Mindfulness and Meditation Schools Coach  | Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher  | Shamanic Practitioner ~ Second Sight Healing | Cacao Ceremony Facilitator 

Ellasfield owner Kim kneeling next to horse in field.

More About Lee 

When Lee’s life fell apart over a decade ago, the shock of vulnerability is what hit him most - the realisation that, at any time, anything can change in a heartbeat. Through this shift in awareness, he realised the possibilities were endless and that he could change his life for the better. Exploring personal development and various healing modalities, he trained as a life coach to help others through their own traumas. 

On the same spiritual wavelength, Lee and Kim’s lives intertwined. Kim’s knowledge and practice of all she learned from the work of the Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh, also inspired Lee and became core to the couple’s values as they raised their son at Ellasfield. 

Lee went on to become a sovereignty coach, showing others how to maintain individuality whilst the world tries to make them conform. He is currently immersing himself in the Wim Hof Method, training to be an instructor and share it at Ellasfield. He says, “When you take the plunge into ice water it tells you a lot about yourself and others, there is no hiding only survival.”

Click here to see what Lee offers.

lee cuddis