Bonhays Farm Retreats

About Us

In the 1990’s we were teaching non-residential groups in London where it became clear people would benefit more from a residential setting and from this emerged a vision to create a retreat and meditation center that held an atmosphere of spiritual nourishment whilst respecting that we each need to reach into spiritual depth from different viewpoints. We felt we wanted to provide somewhere that held the essence of spiritual growth and development that was accessible to all, whether connected to a particular religious pathway or not.

For us this essence seems to be that through the practice of patience, honesty, steadfastness and courage the attractions of the ego are gradually transformed and it becomes possible to increasingly embody compassion, love, wisdom, joy and freedom that are aspects of the expression of the divine source within. This then enables us to relate more lovingly to ourselves, each other and the world.

Some history of the development of Bonhays

We were blessed with support for this vision, some of it financial, and without which we would not be here now. Thus began a 10 year process of building the center, an old barn was converted and sold to finance the next stage of the building. Another barn was converted and by a miracle we obtained planning permission to complete the building work for the center which consisted of 2 new build straw bale cabins, the group room, also in straw and the swimming pool. Throughout this whole period we have been bringing up 3 beautiful children now 20, 14 and 8, running a café (no longer..phew!), and running the holiday cottages business. Sophie continued to work in London and the Lake District and to run meditation courses and retreats whilst Chris has been hands on with all the building work. Who was it that said be careful what you wish for!!

So at the end of 2006 we finally finished, had a big party and here we are now. We have needed a period of rest and are now open to welcome you to Bonhays with the hope you will find the nourishment and support on your pathway that you need here.

Sophie Johnson – Some Background.

A long journey of therapeutic, psychological and spiritual exploration informs and underpins my work and for all their insight, encouragement, support and challenge I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Andrew Watson, Krishnamurti, Hilmar Schonaeur, Bob Moore, my Cherokee teacher Kate, Ram Dass and all those seen and unseen who have been a source of teaching and inspiration thank you.

After some years of exploration, particularly into the relationship between the body, the subtle energy system and our capacity to open into the depth of ourselves I found myself on the way to Denmark in1989 to meet the Irish spiritual teacher Bob Moore. It was with Bob’s work I came home. I found a form of development that brought together many of the things I had found of value in different traditions, including western psychological insights. This synthesis of approach showed me ways of working with a genuine spiritual pathway whilst giving a framework to integrate the inevitable emotional, ‘shadow’ aspects, which will emerge as we attempt to dive deep. During this period of retreat, and study I met my husband Chris, we married in 1994, had our lovely children and conceived the vision for the center.

For the last 14 years I have been teaching meditation, running intuitive massage training courses, facilitating retreats and developing the ‘Embodiment of Spirit’ series. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you here to Bonhays, may your time here be truly uplifting for you.

Chris Hendley

My hunger to understand drew me early on in life to study biochemistry, and at that time considered myself a rationalist. It was during this study that an observation of ‘activity’ ahead of developing embryonic limbs fascinated me. How, if the universe were purely physical, could there be this ‘streaming’ showing before the physical formation? This challenged me deeply and started an exploration which changed my life.

Over the next five years I became involved to varying degrees with Tai Chi, Gestalt therapy, kinaeseology, feldenkrais, and natural dance, settling on intuitive massage which had a direct link to non-physical aspects and often baffled the scientist I used to be. Seeking to understand more deeply I lived on retreat in Denmark for a year and then started to study healing with Bob Moore, a true teacher. I have continued this work and practice for the last 17 years. During this time I met my lovely wife Sophie, have been bringing up our 3 children and building the center. Now I manage the center, offer healing and massage, and along with Sophie and the children welcome you here to Bonhays.