Settling the Shen, 8-14 April 2027
Join Jo for six nights, Thursday to Wednesday, at the stunning eco-luxury retreat centre, Pure Life Göcek.
Nestled in a peaceful green valley surrounded by olive trees, thyme and lavender, it's the perfect setting to slow down and turn inwards.
Just a short transfer from Dalaman airport, you'll arrive into nature's calm, with the time and space to truly feel what's happening inside you.
Includes 3 sumptuous meals per day, tea, coffee and water, plus all activities with Jo.
| Room Type | 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Single Eco Hut (Double Bed) |
£1,495 |
| Shared Eco Hut (2 People / Single Beds) |
£1,325pp |
| Single Standard Room | £1,395 |
| Shared Standard Room (3 Single Beds) |
£1,225pp |
Single Eco Hut
For those travelling solo. All lodges are crafted from reclaimed Anatolian wood, blending eco-luxury with natural charm for a restful and welcoming stay. They feature high-quality linens, comfortable beds and spacious bathrooms, with private garden terraces to enjoy the mountain air. Each lodge is designed to offer peace, comfort and a close connection with nature.
Shared Eco Hut
Ideal for friends or those happy to share*. All lodges are crafted from reclaimed Anatolian wood, blending eco-luxury with natural charm for a restful and welcoming stay. They feature high-quality linens, comfortable twin beds and spacious bathrooms, with private garden terraces to enjoy the mountain air. Each lodge is designed to offer peace, comfort and a close connection with nature. There are a limited number of 2 berth lodges.
*dependent on another sharer booking.
Standard Rooms
Located closer to the heart of the retreat, our Standard Rooms are a practical and inviting option for those looking for value. Unlike our Deluxe Huts, these rooms are configured with three single beds, making them our best option for friends travelling together or social solo travelers.
These rooms offer a simpler aesthetic without the signature floor-to-ceiling views, but still provide all the essentials for a peaceful stay: ensuite bathrooms, fresh linens, and full access to the beautiful grounds and facilities.
Note: These rooms feature three single beds only; despite the photo, no double beds are available in this room category.
*Shared rate is dependent on another guest booking.
A Glimpse of Your Turkish Sanctuary
Explore the eco-luxury lodges, lush green valleys, and tranquil atmosphere of our retreat space. Here is a taste of what awaits you in Gocek.
Discover the Five Spirits of Chinese Medicine in Göcek, Turkey
Have you ever wondered what Chinese medicine means when it talks about the spirit of an organ?
In Chinese medicine, the Shen is the collective spirit of all our organs, as well as the spirit of the heart itself, our sense of calm, joy and presence. Each of the five yin organs holds its own spirit, and each one is touched by different emotions and parts of life.
On this retreat, each day is devoted to one spirit:
- The Hun of the Liver (stress and sleep)
- The Shen of the Heart (joy and connection)
- The Yi of the Spleen (worry and overthinking)
- The Po of the Lungs (grief and letting go)
- The Zhi of the Kidneys (fear, willpower and our deepest reserves)
We open and close the retreat by settling the Shen.
It's gentle and informative, more about being than doing. A chance to feel into each organ, notice where you're thriving and where you resist, and bring a little more balance to them all.
Join Jo to Explore Each Spirit:
- Spend a full day with each of the five spirits, one flowing into the next
- Learn what each organ needs, and how stress, worry, grief and fear show up in the body
- Suitable for complete beginners and experienced practitioners alike, no prior knowledge needed
Feel Each Spirit Through Practice:
- Morning Qi Gong shaped to that day's organ and spirit
- Guided meditation at midday, when the heart is naturally most open to stillness
- Acupressure and essential oils each early evening, simple tools you can use at home
- Relax by the pool, breathe in mountain air and wander peaceful forest trails between sessions
Take Home More Than a Memory
- A personal practice journal covering all five spirits, with Qi Gong, acupressure points, oils and meditations
- A small oils toolkit to carry the practices into everyday life
- A Certificate of Completion. Practitioners can log the hours towards their CPD
Your Practice Doesn't End When the Retreat Does
Jo will help you weave each spirit's practices into everyday life, so the calm you find in Göcek comes home with you.
Your Host Jo Darling
Jo has been helping people live happier, healthier lives for almost 20 years. She has a degree in Acupuncture and years of extensive study and practice utilising the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine.
With deep expertise in the art of Yang Sheng, the practice of nourishing life, Jo creates a truly transformative wellness retreat. Blending acupuncture, Qi Gong, and self-care wisdom, she guides participants in how to eat, sleep, move, and feel in harmony with their bodies and nature. At each retreat, Jo ensures that every aspect of the experience is thoughtfully tailored, offering a deeply personal and enriching journey toward lasting well-being.
Through her retreats and Acupuncture practice she has witnessed the profound impact that self-knowledge coupled with bespoke, natural self-care practices can have on people’s lives. She has curated her retreats to give you the rare opportunity to do just that.
In any room type, what is included?
Boutique Eco-Lodge Facilities
*6 nights accommodation in either eco-luxury lodges with ensuite bathrooms or cozy, communal rooms.
* All lodges are crafted from reclaimed Anatolian wood, some with options for twin or double beds.
* Each features high-quality linens, comfortable beds, and spacious bathrooms.
* Private garden terraces for added peace and privacy.
* Rooms are stocked with toiletries, robes, hair dryers and tea/coffee making facilities.
*Early morning tea/coffee, full buffet breakfast, wholesome lunches, and freshly prepared dinners using local produce and the retreat’s own olive oil.
*Tea, coffee and water available throughout the day.
*Discover tranquil forest trails, shaded terraces and peaceful gardens, each offering space for reading, reflection or rest.
* Freshwater swimming pool with loungers and hammocks.
* Use of outdoor spaces – gardens, terraces and daybeds.
* Choice of indoor or outdoor practice spaces.
* Organisation of transfers from airport.
Activities With Jo
* Arrival evening and closing evening Settling the Shen sessions
* 5 x Qi Gong practices, one for each spirit (simple movement, suitable for all)
* 5 x Chinese medicine teaching sessions on the five spirits
* 5 x guided meditations
* 5 x acupressure and essential oils sessions
* Practice journal, oils toolkit and Certificate of Completion
What is not included?
* Airfare
* Cost of transfer
Optional Extras
* 121 Reflexology, healing session with Jo
* Massage with local masseuse
* Drinks from the bar
Testimonials
Jo is a great teacher, extremely talented and so much fun. She held the space for us all to be safe and open and flawlessly had the balance to be on the same level as everyone else.
Her healing talents are in her listening, understanding and communication as much as in her teaching and treatment sessions
Jayne
Molino Del Rey 2023
Retreating with Jo was life-changing for me. And the impact is still strong. The changes that I’ve made to certain aspects of my life feel permanent as there’s been some kind of fundamental shift in me It feels much easier now, as that’s just who I am now!
Sasha
I had never been on a retreat before so I didn’t really know what to expect - it was the most incredible experience! It was a week to step away from daily life into a bubble of self care and laughter with a wonderfully supportive group of ladies. Jo’s knowledge, empathy and skill in leading the retreat gave us the perfect balance of learning, guided practice and also time for ourselves. Molino del Ray is a beautiful centre lovingly and sympathetically created in the stunning Andalusian mountains, the food was perfect, freshly homemade and nourishing and the massages were a real treat! Thank you Jo.
Vanessa
Via Email
Frequently Asked Questions
Terms and Conditions
What's Included
I'm new to Qi Gong what does it entail?
The type of Qi Gong that Jo shares is self healing Dao Yin style. She chooses simple, meditative practice to share with you so that you can get maximum benefit in minimum time.
Jo's mantra is 'if you like it take it home'. She sincerely hope you will.
What happens during the workshops?
Jo curates each day around the Chinese energetic clock, timing practices to when each spirit is naturally most alive in the body.
Each day focuses on one of the five spirits, moving through Qi Gong, teaching, meditation, and acupressure with essential oils.
Nothing is compulsory, and there's plenty of time to rest in between.
What food is included?
All meals are vegetarian. Special diet meals at no
extra cost, please advise Jo 1 week before departure.
Breakfast – 9am
Start the day with a nourishing buffet breakfast — fresh fruit, local cheeses, olives, eggs, homemade breads and jams, alongside tea and coffee. Everything is prepared with seasonal produce from the region, including thyme and lavender from the gardens.
Lunch – 1pm
A light and colourful lunch of wholesome salads, vegetables and grains, designed to keep you energised yet light for afternoon practices. Meals are vegetarian, full of flavour, and made with the retreat’s own olive oil.
Dinner – 7pm
Each evening enjoy a freshly cooked, generous dinner featuring warm vegetarian dishes, soups, grains, and seasonal vegetables. Meals are hearty but balanced, offering comfort after a day of practice and rest. Wine and drinks are available from the bar if you’d like.
Do I have to pay extra for drinks?
Tea and coffee is served with all meals. Water is available throughout the day. All other drinks are an extra cost.
Payment
Do you offer payment in installments
Yes. Payment plans are available to make the retreat accessible. You can reserve your place with a deposit and pay the balance in instalments before the retreat begins (full payment is required 60 days in advance).
You can also choose to split your purchase into 3 interest-free instalments with Klarna at checkout.
Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may negatively impact your financial status and ability to obtain credit. Subject to status. Ts&Cs and late fees apply.
If you would like a bespoke payment plan outside of website checkout, please get in touch (additional admin costs may apply).
Can I pay by Klarna?
You can also choose to split your purchase into 3 interest-free instalments with Klarna at checkout.
Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may negatively impact your financial status and ability to obtain credit. Subject to status. Ts&Cs and late fees apply.
What payment methods do you take?
Shop pay, Google pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and Amex.
Getting There
How do I get there?
Fly to Dalaman on Wednesday 8th April to arrive for lunch or dinner. Check in is after 3pm, but it's normally fine to arrive and enjoy the space before this time. There's a welcome chat at 5pm on the first day, and the retreat opens with Settling the Shen after dinner.
Departing for home: change to "Check out is midday Tuesday 14th April."
Flights: the Gatwick and Stansted flight times on the current page are for Thursday. Jo to confirm Wednesday 8th and Tuesday 14th flight times before this goes live.
How much is the transfer?
Transfers will be arranged before we travel. The cost is approx £10 for a shared taxi.
If everyone's flights arrive around 1ish we can transfer together.
Location And Facilities
Is there a hairdryer in my room?
There are hairdryers in every room.
Do I need to bring towels?
You don't need to bring towels with you. Bathroom and pool towels are supplied.
Is there Wifi?
Yes there is WiFi throughout the centre.
What is the temperature?
Daytime temperatures can reach 22 degrees and above.
Night times are cool.
You will receive a suggested packing list once your final payment has been received.
What's the accommodation like?
All lodges are crafted from reclaimed Anatolian wood, offering options for single, twin or double beds. Each features high-quality linens, comfortable bedding and spacious ensuite bathrooms. Private garden terraces provide space to enjoy the mountain air, while natural wood design and thoughtful touches create a restful, grounding stay. Specially selected toiletries are supplied.
Tell me more about the local area
Pure Life Göcek sits in a peaceful green valley in the hills above Göcek, surrounded by olive trees, thyme and lavender. It's just 30 minutes from Dalaman airport, with forest trails to wander and the turquoise bays of the Göcek coast nearby.
Accessibility issues and questions
We want to make sure our space works for you. If you have any accessibility requirements or questions, please email hello@jodarling.co.uk before booking. Please note that deposits are non-refundable (though you are welcome to transfer your booking to another person).
