What is Yondera & Why Am I Building it?

Hello everyone,

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably curious about Yondera. Maybe you’re still not entirely sure what it is, and that’s okay. Truthfully, I’m still figuring parts of it out myself. What I do know is that I have big ambitions, and I’d love to tell you a bit more about where they’re heading.

Have you ever found yourself wondering what life could be like, really like, if you weren’t constantly caught up in the churn of daily life? If you had more space to breathe, more time for yourself, and more energy for the things that actually matter, like your health, your friendships, or just being still in nature? I have. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s the post-COVID lens we’re all viewing life through, but over the past four years, I’ve found myself becoming more reflective. And I’ve noticed others doing the same.

I care more now about my health, what I eat, how I spend my time, and whether what I’m doing actually nourishes me. I believe in being present, in living in the moment, in connecting deeply with people and sharing real experiences. I’ve always loved making memories with the people who matter most. Life’s most meaningful moments are rarely experienced alone. It’s the people we share them with that make them unforgettable.

That desire for deeper connection and meaningful experiences has shaped so much of how I live, and it’s something I’ve felt most strongly when I’ve stepped outside the day-to-day and into the unknown.

I’ve been lucky enough to go backpacking twice, once at 19, and again at 27. That sense of freedom, the incredible landscapes, and the people I met along the way left a lasting imprint. Travel has given me perspective, inspiration, and a kind of spiritual itch I’ve never been able to fully scratch. It reminded me that all over the world, people are just trying to live with meaning, to do their best, and to have as much joy along the way as possible.

As much as I’ve gained from stepping out into the world, I’ve also found just as much clarity by tuning into myself. I’ve always enjoyed exercise, particularly running, and over the past year, I’ve really leaned into it. It’s become my anchor, a ritual that keeps me grounded and clears space in my head. Sometimes it’s about fitness or challenge, but more often, it’s about freedom. There’s something beautifully methodical and meditative about it. I’ve solved more problems mid-run than I ever could behind a screen. In fact, Yondera was born during a long solo run along the River Thames. (More on that in another post).

The vision for Yondera is rooted in a simple philosophy: everything we do should be net positive. Whether it’s a workshop, a retreat, a product, or simply a shared moment, I want people to leave feeling better than they did before, and ideally, having given something back to the planet too. I want our experiences to feel genuine. To help people feel free, seen, and deeply connected to themselves, to others, and to the world around them.

This website and blog are just the beginning. I have goals for Yondera, over the next 1, 3, 5 years and beyond. But I’ll be honest, right now, a lot of the ideas are still taking shape. They’re raw, exciting, and maybe a little fragile. So I’m giving them space to breathe, letting them grow roots before they're fully revealed. What I can say is this: the future holds space for wellness retreats that help you hit reset, creative workshops and community events that make you feel alive again, and products, whether clothing or food, that are rooted in sustainability and real impact.

More than anything, I want Yondera to become a place, a feeling even, where people come to reconnect with what matters. To move, to reflect, to laugh, to breathe. To share something real.

Yondera will be a rich tapestry, an evolving ecosystem of experiences and ideas, all tied together by one simple thread: bringing people together in a way that’s safe, fun, sustainable, and beautifully human.

Stay tuned...

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