The Willow Sanctuary is a calming space where ASMR, wellness, and holistic practises meet. Our multi-sensory retreats in the Shropshire countryside offer a safe and nurturing space for rest, connection, and renewal.
Your path to deep rest begins here.
At The Willow Sanctuary we believe deep rest comes from stillness, connection, and gentle sensory experiences, Inspired by the willow tree - rooted yet flexible - we create a safe space to soften, release, and renew.
Through ASMR practises, nature immersion, and mindful rituals, our retreats invite you to slow down, reconnect, and awaken your senses as well as a quiet sense of peace.
These intimate retreats are designed for small groups, allowing each guest to relax and unwind.
Nicola is the founder of The Willow Sanctuary and a professional ASMRtist, holistic therapist, and wellness practitioner based in Shropshire, UK.
Her journey began over seven years ago on YouTube, where she created calming ASMR videos that grew into a global audience. Alongside her online work, Nicola is qualified in beauty therapy, holistic therapies and anatomy and physiology, giving her practice both creativity and a strong professional foundation.
The Willow Sanctuary brings together Nicola's passion for ASMR, nature, and holistic wellbeing - creating a space where guests can slow down, reconnect, and nurture their senses.
Living with Autism and complex mental health challenges herself, Nicola has a deep belief in the importance of wellbeing and self-care. She views ASMR and gentle wellness practises as a powerful tools to help people find calm, nurture their mental health, and reconnect with themselves.
The Willow Sanctuary first began as a small ASMR Spa, called Be Brave ASMR Spa, where for six months Nicola offered one-to-one ASMR experiences, These sessions revealed just how powerful ASMR can be in reducing stress, supporting mental health, and creating deep relaxation.
Building on that foundation, Be Brave ASMR Spa has now evolved into The Willow Sanctuary - expanding beyond individual ASMR experiences into immersive retreats. Here, ASMR blends with wellness practices, nature and mindful self-care to nurture body, mind and spirit.
The Willow Sanctuary is a calming space designed to nurture your senses and restore balance. Each gathering is a full day of multi-sensory wellness experiences, blending ASMR, meditation, yoga, sound therapy, women's circles, one-one treatments, and mindful rituals in a calm countryside setting.
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Over the years, Nicola has learned the importance of self-acceptance - understanding that it's okay to be different, to face challenges, and to not always feel okay. She believes in the power of asking for help, embracing authenticity, and celebrating personal growth.
*Be Brave Be You* embodies this message — encouraging others to be brave and embrace their true selves. It’s about accepting who you are, owning your struggles, mistakes, and imperfections, and being proud of your journey.
The names The Willow Sanctuary reflects this philosophy and values. Like the willow tree - strong yet flexible, graceful yet grounded. It symbolises resilience and flexibility - the strength to bend without breaking, It is also linked to intuition and emotion, offering inner wisdom and calm. Most of all, the willow represents, growth, healing and renewal, with its branches regrowing even after being cut, reminding us that new beginnings are always possible.
Like the willow, The sanctuary is a place of rest, resilience and gentle transformation - a safe space to reconnect with yourself and find peace within.
ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) It is a calming sensory experience that can be triggered by sounds, visuals and gentle touch. Common examples include soft whispers, the sight of slow hand movements, brushing, tapping or light personal attention. However there are many different things that can trigger this sensation and it is different for each individual.
For some ASMR creates a tingling sensation that begins on the scalp and moves down the body. For others, it simply feels deeply relaxing, helping to ease stress, improve sleep, and support wellbeing.
At The Willow Sanctuary, ASMR is woven into the retreats through soothings sounds, visuals focus and calming rituals - creating multi-sensory path to rest and renewal.
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