A 3-month learning experience

The dates for the next Training are 31 August - 1 December 2025 - express interest here.

Discover the Art of Ayurvedic Plant-Based Cooking

Do you want to learn how to cook delicious plant-based food and embrace a healthier diet? Are you ready to turn your love for cooking and holistic wellness into a fulfilling career? Join our Retreat Chef Training Programme, where you'll embark on a comprehensive 3-month journey designed to elevate your culinary skills, learn about the retreat environment, and deepen your understanding of Ayurvedic and plant-based nutrition.

My journey into retreat catering

Over the past 8 years, I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen with colourful plant-based recipes that sustain, excite, and nourish. I believe that food should be an experience: always vibrant, truly nourishing, and bursting with energy. My diploma studies in Healing Diets and Ayurvedic Nutrition & Cooking have seen my menus constantly evolving with therapeutic and nutritional knowledge. I’ve catered for more than 70 yoga and wellbeing retreats across the UK and Europe, as well as cooking for private clients including will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas. It has been an exhilarating journey and I’ve learnt so much along the way! It is my greatest joy to pass on this knowledge and share this journey with you.

What to expect as a Retreat Chef

If you are passionate about cooking and wellbeing, and thrive in dynamic environments, then I truly believe retreat catering is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. I have been able to craft a life where I can express my creativity, choose my work schedule, immerse myself in wellness-focused settings, and spend time in some incredible places.

There are many key skills required of a Retreat Chef that are unique to the retreat environment:

• Creating inspiring and balanced menus to support wellbeing and complement retreat activities

• Understanding the healing properties of ingredients and juggling various dietary requirements

• Adapting to new environments and working efficiently in different kitchens

• Managing multiple roles, from menu designing to budgeting to cleaning

During this 3-month course, you will learn:

• How to create balanced plant-based menus infused with Ayurvedic wisdom

• How to elevate dishes to create beautiful and nutritious meals that wow guests

• Business planning and professionalism - from health & safety to client management and pricing

• Self-care for chefs - how to look after yourself in a demanding environment

The Ayurvedic approach

This comprehensive training programme combines the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern culinary plant-based techniques. Ayurveda, a holistic healing system that evolved thousands of years ago alongside yoga, offers unchanging and universal principles that remain highly relevant today. Ayurvedic nutrition considers various factors such as the season, the time of day, and the vibration of the food (Prana). It emphasises the balance of the Six Tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent), proper food combinations, and the digestibility of food. Herbs and spices are used to enhance both flavour and digestion. Although the traditional Ayurvedic diet is not strictly vegan or vegetarian, it encourages us to live in harmony with nature by eating seasonal, unprocessed natural foods, which naturally leads us towards a plant focused diet.

Ayurveda’s spiritual and energetic aspects align perfectly with the practises of yoga, meditation, and other healing modalities. This synergy enhances overall wellness, making your culinary creations not only nutritious but also energetically balanced and spiritually uplifting - the perfect offering for the retreat setting.

Course structure

6 x live online days, plus additional e-learning videos
A mix of theory and cooking classes - hands-on learning from the comfort of your own kitchen. There will be one online weekend session every other week which will aim to start at 10am and finish at 5pm. This will be recorded in case you can’t join live.

Class dates: 31 Aug, 14 & 28 Sep, 12 & 26 Oct, 9 Nov 2025

Menu development
Create your own unique menus with guidance from Bex.

3-night retreat experience in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK
An opportunity to showcase your culinary creations in a retreat setting, gaining hands-on experience and feedback.

Chef starter package
Receive a few chef goodies to kickstart your journey as a Retreat Chef.

Comprehensive training manual
A detailed manual to complement your learning, filled with nutrition theory, tips, resources, recipes, and insights into retreat planning.

Group mentorship
Business planning and professionalism such as contracts, pricing, insurance, catering packs, health & safety.

Community
Become part of a network of like-minded individuals who are on a similar path.

Career opportunities
The Mindful Kitchen has several affiliates in the yoga and wellbeing community who would welcome your expertise on their retreats and graduates may be offered job opportunities on completion of the training.