In this uplifting and practical episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon Jamail is joined by UK-based performance coach and former professional dancer Lucy Dutton to talk about something not enough retreat leaders are addressing: how to lead retreats without sacrificing your own well-being.

Lucy shares her powerful journey from the high-stakes world of professional dance to wellness and peak performance coaching—and how her deep understanding of energy, values, and leadership now helps retreat leaders avoid burnout.

Together, they explore:

✅ Why energy management matters more than location or food
✅ The hidden danger of leading retreats while running on empty
✅ How to use your personal values as a decision-making compass
✅ Why your environment directly impacts your energy
✅ The difference between holding space and emotionally oversharing
✅ How to stay inspired and grounded even during high-demand retreats

Whether you're planning your first retreat or you're a seasoned pro, this conversation will help you lead from a place of calm, clarity, and conviction.

About Lucy:

Lucy J Dutton is a certified peak performance coach and speaker , international best selling author with 30 years of experience coaching entrepreneurs on productivity, goal setting, and transforming limiting beliefs. She empowers female holistic service based entrepreneurs and small business owners to become peak performers in life and business.

So that their business grows easily, and they experience fulfilment and joy in their personal life.

Lucy was a professional dancer for 10 years and has been an entrepreneur and coach for over 3 decades. 

Despite the fact that she used to be painfully shy, she found her voice by pushing through the awkward and uncomfortable times. Gradually building her self-confidence and self-belief.

She has founded her own Holistic Peak Performance Coaching business to complement the health coaching she was already doing. With health and fitness being the foundation of everything she does.

 

Learn more: https://lucyjdutton.com/

 

The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

• Learn to Host Retreats
• Join our private Facebook Group
• Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
• Get your legal docs for retreats
• Join Shannon in London 
• Join our LinkedIn Group
• Apply to be a guest on our show

 

Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let’s create a vibrant retreat community together!

 

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Timestamps

Guest Introduction: Lucy Dutton’s Background (00:01:43 ) Lucy shares her journey from professional dancer to peak performance coach.

The Demands of Dancing and Self-Care (00:04:08 ) Discussion about the physical and emotional demands of dancing and the importance of self-care.

Retreat Leaders’ Energy Drain (00:05:35 ) Shannon describes how retreat leaders often neglect their own well-being, leading to exhaustion.

The Importance of Energy and Daily Practices (00:07:32 ) Lucy explains the significance of maintaining personal energy and implementing daily self-care practices.

Understanding and Aligning with Core Values (00:09:09 ) Lucy discusses discovering personal values and how misalignment can affect retreat experiences.

Creating Supportive Environments (00:10:24 ) Lucy outlines the importance of physical, social, and informational environments for retreat leaders.

Avoiding Negative Influences and Comparison (00:11:55 ) Shannon emphasizes avoiding negative news, unsupportive people, and comparison with other retreat leaders.

Deep Dive into Values and Retreat Alignment (00:15:50 ) Lucy explains how knowing your values helps in choosing the right retreat venues and collaborators.

Energy as the Key to Retreat Success (00:19:22 ) Shannon highlights that a leader’s energy can make or break a retreat, outweighing venue or food quality.

How to Work with Lucy Dutton (00:20:14 ) Lucy shares how listeners can connect with her for coaching and personal development.

Episode Wrap-Up and Resources (00:21:10 ) Shannon thanks Lucy, mentions additional resources, and closes the episode.