Michelle Roques-O'Neil - Aromatherapist
Michelle has been an aromatherapist for 23 years. She was trained by French 'guru' Micheline Arcier - the person who introduced aromatherapy to the UK. She discovered early in her career that her style of bodywork incorporating pure essential oils, triggered deep emotional responses from many clients. This inspired Michelle to embark on a journey of self-discovery, learning and studying many areas, such as; holistic psychotherapy at White Lodge, Qigong, Taoist philosophy, Buddhism and Native American vision quests in Colorado. Michelle adds this spiritual and psychological dimension to her therapeutic treatments and has attracted a devoted following across the world.
Michelle has been commissioned to design aromatherapy oils for S&S and is a renowned expert in her field with a following worldwide. She lends not only her expertise in developing aromatherapy products but also her international reputation with products already on the shelves of Liberty, Space.NK and many others.
Robert Osborn - Tantriki
Robert studies under John Hawken’s SkyDancing Tantra program. He leads Beginners' and Intermediate weekends and also runs a number of his own workshops. These include Celtic Tantra weekends and the Awakening to Energy workshops. Five years ago he and his partner Marta also launched Peer Group as a support group for those who have graduated from any recognized Tantra training, and wish to continue to practice tantra together.
Robert and Marta have been married for 25 years, with three children, and have been practicing SkyDancing tantra together for the past twelve years, after taking John Hawken's Sacred Couple Training. Robert used to teach in the English Romantics and in Theatre, directs plays, and has trained in bioenergetics, massage and dramatherapy.
Robert facilitates tantra-based beginner’s sessions for S&S retreats with exercises focusing on the energy body and the chakra system, breathing and meditation techniques and awakening the senses through the pleasures of the body.
Fred Dickieson - Cooking Instructor
Fred began pursuing his cooking career at 19 with a move to London. He stormed through London’s restaurants The Wilds, Alistair Little, The Groucho Club, The Belvedere, 192 finally settling for a year and a half with Fergus Henderson, his personal cooking hero. From there he helped Tom Conran set up the Cow Dining Room with his best friend Allegra. In 1998 Fred opened his own restaurant The Honest Cabbage in Bermondsey, renowned for its simplicity and daily rotating menu.
Last year he helped Allegra McEvedy write The Colour Cookbook which has been nominated – and are one of the 3 finalists for the International Association of Culinary Professionals, IACP for their coveted Best Cookbook in a Chef Category. Fred’s love of food: is from seed, to plant, to plate, to fork and back to soil again. He has studied horiticulture, human biology and, on a more universal level, has completed his Reiki levels 1&2.
Adriana Rosati - Cooking Instructor
Adriana Rosati was born in Rome and began her cooking career with dinner parties for her fellow students at design school before moving to London in 1994. She lands at 'St. John' where she is immediately employed in the pastry and bakery section. She can finally let off steam kneading tons and tons of good dough every day. She is in heaven. After a year-and-a-half, she moves to 'Alastair Little'. It’s just the start of a series of jobs in famous and infamous restaurants, 'Kensington Place', 'The Chiswick', 'The Prince Bonaparte' and 'Putney Bridge'.
For four years she heroically presides over the motley kitchen crew of the 'Westbourne Tavern' and in the spare time she decides to start a new venture, catering for art and fashion events, minuscule canapés for the likes of Paul Smith, Benetton, Hugo Boss, Antony Gormley, Mario Testino and their jolly friends. Finally, in 2002 she sets up her own company 'fishsoup'.
Her latest bad habit is selling articles and photographs to the highest bidder and also amusing the net runner gourmets with recipes and memories of her clumsy Italian childhood and the food which accompanied it. Her dream now is to combine her experience as a designer and her skills as a foodie and make the best of it.
Jennifer Klinec - Cooking Instructor
Jennifer loves to cook and teaches most of her classes at Eat Drink Talk in central London. Her classes reflect her broad experience studying with food specialists from around the world including in Canada, America, Japan, Australia, Italy, France, Morocco and Syria. All classes aim to teach students not just how to follow a recipe, but a greater appreciation for the ingredients, techniques and flavours that make a specific style of cooking or regional cuisine unique.
Jennifer has developed a special cooking class for S&S helping couples learn the sensual side of cooking ranging from food textures, to tastes and smells to the seduction of sharing food. She is a member of several food and culinary guilds including the London Slow Food convivium and The Good Web Guide to Cooking Schools. Her relaxed, unpretentious approach and eagerness to share her vast knowledge of food ensures that even the most shy cook is made to feel comfortable.
Charles Hayes - S&S Founder & Managing Director
Charles is the Founder and Managing Director of S&S responsible for developing the company’s product range and hosting the explore retreat series.
He is an experienced brand & marketing strategist specializing in digital, luxury and retail environments. He has over 10 years experience developing strategies for companies such as Chanel, Hitachi, adidas and Volkswagen and has written and lectured on the future of luxury, retail and customer experience for major advertising agencies and universities.
Prior to moving to London four years ago, he ran a 25-person creative studio in Tokyo for three years and prior to Tokyo, Charles worked in New York as a consultant with Scient, Deloitte and Price Waterhouse. He has an MA with distinction from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London and a BS & BA from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
Charles’ business concept for S&S won the Entrepreneurship: New Creative Ventures pitch at
the London Business School, has secured a first round of venture capital funding, and completed the Creative Business Accelerator program run by the London Business Angels Network & London Development Agency.