What you’ll work on
This one-day retreat offers space to reconnect with your breath and voice, away from the constant demands of work and daily life. Through guided breathwork and vocal exploration, you’ll be supported to restore clarity, confidence and ease in your voice and nervous system.
Rather than pushing or fixing, the day invites you to listen, soften and reset, allowing your voice to feel more supported, responsive and grounded.
How the intensive runs
The retreat takes place over a full day in a quiet, natural setting in Bristol. The morning session focuses on breath and voice work indoors, with guided exercises designed to regulate the nervous system and reconnect you with your vocal instrument.
After lunch, the group will take part in a restorative outdoor spa session, offering space for relaxation, integration and reflection. The day unfolds at an unhurried pace, with time to rest, notice and absorb.
This is also a chance to spend time with others who work with their voice, in a small, thoughtful group. Alongside the guided work, there will be space for conversation, shared reflection and informal connection over the course of the day.
What we’ll explore and practise
Breath powers the voice, and it is to the breath that we return when things feel strained, disconnected or depleted. Across the day, you’ll explore:
Breathwork practices to regulate the nervous system
Vocal techniques to restore ease, resonance and clarity
Releasing habitual tension held in the body and voice
Supporting vocal stamina and presence without effort
Gentle awareness practices to deepen connection with your voice
Alongside the guided work, there will be space for conversation, shared reflection and informal connection with others who work with their voice.
Why BRAVA?
At BRAVA, all of our training is live and tailored to you. There are no pre-recorded modules and we work with people of all ages and experience levels from 20 yrs+, from a wide range of backgrounds. Whether you’re coming from the worlds of acting, broadcasting, marketing, advertising, or another creative discipline, this course is the best place to start to understand the craft
You’ll benefit from the expertise of professional coaches who understand the nuances of the craft and the business. Many people are surprised by how much there is to learn and how much they can grow, even in just three sessions.
Who this is for
This retreat is open to anyone who works with their voice and would value time to reset, restore and reconnect through breath and voice work. No prior voiceover training is required.
It is particularly suited to those feeling vocally or mentally fatigued, or who want a supportive space to reconnect with their voice in a more embodied, spacious way.
Location & format
This is an in-person workshop that will be held in Bristol at Sensate Spa.
About the coach
Melissa Thom is the CEO, founder and principal coach at BRAVA, which specialises in high performance voice and business communication coaching. She’s had a prolific career as a voice actor and has coached hundreds of professionals across voiceover, podcasting, live radio and public speaking. Melissa’s background also includes:
Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy (Distinction)
Advanced Practitioner training in Breathwork (Breathwork Africa - certification pending)
Qualified Yoga Nidra Facilitator (Yoga Alliance)
Foundation in Acting, Bristol Old Vic
Act I–IV training, American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco
She has also trained and worked with leading voice and breath practitioners including Dr Ela Manga, Alan Dolan, James Nestor and Patsy Rodenburg.