The Wild Times with... Maya Howell

Maya is our resident Scottish selkie/yogi/sauna fan who joined the team back in March 2024 to support Jenny with all the glamorous behind the scenes stuff (AKA packing goodie bags, organising everything and blowing up paddleboards…) Since then Maya has hosted 11 retreats with The Wild Times - and you can expect to see her leading lots more in 2026 ❤️

1) Why do you love being outside?

I instantly feel myself softening. My brain starts to clear, I can breathe deeper, everything feels more expansive. It’s just hard to be sad when you’re on a big old walk outside. We just weren’t made to sit in boxes!

2) Favourite nature fact?

Nature is just magic. I love interconnectedness. The mycelium network fascinates me, and learning more about the underground fungal networks that trees are connected to each other with, to share nutrients, water, and even chemical signals. Older, more established "mother trees" will send resources to younger saplings in shaded areas to help them survive. Trees of different species also support one another, especially under stress. Humans have so much remembering to do, to get back to living within this ecosystem of interdependence & reciprocity rather than competition and scarcity. 

3) Favourite wild place?

Very hard to choose - anywhere near water that I can swim in. However - after always choosing tropical beaches over mountains, I was recently in La Grave, in the French Alps, and now I understand. The vastness is incredibly humbling.

4) What would you like your legacy to be?

I’ve never really thought about that, but I do a lot of thinking about what it means to be a yoga ‘teacher’ and hold space for people. There is so much of the shiny wellness industry that I don’t subscribe to or want to be associated with, so stripping it back and making sure the ways I share centres around helping people to feel held, safe, and at home in their bodies is really important to me. 

5) Describe your perfect day.

Sea breeze, sunshine, morning movement, good coffee, close friends, a big old walk, a swim in the sea, wind down in front of a fire, with a good book, cuddles, and some cheese. 

6) What would be your one tip for someone who wants to reconnect to nature/spend more time in the wild?

Start with a very slow walk in whatever green space you have nearby. Leave your phone at home. Stop to look at flowers really close up. Hug a tree. Look up! Ask yourself questions. Also remember that you are nature -  taking a moment of pause to reconnect with your breath and body is the easiest way to start.

7) How do you ground yourself? 

If there is water nearby, get in it. If not, go for a walk, hug a tree. If I can’t do either - long exhales help. I’ve also developed a habit of placing my hands over my eyes when  I am feeling overstimulated and it is instantly calming.

8) Favourite campfire food?

Ohhh everything tastes better on  fire! Probably freshly caught grilled fish with good old tatties in foil chucked straight into the fire. Although smokey toast has become a favourite after all our breakfasts in the woods…

9) One thing you’re grateful for today: My gratitude these days always starts with being safe and warm.

10) What does ‘rewilding’ mean to you? Remembering how things used to be. Stripping back the layers of commodification and convenience that have built up around us, admitting that modern life is not working, and letting nature remind us how it should be.