Meet the founder who gave up everything to go travelling and launched wellness venture after Covid hit
Meet the founder who gave up everything to go travelling just before the pandemic set in, and was encouraged to launch a wellness venture upon her return.
Ali Mitchell is the founder of Wildflowers Healing & Breathwork, which she established during the pandemic having previously worked in the childhood trauma and charity sectors.
Ali and her husband gave up everything to go travelling across India for a year and Covid hit while they were away. “We came back to nothing and couldn’t get our jobs back,” she said.
The business owner explained that she was inspired by India, its culture and ethos of prioritising wellness techniques, which she decided to bring home to Northampton with her.
“I was given the space to think,” said Ali, reminiscing on her time in India. “We’re all in the rat race of what’s next. Until we go on holiday, we don’t have the means to stop, recalibrate and find space.”
Ali was already trained in Japanese healing technique reiki before her travels, and taking a step back from her ordinary life during her time in India showed her the right path of what was next.
Wildflowers Healing & Breathwork offers a range of holistic wellness practices with a focus on stepping into self-awareness and understanding the work you need to do on yourself to thrive.
Ali’s community praises the experience as making them “feel safe to soften”, which has enabled them to reap the rewards of working on themselves and putting themselves first.
“I’m so proud of myself for building a business from nothing,” said Ali. “I came back not being able to find work in any of the fields I used to be in. I constantly showed up for myself, and built a business and practice that shows results.”
Ali is proud to have collaborated with many others in the wellness industry, as well as amazing spaces across Northampton like Delapré Abbey and Abington Park Museum.
The founder looks forward to hosting the Rooted Heart Festival at the Field of Healing in Bythorn in July 2026. The small-scale wellness event is designed to bring people together to experience connection, pampering and spiritual development.
This is its third consecutive year and gives attendees the chance to choose themselves for the weekend. Early bird tickets are now available until December.
When asked her hopes for the future of Wildflowers Healing & Breathwork, Ali said: “Spreading breathwork far and wide. The minute we become present with the way we are breathing, so much space opens for change and shifts.
“There’s a choice to step into a calmer and happier space, and Northamptonshire is missing breathwork. I’m putting the awareness out there – come along and try it out. It’s a tangible exploration of yourself, and it doesn’t matter your spiritual beliefs and where you’re at in your journey.”