The Healing Ground

Who we are

Where Wellbeing Becomes Part of Everyday Life

Located in the heart of Pontardawe, South Wales, The Healing Ground brings together community, hospitality and wellbeing within one thoughtfully restored building — speciality coffee, professional therapy, movement and contrast therapy, all under one roof. Surrounded by the mountains, ancient woodland and waterfalls of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the natural beauty of our area has quietly shaped everything we've created.

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A hands-on healing session at The Healing Ground

Pontardawe · South Wales

Four spaces, one roof

Our story

How The Healing Ground grew

Every place like this starts with a seed. Follow the golden thread through ours.

  1. 01
    The seed

    Searching for somewhere that didn't exist

    For many years, we worked from a variety of rented venues across South Wales — moving from room to room, adapting to spaces that were simply available rather than spaces built for the work taking place within them. Again and again, we searched for somewhere that felt truly aligned with our values. We never found it.

  2. 02
    The ground

    The decision to build it ourselves

    Eventually, after preparing to move yet again, we realised we had a choice: keep searching for the place we hoped already existed, or create it ourselves. That decision became The Healing Ground — a place where excellent coffee could sit comfortably alongside professional therapy, movement and community, right in the heart of Pontardawe.

  3. 03
    The build

    Restoring the building, guided by one belief

    Every decision — from restoring the building and choosing natural materials to designing calm, welcoming spaces — was guided by one simple belief: the environment matters. When a place feels welcoming, people relax. When it feels thoughtful, they slow down. When it feels authentic, they return.

  4. 04
    Today

    The doors are open

    We built the place we had spent years searching for, and now we're delighted to share it with you — four spaces under one roof, and one vision: to create a place where wellbeing becomes part of everyday life.

The founders

The people behind The Healing Ground

The Healing Ground is a labour of love — here's who's behind it.

Wendy Vickery and Richard Valintine, founders of The Healing Ground

Wendy Vickery & Richard Valintine

Co-Founders

Wendy Vickery

Co-Founder & Bioenergy Healing

For Wendy, The Healing Ground has always been about creating spaces where people feel genuinely welcomed.

She believes wellbeing begins long before a treatment starts or a class begins. It begins the moment someone walks through the door and feels comfortable, cared for and accepted.

For more than twenty years Wendy has practised Bioenergy Healing, a traditional lineaged system of energy healing rooted in the principles of Qigong. She is the founder and principal teacher of the School of Bioenergy Healing UK, where she has spent many years training and mentoring students in this established healing tradition, supporting practitioners in developing both technical skill and compassionate, ethical practice.

Wendy is also an experienced Kundalini Yoga teacher, workshop leader and class facilitator, guiding people through movement, breathwork, meditation and mindfulness in ways that are both accessible and deeply grounded. Whether teaching a regular class, leading an immersive workshop or working with individuals, her approach encourages people to develop greater resilience, self-awareness and a lasting sense of wellbeing.

These experiences have shaped every aspect of The Healing Ground. From the atmosphere within The Coffee Ground to the peaceful design of the therapy rooms, studio and community spaces, Wendy's vision has always been to create an environment where people feel safe to pause, breathe and simply be themselves.

Her hope is that every person who visits The Healing Ground experiences genuine warmth, professional care and a sense of belonging—and leaves feeling lighter, more connected and looking forward to returning.

Richard Valintine

Co-Founder

Richard has spent more than twenty years studying the world's spiritual, philosophical and nature-based traditions, exploring the common themes that connect cultures, people and the natural world.

For over a decade he has worked full-time as a teacher and facilitator of shamanic and animistic practice, leading courses, workshops and retreats that encourage direct experience, personal growth and a deeper relationship with nature.

His work has been influenced by diverse traditions from around the world, yet one conclusion has remained constant: genuine wisdom is never confined to a single culture or belief system.

That understanding has helped shape the philosophy behind The Healing Ground. Rather than creating a place centred upon one teaching, Richard's hope has been to help create an environment where curiosity is welcomed, thoughtful conversation is encouraged and people from every background feel comfortable exploring what wellbeing means for them.

What we stand for

Our values

A handful of simple principles guide every decision we make — tap each one to see what it means in practice.

Our purpose

“To create a place where wellbeing becomes part of everyday life.”

Every class, every treatment, every cup of coffee is in service of that.

Come and see us

The best way to know us is to visit

Drop in for a coffee, join a class, or book a session in the Polarity Ground — the door's open.

See the timetableMeet our therapistsBook contrast therapy