Retreat Leaders

John de Kadt

 John de Kadt is a percussionist, poet, and storyteller.  He has played ethnic hand percussive instruments for over 30 years and plays drums from across the globe.  He has performed around the world, taught drumming on PBS and live nationally on NBC, and has performed with Krishna Das, David Darling, Subash Chandra, Ganesh Kumar, Jai Uttal, Robert Bly, Baba Olantunji, Colman Barks, and many others including his Kirtan band, The Hanumen.  John has released five CDs and travels internationally performing his unique and powerful blend of poetry, story, and percussion. Before doing music full time, John spent time as an acupuncturist, herbalist, and Ayurvedic consultant for 15 years.  He loves and still practices many aspects of these holistic medicines.

Katie O'Connell

Katie O’Connell has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and is an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist, and ERYT. Katie owns her own retreat center, Dragonfly Yoga Barn, in the beautiful White Mountains of NH with her husband of 25 years, where they facilitate retreats and events of all kinds. She has over 800 hours of yoga study and nearly 1,000 hours in the study of Ayurveda as well as certifications in Thai Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, SUP Yoga, Reiki, and more. Katie runs international retreats, teaches daily yoga classes, provides education in Ayurveda and yoga, offers Ayurveda consultations, private yoga therapy, Thai bodywork, and yoga  & wellness coaching at Dragonfly.