About
Daillen Culver is an anthropologist, somatic practitioner, and writer. Her work sits at the intersection of cultural research, embodied practice, and creative inquiry, with a central focus on how people cultivate resilience, meaning, and connection in times of social and ecological upheaval. She holds an MA in Anthropology of Food from SOAS, University of London, and an MSc in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. Her academic research centers on Indigenous food systems and agroecological practices in Latin America.
Alongside her academic work, Daillen is a longtime yoga and meditation practitioner. Practicing since 2011 and teaching since 2019, she leads group classes, private sessions, workshops, and retreats around the world. Her classes combine inventive sequencing and breath-centered movement to build strength, encourage bodily awareness, and cultivate presence, with an emphasis on finding genuine joy in movement. Her trauma-informed approach was shaped by her training in Traumatic Stress Studies with Bessel van der Kolk's Trauma Research Center, and her emphasis on compassion is a product of her longstanding affiliation with Stanford's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). She is also a certified Shinrin Yoku practitioner and often weaves immersive nature-based therapy into her retreats and other offerings. She is interested in how embodiment practices can support nervous system regulation and deepen connection in an increasingly fragmented world.
Daillen is also a writer and visual artist exploring analog mediums like film photography, collage, and occasionally poetry. Her work was featured as part of Malibu City Hall’s exhibit Radical Beauty, Malibu Rising (2019). Her essays and reflections on the intersection of somatic practice and socioecological justice are published on her Substack, All Beings Everywhere. Originally from Colorado, Daillen is an avid traveler and outdoorswoman. She spends much of her time exploring wild landscapes across multiple continents, often accompanied by her golden retriever Banjo.
Yoga
Retreats
PORTUGAL YOGA & NATURE RETREAT
5–8 November 2026
Join myself and Annalisa Gardener for a long weekend of mindful movement, nature immersion, and deep rest. Our venue is a 115-acre working farm, and the majority of ingredients on our thoughtfully-curated vegetarian menu will be sourced onsite.
Twice daily yoga practice, sprinkled with meditation and breathwork. Swim in the pond in the heat of the afternoon, or journal by the wood-burning fire on cooler evenings. Disconnect from your habitual roles and responsibilities, and delve into guided practices and reflections designed to deepen your connection with the natural world.
No experience necessary. All levels of yoga practitioners welcome. Use code EARLY BIRD for 10% off until 30 April!
Private Sessions
I offer 1:1 therapeutic yoga in London for students of all levels. Clients come to yoga with a range of needs and motivations. Some simply wish to deepen their existing yoga practice, others are battling chronic stress, recovering from an injury, or seeking appropriate movement for an aging body. My personal approach combines gentle movement, breathwork, guided meditation, and hands-on assists to address a variety of mindbody concerns.
Pricing
Sessions start at £100 for 60 minutes, sliding scale available for those below a certain income threshold. If you are interested in working together but have financial concerns, please get in touch to discuss.
Group Classes
I offer group classes at several studios across the city. Follow me on Instagram for my latest schedule. Private group classes available on request, ideal for corporate retreats or wedding parties. Several recorded classes are available on my YouTube channel. Yoga playlists available on my Spotify.
Research
As an anthropologist, my research interests include Latin America, rural development,
food politics, climate and agriculture, indigenous cosmologies, contemporary spiritual movements, and the global wellness industry. My current research explores the emerging market for ceremonial-grade cacao and relations between cacao producers and new age consumers around the world.
In 2021, I co-founded BeDo: a mental health initiative for researchers, humanitarians, and activists.
Our original workshops on topics like compassion fatigue, trauma sensitivity, and climate distress are available on the BeDo website. I also host BeDo's original podcast The Resilient Researcher, and I am a Contributing Editor on AnthroPod by the Society of Cultural Anthropology.
Eco-Therapy
As a certified Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku) Practitioner, I offer group and 1:1 forest therapy sessions at universities and academic conferences. From time to time, I host forest bathing excursions for the general public. Get in touch to discuss private sessions and/or sign up for my mailing list to hear about future public offerings.
Documentary Film
Fire Through Dry Grass (2023)
Community Engagement & Research Consultant
Exhibited at Malibu City Hall’s Radical Beauty, Malibu Rising (2019): a collaborative community exhibition featuring a variety of mediums in the wake of the Woolsey Fire.
