About Noord
A Sanctuary in Darkness
In a world filled with distractions, stillness is rare — yet within stillness lies clarity. At Noord Darkness Retreats, we create a space where you can turn inward, reconnect with yourself, and explore the depth of your inner world.
As the first dedicated center of its kind in the Nordics, Noord has been at the forefront of introducing and developing darkness retreats as a transformative practice for rest, reflection, and self-discovery.
Our Story
Noord began as Glänta in 2022 — the first dedicated darkness retreat center in the Nordics. But our journey started even earlier, in 2019, born from a deep curiosity about the transformative power of darkness. What began as a personal exploration evolved into a mission: to create a space for mental clarity, emotional balance, and inner transformation.
In 2025, we became Noord — a name that reflects our international vision and the next chapter of our work. Moving forward, we are expanding beyond retreats. Noord is now becoming a hub for research, innovation, and education in darkness therapy and mental wellness. Our mission is to bridge ancient practices with modern science, offering evidence-based approaches that support sustainable well-being in an overstimulated world.
The Team
The Noord team brings together diverse expertise in health informatics, clinical diagnostics, psychology, innovation, business development, and retreat facilitation — a unique combination that allows us to bridge scientific research with experiential insight. This balance shapes how we design our retreats, ensuring they are both evidence-based and deeply intentional.
What unites us is not only our professional backgrounds — but our personal journeys. Through exploring inner processes by way of darkness retreats, meditation, and other forms of self-inquiry, we share a deep understanding of the transformative potential that lies in dedicated inner work.
Our experiences have taught us that stillness is not about escape — it is about turning inward to meet what arises with openness, presence, and curiosity. This belief informs how we guide and support each guest, creating an environment where they feel safe, grounded, and empowered throughout their journey.
At Noord, we see ourselves as both practitioners and learners — committed to deepening our understanding of darkness retreats while remaining humble in the face of all we’ve yet to discover. Noord is a platform for both personal and collective transformation, where we strive — together — to contribute to a more sustainable and conscious world.
Neda Ardalan, MSc
Licensed Psychologist
Neda is a licensed psychologist, lecturer and trainer in emotional intelligence. She has a M.Sc. in Psychology from Stockholm University and is passionate about increasing people’s emotional awareness and competence, as she sees this as a prerequisite for long-term well-being. She believes that many people lack the emotional skills needed to deal with life’s challenges and that society at large often hinders this development. By sharing knowledge and tools, she wants to make emotional health more accessible to everyone.
At her clinic (www.psykologneda.se), she works emotionally focused based on Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), but also integrates methods from Psychodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She offers support for children, adolescents, families and adults and collaborates with schools and kindergartens when needed.
In Noord, Neda is responsible for the psychological support around darkness retreats. She helps participants prepare mentally for the retreat and offers therapeutic support afterwards to process insights and integrate the experience into everyday life. Through her experience in emotional intelligence and therapy, she creates a safe and supportive environment where participants can explore their inner self in depth.
Contact
Dr. Samer Yammine, PhD
Co-Founder, COO
Samer is an entrepreneur and educational innovator with a PhD in Epigenomics from Karolinska Institutet. He has a passion for biodesign, innovation strategy and business development in biotech, wellness and health. With extensive experience in entrepreneurship and academic education, he has a unique ability to bring together research, technology and business development to create innovative solutions.
Samer has been affiliated with the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES) since 2015, where he is the course director for Science to Business and works as Entrepreneur in Residence at the Unit for Bioentrepreneurship (UBE) at Karolinska Institutet. He has founded several biotech and health innovation companies, including Karmagenes.co and CelFIT.co. For his work in entrepreneurship education, he has been awarded “Male Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year” at the Triple E Awards, a global award for innovation in higher education.
At Noord, Samer is responsible for business development and technological innovation. With his expertise in AI, blockchain and health innovation, he contributes to developing strategies and technological solutions that strengthen Noord as a leader in the field. Through his combination of academic knowledge and practical experience, he ensures that Noord remains a pioneer in darkness retreats and mental health.
Contact
Maria Niemi, PhD
Senior Research Advisor
Maria is an Associate Professor (docent) in Public Health Science at Karolinska Institutet and a licensed psychotherapist with a specialization in affect-focused psychodynamic therapy. With more than 20 years of experience in mindfulness meditation, she has taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) since 2010 and combines clinical practice with an extensive research portfolio on stress, depression, anxiety, and mind–body interventions for social sustainability and public health.
Maria has led several research projects on mindfulness-based interventions, including randomized controlled trials on student resilience programs and parental interventions, as well as implementation studies in Swedish healthcare. She is also involved in EU and Forte-funded projects exploring youth mental health, post-COVID-19 rehabilitation, and sustainability competencies in healthcare education.
In addition to her academic work, Maria is active as a psychotherapist, mindfulness instructor, and lecturer on inner sustainability, and she is co-author of the book Inner Sustainability – for those working with people.
At Noord, Maria provides scientific guidance and supports the process of building a strong research foundation for darkness retreats. Her expertise helps align the practice with emerging academic knowledge and clinical insights, ensuring that the work evolves toward the highest standards of safety, integrity, and well-being.
Contact
Mike Skragge, MSc
Research Advisor
Mike is a licensed psychologist and PhD student with an M.Sc. in Psychology from Stockholm University. His research and clinical experience focus on supporting people through deep inner processes using evidence-based and integrative therapeutic methods. He has extensive experience working with altered states of consciousness and has participated in international retreat settings focused on psychological growth and well-being.
Mike is a co-founder of a research network focused on consciousness studies and is involved in policy development and professional training related to therapeutic approaches to non-ordinary states. He actively works to bridge academic research, clinical practice, and safety.
At Noord, Mike is responsible for ensuring the psychological integrity and safety of the retreat activities. He ensures that darkness retreats are conducted with high ethical and professional standards, grounded in best practices from psychological research and integrative therapy. His work supports participants in having safe, meaningful experiences that promote long-term well-being and personal development.
Contact
Annika Shelly, B.A.
Founding Partner & Head of Outreach
Annika is a senior communications strategist with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of sustainability, human rights, and mental health. With a background in international media, brand strategy, and CSR, she has led global outreach efforts for organizations such as Karolinska Institutet, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the United Nations Environment Program.
She is passionate about using communications as a tool for social impact, with a particular focus on child and adolescent well-being, environmental responsibility, and ethical business. Annika combines creative storytelling with strategic insight, building bridges between sectors and audiences.
Annika has served in roles spanning PR, ESG strategy, and partnership development in both the non-profit and corporate sectors. She has written the sustainability report for H&M, founded the gaming division at Save the Children Sweden and co-founded initiatives focused on innovation and education, such as Hybrid Talks and ImpactEd. In addition to her professional work, she has studied meditation and mindfulness at Plum Village (France) and Gaia House (UK), which inform her holistic approach to leadership and communication. She has a degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto with a focus on eastern philosophies, spirituality and social studies. She is proficient in Kinhin -walking meditation-, bioenergetic healing and teaches Ikigai.
At Noord, Annika is responsible for strategic marketing, brand development, and public relations. She ensures that our message reaches the right people — with clarity, authenticity, and care. Her deep commitment to social transformation and mental health makes her a vital voice in how we share the story of darkness therapy with the world.
Contact
Sajjad Saffari, MSc
Co-Founder, CEO
Sajjad is an entrepreneur, health informatician with experience from Karolinska University Hospital, and a licensed biomedical scientist in clinical physiology, with an M.Sc. in Health Informatics from Karolinska Institutet. His passion for mental health, diagnostics, health data, and research forms the foundation of his work to create meaningful impact through Noord.
With a background in both medicine and informatics, he has an interdisciplinary perspective on how data and technology can be used to improve psychological wellbeing. Sajjad founded Vellora, a healthtech company focused on AI and behavioral informatics in mental health, which was later acquired by NorthernLight Diagnostics – both spin-off companies from Karolinska Institutet. There, he has driven the development of AI-based mental health solutions by combining technological innovation with clinical understanding, leading to new approaches to analyze and support mental well-being.
Sajjad is driven by a belief in the potential of darkness as a powerful tool for inner development and transformation. Through Noord, he wants to create a platform where research and practice meet, to explore how darkness retreats can contribute to stress reduction, emotional regulation and long-term mental health. Sajjad is also an alpinist, a pursuit that mirrors his fascination with endurance, silence, and the mind body connection, qualities that inform his work with darkness therapy and inner transformation.
Contact
Neda Ardalan
Neda is a licensed psychologist, lecturer and trainer in emotional intelligence. She has a M.Sc. in Psychology from Stockholm University and is passionate about increasing people’s emotional awareness and competence, as she sees this as a prerequisite for long-term well-being. She believes that many people lack the emotional skills needed to deal with life’s challenges and that society at large often hinders this development. By sharing knowledge and tools, she wants to make emotional health more accessible to everyone.
At her clinic (www.psykologneda.se), she works emotionally focused based on Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), but also integrates methods from Psychodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She offers support for children, adolescents, families and adults and collaborates with schools and kindergartens when needed.
In Noord, Neda is responsible for the psychological support around darkness retreats. She helps participants prepare mentally for the retreat and offers therapeutic support afterwards to process insights and integrate the experience into everyday life. Through her experience in emotional intelligence and therapy, she creates a safe and supportive environment where participants can explore their inner self in depth.
Dr. Samer Yammine, PhD
Samer is a serial entrepreneur and educational innovator with a PhD in Epigenomics from Karolinska Institutet. He has a passion for biodesign, innovation strategy and business development in biotech, wellness and health. With extensive experience in entrepreneurship and academic education, he has a unique ability to bring together research, technology and business development to create innovative solutions.
Samer has been affiliated with the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES) since 2015, where he is the course director for Science to Business and works as Entrepreneur in Residence at the Unit for Bioentrepreneurship (UBE) at Karolinska Institutet. He has founded several biotech and health innovation companies, including Karmagenes.co and CelFIT.co. For his work in entrepreneurship education, he has been awarded “Male Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year” at the Triple E Awards, a global award for innovation in higher education.
At Noord, Samer is responsible for business development and technological innovation. With his expertise in AI, blockchain and health innovation, he contributes to developing strategies and technological solutions that strengthen Noord as a leader in the field. Through his combination of academic knowledge and practical experience, he ensures that Noord remains a pioneer in darkness retreats and mental health.
Mike Skragge
Mike is a licensed psychologist and PhD student with a M.Sc. in Psychology from Stockholm University and a research focus on psychedelic harm minimization and integrative therapy. He has extensive experience working with altered states of consciousness and has been an assistant on legal psychedelic retreats. Through his research and clinical experience, he wants to contribute to creating safe and evidence-based methods to support people in deep inner processes.
Mike is a co-founder of the Nätverket för Psykedelisk Vetenskap and is involved in policy development and training in psychedelic therapy. He is also an alternate board member of the Swedish Association for Psychedelic Therapy (FPT) and actively works to build bridges between academic research, clinical practice and safety in the field.
In Noord, Mike is responsible for the psychological scientific basis and safety of the retreat activities. He ensures that darkness retreats are conducted responsibly and safely, based on best practices in psychological research and therapy. Through his expertise in integrative therapy and harm minimization, he helps ensure that participants have a safe and meaningful experience that promotes long-term personal development.
Our Philosophy
We believe that inner growth is key to both personal well-being and positive change in the world. Inspired by the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework, we emphasize the importance of developing qualities like self-awareness, emotional resilience, and mental clarity as tools for creating meaningful change — both within ourselves and in society.
Our darkness retreats provide the stillness needed for these qualities to emerge naturally.
Our Commitment to Research
At Noord, we are dedicated to advancing the understanding of darkness therapy through science. Rooted in ancient traditions, we believe it holds untapped potential for supporting mental well-being today. Our research explores how time in darkness may influence emotional processing, mental clarity, and stress regulation.
By combining traditional wisdom with modern science, we aim to expand knowledge of darkness therapy as a tool for rest, reflection, and inner balance.
Our Approach
🛖 Space – Carefully designed dark rooms that provide complete sensory isolation, allowing your mind to rest and recalibrate.
🔬 Science – Our retreats are based on existing psychological research on sensory deprivation, consciousness studies, and meditation.
✨ Support – While the darkness invites you to journey inward, we are here to ensure you feel safe, grounded, and prepared throughout your experience.