Feel-Good Summer News

LIFE-CHANGING WELLBEING DESTINATIONS

SENSORY AWAKENING at The Four Seasons Bali: The Healing Village Spa at Jimbaran Bay is ready for its moment in the sun. The island's newest destination spa delivers a sensory journey which includes high frequency oils, singing bowls, chromotherapy lighting, a massage bed made of crushed quartz crystals and immersive, transformative treatments.  Light, Colour, Sound!

SLEEP DEEP at The Alpina Gstaad: Stay in the brand new ‘Sleep Suite’ this summer – with full black out blinds, aromas to help you slumber, suggested spa treatments from the Tibetan Healing Programme in the Six Senses Spa, a bathing ritual and supportive food choices (opt for in-room service), all designed to help you sleep deep.

WEIGHT LOSS, ENERGY GAIN at The Original FX Mayr, Austria: The Intensive Weight Loss programme combines the best in fat-busting therapies and detoxing with endorphin-boosting activities around stunning Lake Worthersee, one of the purest lakes in Europe. The Original FX Mayr is still top of its game.

SOUL RENEWAL at Ananda in the Himalayas: India’s legendary destination spa announces a series of new emotionally balancing retreats for autumn, including a 7-night Soul Detox and a retreat in partnership with the London Meditation Centre teaching the method and benefits of Vedic meditation. Includes a visit to Rishikesh, reportedly the birthplace of both Vedic meditation and yoga.

NATURAL NURTURE at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru: The evolution of 15 years of wellbeing innovation, one of the best loved spas in the Maldives announces the launch of AyurMa. This new spa concept embraces planetary as well as individual wellbeing and includes a gratitude ‘Earth Blessing’, Full Moon and New Moon Yoga, Earth Blessings and ‘Wake up to Wonder’ - a mindful exploration of birdsong, breathing exercises and sun salutations. A new dawn indeed.

RETREAT ALERT!
Fiona Arrigo will be returning to the magical RAAS Devigarh in India for her ‘Evolving Woman Retreat’ from November 9th-16th . This deeply healing and inspirational retreat offers women time to step away from the demands of everyday life and connect to their feminine wisdom. Rest, restore, deepen.

Head over to Queen of Retreats to discover the world’s best, tried, tested and trusted retreats.  All reviewed by experienced journalists and writers.  One person’s therapy is someone else’s dancing, writing, art, poetry, surfing or simply time out in nature. This inspiring source helps you find the right retreat for you.

READY, STEADY GO!

Europe’s most exciting new bootcamp has a few spaces available this summer at The Ranch, Italy. Don’t miss daily hikes immersed in nature, strength training, and next-level plant-based cuisine. Or, surf bods might instead fancy a jaunt to the Maldives, where The Four Seasons Kuda Huraa is announcing its 10th Annual Surfing Champions Trophy from 22 - 29 August. If all this sounds a little out of reach, opt for a more gentle, but still energising approach, with the UK's first dedicated qigong portal, HayouFit - the ideal way to get ‘summer body ready’ without fad dieting. Watch Hayo’uFit founder and Chinese medicine practitioner, @katie_brindle as she shows you an easy 4 step qigong ritual to fit into your daily routine to sculpt your body ready for summer - link here

WOMEN IN WELLNESS

We are excited to announce Marina Efraimoglou will be visiting London from 27th June. Please let us know if you would like to join her for a Five Elements session or meet her 1-2-1 to hear the latest news from Greece’s leading destination spa, Euphoria Retreat. Along with their popular Feel Alive Again Retreat, Euphoria will soon be launching new Emotional Healing retreats. Do sign up to the resort's newsletter for in-depth seasonal guidance rooted in TCM. Invaluable.

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IT'S ALL IN THE BREATH

WONDERBREATH
It’s estimated that almost 50% of women in the UK are in, or approaching, the menopause. Rather than being something to dread, Justine Clement, Breath Coach and founder of Wonderbreath, believes breathwork can help support and navigate what should be an incredibly rich, valuable, and pivotal rite of passage in a woman’s life.  We will be organising a small group gathering to experience Conscious Connective breathing and forest bathing with Justine over the summer - so do get in touch if you would like to find out more.

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DAIOS COVE, CRETE
One of Greece’s much-loved resorts, Daios Cove has already unveiled its exciting new health offering with the launch of ‘KEPOS by Goco', a concept which incorporates fitness programmes, spa treatments, saunas and a Hamman with an overarching aim of improved health. Now this already comprehensive offering welcomes varying high-grade diagnostic methods, including a PNOE biometrics test which will miraculously scan your breath for 12 different health biomarkers. Results will determine lifestyle and food recommendations because, as the Global Wellness Institute has recently reported, it's possible to change your gene activity with, amongst other things, your nutrition choices. Takes our breath away!

WOMEN IN WELLNESS
The UK’s leading Yang Sheng clinician: Katie Brindle believes that everything, from bad skin, poor digestion, pain management and adrenal fatigue to menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety, can be treated with TCM techniques. Her mission is to demystify and show the relevance of a healing system of preventive self-care that has been used by millions of people for thousands of years. Katie's online clinic is now open.  Click here for more information.

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THREE OF THE BEST NEW PRODUCTS

LA-EVA
Coming soon....La-Eva is unveiling its new product line with an alluring fresh scent.

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ILAPOTHECARY
With an increasing number of people struggling with low mood and anxiety, the addition of Beat the Blues Body Oil (£46/100g) to ilapothecary's iconic and award-winning Beat the Blues Range is sure to elevate our souls.

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HAYO'U METHOD
The pioneering self care brand introduces its latest new massage therapy tool - the Body Drummer (£38). Using the ancient time-honoured practice of Pai Sha (strike-flush), this tool enables you to release tension, support lymphatic drainage, stimulate acupressure points, clear stagnation and revive flagging energy.  Post-workout, the Drummer is a lifesaver in targeting areas of tension and is also the perfect relief for aches caused by sitting at your desk all day.

WOMEN IN WELLNESS
Anna de Pahlen - We are delighted to be working with Anna de Pahlen, a dance, yoga teacher and creative dance facilitator. Anna works internationally offering classes, workshops and retreats to suit her audience. She offers a safe place to be, to release fear and pain and a space to connect with oneself and those around us.

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DIVE IN DEEPERLearn more about Octave Institute and hear from Visionary and founder Fred Tsao on why now is the time to bridge East and West to enter a new era of interconnected wellbeing. We need a collective global awakening.

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HAPPY FOOD

Look out for the new cookbook “Feed Your Family’ from Chefs in Schools, packed with inspiring ideas for multi-generational gatherings.

RECIPE IN FOCUS : EDIBLE GARDEN

For this recipe you'll need two small loaf tins or other vessels deep enough to 'plant' the veg into - tumblers or squat mugs also work.

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FEEDS 4-6 TO NIBBLE ON

• 400g hummus
• 24 baby veggies for planting (eg radishes, carrots with leaves if possible, baby cucumber and tenderstem broccoli, trimmed and peeled with tops on, or cut into small spears)
• Flatbreads to serve (make your own or bought)

FOR THE BLACK SOIL

• 75g stale, good-quality bread
• Olive oil
• 75g black olives, pitted
• 50g pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• Generous pinch of chilli flakes

METHOD

• First make the 'black soil': preheat the oven to 100deg C fan/120degC/250defF
• Toss the stale bread in a little olive oil and arrange with the black olives on a baking tray to dry out for 4-5 hours
• Place a dry frying pan over a medium heat and toast the seeds and chili flakes until fragrant
• Transfer to a blender with the dried olives and bread and blitz together
• Tip the mixture back into the baking tray and rub the soil together to feel if it is dry enough. If not return to the low oven for an hour or until dry
• Divide the hummus between the loaf tins. Scatter over the black soil and plant in the veg. Serve with flatbreads

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OTHER UPDATES FROM AROUND THE UK

DON'T MISS THIS ON SCOTTISH WILD SALMON
On June 6th at 7pm, catch the premier online screening of ‘Riverwoods’. This fascinating documentary shines a light on the perilous state of rivers and wild salmon populations in Scotland and offers insights on what we can do to secure their future. Supported by The European Nature Trust (TENT). Register here for the link.

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NORFOLK LEADS THE WAY IN NEXT GENERATION SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Due to arrive this summer, a new collection of Koto-designed 'Lite' Cabins at Fritton Lake are perfect for anyone wanting a second home immersed in nature and to be part of one of the UK's most exciting eco-restoration projects. Or, if a second home isn’t on the agenda, perhaps an exclusive use stay at exquisite Somerleyton Hall. This country house with a conscience will unveil its brand new wild freshwater swimming pool this summer. The ideal refresher.

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