Wellness travel trends for 2020 reflect an increasing awareness about health issues and offer a chance to take time out and rebalance in pretty spectacular locations where it would be hard not to heal. From helping women navigate through the menopause to changing our diet, wellness travel trends focus on improving key aspects of our health and wellbeing and that can only be a good thing.

5 Top Wellness Travel Trends for 2020

1. #Mumcation
‘Mumcation’ can be a slightly annoying word but the concept is taking root and now even has its own hashtag. Common sense says that mums need time to recharge and psychology professor Dr Nava Silton made it official in an interview with Fox5NY (2-minute video). A healthy break without children can be essential to a mother’s wellbeing and therefore good for the children too. Whether just indulging in child-free time to read, walk and sleep or immersion in holistic therapies, Mum’s get to focus on themselves free from the day-to-day responsibilities of parenting and ideally return relaxed and refreshed for family life again.

2. Menopause Relief
At long last, there’s a greater awareness and new openness about discussing this old-as-the-hills process women go through. New retreats specifically aimed at helping women with health issues including the menopause, hormonal imbalance and weight gain are gaining momentum. Remember also that meditation, yoga, tai chi and mindfulness can help alleviate symptoms. Hopefully in the future, retreats offering support for menopausal women will be as common as going to a spa for a massage or facial.

3. Sugar ‘Detox’
The harmful effects of consuming too much sugar have been known for many years but there’s a growing awareness about its effects, like bloating, IBS, headaches, lack of energy and weight gain. You can read more about it in our blog on Easy tips for going sugar-free. The new debate also features in our blog on Sugar or fat, which is worse?
If you would like a bit more help reducing or even eliminating sugar from your diet, there’s a range of healthy and detoxifying holidays designed to make it easier to kick the ‘sugar habit’. Detoxing here doesn’t mean going without food just ridding the body of sugar and the cravings that accompany it. If you’re going to go cold turkey why not do it in amazing surroundings nourished by health experts, healthy organic foods and holistic treatments?

4. Sound Therapy
Sound therapy works through the healing power of sound vibration and frequencies. It follows the understanding that all of us have our own natural frequencies (including heartbeat, and other neurological and chemical body functions). When we are exposed to the external frequencies of singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks etc, the natural healing of both the body and mind can begin. For a deeper discussion including my personal experience of this, read our recent blog on sound therapy.

5. Colour Therapy
Similar to sound, light is a frequency; and the various colours in its spectrum have different frequencies. Colour therapy works through the healing power of light vibration and frequencies. It works on the theory that our energy centres, or chakras, throughout our body are activated and rebalanced by colours.
Colour therapy, also known as chromatherapy, has been practised since ancient times. Now an increasing understanding of the benefits of colour therapy is gaining momentum. Some yoga studios steep their classes in colour, sound and even scent, and a new hotel in St Louis, Missouri even has rooms entirely in one colour to channel specific moods, for example, red for passion, yellow for happiness and so on.

Many of the wellness travel trends for 2020 are achievable and sustainable practices, which you can find in our retreats.

Here’s to a happy and healthy year ahead!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

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Most of us will have heard of food fermentation but what is it and why is it so good for us? Like many ancient practices that are now in vogue – meditation and yoga, to name just two – fermentation has been around for thousands of years, used in food staples such as bread, yoghurt and also in alcoholic drinks like beer and wine. However, here we’re discussing purely the health benefits of fermentation on foods, not alcohol. This ancient way of preserving foods with a short shelf life and adding flavour was before the advent of refrigeration.

Essentially, fermentation is the process of using naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, to convert carbohydrates to alcohol or organic acids.

What are the health benefits?

The bacteria that live in our gut are essential for healthy digestion, and fermented foods are brimming with beneficial bacteria that work to reinforce the good bacteria in our digestive systems. As some of the sugars and starches in food get broken down through the process, fermented foods are easier to digest. Fermentation can also increase the availability of vitamins and minerals for our bodies to absorb. Fermented foods contain both probiotics (aiding digestion) and prebiotics (supporting the growth of good gut bacteria) giving them antimicrobial, cardio-protective and antioxidant properties.

Hence the health benefits of fermentation are numerous and varied and are said to help manage and prevent diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and autoimmune disease.

Recent advances in the understanding of gut-brain interactions, and the effect of the microbiome on mental health, indicate that a healthy gut enables clearer thinking and can lift the mood. Most of us may have experienced some kind of brain-fog after a meal. The suggestion is that a condiment of fermented foods can alleviate this and not only improve our gut health but also our health in general. This is probably why fermentation has long been practiced around the globe.

Popular fermented foods

• Sauerkraut – a fermented cabbage that can be used in a range of recipes, popular in Germany and Poland
• Kimchi – traditionally made in the autumn, this Korean side dish of fermented vegetables often features cabbage
• Kefir – a cultured milk drink commonly made with cow’s milk but also made with other types of milk and substitutes including goat’s milk, rice milk, coconut milk or coconut water.
• Lassi – a traditional Indian and Pakistani drink, blending yoghurt, water, salt and spices
• Miso – this traditional Japanese paste made from fermented soybeans and grains consists of millions of beneficial bacteria

7 simple tips

1. Use fresh ingredients – Avoid bruised vegetables as they could cause a ferment to go bad.
2. Hygiene – Clean your vegetables. Wash your tools and hands with hot, soapy water before use.
3. Salt – A. Use the recommended amount of salt as per recipe. Salt is important to create an environment that is inhospitable for harmful bacteria to survive. B. Make sure the salt is evenly distributed. C. Use fine high quality sea salt. Do not use iodized salt or table salt as it contains additives that can make the ferment go bad.
4. Water – Always use either purified water or good spring water. Tap water contains chemicals like chlorine that inhibit good bacteria.
5. Submerge – Ensure all vegetables are well covered with salty water that no air can get to them and weigh the vege down with either a heavy glass or terracotta disc, or a clear, clean plastic bag filled with water.
6. Glass – Make your ferments in glass jars, not metal. Once the ferment has started avoid using metal tools to stir as it interferes with the fermentation process. Use a wooden spoon instead.
7. Stir the surface of the fermenting food daily to prevent mould from forming on the surface. If mould should start to form at the top, you can skim it off. Everything under the brine is still safe to eat. If mould develops under the brine, the batch is bad. Throw it away.

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Autumn means going back to work, school, university and for many of us, long hours back at a desk. Desk yoga poses may help you to keep up the good work after the relaxation achieved during the summer holidays. Here’s a way to press your own ‘refresh button’!

Balance the effects of sitting for seven or eight hours at a stretch with desk yoga poses to relieve stiffness and stress. Naturally, these yoga poses need to be more subtle as depending on your job, your work clothes are unlikely to be workout gear, which may well be restrictive.

You won’t need equipment such as yoga mats or bricks, so let’s look at some easy yet refreshing desk yoga poses:

Breathing

Deep breathing is a simple yet powerful relaxation technique that can be practised almost anywhere and provides a quick way to reduce tensions. It is also the basis for other relaxation methods and so the ideal starting point. Sit on your chair with your back straight and breathe deeply a few times, a sigh helps too. Then inhale through the nostrils for five counts. Hold your breath for 10 counts. Exhale through the mouth for 10 counts. Repeat five to 10 times. This is a good one to do several times a day to help you feel more refreshed.

Neck Stretch

Many of us hold our stress in our neck and shoulders, so a neck stretch is a good move to do early on in the day (again, you can also do it as a standalone exercise throughout the day if needed). Placing your right hand on your left ear, gently let the weight of your arm bring your head toward your right shoulder, while you reach towards the floor with your left hand. Inhale and exhale for three breaths and try to extend your hand towards the floor. Repeat on the left side.

Seated Hip Opener

Hips can be particularly tight from sitting all day. Sit up straight in your chair, bring your right leg across to your left with the ankle above your left knee.  Gently place your left hand on your right ankle and your right hand on your right knee to feel the stretch in and around your hip joint. Try to open your hips a little more each time by pushing your right knee gently toward the floor. After three breaths, release your right leg to meet your left. Repeat on the left leg.

Side Twist

With your hips sat back in your chair and your knees together, inhale and place your left hand on your right knee.  As you exhale, engage the lower abdominals and twist with the upper part of your spine, placing your right hand behind your back. Each time you inhale, imagine yourself growing taller, and each time you exhale, see if you can twist a little bit deeper to the right with gentle ease. Repeat on your left side.

This short six-minute video by Yoga with Adriene is a good introduction to desk yoga poses:

Some people find a diagram easier to follow than reading instructions, so may find this simple illustration on the NHS website for a three-minute work out useful.

You can find more information on yoga styles and retreats on our website.

Remember, you can perform the above seated yoga poses as many times as feels comfortable throughout your day without interrupting your working schedule. Who knows, you might even encourage colleagues to do the same… and feel more refreshed and alert at work!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

Disclaimer
The content within this blog is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the advice of your own doctor – this applies especially for pregnant women and teenagers. Neal’s Yard Holidays is not responsible or liable for any actions taken by the reader based on the content of this site, nor for the contents of any external internet sites. Always consult your own health care professional if you are in any way concerned about your health or physical exercises.

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I recently experienced something I had previously been cynical about – sound therapy. And for those who’ve never heard of it, this healing form of sound bath doesn’t involve being bathed in water but in sound or vibrational waves. As I lay on the mat, the therapist played different notes on a series of crystal bowls that are tuned to resonate when hit with certain instruments.
Twenty-five minutes later as the therapist gently ‘woke’ me I opened my eyes. The effect was like a cross between a nap and meditation. My friend claimed I slept as I was tired, however, I felt different, less foggy than usual and she noted my eyeballs were brighter. I felt that for the first time I’d reached a meditative state.

Sound therapy works on the basis that sound can have a profound effect on our neurological and other bodily functions as they have different pulses or rhythms and energy frequencies, e.g. our heart beats to the rhythms of three. Sound therapists use sound frequencies to interact with these in order to enhance and rebalance the body’s energy whether with gongs, drums, bells, bowls, tuning forks or the human voice. See video on sound bath therapy by CBS New York:

Sound therapy is said to help not only physical illness but also to help balance the emotions and quieten a busy mind. Most people feel calm and relaxed following treatment, and also gently energised, often for several days after. Himalayan or Tibetan singing bowls have been used throughout Asia for thousands of years in prayer and meditation.

Nada Brahma: The World Is Sound is a seminal book by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and a fascinating exploration of the importance of music, sound, and vibration for spiritual development. Nada Brahma essentially means that the universe was created from the energy of sound – it’s only the sound that exists in the beginning. Through the book, jazz maestro Berendt explores the musical traditions of diverse cultures around the world, concluding that hearing is at the heart of a more spiritual experience of consciousness. His discussion involving physics, mathematics, myth, and sexuality is also practical, offering readers a variety of techniques for developing the ear as an organ of spiritual perception.

The holistic practice of repeating a mantra or the rhythmic speaking or singing of a word or sound is believed to calm the mind and clear negativity to help create tranquillity and mental purity. Chanting starts loudly, gradually becoming quieter and ends almost silently. This resonates with the energies of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of our body, to restore inner peace and awaken our latent healing energies.

In this engaging and informative video below, spiritual guru, yogi and author Sadhguru chants the Nada Brahma chant and explains how this resounded across a beautiful glacial lake he visited at Kanti Sarovar in India and also explains its meaning:

Meanwhile, if you feel intrigued to experience it yourself, then you can come on one of the retreats offering sound healing:

Aluna Healings’ Devon retreat is surrounded by woodland, waterfalls and sacred sites in the Dartmoor countryside and holds regular Anima sound healing concerts for an “immersion into sacred space and sonic healing with beautiful, meditative music, Tibetan and Crystal Bowls and sound healing frequencies.”

Aluna Healings’ Scottish retreat offers the same sound healing concerts but in a magical venue encircled by ancient woodland overlooking Loch Torridon in Wester Ross, the Scottish Highlands.

Mellulah Yoga offers a variety of activities and workshops at a tranquil location in rural Dorset including sound healing meditation. Preparations to receive the healing vibrations of the gong begin with breath, mantra and relaxation exercises.

For a deeper exploration of sound therapy, a good place to start is the British Academy of Sound Therapy.

Wishing you good vibrations!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

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With the summer holidays fast approaching, many of us will be flying out of UK airports for our annual holiday. As we know, airlines have detailed guidelines on what is allowed onboard and that includes taking lithium batteries on planes.

Lithium batteries are commonly used to power a wide variety of consumer goods ranging from mobile phones to laptops and children’s toys, however, they can pose a safety risk if not treated in accordance with transport regulations. While most lithium batteries are safe, some have overheated and caught fire, which could produce toxic and irritating fumes.

Most smaller batteries used in widely held items such as the aforementioned and other personal electronic devices are allowed as both, check-in and carry-on luggage items, with some limits. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website has details of restrictions on flying with batteries. Dry cell alkaline batteries, typically AA, AAA and so on are allowed in check-in and hand baggage but if you are planning on taking devices or items that contain lithium batteries on planes, read on:

Lithium batteries on planes

Lithium battery refers to a family of batteries comprising many types of cathodes and electrolytes and divides into two main types:

A. Lithium metal batteries – non-rechargeable batteries that have lithium metal or lithium compounds as an anode are generally used to power devices such as watches and cameras.

B. Lithium ion batteries – a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in consumer electronics such as mobile telephones, laptop computers, etc.

UK aviation restrictions apply to portable electronic devices containing lithium-ion batteries exceeding a Watt-hour rating of 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh – when carried for personal use. The watt-hour (Wh) rating is a measure by which lithium ion batteries are regulated. You can calculate the number of watt-hours your battery provides if you know the battery’s nominal voltage (V) and capacity in ampere-hours (Ah) using this calculation – Ah x V = Wh. This information is often marked on the battery.

In terms of specific airline advice for lithium batteries on planes, British Airways, have comprehensive guidelines on their website for carrying lithium ion and metal batteries which include the following.

8 simple tips

1. Pack all battery-powered devices to prevent accidental activation.

2. Protect spare batteries from short circuit and damage by keeping them in their original packaging (if possible) or in a protective case

3. Don’t take any damaged batteries or equipment

For batteries of up to 100Wh as used in mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras etc.

In hand baggage

4. Keep them in the device

5. A maximum of four spares per person kept in the original packaging or insulated/protected from contact with metal

6. Lithium metal batteries must not exceed 2g lithium content and lithium ion batteries must not exceed 100Wh

In checked baggage

7. Kept in the device

8. No spares allowed

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines has provided useful guidelines (as PDF) for travelling with lithium batteries on planes and devices containing lithium batteries, and this useful video:

Additionally, those of us with smart luggage should note that on 15 January 2018, baggage equipped with a lithium battery, where the lithium battery is designed to charge other devices and cannot be removed from the luggage, was forbidden for carriage.

If you are not sure of your battery’s watt-hour measurement, or if a specific type of battery is allowed on the flight, do check with your airline or with the manufacturer of your battery.

So happy and safe packing and enjoy your holidays!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

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Summer is here and our thoughts turn to relaxing and rejuvenating retreats. A week or even a few days of yoga, meditation, massages, delicious vegetarian or vegan fare, all in a serene environment can do wonders for the mind, body and soul!

Neal’s Yard Holidays has a wide selection of summer retreat offers in rural settings such as quintessential English countryside and balmy island idylls – for more on this please see our recent blog on rural retreats. Walk in the woods and meadows, meditate under the stars or sun and just enjoy the summer.

Availability ranges from early July to late September so, go on, take your pick from some of the best summer retreat offers below:

UK

Find Your Passion

Find Your Passion, Raw Horizons’ women-only retreat offers a holistic combination of wellbeing coaching, Kundalini yoga, meditation and detoxifying raw food. Stay at Split Farthing Hall, a restored Georgian mansion near the Yorkshire Dales with infrared sauna and an outside hot tub.

Three nights from £625pp full board twin share (single £745pp) including yoga, retreat activities, hot tub and infrared sauna, transfers to/from the local train station. Available for selected dates throughout the year including 3-6 July and 11-14 September 2018.

OFFER: Mention Neal’s Yard Holidays to receive a complimentary one-hour massage worth £55.

Shamanic healing, spiritual detox retreat

Stay in a spacious country house in Dartmoor, Devon set within its own idyllic grounds, surrounded by woodland, rivers, waterfalls, and sacred sites.
Aluna Healing Retreats provide a healing environment to detox and transform through organic juices, ancient shamanic wisdom, nature connection, sound healing, breath work, meditation and yoga practice.

Six nights from £820pp twin share or double room, or single room for £980pp. The price includes fresh juices, all classes and also activities.
Available from 6 to 12 July 2018.

OFFER: Mention Neal’s Yard Holidays and receive £50 off the retreat.

Yoga retreat: life coaching and love yourself

Chillout Retreats’ base near Arundel, close to the rolling Sussex Downs, combines a luxurious style with barn conversion and Temple Spa products in all bathrooms and an indoor swimming pool with mixed ability hatha yoga classes, core strengthening Pilates, meditation and guided walks. Summer Time Bliss adds life coaching and a Love Yourself workshop. Disabled access.

Two-night weekend retreat from £325pp twin share with shared bathroom. Or £350pp twin room with private bathroom, or single room with private bathroom from £450pp, including full board and activities.
Summer Time Bliss available from 20-22 July 2018.

OFFER: Mention Neal’s Yard Holidays to receive a free 30-minute holistic treatment worth £30.

FRANCE

Hiking and Yoga

Here the biggest of our summer retreat offers with £100 off. AdventureYogi combines adult-only yoga retreats with adventure activities in the French Alps. Stay in a luxurious chalet in the area of Sainte Foy Tarentaise with blissful mountain views. Yoga twice a day, guided hikes, brunch and dinner, sauna, hot tub and on-site massages.

Seven nights from £989pp sharing deluxe twin/double en-suite (deluxe single from £1294pp) including twice daily yoga classes, daily CHK brunch, vegetarian feast and local wine in the evening, two guided hikes and packed lunches, sauna and hot tub and transfers.
Available from 18 July to 29 August 2018.

OFFER: £100 off one-week retreats starting between 18 July and 15 August 2018.

ITALY

Hatha Yoga and mindfulness

Galanias Retreats near Bari Sardo in Sardinia provide a unique boutique hotel with an outdoor pool with waterfall, fresh Mediterranean cuisine in a tranquil countryside, not far from Torre di Bari Beach. The relaxing week offers hatha yoga, yoga nidra, mindfulness and pranayama.

Seven nights from €2,045 (approx £1,725) based on two people sharing a room (single from €1,360, approx £1,115) half board including five days of hatha yoga, mindfulness and yoga nidra classes. Lunches, alcohol, flights, transfers, optional excursions are extra. Available now until early October.

OFFER: Mention Neal’s Yard Holidays to receive 20% discount on massage treatments.

See also our budget and affordable retreats.

Wishing you happy, healthy holidays with one of our summer retreat offers!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

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To complement our recent blog on Rural Retreats in the UK here we are specifically focusing on retreats in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or ANOB, to use the acronym. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are designated to protect these areas of particular natural beauty including conserving both the rural landscape and the lives of those who live and work in them.

In these spaces characterised by peaceful pathways, sweeping downs, wild meadows and ancient woodlands we can find a sense of tranquillity and be at one with nature. Lovely at any time of the year, our ancient countryside comes alive in summer with trees and flowers in full bloom.

Here at Neal’s Yard Holidays, we love to indulge our senses in one of our relaxing retreats in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where the surroundings and the restorative treatments, food and environment provide the perfect combination to help you fully unwind. These retreats in truly outstanding and sensory-rich destinations offer meditation, yoga, earthing (*see below), all with delicious locally-sourced food to nourish us inside and out.

Here’s our selection of wonderful retreats in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty:

Ayurveda and Yoga Retreats in south Wales

The secluded retreat on the Gower Peninsula is surrounded by acres of private land and ancient forest not far from the unspoilt coast where seals can be spotted. This peninsula is a haven of rich and varied wildlife, castles, medieval churches set against an awe-inspiring, natural backdrop of hills, valleys, beaches and woodland. (See also photo at top of blog, copyright USp/Neal’s Yard Holidays.)

The combination of yoga and Ayurveda allows you to completely unwind and relax with optional detox and juice-fasting. In between treatments and yoga sessions you can go for walks in the forest of dwarf oaks on the private grounds, filled with bluebells in May, or bliss out in the infra-red sauna and outdoor hot tub (ideal for star-gazing).

Three nights from £570 for a single ensuite room, full board including Ayurveda treatments and yoga. Available anytime, choose midweek or weekend.

Wellbeing Retreats in Surrey

Claridge House is a Victorian mansion in Lingfield close to the Surrey Hills with a long-standing reputation as a healing centre. The midweek or weekend retreats offer either yoga, mindfulness, meditation, Tai Chi or creative arts. Well-known sites include Box Hill, Leith Hill and the Devil’s Punch Bowl and landscapes with open commons, sunken lanes and picture-perfect villages.

Two-night retreats from £220pp sharing room, full board, including retreat activities. Massage treatments are available for a separate fee. Open year-round, choose from selected retreat dates and themes.

Detox Cleanse Yoga Retreats, Cotswolds

Holycombe retreat is set in a wooded valley on the edge of the Cotswold village of Whichford, surrounded by fairytale villages lined with honey-coloured stone cottages, rare limestone grassland habitat and ancient beechwoods with rich flora. Important grasslands such as Cleeve Hill have survived due to their status as ancient common and a National Nature Reserve protects the finest ancient beech complex. Idyllic natural features include a stream rising from a holy well in the nearby wood.
Practice morning breath work, yoga and meditation with Rina Golan, followed by a silent walk, soaking up the serenity of this wonderful part of the UK. Holistic treatments are also available.

Two nights from £295 twin share in the Lodge; or £345 in the main house, single supplement of £100. The price includes daily yoga sessions, guided meditations, woodland walks, organic food, healthy shakes, and lifestyle and nutritional advice. Treatments extra. Select dates through the year include 15-17 June.

Lakeside Wellbeing Retreats, Somerset

Within easy reach of one of the original Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Exmoor National Park and the Dark Sky Reserve, Holworthy Farm sits on the edge of Wimbleball Lake where ‘True Nature’ hosts wellbeing retreats close to spectacular coastal views, deep wooded valleys, high sea cliffs and famous sites such as the Quantock Hills. Stay in refurbished cottages and practice daily yoga. Wellbeing workshops include singing bowl baths and shibashi (Tai Chi / Qigong), plus *earthing (sometimes called grounding and explained in this article by the Chopra Centre), which harnesses the age-old old power of the earth to improve health.

Two nights from £249 twin share; single room supplement £10. The price includes full board with vegetarian food and retreat activities. Treatments extra. Next dates: 27-29 July 2018. There are also selected day-retreats throughout summer and autumn.

For more retreats set in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty see the collection on our website.

We hope you found these destinations inspiring and helped you to choose your next retreat!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

Updated 20 June 2018.

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As our cold winter has sprung into hot summer (for the moment skipping spring) we are drawn to the sunshine and to nature, and rural retreats. Instinctively we’ve known for many years what science now seems to prove, that being in nature nurtures us. A recent article in the Daily Mail discusses the ‘proven physical and mental benefits’ of spending time outside, from a walk in a forest (barefoot if possible) to a solo walk somewhere rural.

There are rural retreats in the UK that offer the added bonus of glorious countryside where you can connect with nature, as well as enjoy yoga on the lawn, meditative walks, or outdoor activities like stand up paddleboarding or just bliss out by admiring the bucolic views from an outdoor hot tub.

In addition to helping decrease stress levels, spending more time in nature helps us to re-energise and provides a heightened sense of wellbeing. The US Journal of Environmental and Public Health states (see published studies by NCBI): “Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth – whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems – may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV (heart rate variability), … and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.” Could support for better health literally be located right beneath our feet?

As earthing (or grounding) has re-entered our awareness, it’s becoming a buzz word, and there is a moving trend to connect with nature. Here at Neal’s Yard Holidays we love connecting with the great outdoors and have chosen some of our top rural retreats in the UK.

Wellbeing, Yoga and Detox Retreats in Norfolk

AdventureYogi specialise in offering retreats with outdoor activities and plenty of opportunities for earthing. Their wellness retreats in Norfolk are set in a converted barn in a country estate in rural Swaffham. Weekends here blend idyllic surroundings with twice-daily yoga (Hatha and vinyasa, pranayama, partner yoga, yin and yoga nidra), guided meditative walks and delicious vegetarian or vegan food, massages and relaxation. You can join a guided walk to a local English Heritage site and optional beach excursion.
Two nights from £445pp sharing twin/double room (single supplement £150) full board including yoga classes and a guided walk. Holistic treatments extra. Come for May bank holiday weekend 25 – 28 May 2018 or August bank holiday weekend 24-27 August 2018. 

Find Your Passion Life Coaching Retreat in North Yorkshire

Raw Horizons offer women-only retreats at Split Farthing Hall, an 18th-century retreat close to the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Combining a holistic approach to wellbeing with coaching, yoga, meditation and gourmet raw food, the Telegraph name it ‘best holistic retreat.’
Three nights from £625pp twin-share (£745 single room), full board including yoga classes, retreat activities, use of a hot tub and infrared sauna and transfers to/from the local train station. Holistic treatments extra. Come for May bank holiday 29 May – 1 Jun 2018; available for selected dates until 9 October. (Top photo of hot tub in rural Yorkshire is from Raw Horizons.)

Ancient Wisdom, Yoga and Detox Retreat in Scotland

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When the clocks go forward at 1 am on Sunday we’ll lose an hour of sleep. Even if you’re not one of the one in three people who have difficulty falling and staying asleep or the one in ten who regularly experience insomnia, this news is never welcome. So, how can we all learn to sleep better?

1. Mindfulness and Meditation

It’s well known that regular meditation can help us sleep better. Yoga Nidra or sleep meditation is a state between being awake and sleeping, where you put yourself in a ‘yogic sleep’ essentially a state in which the body is completely relaxed but mentally aware. This free video provides a good introduction.

2. Eat yourself to sleep

Try to snack on protein providing foods that are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan. This helps boost the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Chicken and turkey, if you eat meat, or nuts and seeds if not, are all good choices to help induce the sleepy hormone your body has been searching for. Bananas are rich in both potassium and magnesium which have a relaxing effect on the muscles and mind. Although it is to best eat about two to three hours before going to bed because otherwise your digestive system and liver will be active which may keep you awake or prevent deep sleep.

3. Sleep enhancing drinks

Milk and chamomile tea have both been traditionally used to help you feel more relaxed and sleepy before bed. Milk contains the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin, while chamomile tea is packed with antioxidants which aid sleep and improve sleep quality. Lemon balm and passion flower are also good sleep enhancing teas, for creative sleep tea options and blends see the Sleep Judge. If you don’t want to drink before going to bed because you are concerned about waking up to go to the bathroom, then consider using essential oils instead.

4. Bath time

Epsom salts have long been used for aches and pains, however, this cheap and cheerful remedy has gained popularity recently for its detoxifying properties with models and celebrities claiming they help with bloating. The sulphates in Epsom salt help flush out toxins and ease muscle pain. When a cup or so are added to a warm bath, the magnesium and sulphate are absorbed through the skin.
The mineral-rich salts also help muscles and joints to relax and this leads to a more restful sleep, giving the body a chance to re-energise.

5. Fit for sleep

Even if you don’t like vigorous exercise (which won’t be a good idea later in the day anyway, as this will stimulate you), incorporate a walk into your day. You can choose to get off a stop or two before your usual one on the way to work, walk to the station, go for a walk at lunchtime or early evening. It’s often the old-fashioned remedies that work and yes, fresh air is definitely one of them! Stress reducing and relaxing and free – it’s a no-brainer. If you have limited mobility ask a friend or family member to help you, even if it’s a walk around your garden in a secure environment.

6. Drink well

Try to reduce your caffeine intake by changing your usual brew for decaffeinated coffee or caffeine-free drinks like red bush tea or herbal tea. Try also to drink your last caffeine drink no later than lunchtime so the effects have longer to wear off, and reduce alcohol intake as too much near to bedtime will only disturb your sleep. The temptation to have a nightcap won’t actually help, aside from a thimble-full of rum or whisky in a soothing cup of milk.

7. Power down your gadgets

It’s well documented that the glare from electronic gadgets stimulates the brain and so avoid using your laptop, tablet or phone late in the evening. Ariana Huffington is the founder of The Huff Post and Thrive Global, a company that focuses on helping people put their wellness first, with sleep key to this and also wrote the best selling book The Sleep Revolution. She puts her mobile phone outside her room, even going so far as to tuck it in with its own ‘blankie.’  You don’t have to go this far but now you know how to sleep better and hopefully, you’ll be on the way to a good nights sleep.

Please read our blog on wellness trends for more tips on methods for better sleep. If you feel unsure about if you have a problem with your sleep itself, then this BBC video may help you decide…

Sleep well!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

The post How To Sleep Better appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

International Women’s Day seems more necessary than ever after a year where 300,000 women took to the streets across the globe in protest against President Donald Trump’s treatment of women as well as general anti-Trump feeling against his inherent sexism (and racism). This is all in stark contrast to 2011 when former US President Barack Obama proclaimed March to be ‘Women’s History Month.’

International Women’s Day resonates following a time when allegations against Harvey Weinstein and the wider Hollywood film industry have quickly snowballed into an international-scale revelation of seemingly infinite abuses against women (and yes, men too) in all industries followed by reports of abuses of women by leading charities and BBC reporters resigning over the disparity in pay… the list goes on.

Yet the year we celebrate International Women’s Day 2018 also celebrates 100 years since the Representation of the People Act passed in 1918, the official start of female suffrage in Great Britain. Seven year’s earlier, on March 19, 1911, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland celebrated International Women’s Day and rallied for the right to vote, hold public office and women’s rights at work. International Women’s Day was recognised by the UN in 1975, and each year it chooses a theme. This year’s theme is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives.” Listen to UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka speak about it in this video.

Late last year, the BBC created a list of 100 inspirational and innovative women for 2017 challenging them to tackle four of the biggest problems facing women today – the glass ceiling, female illiteracy, harassment in public spaces and sexism in sport. All topics International Women’s Day exists to support.

Now International Women’s Day is marked on March 8 every year and is a worldwide celebration. Whether you’re saying #MeToo or #YoTambien in Mexico, Spain, South American or #Ana_kaman in the Arab States be inspired to join in and celebrate International Women’s Day 2018! Find more about it on social media using: #IWD2018 #Timeisnow #TimesUp

The official International Women’s Day website even gives details on how to plan your own International Women’s Day through championing your own #PressforProgress campaign within your own community, network, organisation or group.

Or you can join in with the multiple events going on in London and the UK, check the IWD website for your local events. At the Southbank Centre in London there’s the WOW – Women of the World festival from 7-9 March which includes a night of comedy hosted by Sandi Toksvig.
You may also like to read our previous blog on international women’s day with more background on rather surprising findings of ancient history and matriarchal societies today.

So go on, #PressForProgress!

Jo Fernandez is a leading UK travel journalist, with much of her career spent working for the London Evening Standard where she was Travel Editor until 2015. Now a freelance travel journalist and copywriter, she lives in Essex and has one daughter. As a travel expert, she still enjoys jetting off to write travel pieces, with favourite destinations including Mexico, Croatia and, of course, Essex.

The post International Women’s Day appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.