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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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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Some of our cherished Neal’s Yard Holidays devotees recently told us they’d like to browse our new wellbeing holidays without too much fuss.

And why not? If you’ve been on a few of our retreats already, or if you’re simply pushed for time and want to know the latest destinations on offer, being able to see our new wellbeing holidays at a glance sounds like a pretty good idea. Of course, we couldn’t help but listen.

So, here are our latest worldwide retreats. Could one of these new wellbeing holidays be your next getaway?

From sunny Croatia to the jungle in Costa Rica, and from sub-tropical gardens in south Spain to a peaceful country retreat in Surrey – what appeals to you?

Costa Rica

Yoga and Soul Wellness Retreat near Montezuma
Stay at a peaceful jungle lodge set in beautiful flowering gardens within a private reserve next to Cabo Blanco National Park on the pacific coast with its wonderful beaches. This oasis has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and hammocks to relax in.
Selected dates between 1 March and 6 December
From £890 per person for 6 nights. Single rooms available

Spain

Yoga Retreats in Almeria
“It’s location to the airport, beaches and walking distance to the local village all add to the sense of ease and let go.” Week-long yoga retreats for all levels organised by Huzur Vadisi.
Year round – in Almeria in South Spain
From £775 pp pwk in twin/double shared room. Single rooms available

Sri Lanka

Seaside Ayurveda Yoga retreat, Bentota
Newly built, nestled between the river and the Indian ocean, with lush green surrounds. Stay in individual cabanas, swim in the sea or pool. Personalised Ayurveda treatments, yoga, river cruises and Sri Lankan hospitality at its best.
Open year round – near Bentota at Sri Lanka’s west coast, 100km from airport.
From EUR1190, approx £1067 pp pwk in single room.

England, UK

Wellbeing Retreats in Surrey
Come for Yoga, mindfulness and meditation, Tai Chi and/or creative arts, weekends or midweek. Their massage therapist is offering a variety of treatments onsite. Find rest and renewal at Claridge House.
Year round – near Lingfield in Surrey
From £189pp for 2 nights, or £365 for 4 nights hb single ensuite room

Detox Yoga Weekends in the Cotswolds
Rest and rejuvenate on this idyllic English countryside retreat. Learn to prepare both raw and cooked food. Rina Golan teaches powerful yoga and breathing techniques, and offers nutritional and lifestyle advice to rediscover your wellbeing.
Selected dates throughout the year at idyllic country house near Stratford-upon-Avon.
From £295pp for 2-night weekend, shared room. Single rooms available

Remember – these are just some of our new wellbeing holidays. For more activities, retreat destinations, offers and old favourites, take a look at our website.

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Within minutes of sitting down to start writing this blog about meditation and mindfulness I was distracted by a pop-up ad for a furniture brand I must have searched for on the internet earlier. Naturally, I switched my attention from meditation and mindfulness to sofas in a matter of seconds.

I’m currently dealing with bereavement and multiple freelance projects which combine to mean sleepless nights and a struggle to focus. Meditation and mindfulness are the recommended solutions but for me, there is some confusion over two terms which are often used interchangeably.

There’s meditation, mindfulness and, yes even, mindful meditation. So are they the same or different? Let’s start by defining each term separately.

Meditation
Most of the major religions have incorporated various forms of meditation in one way or another; it has been firmly entwined with Buddhist and Hindu religions, as well as Judaism and Islam. Originally the sole purpose of meditation was to increase spiritual understanding and awareness but as an understanding of the role of the mind in good health developed, meditation became commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction in the West. Meditation is a physical and mental practice which can lead to long-term health and wellness benefits.

It may be obvious to those in the know, but meditation isn’t all about sitting still, although it can be practised in this way. Meditation comes in many different forms such as walks, guided visualisation or imagery, focused meditation (such as chanting a mantra) and yoga, Tai Chi or qigong. One of the best-known types of meditation is also known as mindfulness meditation, and this may be where the confusion lies.

Mindfulness
Meditation is part of mindfulness which is broadly speaking being aware, whether this is mindful eating, mindful relationships, mindful speech and so on. Effectively, it’s an awareness of the moment or, bringing your mind to just one thing that is happening in the present moment. Mindfulness can be something we practice informally or formally, which is mindfulness meditation. Meditation and mindfulness overlap in mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is a form of meditation.

Mindfulness meditation involves paying attention to thoughts, sounds, the sensations of breathing or parts of the body, bringing your attention back whenever the mind starts to wander (as opposed to transcendental meditation which involves a mantra, for example). It’s easy to see how practising mindfulness can lead to developing a meditation practice. The two complement each other, and they can nourish both your life and your self-understanding. Those that practice yoga and tai chi will know that they can also help with developing awareness of breathing and posture. It’s become so popular over the last few years that large organisations have even included mindfulness as part of their employee packages.

You can study and practice the various forms of meditation or simply learn how to be more mindful in your everyday life as a way to reduce stress. The health benefits of both have been well-documented. Whatever you do, it is likely that you will be more focused and less distracted and I know that’s what I’m in need of. All it takes is 10 mindful minutes, for inspiration watch the TED talk video by the same title:

You can also find retreats where meditation, mindfulness, yoga or Tai Chi are offered.
If you would like to know more about the difference and similarity of Tai Chi and qigong, see our blog.

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 Meditation and mindfulness: the same or different? appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Many of us are looking for rejuvenating UK wellness retreats this summer. Whether it’s due to uncertainty over Brexit or for environmental reasons, there are many benefits to staying on home soil.

Choosing wellness retreats in the UK certainly fits in with the new Make Holidays Greener campaign from ABTA, the leading association of travel agents and tour operators. Aiming to encourage us to be more environmentally aware this summer, participants can select from 15 pledges, including carbon offsetting and eating and drinking locally, with the chance to win a GoPro camera. Here’s our pick of the best UK wellness retreats for summer 2017:

Four nights from £889pp twin share, £1139 single room including juice detox programme, all classes and workshops. 14-18 August and 18-24 September 2017.

Chillout Retreats at Champneys, Liphook, Hampshire
Set in a former hunting lodge surrounded by enchanting woodland and a peaceful lake, Chillout Retreats experts have teamed up with Champneys’ luxurious Hampshire retreat to offer yoga, Pilates, meditation, life coaching and workshops as part of an exclusive spa retreat package.

£425pp twin share with ensuite bathroom; £497pp single ensuite room full board including classes, workshops and use of spa and relaxation facilities. Excludes spa treatments. Available from 18-20 August and 8-10 December 2017.

Aluna Healing Retreats, Dartmoor, Devon
From the tranquility of a manor house surrounded by forest and ancient rocks and sacred sites, these highly spiritual retreats are centred around cleansing and transforming through yoga, meditation, detoxification and spiritual practice. Find renewed energy and strength also from reconnecting with nature.

£820pp twin share or double, £920 single, including juices, classes and activities. Excludes optional detox kits, massage and transfers. Available from 1-7 September 2017 or private booking for your own tailored solo-retreat.

Yoga and Raw Food in Yorkshire
Raw Horizons offer women-only retreats at Split Farthing Hall, an 18th-century refuge close to the Yorkshire Dales. Led by Dr Claire Maguire, PhD whose holistic approach combines wellbeing coaching, yoga, meditation and delicious raw food using recipes from her book ‘Fresh and Sophisticated – The Art of Radiant Eating’. Expect possible life changing results. Also enjoy the hot tub, views and walks.

Three nights cost £575pp twin share, £695 single, full board including yoga, energy rebalancing workshops and transfers. Come to Thirsk, near York, just over two hours by train from London, Manchester or Edinburgh. Juice Detox Retreats from 1-4 and 15-18 August, or Healthily Happy Retreats from 20-25 August and 17-22 September, or Yoga and Relaxation 22-24 September 2017.

Now you have all you need to book one of the best UK wellness retreats this summer that not only helps you but the environment too. Please read our Top Ten Green Travel Tips for more information.

Happy 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.

Lead photo courtesy of Raw Horizons in Yorkshire, UK.

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It’s time to book this year’s summer break to rejuvenate your mind and body. You’ve decided on short haul, but where are some of the best retreats in Europe?

According to ABTA’s annual report, the hot European spots this year include Croatia, with its idyllic islands and Sardinia for its captivating beaches and wild interior. While off some people’s radar, away from the larger cities, coastal Turkey continues to offer dazzling beaches, scenery, and cuisine (see the latest FCO advice and note that Thomas Cook has seen a rise in the popularity of Turkish resorts including Dalaman and Antalya).
Now, what type of retreat? Do you want to stay in a villa for a home-from-own feel or a hotel with the service that brings? Do you want to practice daily yoga or mindfulness – or both!? Read on for our selection of the best retreats in Europe:

ITALY family fitness, cooking and yoga
Think you can’t take a cookery or yoga break with children in tow? Think again. The stunning surroundings in Arezzo, Tuscany are the setting for Mum and Baby Experience’s breaks at this restored stone farmhouse with lake and mountain views. Inside all is well-equipped for babies and children, from highchairs and cots to trained babysitters. Choose twice-daily yoga classes and a cookery lesson or thrice-daily yoga, Zumba, and circuits or a walk. A massage or facial and trips to the medieval town of Anghiari are included.

SARDINIA mindfulness and yoga
Yoga in Sardinia involves a relaxing mix of gentle hatha yoga, mindfulness, pranayama and yoga nidra. Boutique Galanias Hotel in Bari Sardo offers coastal views and panoramic pools set in leafy grounds. Excursions include trips to the local beach, vineyards, diving and kayaking with bike hire available from the hotel.

TURKEY yoga
Turkey’s longest established and best-known yoga retreat, Huzur Vadisi in rural Göcek, near Dalaman, offers a variety of styles. Stay in yurts in a peaceful valley setting surrounded by olive and fig groves. Cool off in the natural stone swimming pool, indulge in a massage or take a siesta in the traditional Turkish ‘treehouse.’ Excursions include boat trips. So popular is the classic, wholesome Turkish food on offer here, they created their own cookbook.

Just think, once your summer retreat is booked you can start planning your winter retreat! Sorry to say but places for New Year are always limited and tend to get booked up well in advance.

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 Quick guide to the best retreats in Europe appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Thanksgiving and feeling deep gratefulness are two different things.

Are you convalescing after a festive period full of family visits, indulgence and unwrapping of presents? If yes, chances are you will have spent a great deal of your time saying things like ‘Thank you’. Or ‘Ta’. Or ‘Thanks, Auntie Jane, I feel very much like a stuffed turkey myself.’

Giving thanks is a common social convention. We are often truly thankful for the tangible presents we get at specific times of year. Even if we have learned to expect and to deserve them.

But, now the festivities have passed, what of other, unearned gifts? Moments of beauty, like a falling flower petal. The chance glimpse of a shooting star. The freedom of riding a bike. All of them have the power to lift us with their unconditional, unexpected nature.

It’s our gratefulness for these that generates a wave of happiness. That’s the proposal of David Steindl-Rast in the 2013 TED talk ‘Want to be happy? Be grateful’. Happiness follows on from being fully aware of the gift we’ve been presented with – the essence of being grateful.

But experiencing isolated instances of gratefulness is not enough. The key to being happy is ‘grateful living’ is an ongoing awareness that every moment we have is a gift. The gift is that of opportunity – for enjoyment, for rising up to challenge. ‘[…] If we avail ourselves of the opportunity, it is the key to happiness.’

The tangible impact of gratefulness

Grateful living can have positive effects on our physical wellbeing too. In a New York Times article on gratitude, John Tierney cites an academic study into the phenomenon. People who kept a weekly record of things they were grateful for showed higher rates of optimism. They felt happier and had better physical health than participants who didn’t keep a record. Individual testimonies back this up.

But how can we achieve gratefulness, this acute awareness of the opportunity every moment brings? David Steindl-Rast’s formula is simple: stop, look, and go. Take time; sense what the moment has gifted you; act on the opportunity the moment presents.

For a simple but effective way to practise gratefulness, try out Deepak Chopra’s essential practices for gratitude:

1. The gratitude journal – record the things that brought you happiness, peace or inspiration.
2. The ‘thank you’ letter – write to someone who had a big positive impact on you.
3. The gratitude walk – go out of your office or home for just 20 minutes.

We hope these tips for experiencing gratefulness more often give you a successful and peaceful start to 2015. The clue is in the name, of course: Happy New Year – and a happy new day, happy new moment.

You may also be interested in our mindfulness blog and mindfulness retreats.

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