When summer gets going, the warmer sun and longer days help wellbeing retreats across the UK and Europe really come into their own. June summer retreats are some of the best.

Home-grown destinations have so much to offer. Whether it’s Ayurveda massages in Wales or yoga in Somerset, there are plenty of June summer retreats where you can immerse yourself in peaceful seclusion.

June is also perfect for European getaways. With the more expensive school-holiday season yet to start, you could make your hard-earned cash go a long way on June summer retreats in France or Spain.

And the blue waters of the Mediterranean and Adriatic beckon too. The coastlines of hidden Greek islands and secluded bays of southwest Turkey are ideal for relaxation and sunbathing, and it’s still not too hot in June to explore the local heritage and landscape. Making them ideal destinations for a June summer retreat.

Here is our selection:

June summer retreats near home…

• Ayurveda in Wales: head to South Wales to unwind and relax with a combination of yoga and Ayurveda. From £570pp for 3 nights.
• Raw Horizons in Yorkshire: Relax with Kundalini yoga, unwind with meditation, refresh and rejuvenate with healthy raw food cuisine, plus enjoy the hot tub and sauna. From £345pp for 2 nights full board.

…and the rest of Europe

• Yoga in south-west Turkey: Huzur Vadisi, one of the country’s best-known yoga retreats is waiting for you, nestled in a peaceful valley amongst olive groves near Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. An ideal place for a June summer retreat. From £535pp per week.
• Creative holidays near Toulouse: Get inspired with one-week holidays focusing on yoga, music, dance, cookery or art. From £590pp for one week.
• Luxury Yoga Retreat in Pelion, Greece: at the foot of the magical Pelion forest where crystal clear water laps rhythmically at the water’s edge. Enjoy vinyasa flow yoga and massages. From £790pp per week. – See above photo.

Fancy a trip further afield, or just need more ideas where else you can go this June? Then you find more in our calendar.

The post Top 10 June summer retreats appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Do you treat your skin with care when it comes to exposing it to sunshine?
Do you know how to read the first signs of skin cancer?

Be careful when jetting off to a yoga retreat this summer because the number of people developing the most deadly form of skin cancer – malignant melanoma – has increased five times since the 1970s new research has found.

Statistics by Cancer Research UK shows that 13,000 people every year develop this harmful skin cancer compared to just 1,800 people a year in the 1970s. The organisation suggests that many factors have contributed to this rise including the popularity of sunbeds and cheap package holidays to sunny destinations.  The number of people who develop non-melanoma skin cancer in the UK is in excess of 100,000 every year.

The first sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is usually the appearance of a lump or patch on the skin that doesn’t heal after a few weeks. The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole. This can happen anywhere on the body, but most often the back, legs, arms and face are affected. The main difference between non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer is that melanoma skin cancer spreads throughout the body very quickly thereby reducing your chances of survival dramatically.

Despite recovery success, skin cancer is a very serious type of cancer and cannot always be treated successfully. The main treatment for both non-melanoma and melanoma is surgery and if diagnosed early, surgery is usually successful. However, if the cancer is not caught early, then other treatments such as chemotherapy may be needed.

If you are setting off for one of yoga retreats this summer, it’s important to understand the skin cancer risk factors. These include:

• fair skin
• moles and freckles
• light coloured eyes
• a personal or family history of skin cancer
• a history of sunburn.

No doubt you will want to spend time in the sun during your yoga retreat, but don’t forget that sun damage is just that – damaging, and most of the time you won’t realise the damage until it’s too late. So make sure you stay in the shade for the first few days to let your skin adjust gradually. Guess what, even in the shade your skin tans, just slowly! And your body still creates that all important Vitamin D for which it requires the sun’s rays on the skin! (More on Vitamin D from BBC Radio 4.) See also our blog on Vitamin D in the spotlight.

Do you strike the right balance? – Sit in the shade where possible and wear a hat and UV protective sunglasses to shield your face and eyes. When exposing yourself to direct sunshine you may like to use plenty of sun cream (at least SPF 15) and reapply every couple of hours or after swimming.

See our yoga retreat summer holidays for your getaway this year.

The post Yoga Retreat Skin Cancer Warning appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

If you’re setting off this summer for a yoga getaway then you will need to know the weight restrictions for your luggage so you don’t have any nasty shocks at the airport.

We have recommended Skyscanner in the past for comparisons of cheap flights. Now they also have this excellent infographic detailing the luggage allowances for the airlines that offer short-haul European flights. See below overview at a glance.

Yoga Getaway Luggage Allowance

For a yoga getaway that requires a long haul flight, baggage allowances vary depending on class and route. But most will allow in the region of 20kg-32kg. BA for example, allows 23kg on all flights regardless of how long the journey, while Lufthansa allows 23kg for long haul but only 8kg for short haul flights.

For travel tips and latest offers sign up to our monthly ezine. If you are still unsure of where to go this summer for a great yoga getaway, have a look at our previous blog for some great offers, or see our holidays by month

The post Yoga Getaway Luggage Allowance Guide appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Health and Wellbeing – and holidays with summer offers

Recent surveys from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the number of people from the UK going abroad each year is increasing, while the number of people satisfied with their health is decreasing. Here at Neal’s Yard Holidays, we have the solution. What better way to improve health and wellbeing and satisfy the desire for a holiday abroad than a yoga or wellbeing retreat?

We have the perfect summer offer of up to 50% off full-board accommodation at the West Coast Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka for stays between 24 April and 7 November. So if you’re looking to improve your health and wellbeing while enjoying a fantastic relaxing holiday abroad, then this is it. Yoga is optional.

In fact, all our health and wellbeing holidays are suited to individuals looking to relax and unwind, detox and cleanse, which in turn will help you be more satisfied with your health. Our retreats offer a number of holistic therapies, yoga, Pilates, and outdoor activities so you can make the most of your holiday.

Some of our other summer offers include a free 30-minute massage at this detox yoga retreat in Mallorca, Spain where you can enjoy hatha yoga, meditation and use of the spa and holistic therapies.

So if you’re looking to improve your health or simply relax and rejuvenate, we have some of the best holidays abroad for just that, so you can combine a great trip abroad with a boost to your health and wellbeing.

We’re certain that if more people went on yoga retreats, the ONS would find the number of people satisfied with their health and wellbeing increasing.

To receive up-to-date information and offers sign up to our monthly enewsletter.

The post Improve Health and Wellbeing and Enjoy a Holiday Too appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

The summer is the perfect time of year to swim, whether that’s in a pool, a lake or the sea. With hot weather, it’s important to find ways to keep cool and a quick dip can be just the thing, so we’ve picked some of the best health retreats for swimming.

This health retreat in Turkey is just a 10-minute walk from Paradise Bay where you can swim in the sea that’s warm for eight months of the year. Another nearby beach stretches for half a mile and is perfect for a relaxing break in the sun. Take a cruise to nearby bays where you can swim in crystal clear waters. The yoga centre is situated on the edge of a pine forest which offers a route into the local town. Enjoy a traditional Turkish Hamam and a range of yoga for a truly relaxing experience.

Or maybe a luxury health retreat in Italy is what you need. Practice yoga on the terrace with a beautiful view of the sea, then go for a swim in it afterwards. Or enjoy the hotel’s own swimming pool and private beach. There’s charming cafes and Italian restaurants nearby serving delicious, local food and wine. Enjoy yoga, massages and facials in this luxury 5-star setting that will certainly leave you refreshed and rejuvenated.

Sri Lanka offers some fantastic yoga retreats and this tropical health retreat is no exception. Here, you can swim in natural spring water from the mountains which run into the huge on-site lake. This retreat is nestled in between the water and paddy fields and jungle. Stay in traditional adobe huts and take part in optional, but inclusive, yoga twice daily or unwind with Ayurveda treatments. The surroundings are truly exquisite and a perfect place to unwind. Lie in the hammocks, watch the monkeys, go kayaking or swimming and just ‘be’. This retreat is open from June to August.

For more health retreats that offer swimming, see our website. We look forward to helping you plan your summer getaway.

The post Our hand-picked Health Retreats for Swimming appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.