6 T e Good Life Travel & Wellness Unusual retreats


If you’re looking to improve your health in 2024 but don’t fancy jetting off to simply exercise more and eat less, we’ve picked wellness breaks that do things diff erently. Words: Mattie Lacey-Davidson


Quit sugar T e Sugar Detox Retreat is a six-week, women-only programme to help you learn more about the eff ects of sugar, where it’s hidden, how it impacts health and how to improve your relationship with it long term. A week before you arrive at the retreat you’re advised on how to start reducing your sugar intake. T en, during the week-long residential at T e Body Retreat in West Dorset, you have a fully immersive sugar detox experience before leaving armed with a four-week at-home programme to help reintroduce natural sugars into your diet. T e programme uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to embed good habits, breathwork to encourage deep relaxation, and hypnotherapy sessions to try and rewire your thought processes around sugar. T roughout the week there’ll be masterclasses in nutrition and weight management, skin health, and conscious cookery. Taking place 1-8 March and 14-21 June, places cost from £2,650. thebodyretreat.co.uk


Sleep better Learn from one of the UK’s leading sleep psychologists, Dr Maja Schaedel, during T e Good Sleep Retreat at the Ockenden Manor Hotel and Spa in West Sussex. T e two-night retreat has been designed


to improve sleep quality, reduce night-time waking, help you fall asleep more easily and wake up feeling refreshed. You’ll have one-on- ones, group and breathwork sessions with the doctor as well as an isopod fl oatation session, guided walks, yoga, gym sessions and access to the spa and pools. T e retreat takes place across 2024 in March, October and November, from £999. hshotels.co.uk/ockenden-manor


Combine exercise with learning Head to the Lake District and spend four days hiking from sunrise to sunset while honing your photography skills. You’ll be joined by lifestyle and landscape photographer Karl Mackie, who’ll teach you what makes a photograph compelling and how to give it emotional depth and purpose, as well as weaving in technical elements of composition, foreground and the importance of layering. Over the four days there’ll be seven workshops, as well as Q&A sessions, evaluation and refl ection. You’ll also be joined by mountain guide Karen Fielding who’ll support the group hike through the Ullswater valley. You can book for the four days of hiking and photography for £480 with group breakfasts and dinners, or add accommodation from £618 for individuals and from £885 for couples


or two people sharing. another.place/ breaks-off ers/photography-and-hiking


Improve your brain health You won’t be able to magically improve the health of your brain in a short, four-day retreat — but you can learn how to take better care of it. T is three-night stay at the luxurious Six Senses Ibiza includes daily workshops with Dr Hanna Poikonen, a self-proclaimed ‘neuroscientist by education, dancer by heart’. With a doctoral degree in the neuroscience of creative movement, Dr Hanna’s also studied dance, martial arts and meditation, and has conducted studies on better mental performance, expertise, mental health and prevention of memory- related illnesses. Dr Hanna will share the latest brain and health research about physical, cognitive, emotional and social wellbeing and incorporate meditation and movement practices to enhance mental clarity, cognitive performance and social interactions. As part of this retreat you’ll be able to enjoy activities including yoga, meditation, fi tness, sound healing and hiking, as well as having unlimited access to the spa and library. Prices start from €2,739 (£2,345) for individuals and €4,428 (£3,790) for two sharing. sixsenses.com/en/resorts/ ibiza/wellness-spa/retreats


Promotional Content • Saturday 2nd March 2024


The Lake District in Cumbria PHOTOGRAPH:GETTY


Head to a vegan retreat in idyllic Upstate New York wine country B


lack Sheep Inn and Spa is a British-owned, 100%-vegan, luxury bed and breakfast inn


set within a 1850s octagon mansion. It’s located in Hammondsport, once voted the cutest small town in the US, adjoining stunning Keuka Lake — the epicentre of the Finger Lakes wine region, eastern America’s premier wine destination, close to the world-re- nowned Watkins Glen and the nation- ally famous Farm Sanctuary. You can enjoy the many year-round activities or simply relax amid the beautiful setting. Owners Miranda and Simon


emigrated from England to purchase the inn just prior to the pandemic. T eir aim was to capitalise on the beautiful property and surroundings and provide a rare luxury experience that’s entirely vegan. Best


to visit


between March and November — it’s beautiful in the autumn.


Use code ‘Lifestyle24’ to obtain a 15% discount for all 2024 stays


Book at: stayblacksheepinn.com


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