Retreats for CHANGE

Could a menopause retreat be a reset? Jo Fernandez says yes

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Every woman's experience of menopause is different. For me, I particularly needed support with my change-related bloating, which I found difficult. So I decided to give myself a present, push the boat out and join a dedicated menopause health retreat for a whole week in a comfortable house in the Dorset countryside. I spent an enlightening time far from home - and my usual routine - eating healthily, meeting new women in a similar life stage and even practising a little weight training, for good measure.

Wellness retreats based around the menopause have become immensely popular in recent years, and it's understandable. From the moment I entered the luxurious, cosy space at The Body Retreat, I felt like I was on a total reset.

Nutrition is a major part of the experience, with each meal planned by in-house CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) practitioner, cold-water coach and cookbook writer Juls. Juls introduced our group to 'conscious eating' - chewing slowly, putting cutlery down between mouthfuls and leaving something on your plate. Each day's menu would be chalked on a blackboard, so we could look forward to colourful dishes, including punchy Mexican bean soup topped with jalapeños.