On his quest to complete ‘dry’ January and atone for the sins of festive gluttony, Marc West turns to a yoga instructor for advice in the soothing surrounds of a West Oxfordshire hotel
It has been a long hard January, but I can take solace in knowing I’m not alone.
After the sheer indulgence of the festive season, I promised myself a healthier regime in 2016 and was determined not to let last week’s so-called Fail Friday beat me (again).
The month was not even through and my New Year’s resolutions looked in danger of being resigned to the history books, as I found myself sat back in front of a computer screen for hours on end with a head full of deadlines.
This is exactly the same situation fellow journalist Sarah Tucker experienced – before she discovered yoga.
As an active person, she’d previously tried dance, aerobics, step and other variations of movement, but Vinyasa Flow offered something different – it was invaluable in giving inspiration and focus in her work – and now qualified she’s passing her knowledge and passion on to others too.
In a world focused on speeding into the future some much-needed time-out offers a rare opportunity to change gear and slow life down – if only momentarily.
So, leaving the hustle and bustle of OX4 far behind me, I headed to an oasis of calm on the fringes of the Cotswolds for a holistic holiday – a weekend in which to reset body, mind and soul in equal measure.
Set in 65 acres of quintessentially English countryside on the banks of the River Windrush, the Old Swan & Minster Mill, in Minster Lovell, has become Sarah’s home from home – a fitting place where her practice can flourish.
Taking routines from her must-have book The A to Zen of Yoga, our small group of emotional highflyers learned to let go using this all-encompassing form of movement.
Always beginning with a series of simple breathing techniques, we slipped into a deep meditative state visualising a journey through a forest where we’d cast all thoughts and fears aside like pebbles into a flowing stream – clearing the mind of clutter while improving core strength, sense of self and physical balance.
Much more than just a three day Dryathlon, every aspect of this mini detox is also carefully catered for – from fresh fruit, spring water and herbal teas in your room to a locally sourced and seasonal selection of superfoods for breakfast, lunch and supper.
And, after the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time – in one of the hotel’s delightful five-star boutique bedrooms – I was recharged and ready to face another day like never before.
As the sun rose each morning, so did we – relishing our practice alongside the dawn chorus. I’d successfully resisted the overwhelming urge to reach for the coffee machine – or, indeed the homemade sloe gin beside my bed – and I felt a whole lot better for it.
Having already beaten Blue Monday, and almost through January, I now feel empowered to restart the new year (again) with a fresh mindset to my future health and happiness.
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