PRIVATE FITNESS RETREAT , BIDDENDEN
RESET , RESTORE , RETREAT AT …
STEDE COURT
PRIVATE FITNESS RETREAT , BIDDENDEN
IN A TRIUMPHANT HOORAH FOR PRACTISING WHAT YOU PREACH , iK EDITOR SAM READY SAID A BIG “ YES !” TO A WELLBEING DAY RETREAT WITH THE AIM OF RESETTING HEALTH AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR 2024 . AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING-POND DIP IN -2 º C TEMPERATURES LATER ( EEK !) AND THE JOURNEY IS NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS .
Full transparency , when the email from Kathryn Freeland , Stede Court founder ( and in fact all-round fabulous human ) landed in my inbox , my first thought was ah great , I can say yes to something new and exciting for you dear readers , give a bit of a nod to a wellness reset , jaunt off the countryside for a Monday out of the office and then slump back to munching the last of the Cadbury ’ s Roses before the day was out .
When the reply came back with a super warm response , a genuine focus on my personal health and wellbeing and the eye-opening day itinerary of outdoor circuits ( the most exercise I have managed in the last six months is a jaunt to the fridge ), yoga ( I ’ m known for being as flexible as a stick ) and , wait for it , a dip in the restorative swimming pond ( IT WAS DECEMBER , and not the midpoint - if relatively balmy - 14 degrees , but that awful bit at the beginning of the month where we plunged to minus overnight temperatures without warning ), I began questioning my life choices .
Yet , deep down , don ’ t we only really say yes to things we want , or perhaps more importantly need to do ? Even if we need some gentle reassuring encouragement ( or a short sharp shove out the door of iKHQ ) to follow through .
Like many , my last year has been full of work / life / health unbalance and a real want and need to start being just a little more calm , balanced , mindful and healthy , so it was with a real trepidation but genuine curiosity that I embarked on the countryside jaunt to Kathryn ’ s Grade II listed home-come-retreat , Stede Court .
Stede Court ’ s acclaim reads like the who ’ s who of health-core accolade ; DFL journos have descended on mass , having heard whispers of her life-changing practices with mentions everywhere from Condé Nast Traveller to The Guardian , The Telegraph and ITV ’ s Loose Women , while Stede Court ’ s Instagram tags are bursting with the creme-de-la-creme of health-centric million-following influencer-dom . But far from making it inaccessible for us mere ( inflexible ) mortals , it is simply utter testament to Stede Court ’ s restorative offering .
Retreats are tailored either for individuals or small groups of never more than six guests to ensure that everyone receives a 100 % tailored and tranquil experience , whether they are attending for a day , a ‘ Recharge Weekend ’, or a ‘ Total Recharge ’ three-night escape .
Despite my current fitness-level trepidation , Kathryn and her years of wellbeing , personal training and yoga experience recognises that every body is unique with activities tailored to each individual and experiences as diverse as personal training , healthy food , mindfulness , sleep and stress management , that aforementioned coldwater swimming , and even massage and reflexology on offer .
Aiming to leave you feeling amazing and revitalised both mentally and physically ( many guests are known to burst into tears of release !), and with the motivation to lead you back to a sustainable , balanced healthy lifestyle with a boosted immune system , my halfday retreat at Stede Court was nothing short of transformative .
Stede Court exudes an aura of serenity from the moment you set foot on its grounds , with Kathryn adding the most encompassing reassuring presence throughout the day . The retreat seamlessly blended invigorating outdoor activities , mindful practises , and an air of wellbeing luxury to create an immersive experience that left me feeling refreshed and revitalised .
But the big question - did I take the plunge ?
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