Body & beauty

Spas and retreats: UK detox breaks

Want to fit into your old jeans and look ten years younger? Try a Sura Detox says Justine Walters

Want to fit into your old jeans and look ten years younger? Try a Sura Detox says Justine Walters
It’s not often that a week in the country changes your life, but that’s what happened when I visited Sura Detox retreat in Devon. Even two months later I can’t get over what an incredible experience it was. After seven days of fasting and colonics I lost almost a stone and came out feeling better than I’ve felt in years.

Before, I felt tired and longed for a feeling of vitality. My diet wasn’t great and I was hooked on caffeine and sugary foods, so when I discovered Sura Detox, set in the beautiful Devon countryside, it seemed perfect. I booked a week-long juice fast, which I felt would give me enough time to really embrace the process and finally make my health number one priority.

IDYLLIC SETTING

The retreat is held once a month at Ham Farm. Set down a long driveway, the farmhouse, with its beautiful en-suite rooms, boasts a garden that’s great for exploring. The surrounding area is made up of a lake, forests and meadows, and the famous Tarka trail passes right through. The feeling of space and quiet imparted by the surrounding nature was incredibly beneficial during my week.

DREAM TEAM

On the first day, Amida, Dao, Kate and Benita who led the retreat introduced us to the joys of juicing and the associated supplement routine. Along with the delicious fruit and vegetable drinks we drank every day, we took high-fibre psyllium husks to keep the digestive tract moving and stop us feeling as hungry, as well as bentonite clay to eliminate toxins.

I was particularly nervous about trying colonic irrigation for the first time, but Dao dispelled all my fears, explaining its major benefits. Each day began with Amida’s energising tai chi warm-up exercises and healing meditation. Then every afternoon we took part in gentle yoga exercises to help the detox process.

At the end of each day we’d discuss our thoughts with the team in the huge sitting room, which became the focal point for informal gatherings, scrabble, giant jigsaws and and film-watching. There was a real sense of camaraderie in the group.

TAKING TIME OUT

During the day we experienced amazing therapies such as aromatherapy body massage, an abdominal massage which enhanced colonic irrigation and holistic facials. Benita is incredibly talented, and my reflexology session left me floating around in a state of bliss. My lymphatic massage was wonderfully relaxing, and the shiatsu massage I had with Tim (the retreat brings in therapists from surrounding areas) was one of the best I’ve ever had.

There’s no pressure to be anywhere at any time – it was so different to normal day to day life that it felt like a total luxury. The biggest decision is whether to rest, go for a stroll, a swim or a sauna (which was great because you can feel quite cold as you detox).

NEW KNOWLEDGE

Dao is hugely inspiring and a wealth of knowledge on diet and detoxification, and his talks on nutrition were brilliant. Every day after lunch we could settle down into a comfy chair and be given an amazing insight into diet, along with help and advice on untangling our relationship to food. Dao gives a simple layman’s approach to biology, peppered with humour and the realities of what we are doing to ourselves. The fascinating talks helped us all to understand our bodily systems and, even more importantly, what happens to them when we eat certain foods. It is this eye-opening information that made me want to start respecting and listening to my body.

The fasting helps physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, so a coaching session with Kate gives space for any thoughts or emotions that can arise during this time. Kate has such an inner strength and wisdom that she really guided me to tap into my own truth. In fact, she picked up on something in particular that for me was such an amazing insight, it alone was worth the holiday just for that!

Of course another of the most exciting things was the weight I lost! Most people who do the course lose an average of 10lbs; some people lose up to 2st 5lbs! When I came home I immediately put on a pair of old jeans that I had kept hoping to be able to put them on again one day – and they fit!

LASTING BENEFITS

On returning home at the end of the week my mind was really clear and focused, and so many people commented saying I looked positively glowing. One of my friends even said that I looked 10 years younger!

For me, it wasn’t only about the physical progress. I had new information on nutrition and health and I can now make more informed decisions on what to eat. One tiny but simple gem of knowledge for me during the talks was that the body is designed to naturally crave sugar, so rather than worrying about the cravings I simply eat the fruit that my body needs. The weight has even continued to come off, and the choices I have learnt to make are in the end quite simple but life changing. I have also taken what I learnt in my session with Kate back into the real world and can see how amazingly different my relationships are too.

This really was one of the best weeks I could have given myself. It’s a fantastic way to gain optimum health and vitality.

MORE INFO

The week-long retreats run once a month at Ham Farm near Winkleigh in Devon and cost from £700 per person. For more details call 0800 334 5689 or go to suradetox.com

The fasting helps physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health

IF YOU LIKED THAT, TRY THIS…

Like the sound of a thorough detox? Why not try one of these retreats this spring?

LENDRICK LODGE

LOVE YOUR BODY DETOX

When: 2 to 4 March

What: Cleanse and purify with a colonic hydrotherapy session, increase your energy and the body’s natural ability to heal through the ancient Chinese practice of Qi Gong, and awaken your body’s natural ability to self-balance and cleanse through yoga, all in the heart of Scotland.

Where: Callander, Scotland

Price: Course: £210, plus accommodation and meals £100

More info: 01877 376 263 or visit lendricklodge.com

HOMEFIELD GRANGE

ULTIMATE SEVEN DAY DETOX

When: Every Monday to Sunday, all year

What: For a true detox, using juice and liquid nourishment or balanced eating only, this is a reality health check with colonic hydrotherapy, cellulite and lymphatic drainage treatment, juices, broths, snacks and all other locally-sourced food plus many other activities.

Where: Manor Road, Rushton, Northamptonshire

Price: From £1,275

More info: homefieldgrangeretreat.co.uk

DETOX PLUS

WEEK-LONG DETOX

When: 16 to 22 March

What: Specialist one to one sessions with three therapists to look after the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of clients. There are daily meditation, yoga, talks, raw meals, organics juices as well as great facilities.

Where: Glastonbury, Somerset

Price: From £775

More info: detoxplus.org

Article by

Justine Walters

Article by

Justine Walters