‘What drew you here?’ I asked a couple of nutrition coaches from Portsmouth as we sat in the sauna at one of Channel Four’s most famous Grand Designs. ‘Ooh, we had to see the house,’ they giggled. ‘We love a nose,’ agreed a mother and daughter couple, who go for a retreat day together a couple of times a year.

The lure of the grand design is an interesting idea. The borrowed fairy tale can be so other-worldly that it becomes a kind of liminal space for the yoga, breath work and natural swimming pond dip/sauna/hot tub prescription to work its magic.

But for anyone who saw the episode in which interior designer and architect couple, Nina and Dan, built their dream out of a Shrek-like swamp, the site of our day retreat was a story of transformation that we could all learn from.

Set in Bosham, one of the south coast’s most photogenic locations, The Watershed is a triumph of manifestation over the reality of glaziers failing to get your windows made in time. It’s a vision of how to make your dreams come true. In spite of Brexit, Covid, and Dan’s lovely dad dying before the magic could happen. As parallel narratives to accompany your yoga day go, it’s a good one.

How the dream began

As she showed us around the extraordinary space, regaling us with tales of the TV show experience and the hellish build, Nina told us how the biophilic design is about bringing the outside in. The vast windows look out onto the water and the garden, while the natural materials they’ve used for the interiors are all part of the plan to enhance well-being, health and productivity. It’s a very good place to retreat for the day.

After the first session, yoga overlooking the natural swimming pool, it was time for the dip. Now, I know a little about the oxygenating plants that purify a pond, creating an Eden for wildlife as the frogs, newts and dragonflies turn up the biodiversity volume. We’d almost gone the same route with the pond at our own eco-house in East Sussex, also home to retreats, but we decided that the ducks and geese might get more use from it. Dan and Nina have divided their pond; half for their human guests and the other half for the more indigenous swimmers.

The Water Shed natural swimming pool. Photo: IO Photography

It was always going to be a challenge to work with the elements, particularly the pond; ‘Like a narcissistic lover, water will destroy a building,’ Grand Design’s Kevin McCloud warns at the beginning of their build, as he surveys their plans. By the end of the episode, he clocks that these two clearly have someone to watch over them, as they dodge the bullets and brace themselves against the slings and arrows of life on a building site with two small children and a new puppy. The result is another triumph; a crystal-clear pool which the house perches upon, rather like the ducks on ours.

How could I not go in for a dip?

Yoga leader Anna Coates prepared the group. Trained in Wim Hof breathwork, she showed us how the breath can make all the difference to an icy swim.  ‘Dithering around’ in the shallows, she told us, confuses the body which is waiting to kick into protection mode. Commit to getting straight in up to your chest, exhaling slowly rather than panic breathing, and your body will do the rest, she said. The blood will flow to the surface, turning the skin a healthy pink.

I’m not sure I stayed in long enough to experience the ‘stabbing’ and the ‘electric fanny’ that everyone was chatting about in the sauna, but let’s just say that I’ve been having cold showers ever since.

The Water Shed hot tub and decking

And so to lunch!

Lunch! Photo: Gilly Smith

After a vegetarian lunch of burnt spring onions with ajo blanco, cavolo nero salad with sweet potato, beetroot and fat couscous, caramelised cauliflower and coconut soup, it was time to manifest our own dreams.

Guided by chantress, sound healer and breathwork coach, Camilla Hamblin, we used the gentle rhythmic pranayamic long breath mixed with a more activated short exhale to lead us into a meditation where our unconscious was waiting to have a word.

As we shared in small groups afterwards, there were plenty of tears as those who came for the view had a whole new way of seeing how to rebuild their own lives. Busy couples looked at each other as if for the first time. Workaholics, yoga sceptics and, yup even nay-saying cold water swimmers like me had a whole new vision of how life could be. And we hadn’t even had the cacao ceremony and sound bath yet.

The Water Shed living room

If houses could smile, I think the Watershed was rather pleased with the spell she had cast.

Kevin McCloud ends the episode of Grand Designs with a quote from American architect Charles Moore, who according to Aaron Betsky in The Architectural Review, had ‘the ability to make the fantastical seem logical, and the sensual seem necessary.’

‘Buildings should be the instruments of connection, not of isolation,’ says Kevin as he assesses the finished dream house. ‘The question is: what do you want to be connected to?’

The next day retreat is 2 May 2025, and the venue is available for hire
www.thewatershed.co.uk

Gilly Smith

Gilly Smith is a food journalist, podcaster and runs food writing retreats at A Sussex House near Lewes. @foodgillysmith on Instagram

The post Want a truly idyllic retreat? Try the Water Shed appeared first on Silver Magazine.

This National Fitness Day, Channelle Hylton-Taylor, Activities Coordinator at Bupa Care Services , shares tips for anyone interested in getting more activity back into their lives, following recent online search increases. If you want to get fit again and you’re over 50, brilliant. But a few words of advice first.

In the last three months, more people have been turning to Google to find out ways to safely reintroduce movement and fitness as we mature. Searches are 26 times higher in August than they were any other month this year.

Staying active in as we age can have a range of benefits for your body and mind. When it’s done right, it can help you ward off aches and pains, not to mention boost your mental health. And yes, help future you to maintain physical independence as things inevitably head south.

5 tips to for getting back into fitness

Build things up slowly

If it’s been a while since you had a regular routine, it’s really important to build things up slowly to protect your body and really feel the benefits. The long-term goal is to aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, every week.

If you’re currently not very active, take it easy with whatever activity you choose, and gradually increase how much you do of it over time. Moderate aerobic exercise is moving in a way that makes your breathing and heart rate faster, making you feel warmer, but it’s not vigorous enough to mean that you can’t still hold a conversation.

Another article you may enjoy: Save serious money and cycle to work

Choose aerobic exercises that you enjoy

It’s easier to make exercise a habit if you find something that you enjoy. Everyone is different, so experiment with a few different movements to see which one you get the most from. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Brisk walking – this could be around your home or garden, or around the block. It may be helpful to listen to an audiobook or some music to motivate you.
• Gardening – activities sweeping can give you a great workout, all while making your garden look more appealing!
• Swimming – this is a great low impact exercise, that’s really handy for those with hip or knee pain.
• Dancing – put on your favourite tunes and have a boogie round the house, or you could even join a dance class.
• Cycling – why not incorporate it into your lifestyle by getting on a bike and heading to the shops?
• ‘Walking’ sports like football or netball – look out for local clubs to feel the social benefit, too.

Don’t forget strengthening exercises

Along with aerobic exercise, it’s important to maintain your bone and muscle strength. Increased muscle tone will not only give your bodywork a bit more support, you’ll also burn calories more efficiently.

Bone and muscle strength is something that’s naturally lost with age. You should aim to do strength exercises on at least two days every week. But again, build this up slowly to give your muscles time to adjust and build.

You can incorporate strengthening exercises into your daily life by challenging yourself, or by introducing a new activity – and maybe even having some fun with it. Here are some ideas:

• Do some squats as you wait for the kettle to boil or you’re making dinner.
• Do some digging in the garden – this encourages you to use your weight against you for results.
• Water aerobics – these low-impact classes can help you maintain and gain muscle mass and strength.
• Pilates, tai chi, yoga – balance exercises are really important, particularly for core strength.
• Life weights at the gym – speak to an instructor for advice on form and limits.

Speak to a health professional if you’re concerned

If you’re worried about starting exercising – it could be that you have a health condition, or you’ve been recovering from an illness – that shouldn’t stop you from exercising completely. In some cases, exercise may help you to get better.

Know when to stop

If you’re getting enjoyment from exercise, it may be tempting to go all-in. However, if you find you have aches, pains, or dizziness when you exercise, that’s your body’s way of telling you that you may have gone a little too hard. So ease it back and build things up more slowly.

Speak to a GP straight away if you get any chest pain, light-headedness, or breathing difficulties when you exercise. Stop exercising until you speak to a health professional.

Generally speaking, start slow, find something you love doing, and you can build your fitness up slowly, surely and with confidence.

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The post Get fit again over 50 – time to move your body appeared first on Silver Magazine.

After a life-changing retreat to Kalukanda House, Harriet Forde turned 60 and ditched her 36-year career in interior design for an exploration of food and a more holistic lifestyle. We spoke to her about the transformational journey, and about the retreat. And now we want to go too.

Do you even know who you are anymore?

The emotional fallout over the last few years has made a retreat from the fast pace and crushing pressure of the ever-growing, extremely demanding, corporate world particularly appealing. But knowing whether to alter your actual career can be difficult to figure out.

The career change is something that had been brewing for a long time

Your identity may be rooted in a working environment if you have been in one line of work for many years. Discovering who you are, without that foundation, may seem daunting and make it harder to know when to move on.

Harriet Forde is an interior and textile designer, mother of two, wife, and founder of Harriet Forde Design. Approaching 60, Harriet felt that she was ready for change. But it was her stay at Kalukanda House that truly allowed space for reflection. And gave her a clearer perspective on the way forward.

“The career change is something that had been brewing for a long time,” she says. “Staying at Kalukunda house reinforced the need to let go of the old and create space for the new.”

Harriet’s experience

Harriet Forde

While being a successful entrepreneur, Harriet has always enjoyed the moments of “me time” she has got from cooking, yoga, travelling, massage, meditation and reading. Yet it was her experience at this retreat that was the pivotal moment in her journey to her new career in food and nutrition.

She described the retreat as “perfectly put together,” and great for those who need some time out to be surrounded by like-minded creatives. Harriet explained that each activity had its benefits: “Doing yoga every day was definitely a plus for my body – I loved the stretch! The gong bath and cacao ceremony are still clearly in my mind seven months later. The massage was amazing too… I knew I needed this week of unapologetic devotion to my body.”

Harriet explained she took part in the Journey to the Heart retreat because it called to her and everything she craved. She had no nerves when embarking on this journey because she had so much faith in the people and the process. She knew one of the founders, Dee Gibson, and decided it was the right call for her.

“Dee described the programme and I felt it chime with me. I needed time out, and to be surrounded by like-minded creatives.  I have done several retreats before and so I had an idea about what works for me – this looked like it would.”

She described Dee as a good person and a top host for the retreat. Harriet recommends the experiences to all travellers, especially solo ones.

“I knew I needed this week of unapologetic devotion to my body.”

Ultimately, it is simple. The space gave her time to breathe, away from the chaos and emotional turmoil the past through years have put us through. The healing and revelations that came from Kalukanda House, and all that it has to offer and nurture, finally gave her the momentum she needed to plan her new ventures with the Slow Food movement.

Read more: The healing power of horses helped mend my heartbreak

What is Kalukanda House?

Founder, Dee Gibson

Sri Lanka is a well-known hotspot for beautiful beaches to relax and unwind on, which can make it a rather busy destination. However, if you travel south to the sandy coast of Weligama, you will uncover many hidden gems, such as the shallow coral reefs, the prized Taprobane Island, and Kalukanda House.

The designers have created decadent rooms to “nourish your heart and soul.” The handcrafted beds, fluffy pillows, organic toiletries, and deluxe power showers emphasise the importance of rest and rejuvenation while supporting local craftspeople. Every morning you can open the hand-carved shutters to reveal a jungle garden bursting with song and endemic wildlife.

The yoga shala and pool are great areas to uplift your spirit through exercise, conversation, or daydreaming, set against blue sky and palm trees or candle-lit dusk. The landscape is a slice of paradise, watched over by an ancient (some may say magical!) Bodhi Tree. It is a safe space in which to lose yourself, and a place where you ultimately find a deeper sense of who you want to become.

Relaxing at the pool at Kalukanda House

What happens at the retreat?

They apply a personally tailored program to dedicate your day to individual healing and guided wellness practices. You will be part of an intimate group of six to eight women. This will help you to find comfort, strength, and security during uncertain times. As you take part in consultations with wellness practitioners and engage in yoga, meditation, and body treatments, the aim is to listen to your inner silence to unlock your highest potential and find a new grounding for the new challenges ahead of you.

“It is a safe space in which to lose yourself, and a place where you ultimately find a deeper sense of who you want to become.”

You will spend your mornings engaging in yoga, meditation, and breathwork, followed by breakfast. Afterwards, they encourage you to converse, journal, and reflect with the others. You then have some downtime to explore the village via the abundance of tuk-tuks, or surf and scuba with trained professionals. Then it is time for lunch, freshly prepared by the on-site chef using locally sourced ingredients.

Your afternoons are spent having a massage or ayurvedic consultation, followed by a gong bath, cacoa ceremony, or reiki. Then there is time for more meditation and finally dinner, drinks, and snacks. It truly is the most luxurious dip into experimental travel.

Yoga at Kalukanda House

How have things changed for Harriet?

In the spirit of taking each day as it comes, Harriet’s new plan is ever-evolving. Which, at the age of 60, she is delighted about. After taking a deep dive into herself and reconnecting her head with her heart, Harriet realised she needed a complete break from her old career in interior design to give space for the new.

“I have continued experimenting in my own kitchen with food, fermentation, and foraging. I have completed a short writing course with producing copy in mind. As well as this, I have joined the Slow Food movement and looked into a variety of NGO organisations in the UK to do with sustainability and food education to see what chimes with me.”

And, inspired by the vast array of delicious meals she enjoyed in Sri Lanka, Harriet has joined the ZOE nutrition programme. This has allowed her to better understand how what she eats, affects her body. Which will maintain the wellbeing she gained from her time at Kalukanda House.

Harriet’s essentials for the trip of a lifetime

We will leave it up to you to pack the basics. But here are a few extras you may not think of:

• Noise cancelling headphones for the plane journey
• An inspiring book
• An idea for a piece of jewellery to be made in Galle
• A set of very open senses – “the smells, tastes, and sounds of Sri Lanka need to be soaked up.”

Kalukanda House at night

If you are looking to make a positive social impact, here are some more details…

Journey to the Heart December 2023

Register here: stay@kalukandahouse.com

Special inaugural retreat only price of $412 (per person)

Private room – $520 (per person)

Twin room – $260 (per person)

Note: $50 per guest is donated to a local charity empowering women and girls

Beth Pratt

Beth is one of Silver’s interns. She loves reading and studying literature. Entering her final year of university, Beth still finds time to dance, swim, and have a pint with friends. Her favourite hobby is going to coffee shops, if you can call it a hobby!

The post How a life-changing retreat transformed this 60-year-old’s life appeared first on Silver Magazine.

If you’re planning some kind of digital detox, or one of your resolutions is to cut back on screen time, why not do it somewhere nice? And the travel industry could really use your support – what more excuse do you need?!

We’ve found some beautiful places where Wi-Fi is non-existent, the views are incredible, and the vibe is very much ‘out of the office’. What better way to kickstart the year and work on your mental health? A chance to totally recharge and enjoy the tranquillity of these remote getaways.

Joali Being – Maldives

The Maldives’ newest retreat, this is the first dedicated nature-immersive wellbeing retreat of its kind here. It’s only been open a few weeks.

The focus is on enabling you to reconnect with nature, and enjoy a journey of self-discovery and renewal. Combining ancient knowledge with modern science, woven around the ‘Four Pillars’ of Joali Being – Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy.

As part of the rejuvenation ethos, there is no WI-FI at all outside of your villa. If you’re lucky enough to be able to book a stay here, you will be part of an exclusive group of travellers to transform themselves in this sustainable yet glamorous environment. So put the phone down!

Book through Experience Travel

FiveElements – Indonesia

Switching off and embracing the tranquillity of the rural location with some gentle walks, cycling and yoga will do anyone a world of good. However, for those looking for a more rejuvenating experience, FiveElements has a bit more to offer.

This award-winning wellness retreat blends the wisdom of traditional Balinese healing with innovative wellness concepts. From Ayurveda to holistic doctor treatments, it’s a peaceful sanctuary, embracing authentic Balinese healing, plant-based cuisine, and sacred arts.

Enjoy yoga, nurturing plant-based menus, Balinese therapies, and experiential activities like traditional cooking. A healing retreat for regeneration, replenishment, and alignment.

Book FiveElements here

Vista Verde Ranch – Colorado, USA

If you really want to escape reality, then this place is straight out of a Christmas movie. A working ranch 25 miles away from the nearest traffic light in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

Experience what it feels like to be a cowboy/girl with not a care in the world as you take in the scenic snow-covered mountains and enjoy whiling away your days/nights in front of a roaring real log fire.

You’ll be able to completely switch off and immerse yourself in nature as you can experience all the activities, you’d expect such as horse riding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and more.

Stay in a luxurious log cabin with all the comforts of home, make your way to the main lodge for hearty meals made from the freshest ingredients.

Book a child-free stay at Vista Verde

Warwick Gardens – Sri Lanka

You’ll be transported back in time, to even before the Internet, at this converted colonial tea plantation mansion. Set in 30 acres over 6000ft above sea level, it has just five luxurious rooms. Perfect for getting away from the madding crowd.

This is the perfect setting for an intimate getaway, soaking up the atmosphere of a bygone era. Tech will feel completely out of place here.

Sri Lanka is of course known for its tea and here you can explore its origins, walking through the tea plantations and sampling the delights that are grown on the property.

The hospitality here really is second to none and you won’t need to worry about checking emails or voicemails as you drift off into the 1930s, and sink into the sounds of nature surrounding you.

Book Warwick Gardens in Sri Lanka

Koh Jum Beach Villas – Thailand

This 19-villa retreat is shrouded in jungle, next to a 700-metre beach on an island that has managed to avoid mass development. It’s one of the few remaining beach retreats in Thailand where you can truly escape the everyday without compromising on comfort.

Switch off your screens (there are no TVs in the villas) and spend your days kayaking, snorkelling, relaxing with a massage or enjoying delicious food made with produce from the organic garden.

Each of the well-designed luxury villas is directly on the resort’s seven-hundred-meter-long-beach. Or in the lush tropical gardens with beautiful sunset views overlooking the Phi Phi National Marine Park.

And they are also working hard to make their resort sustainable with their own bottled filter water, locally sourced amenities, and even open-air showers.

Book Koh Jum with Experience Travel

Vil Uyana – Sri Lanka

Welcome to the most exclusive sanctuary on earth. This man-made nature reserve has 26 species of mammals, 150 species of birds, 51 species of butterflies and 35 species of amphibians and reptiles within the grounds.

The highlight is slender loris, fishing cat and Eurasian otter. All living alongside guests with night-time safaris available. Guests can even lay camera ‘traps’ to take home footage of their findings. They have also just had the birth of 20 baby crocodiles; the first known at a reserve in the world.

This is an exquisite experience for animal lovers, with many different excursions. From whale and dolphin watching, to witnessing the gathering of elephants at the Minneriya National Park. Which is a spectacle found nowhere else in the world. There truly is no better way to digitally detox.

Book Vil Uyana in Sri Lanka

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Planning a digital detox? Switch off at these six beautiful places… appeared first on Silver Magazine.