AS I take a deep breath and lift the 10kg kettlebell to the sound of Block Rockin’ Beats by The Chemical Brothers, the words of personal trainer Caroline Bragg ring in my ears.
“Prioritise time under tension,” she says.
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In other words – slow down.
She might be talking about strength training and how women 40+ should focus on building muscle not just bashing out reps, but this mantra sums up the entire experience of the & Breathe menopause retreat I’ve signed up for – held at La Jugie, a rustic farmhouse in the rolling French hills
30 minutes’ drive south of Limoges.
Rest assured
I’m on a three-night break hosted by women’s wellbeing expert Clio Wood and fitness queen Caroline, designed to help midlife women focus on themselves as they tackle the menopause.
And when I arrive, my battery is pretty depleted.
At almost 43, with two young children, Ralph, seven, and Max, four, a hectic career as a writer and battling the onset of perimenopause – I’m now on a low dose of HRT – I find it hard to spend time on my own wellbeing without feeling guilty.
The eight guests on the retreat range from late-30s to 50s, and we are all mums at different points in the parenting trenches.
Some attend in pairs, others solo.
But the rambling 18th-century farmhouse, with six acres of land, a heated outdoor pool and a homely, antique-rich interior, has plenty of space for privacy if you want it.
My ensuite room, overlooking the hills, has a cloud-like king-sized bed and a bath, where I enjoy a rare treat – an afternoon soak with the complimentary botanical-rich Bramley toiletries.
Meanwhile, the kitchen is the heart of the home, where we gather around a long wooden table to enjoy Clio’s home-cooked meals.
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Her focus is on healthy but comforting dishes, developed with the help of a nutritionist, and it’s all about nourishing yourself, inside and out.
Light breakfasts, such as chia seed yoghurt pots, are followed by soups, salads, local cheese and bread for lunch.
Snacks of nuts and fruit are on tap, with an extra afternoon treat thrown in, such as banana flapjacks with tahini and raspberries.
Apparently, sesame seeds – like those in tahini – can help to balance oestrogen levels.
Hiitting a high
The retreat includes three fitness sessions per day – strength training and conditioning in the morning and Pilates come afternoon.
Like every guest, I had a video call with Caroline a couple of weeks before the trip to assess my lifestyle, health and general wellbeing, so classes are tailored to everyone’s needs.
We learn about why and how to improve our core, bone density and muscle mass through exercise – all while having a giggle and enjoying a soundtrack of ‘90s house and garage.
There’s an airy studio in the barn, but we mostly do weights and HIIT in the beautiful country-cottage garden.
Caroline is hilarious, energetic and encouraging – just the right combination to make you push harder.
Meanwhile, Clio has a calm but warm energy leading the short meditation sessions.
Normally, my head is too busy to embrace any kind of mindfulness, but the absence of outside distractions helps me to fully engage.
Time to chill
Each afternoon, guests can explore the countryside on short hikes to the village of Saint-Priest-Lagoure, swim in the pool, read a novel borrowed from the library landing, or have their complimentary hour-long massage with local masseuse Marie, who uses her own aromatherapy oil blend and a soothing and therapeutic technique, rather than muscle-pounding.
There’s also a billiard table, table tennis and board games.
But, for me, the highlight of each day is dinner.
The meals – such as miso aubergine with sticky rice and Asian veg, followed by home-made biscuits and hot chocolate – are such a treat because I haven’t planned or cooked them.
Over a glass of wine, I chat with the other guests and our camaraderie is a tonic. I leave with my battery not quite at 100%, but getting there – and that aubergine recipe in my case.
FYI
Three-night &Breathe Menopause retreats cost from £600 per person sharing a room.
This includes all meals, workouts and a massage (Andbreathe wellbeing.com).
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Flights to Limoges from the UK cost from £41 return.
Return taxi transfers from the airport cost from £35 per person for up to four sharing.
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