Residential Retreat on Mindfulness & the Menopause:

Embracing the Change, a Mindful Journey through Menopause

March 16th-18th 2012 at Croydon Hall, Somerset

A nurturing, relaxing and creative weekend retreat at beautiful Croydon Hall, for women approaching, or going through, the menopause.

Menopause can be a challenging time, as we come to terms with physical changes and the symptoms that accompany them, to say nothing of the emotional ups and downs! But this phase of our life is also an opportunity to celebrate the richness and wisdom that maturity can bring. This retreat is both an introduction to self-care practices for physical and emotional wellbeing, and a celebratory rite of passage.

Using Mindfulness meditation, reflective time, gentle yoga-based movement, art, sound and storytelling, we will celebrate this important life phase and develop strategies to manage some of the more challenging aspects of menopause.

Mindfulness is a form of meditation that teaches calm, relaxed, moment by moment awareness of our body, breath, thoughts, feelings and environment so that we can become more alive to our experience whilst responding more skilfully to difficulty and stressful situations. Recognised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, there is extensive research to demonstrate the benefits of Mindfulness for people suffering from stress, depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Women suffering from hot flushes and night sweats have reported that Mindfulness helped them to feel substantially less bothered by their symptoms, less stressed, and able to sleep more easily. The practices are easy to learn and although they have their roots in Buddhist meditation they are designed to be used in secular (non-religious) contexts.

As part of a friendly and supportive group led by an experienced facilitator and Mindfulness teacher, you can take some nurturing "me time" to focus on who you are and where you are in your life, care for your body and mind, and explore your creative self. You will be given a workbook and audio materials to keep up the good work after the retreat has finished.

Accommodation is in comfortable shared rooms (single rooms available for a small supplement), with excellent vegetarian cuisine and access to spa facilities.

Fully inclusive cost: £276/£258 (plus £25 single occupancy)

Download a brochure here or visit the Croydon Hall website to book your place. BOOKING ENDS MID-FEBRUARY!