AS I take a deep breath and lift the 10kg kettlebell to Block Rockin’ Beats by The Chemical Brothers, personal trainer Caroline Bragg’s words ring in my ears.
“Prioritize time under stress,” she says.
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In other words – slow down.
She may be talking about strength training and how women over 40 should focus on building muscle and not just reps, but this mantra sums up the entire experience of the Menopause & Breathe retreat I signed up for – held at La Jugie , a rustic farmhouse in the French hills
30 minutes drive south of Limoges.
Be sure
I’m on a three-night break hosted by women’s wellbeing expert Clio Wood and fitness queen Caroline, designed to help middle-aged women focus on themselves as they face menopause.
And when I arrive, my battery is pretty dead.
At nearly 43, with two young sons, Ralph, seven, and Max, four, a busy career as a writer and battling the onset of perimenopause – I’m now on a low dose of HRT – I find it difficult to dedicate time to. my own well-being without feeling guilty.
The retreat’s eight guests range in age from 30 to 50, and we’re all moms at different points in the parenting trenches.
Some participate in pairs, others alone.
But the sprawling 18th-century farmhouse, with six acres of land, a heated outdoor pool, and a homey, antique-rich interior, has plenty of room for privacy if you want it.
My private room, overlooking the hills, has a cloud-like king-size bed and a bathtub, where I enjoy a rare treat: an afternoon soak with complimentary plant-rich Bramley toiletries.
Meanwhile, the kitchen is the heart of the house, where we gather around a long wooden table to enjoy Clio’s homemade meals.
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Its focus is on healthy yet comforting dishes developed with the help of a nutritionist, and the goal is to nourish yourself inside and out.
Light breakfasts like pots of yogurt with chia seeds are followed by soups, salads, local cheeses and bread for lunch.
Nut and fruit snacks are available, with an extra afternoon treat like banana pancakes with tahini and raspberries.
Apparently, sesame seeds – like those in tahini – can help balance estrogen levels.
Hitting loud
The retreat includes three fitness sessions per day – strength and conditioning training in the morning and Pilates in the afternoon.
Like all guests, I video chatted with Caroline a few weeks before the trip to assess my lifestyle, health and general well-being so that classes can be tailored to each person’s needs.
We learn why and how to improve our core, bone density and muscle mass through exercise – all while laughing and enjoying a 90s house and garage soundtrack.
There’s an airy studio in the barn, but we mostly do weight training and HIIT in the cottage’s pretty garden.
Caroline is hilarious, energetic and encouraging – just the right combination to make you try harder.
Meanwhile, Clio has a calm but warm energy leading the short meditation sessions.
Typically, my head is too busy to embrace any kind of mindfulness, but the absence of outside distractions helps me fully engage.
Time to relax
Every afternoon, guests can explore the countryside on short walks to the village of Saint-Priest-Lagoure, swim in the pool, read a novel to borrow from the library or receive a free one-hour massage with local masseuse Marie, who uses her Own blend of aromatherapy oils and a calming and therapeutic technique rather than strengthening muscles.
There is also a pool table, table tennis and board games.
But for me, the highlight of each day is dinner.
The meals – like eggplant miso with rice and Asian vegetables, followed by homemade cookies and hot chocolate – are delicious because I didn’t plan or cook them.
Sipping a glass of wine, I chat with the other guests and our camaraderie is a tonic. I left with the battery not yet 100%, but getting there – and that eggplant recipe in my case.
For your information
Three-night & Breathe Menopause retreats cost from £600 per person sharing a room.
This includes all meals, exercise, and a massage (Andbreathewellbeing.com).
Flights to Limoges from the UK cost from £41 return.
Airport return taxi transfers cost £35 per person for up to four people.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
