Take the plunge at Revive Heat and ice therapy at Revive, Halifax
Who will love it?
Those looking to push the limits
Elevate your wellness journey and form a healthy new habit that has endless benefits. Revive Wellness Club is all about championing contrast therapy which combines the use of ice baths and saunas to provide a whole host of benefits. These include such things as enhancing recovery and athletic performance, increasing metabolic rate, improving sleep, skin, and circulation, as well as being a brilliant mood booster. Brace yourself as the cold plunge awakens your senses and invigorates the body, before the traditional sauna melts away tension to promote deep relaxation.
Revive believe that wellness should be a social affair, and offer their space as an opportunity to connect, unwind, and share the power of self-care with your friends. Their welcoming atmosphere will melt away any apprehensions and help set the stage for fostering genuine connections with others seeking to enhance their wellness. The place has a real sense of community and support which adds another positive impact on your wellbeing.
To book:
A drop in visit is priced at £17.50 but a block of five can be booked for £70. Memberships start from £45 per month. Revivewellnessclub.co.uk
Harewood Holistics, Leeds
Who will love it?
Yogis
Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Harewood Estate, join Harewood Holisitics for a range of restorative retreats, wonderous workshops, yoga classes, treatments, and special ceremonies. The recently refurbished space is housed in Arch Barn, a Grade II listed building which formed part of the original Home Farm that was built in the late 18th century and designed by the same architects as Harewood House. With underfloor heating, exposed beams, a relaxation area, and two treatment rooms, it’s the perfect place for those in need of a reset.
Join Taylor on February 8 for the Winter Warmer Yoga Retreat: Rise & Radiate, designed to help you embrace the stillness of winter while awakening your inner strength, resilience, and vitality. The day will begin by building a grounded foundation, connecting to your strength and power, followed by invigorating flows and dynamic sequences to help awaken your inner power and potential. Through heart-opening backbends, core work, inversions, and arm balances, you’ll cultivate resilience and tap into your deepest potential, leaving you feeling empowered and radiant. On February 16, Anna will take you on an immersive journey dedicated to celebrating and cherishing your body and mind on the retreat Embrace You: A Journey to Self-Love & Well-being. Engage your senses in a nurturing afternoon filled with flowing yoga, aromatherapy, meditation, restorative yoga, and soothing breathwork. Or Melt Into Stillness with Emma as she takes you on a beautiful experience of finding balance and comfort away from the pressures of life and the stresses we tend to put our bodies under on A Yin & Myofascial Release Workshop on February 23.
To book: Prices vary depending on the workshop, class or treatment. Visit harewoodholistics.com to learn more and to book.
Bloom Longevity Labs, Grantley Hall
Who will love it?
Beauty buffs
Bloom Longevity Labs founder, Dr Lubna, has taken up residence in The Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall to offer a range of non-invasive treatments. With a revolutionary approach to beauty, longevity and wellness, her residency will include biomimetic aesthetic treatments, a principle aligning beauty with natural principles. The range of carefully curated treatments are designed to enhance your vitality, reduce signs of aging, and promote longevity.
Dr Lubna has a keen interest in bioregenerative techniques, longevity and women’s health. Emphasising the importance of preventative care, Dr Lubna advocates for holistic lifestyle choices. Her approach integrates science-based treatments and lifestyle improvements, believing in the inside-out approach to beauty and wellbeing.
Each client will go through an initial consultation with Dr Lubna to ensure their individual needs are carefully assessed and health history and goals are understood. From here, comprehensive testing will take place to get to the cause of any underlying problems. Based on the results, a bespoke plan will be created, including nutrition, supplements, movement, in-clinic therapies, treatments and more. After developing the plan, Dr Lubna works with clients to ensure a successful implementation, reviewing the plan at three, six and 12 months, depending on their goal.
How to book: Consultations are priced from £250 with a range of non-invasive treatments available to book on the first Wednesday of every month between 9am and 8pm. Email drlubna@timetobloom.uk
Fleeting Fern, Harrogate
Who will love it?
Nature lovers
Nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire, Fleeting Fern is a new business founded by Samantha, a passionate advocate for nature’s ability to restore balance in our fast-paced lives. Her mission is simple: to encourage busy individuals to slow down, disconnect from technology, and reconnect with themselves, each other, and nature.
Fleeting Fern offers a variety of experiences designed to promote mindfulness and well-being, including forest bathing sessions, Day retreats, staff wellbeing & journaling workshops. The focus is on the health benefits of spending time in nature—whether through guided forest walks or moments of introspection.
At the heart of Fleeting Fern’s offerings is forest bathing, a practice originating in Japan (*Shinrin Yoku*), where participants slow down to engage fully with their surroundings using all five senses. Sessions begin with a guided meditation to help participants centre themselves and awaken their senses, followed by tailored, explorative invitations to deepen their connection with nature. These prompts could include focusing on the texture of tree bark, listening to the wind through leaves, or getting creative making forest Mandalas, helping individuals foster a sense of calm and reflection.
Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood. It boosts creativity, enhances mental clarity, and strengthens the immune system, thanks to phytoncides—natural oils released by trees and plants that increase white blood cell activity and help lower stress hormones.
After each forest bathing session, participants gather for a hot drink and light snack, offering a chance for reflection and a peaceful return to the outside world.
In addition to regular events, Fleeting Fern has launched their first weekend retreat in West Yorkshire, Summer Solstice weekend June 2025, called Roots and Radiance. The retreat will give participants a deeper dive into the healing power of nature, with time to reflect, rejuvenate, and form meaningful connections.
How to book:
To book events, for more information or to get in touch; email fleetingfern@gmail.com, Instagram @fleeting_fern or Facebook – Fleeting Fern.
Digital Detox, Swinton Park
Who will love it?
Those who need a tech timeout
If you find yourself suffering from low levels of energy, anxious feelings or just generally stressed out while also spending too much time on your screen and going through life at a hundred miles per hour, then a digital detox could be just the thing to help you take a step away from your day-to-day life, reassess and rebalance.
Unplug and unwind as you find solace to clear your mind during a two-night stay at one of Swinton Bivouac’s hand-built and off-grid Tree Lodges on the stunning Swinton Estate. This digital detox is all about relaxing, recuperating and recharging through a hosted programmed that combines sound bathing, forest bathing and reiki drumming in the Tipi. Swinton Bivouac boasts a beautifully remote location, set on the edge of moorland within the expansive Swinton Estate with sweeping views over the Yorkshire Dales, providing the perfect backdrop to reconnect with the surrounding world.
Stay in one of Swinton Bivouac’s fabulous Tree Lodges complete with hammocks in the trees, a private wood-fired hot tub and use of the Woodland wood-fired sauna. Experience sunset and sunrise walks through the woodland, dinner at the Biovuac bistro, and plenty of free time to enjoy your surroundings. The retreat also includes access to the Swinton Country Club where you can enjoy access to the tranquil spa which includes access to the indoor pool, outdoor natural pool, hydrotherapy pool, Thermal Suite, Alfresco Spa, Spa Garden and wellness areas. There’s also the opportunity to take a dip in the estate’s Wild Swimming lake.
How to book:
£465 per person, based on two people sharing a Tree Lodge. Visit swintonestate.com to learn more
Eastthorpe Hall, Mirfield
Who will love it?
Health hackers
Eastthorpe Hall is a health and wellness centre where multiple specialist businesses are on hand to support your healthy mind and body. Firmly believing that everyone should experience their optimal wellbeing in every way, their friendly partners are on hand to help support you with whatever you need. This beautiful former country house is set within lush and tranquil gardens, and serves as the ideal place to maintain your mind and body and stay well for life. To help your mind there are a range of practitioners available from North Star Psychology LTD with Dr Rachel Lee, Counselling by Katie Alexander Counselling & Claire McAndrew, life coaching with Shaheen Myers, or why not try hypnotherapy with Louise Franks at Hypnotic Universe. Massage therapy is provided by Gina Woolley at Inner Beauty for all your aches and pains, soothe your soul with holistic and wellbeing therapy by Claire Harrison at Tsuki Reiki, or engage in a mindful practice with yoga by Lucy Scott. There are even services for audiology, aesthetics, podiatry, dyslexia, and osteopathy.
With an impeccable building and grounds, step in, switch-off and feel your wellness levels rise. Enjoy your innovative treatment or therapy before relaxing in the swimming pool, spa and beautiful gardens. Whatever way you choose to spend your time here, know that you will leave feeling rejuvenated – feeling better.
How to book: Prices vary depending on the treatment or practitioner. Visit eastthorpehall.com for more information and to book.
Boost Midlife Mood and Hormone Health This New Year
York-based nutritionist Sally Duffin offers some timely tip for dealing with the dark days
Do the dark wintry months leave you feeling tired and low? Many women in menopause experience fatigue, low mood and depression. These symptoms can feel harder to deal with in the depths of winter and may even cross over with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – also known as ‘winter depression’.
One way of dealing with this is to increase the foods and nutrients that support your energy and mood. Try these five simple tips to uplift your wellbeing this New Year:
Enjoy a serving of probiotic food every day. Probiotic foods contain the same kinds of beneficial bacteria that live in your digestive tract. These microbes play a key role in harvesting energy from food and regulating mood.
If you’re dealing with menopausal low mood or SAD, enjoy a daily serving of live natural yoghurt, sauerkraut, kefir, miso, tempeh or kimchi. This helps ‘top up’ the numbers of friendly bugs and maintains the right kind of environment in your gut for them to thrive.
Add herbs and spices to meals and drinks. Your gut bugs feast on compounds called polyphenols found in fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Using dried or fresh herbs and spices is an easy way to include more of these active compounds in your diet. Try growing pots of fresh herbs on a sunny windowsill and add them to meals or make your own herbal infusions.
For a delicious winter warmer, whisk 1/2 teaspoon each of dried ground ginger, cinnamon and turmeric into a mug of warm milk (dairy or non-dairy) along with a drizzle of honey.
Top up your vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with fatigue and low mood. Winter sunshine isn’t strong enough to stimulate vitamin D production in the skin, which is why public health advice is for everyone to supplement with at least 400iu a day between October and April. Many people need a higher dose so it’s worth getting your levels checked either via your GP or a nutritional therapist.
Boost your B-vitamins. B-vitamins are essential for mood balance and good energy levels. And if you’re vegan, under a lot of stress (as most menopausal women are!), or regularly take antacid medications, you may have extra requirements for them.
B-vitamins are widespread in wholefoods with the exception of vitamin B12, which is only found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Find other B-vitamins in leafy greens, brown rice, red meat, oats, avocado, salmon, tuna, poultry, sweet potato, bananas, nuts and seeds.
Ditch the New Year diet. There’s nothing more depressing than counting calories in January. Restrictive diets can provide short term weight loss but they’re joyless and unsustainable.
Instead, commit to moving your body every day and getting outdoors into natural surroundings whenever possible. Minimise sugar, alcohol and ultra-processed foods, and focus on real, wholefoods – your energy and mood will be all the better for it.
If it feels daunting to make lots of changes at once, choose one tip and focus on it for a couple of weeks. When it becomes a regular habit, pick another tip and add that into your routine too. As your mood and energy lift, you’ll thank yourself for sticking with it.
Sally Duffin is a health writer, expert speaker and Registered Nutrition Practitioner for midlife women’s health. She is the author of Natural Nutrition for Perimenopause – What to Eat to Feel Good and Stay Sane and is currently working on her next book, Natural Nutrition for Life After Menopause. Find out more at www.nutritioninyork.co.uk or follow her on Facebook and Instagram @nutritioninyork
