Chillout Retreats

What a wonderful week we shared, out of all the 8 different Yoga retreats I have been on, around the world, this one has been the best one by far. The reason for this is that the company was superb, each and every one of you contributed to making this my favorite retreat ever and I am delighted and proud to have met you all. We all agree how wonderful the food was, the venue, the weather and how lovely to share the yoga with people of varying degrees of experience. Well done Nat on making the classes so inclusive for all at whatever level.

I arrived on my chillout retreat unable to focus on anything, extremely stressed and wanting to become more relaxed but stronger in body and mind. Life's stresses and prolonged competing priorities had drained me so that I could no longer make decisions that included my own wellbeing because I did not exist on my list of priorities. Chillout retreats showered us all with so many wonderful experiences - invigorating yoga, peaceful meditation, amazing food - friendship and love in the wonderful setting of Puglia - all that the mind and body craves for. I am now mended.

Chillout Retreats is an experience for everybody. It is a holiday from everyday stresses and strains, a real treat for the body and soul. Everything about the week was wonderful and the Chillout team think of everything to make this a wonderful and memorable experience. I was thoroughly spoilt and looked after, nothing was too much trouble. For anyone considering their retreats - go, go, go - you will not regret it!

Thanks so much for a truly wonderful week. Leadership and organisation are always key factors in making the retreat work but it was your amazing warmth, serenity and brilliance that made the week so very special. A huge thank you. Back home now, I'm constantly reminded of our special group. I find myself smiling with fond memories. Thanks to you all!

I was lucky enough to WIN a CHILLOUT RETREAT at the OM Yoga Show in London last October. My first ever retreat! I was so impressed with the beautiful Barn venue and vast views over Arundel. What made it so special was that Chillout Retreats is family run by sisters Nat and Lucy - Nat teaches yoga and mindfulness, while Lucy dishes up delicious, nourishing veggie food. Their daughters helped with mealtimes, cooking pancakes and making desserts and even clearing away the dishes. Together, they created a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. There were 3 yoga classes and 1 yogalates class over the weekend, each with a different theme - from restorative to dynamic, with easy-to-follow guidance and lots of fun with balancing and partner poses. I enjoyed doing core and stability moves, balancing a ball on your back, and imagining you're a king prawn in a sushi roll, while lying back over your partner in childs pose. We also had two long evening mindfulness sessions, on the breath and on compassion. It's so rare in modern life to treat yourself to a longer meditation. I was a little nervous about who was going to be on the retreat, and how we would mix, but Nat & Lucy created an optimal environment for us to relax and have a laugh together. We ate together, went on a walk exploring the beautiful cathedral, castle and surrounding countryside in monsoon rains, (we saw the funny side!) and had fun creating and sharing visions in a life coaching workshop. The retreat lived up to its title for everyone, and the following Monday morning, when my daughter shared the fact that she hadn't brought her homework book home over the weekend, and had lost all her uniform shirts in the last couple of weeks, there were no raised voices, just two people calmly discussing the best way forward. That's the power of Chillout Retreats.