HAPPY BODY IN DEVON

A peaceful yet energising detox retreat in rural Devon

Well done!” are the words I hear most at Yeotown; at the top of a half-mile hill path, on finishing my third set of reps at the outdoor gym, and from owners Mercedes and Simon Sieff as I battled through caffeine withdrawal. “We try to make detox as pleasurable as possible,” they say. And they do. In a laid-back, art-filled Exmoor farmhouse with a maximum of 12 guests, there are roaring fires, herbal teas on tap and an eat-in Aga kitchen a city dweller would kill for.

I stay in an eco lodge the size of an apartment, with a wood burner and the comfiest bed – hugely appreciated because if you’re not hiking, you’re biking, or in the yoga studio, or doing circuits, archery or qigong, or meditating. So a good night’s sleep is essential.

But it’s the hiking that’s the star. Each day we tackle a different part of the stunning coastline, with visible results, too – it’s a surprise to discover how much walking tightens and shapes my muscles. Any soreness is soothed by an excellent nightly massage, including shiatsu that dislodges stress from my neck and leaves me feeling an inch taller.

At Yeotown, I also remember how deeply energising yoga can be, rather than the sugar and caffeine I rely on at home. We go without dairy, gluten, wheat, meat and alcohol, too, but the food is creative, filling and delicious: sweet potato falafel with cauliflower couscous and red rice, or veggie curries with coconut yoghurt raita. By day three my fogginess has gone, and so have the peaks and troughs in my energy and mood. By day five my legs and bottom are firmer, my stomach flatter and my energy high but calm. I feel as if I could hike forever. Well done, indeed. BRIGID MOSS

HAPPY AT HOME

Try deep breathing (make the exhale one beat longer than the inhale) to lift your energy levels.