19 BODHIMAYA ONE-DAY RETREAT AT THE LANESBOROUGH CLUB & SPA

London, England

‘Bodhimaya founder Cornelius O’shaughnessy is one of the UK’S most down-to-earth voices in stress management. His one-week country house retreats are always Red’s pick for a modern mind and body reset, and now he’s running shorter programmes at The Lanesborough’s award-winning spa, a quiet and elegant gem on the corner of London’s Hyde Park, with a growing stable of holistic brands on board. The idea is to roll Bodhimaya’s signature combination of meditation coaching, yoga, energy treatments and gut-focused nutrition consultations into a more manageable timeframe. I tried a Sunday retreat with an overnight stay and discovered you can get a lot of de-stressing done in 24 hours.

I meditate whenever I’m able to, but can lack inspiration. My session with

Cornelius was a grounding start to the day, and the reading list he gave me afterwards has since taken my home practice to a new level. Nutritional therapist Olga shone a light on my plant-based diet, which I’d been worried about for a while. She talked me through which supplements I need to optimise my physical and mental health (vitamins A, D and B12), recommended nutrient-rich additions, such as sprouting broccoli and sea plants, and explained which oils I should and shouldn’t cook with (avocado oil is best for frying because of its high boiling point). The Lanesborough’s spa also turned out to be a five-star mindfulness experience. I felt totally left alone, but the minute I needed something, someone appeared to help before I said a word. I walked away having learned so much and can honestly say I’ve never felt more relaxed on the London Underground than I did on my way into work that Monday morning.’ Monika Chatterton

RED NOTE You can’t go wrong with a Kombucha beer and soba noodles in the spa restaurant. Accommodation from £1,499 (lanesboroughclubandspa.com)