Every year I make a pilgrimage to the Mayrlife medical health resort in Austria, where I spend a week on the banks of Lake Altaussee being told what to do and how to eat and when to go to bed by doctors. They seem to know far better than I what I need in order to return to London with renewed vigour.
I usually bring along someone with whom I can snigger and lament during the process. This year my sister joined me and we both landed at Heathrow decrying our former ways, desperate to cling to our newfound healthy routines.
Only, surprise, surprise, we didn’t. It is impossible to live in London as if you are at a wellness clinic — hence the need for the top-up visits every now and then to reinstate salubrious habits.
I do, however, find certain things stick. One year I weeded out all sugars, and felt much better for it. Another year was devoted to chewing each mouthful of food thoroughly, which is a conversation killer but works wonders on the digestive system. I once took very chilly showers throughout the winter to boost my circulation and immune system — it clearly did something good because I did not have so much as a cold that year.
I write what follows in the full knowledge that, like me, you won’t be able to do all of these things at home. Maybe you’ll only manage a couple. But each and every tip comes via one of my most beloved wellness destinations, and most are either free or relatively cheap. And, trust me, they all really reap results.
Chew every bite 40-60 times
The first rule of Mayrlife: chew. It’s emphasised by doctors and written on dining table cards. They tell you to do it 40 to 60 times — which is a stretch, in my experience, with food disintegrating at around the 20-chew mark. But the idea is sound, with Dr Doreen Jaenichen telling me it “stimulates the production of saliva, which contains enzymes to start the digestive process”. This means “you’ll absorb nutrients more efficiently and bloat less”.
Carry an egg everywhere
During Goodwood’s Gut Health Retreat, Dr Stephanie Moore and I spoke about eating on the go, which is when I make poor choices. The answer? An egg. “Eggs are deeply nutritious, offering every nutrient required by your brain along with easy-to-digest protein,” Moore says. “The healthy fats and protein keep blood sugar levels stable, leaving us feeling full for longer.” I now pop a hard-boiled one in my handbag before leaving the house. One tip from Moore: “Where possible, look for free-range and organic eggs —what the hens were fed and how they live influences the types of fat and the vitamin and mineral content.”
Shed inhibitions (and get naked)
On a trip to The Well in Norway with my friend Shireen, we were told we’d have to be entirely naked to use the saunas and steam rooms. After some alarm, we did — and felt quite liberated and empowered. Behavioural change coach Gemma Perlin says that’s a common side effect of shedding inhibitions. “It opens up possibilities; you can access deeper states of confidence and spontaneity when you let go of limiting beliefs. This leads to greater connection with others and a more fulfilling, exciting life.” Perlin says there are plenty of ways to challenge yourself that don’t involve taking your clothes off in public. “Try introducing yourself to someone new at an event, or take a different route to work. Engage in activities that push your boundaries.”
Add electrolytes to your water
I was full of headache and woe while adjusting to the smaller portions of food on the SHINE Regeneration Retreat in Umbria , when nutritionist Michelle McKenzie suggested I add some electrolytes to my water to take the edge off. It worked a treat, with McKenzie telling me that’s because “electrolytes are a nutritional support that can help with balancing minerals in the body. They carry an electrical charge and help to support vital functions.” I have found adding a few drops to my water whenever I’m a little tired helps me out enormously.
Stretch as much as you can
Every morning at the Vale de Moses yoga retreat in Portugal, Tashi Dawa would encourage us to stretch. I’m not talking a cursory hands in the air, neck rolled from side to side a few times, but rather a deeper, more intuitive process of just moving on a yoga mat. It became my favourite part of the week.Stretching for some sounds hellish, I know, but Dawa insists it is something everyone can benefit from. “It doesn’t have to be intense; it’s all about moving comfortably to give us more access and expansion within our bodies.” And it doesn’t just feel good. “By lengthening our connective tissue we gain more flexibility, self-awareness and promote better general co-ordination.” She says yoga is the natural extension of stretching. “Stretching alone can be a quick fix, but yoga goes deeper. By balancing movement, strength, and awareness, it helps create lasting changes.”
Cold water swimming (of course)
Emerging from a lake during a retreat at the Falcon in Northamptonshire, I had to remind myself that the ice in my veins was the whole purpose of the enterprise, with the Falcon’s Sophie Storey insisting “cold water swimming offers several benefits. The cold stimulates the nervous system, creating relaxation and contentment. The colder temperatures also boost circulation by making your heart work harder to pump blood to your organs.” If you are fortunate enough to live near a body of cold water, plunge in — or a cold shower does the job, too.
Get off the tube and walk
The Ranch is a retreat centred around long hikes — I’m talking four-hour adventures while winding through the hills of Malibu. It made me realise that walking is, by far, my preferred exercise and mode of transportation, and I have since relied on my two feet to get me around London as much as possible. Personal trainer Sophie Allin tells me this is something everyone should strive to do more: “Walking strengthens the heart, improves circulation, helps lower blood pressure, reduces symptoms of anxiety by releasing endorphins, and aids weight management.” But, perhaps more pertinently, it is “a natural movement for the human body to perform,” and doing so means therefore means less chance of injuries associated with high impact exercises or those requiring equipment.
