Uplifted by the elements

Embracing winter wellness through the wilds of the landscape with back-to-nature wellbeing experiences across Cornwall.

Modern life is busier than ever and there are times when we all feel the pressure; work, family and chores fill our days while we are constantly ‘connected’ via smartphones and social media. Music and films can be accessed on-demand, 24/7 and gone are the days where we only accessed the news via a daily newspaper or nightly programme. Technology has meant that everything is always accessible, including ourselves, and this in itself is a challenge. Sometimes, we just need to be able to disconnect and certainly our brain benefits from some quiet time where it is allowed to just be. Having this time when we can stop and take a breath and let our souls relax is essential for both physical and mental wellbeing. With this in mind, I’ve been exploring how we can take time for ourselves and, in doing so, I have discovered that Cornwall offers a series of elemental escapes.

EARTH

Let’s begin with the earth; it is that which we walk upon and so its very nature is grounding. Walking is perhaps the simplest of things that we can do to help with our wellbeing as it needs little or no specialist equipment and here in Cornwall, we are fortunate to have a host of wonderful environments in which to do so. Strolling the clifftops affords us a bird’s eye view of the ocean and the ability to breathe deeply the restorative sea air. Forest bathing, a Japanese relaxation process where you are simply calm and quiet among the trees, is easily achieved in one of the Duchy’s many verdant woodlands or while strolling through a sub-tropical garden. Exercising outdoors has also become increasingly popular since the pandemic and whether you choose a beach yoga class, a park run or an al fresco boot camp, your body will benefit from both the activity as well as getting a vitamin D boost.

WATER

No mention of wellbeing in Cornwall could be without a reference to water. Its benefits have been much documented over recent years and the rise in popularity of cold-water immersion has been exponential. Form Joe Wicks’ ice baths to the Wim Hof Method (wimhofmethod.com) many of us, myself included, are embracing the thrill of the chill. Jem Wallis from Escape Swims, providers of professional outdoor swimming and cold-water immersion sessions in Cornwall (escape-unplugged.co.uk), explains why we should be seeking solace in the waves: “This lifestyle medicine brings you immediately into the present and through immersion in the cold and a focus on breathing, a connection of our bodies and mind. It brings an elevation in happiness, drive and satisfaction. Our anxieties and stresses wash away, resilience builds and our sense of wellbeing improves.” Not only is cold water therapy good for our mood, it has also been proven to help boost our immune systems and has an anti-inflammatory effect that can help with chronic conditions.

If sea-dipping feels a step too far you can always opt for a lido, where the water will be calmer. Bude Sea Pool (budeseapool.org) is a tidal pool in north Cornwall that is a haven for safe bathing. While cold water swimming is clearly de rigeur at the moment, the restorative properties of warm water should not be overlooked. Jubilee Pool in Penzance (jubileepool.co.uk), while notable for its art deco tidal sea pool, also boasts a geothermal pool heated to between 30 and 35 degrees. Warm water is known to make your muscles relax and is very effect for rehabilitation. St Michael’s Resort in Falmouth (stmichaelsresort.com)has the largest hydrotherapy pool in the south west, with its 21 massage stations and 35-degree water, cocooning the body and facilitating gentle movement, while clifftop open-air dipping is the order of the day in Mullion Cove Hotel’s (mullion-cove.co.uk) outdoor swimming pool. Heated from March to October, here you can float, scull or swim with the warmth of the sun on your face, then when the weather turns retreat to their indoor hydrotherapy infinity pool.

AIR

As we continue our elemental wellbeing journey, the air that we breathe is well worthy of note. Some of you will be familiar with the Danish concept of ‘hygge’, but you may not have heard the Dutch expression ‘uitwaaien’. With no direct translation into a singular English word, it conveys more of an idea – one of open-air living and spending time in wild, and in particular, windy weather. The idea is that when you are outside and the wind is blowing you breathe in the new air, revitalising your body and soul.

  I suppose an English version might be termed as ‘getting some air’ or ‘clearing your head’ and either way, Cornwall is a wonderful place to do so. Bedruthan Hotel and Spa (bedruthan.com) sits high up on the cliff at Mawgan Porth where its unique Sensory Spa Garden is something of a Nordic playground that combines thermal therapy with a definite sense of ‘uitwaaien’.

Yoga also teaches us the art of breathing and doing so consciously helps participants to connect with the energy within. Breathwork is meditative, restorative and revitalising…did you know there is even a yoga breath that can replace your daily caffeine fix? During Breath of Fire you inhale and exhale in a continuous breathing pattern. It can last from 30 seconds to ten minutes and those who practice it liken it to a shot of espresso! Golden Glow Yoga in Falmouth (goldenglowyoga.co.uk) holds beginners and improvers classes.

FIRE

Of all the elements this is the one that embraces us in a warm hug; think flickering candlelight during a meditation practice, or a beach fire after a sea swim. Or, for total body immersion, a wood-fired hot tub. Kernow Springs (kernowsprings.co.uk) creates handcrafted wooden hot tubs fuelled by fire where you can soak away your cares. Their roaming eco spa has become a sought-after place of peace at many festivals across Cornwall and you can even recreate your own wild spa with their bespoke rental service.

Heat in the form of a sauna has been proven to have myriad health benefits. You’ll find saunas in most spas across Cornwall, but I came across one that’s unique in its location. The Sauna Society (sauna-society.com) overlooks the ocean at Watergate Bay and is inspired by Finnish sauna culture. It can be rented throughout the year by individuals or private groups and they also run restorative workshops combining breathwork,
yoga, sauna and ice baths, all in a truly elemental experience.

Wherever you find your restorative moment of calm, be it in a traditional spa, on a clifftop, in the ocean or from the simple act of a walk in the countryside, embracing the elements in Cornwall is good for body, mind and soul.