Relax and recharge on the Isle of Wight

With a fresh wind in your hair, miles of rolling countryside to get lost in and a hundred and one tranquil spots to meditate in, the Isle of Wight is the perfect destination for a bit of R&R. Not only that, it’s also home to a wealth of wellbeing experts and practitioners offering everything from yoga retreats and luxury aromatherapy products to bamboo massages and self-care candles. So, take a deep breath and we’ll begin.

If the idea of a wellness retreat set in the lush green countryside of West Wight gets your chakras in alignment, then take a look at Balance + Glo. Set up by yoga teacher Jenny and fitness coach Evelyn, they aim to empower you on your wellbeing journey, supported by a team that now includes nutritionists, pilates instructors and mindfulness coaches too. Event include wellness weekends and Sweat + Stretch events. Combining fitness, flow yoga and feel-good tunes, post-session you’ll hydrate with fresh juices and refuel with healthy snacks – the perfect way to reset your body and mind.

For those a bit more short on time, unroll that yoga mat at one of Jenny’s morning vinyasa classes (held in the coastal town of Yarmouth) or even join in one of the Balance + Glo online sessions, lasting from between five and sixty minutes, you can choose from breath work, meditation, yoga or strength training.

Perhaps you prefer your self-care to be of the more aromatic variety, in which case, you won’t want to miss the feel-good fragranced skincare created by Duxmore Botanics. Based on a farm, amongst the chalk download that runs through the heart of the Island, Charlotte Legge uses her aromatherapy and cosmetic scientist skills to create a therapeutic collection of ethically sourced products.

There’s the mandarin and eucalyptus body scrub for example (for those looking for an uplifting start to the day) or the indulgent face and body oil (packed full of calming essential oils to soothe body and mind). We’d also recommend the dreamy grapefruit and juniper botanical body bar that comforts and nourishes the skin, as well as the arnica-infused massage balm for its silky smoothness and restorative properties. Available for online order, why not have some delivered to your doorstep at home, ready to continue the feel-good feeling once your time on the Island has come to an end?

Moving south, the snug, award-winning holiday cottages at Nettlecombe Farm are another great choice for rejuvenating getaways. Located half a mile from the sleepy village of Whitwell, the Morris family have been welcoming visitors here for the past forty years, and are only too happy to introduce guests to their geese, goats and pigs, as well as recommend all manner of trails, stretching across the stunning local landscape.

Not only can you enjoy woodland walks and a spot of animal therapy, but wellbeing workshops and classes take place in the farm’s very own heated studio. Personal trainer Andy is on hand for conditioning workout sessions, whilst you can book relaxing evening and weekend appointments with holistic therapist Danielle for a Swedish massage, bamboo massage or even a session of Hopi ear candling.

For inner peace at the strike of a match, get yourself some self-care candles from the ladies behind Mindfully Lit. Established by Ukrainian refugees Olga and Yuliya, each locally-poured candle comes with a meditation or workbook to maximise the wellness experience, whilst donating a portion of their profits to Ukrainian charities too.

Add the sculptural ‘Graceful Goddess’ candle to your basket if you’re looking to invite more self-love into your life. This unscented, all-natural, soy wax candle comes with self-love affirmation cards and a self-love journal, nudging you in the right direction to unlock your true potential. Alternatively, try the coconut wax ‘Joy’ candle, with an eco-friendly wick and a cleansing, refreshing aroma of pine, orange and lemon.

If the sliding carriage of a Reformer Pilates machine is calling your name, then head up the stairs behind Smoking Lobster in Cowes, where you’ll discover the home of Isle of Wight Pilates. Opened in September 2023, this bright and lofty studio space, overlooking the yacht haven, is the first location on the Island offering tension-relieving Pilates classes that use the specially designed Reformer machine. This sliding piece of kit, with stretchy cords to attach to your arms or legs, is intended to make workouts more intense and dynamic and can also help you overcome injury too – as founder Emma Wharton found out.

Previously a professional dancer in the TV and musical theatre industry, a neck injury put a halt to her workout plans, until a friend recommended Reformer Pilates, which helped her safely build core strength and feel more confident to exercise again. Since then she’s become a certified instructor, holding classes in Ibiza, Mallorca and Australia. Visitors to the Cowes studio can start off with entry-level sessions if they fancy, or if you’re not quite ready to hop onto the machine just yet, mat-based sessions are also on offer.

Finally, for an eco-friendly escape with wellness top of the agenda, sign yourself up for a weekend retreat with experienced yoga teacher Carol Macartney. Venues in the past have included Tiny Homes Holidays – a low-impact retreat of off-grid cabins set amongst tranquil countryside near Newport – and Nettlecombe Farm. Guests take part in a weekend of all things yoga, from meditation and asana to sound baths, mantra dance and transformational breathwork.

Leading these programmes is Carol Macartney, a passionate instructor with over thirty years of teaching experience (earning her the title of ‘yoga royalty’ amongst local wellness aficionados). If you can’t make it for one of her retreats, fear not, as Carol also offers monthly workshops, one-to-one sessions and even bespoke yoga development courses if you want to take it to the next level.