Yoga and Nutrition Retreat Tailored for Midlife: Supporting You Through Perimenopause and Beyond

Arriving on Thursday afternoon, you’ll join a group of individuals navigating similar midlife challenges during this transformative 3-night retreat. Designed to help you navigate the complexities of midlife, this retreat addresses the physical and emotional changes that often accompany the years leading up to and following menopause. These changes can feel overwhelming, leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and frustration that impact not only you but also your loved ones. For many, these shifts come amid already demanding family responsibilities—whether from children, partners, aging parents, or even pets—adding to the emotional load.

This retreat provides a welcoming community, expert guidance, and valuable time dedicated to you. It’s an opportunity to rest, reflect on your personal journey, and learn practical strategies in a supportive environment, all while being cared for in a way that allows you to truly unwind and recharge.

You’ll stay in luxurious, award-winning accommodations in the stunning Tamar Valley on the Cornwall-Devon border. Travel is made easy with direct trains from London Paddington to Plymouth in under three hours, followed by a short taxi ride to Lower Marsh Farm.

The weekend includes:

• Comfortable, high-quality accommodation,
• Delicious meals, snacks, and refreshments,
• 6 rejuvenating yoga classes,
• 2 nutrition workshops focused on “culinary medicine”,
• Guided walks and hikes,
• Optional extras like massage treatments and stand-up paddleboarding,
• Unlimited access to amenities such as hot tubs, wild swimming, tennis courts, and a fire circle.

Take this time to reconnect with yourself, recharge your energy, and navigate midlife with confidence and support.

Yoga classes will be guided by Michelle Spencer, an expert in supporting women through peri-menopause and menopause. These sessions are thoughtfully tailored to address symptoms such as:

• Irritability
• Hot flushes
• Insomnia
• Stress, anxiety, and brain fog

Complementing the yoga, Jane Hutton, a midlife nutritional health expert will host workshops focused on how lifestyle changes can ease hormonal symptoms, including mood swings, weight fluctuations, fatigue, and more.

The retreat is an intimate experience, limited to a maximum of 15 participants.

About Michelle

Yoga classes will be led by Michelle Spencer, an accredited Menopause Yoga teacher, who spent a few years helping teach other yoga teachers how to lead menopause yoga sessions.  The sessions will be structured the same as her weekly “Midlife and Me” yoga classes, a sanctuary for women in their midlife journey. This sessions provide a safe space for women to cope with the multifaceted challenges this stage of life brings, from caring for children and aging parents to managing brain fog, anxiety, grief, mood swings, and maintaining overall health. Michelle’s approach is gentle and accessible, ensuring that even those who have never attended a yoga class before can leave feeling accomplished and rejuvenated.  Each session will have a breathwork, gentle yoga practice, meditation as well as relaxation component. Michelle empowers women to embrace the mental and emotional benefits that yoga can bring, helping them find their inner strength and navigate the path of midlife with grace.

Michelle’s advocacy extends beyond the studio walls. She hosts a weekly well-being radio slot where she shares insights on midlife women’s health. Her meditation podcast on Spotify provides a resource for women seeking tranquillity and inner peace, while her blog delves into various aspects of midlife wellness, offering a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

About Jane

Jane Hutton, known as The Functional Foodie, is an award-winning, NHS-commissioned nutrition expert with a passion for helping people thrive amidst their busy lives. With numerous accolades, including the UK Enterprise Award for Innovation, Jane is a clinical nutritionist, nutritional therapist, food and health writer, consultant, author, speaker, educator, and chef.

With 25 years of experience, Jane has honed her expertise in mental health, hormone imbalances, menopause, gut health, immunity, autoimmune conditions, CFS, Fibromyalgia, Long Covid, food addictions, sustainable weight management, food allergies, cancer recovery, disease prevention, and practical everyday nutrition for real health (with the occasional glass of wine and chocolate!).

Jane’s nutrition journey began nearly 30 years ago, studying clinical nutrition, nutritional therapy, and food and environmental allergies. She expanded her approach by integrating naturopathic and functional medicine principles, eventually evolving her expertise into culinary medicine – combining real food with real health for real life.

What Jane loves most is helping people not only identify and resolve the root causes of their health issues but also fall in love with nourishing themselves. She makes healthy eating achievable in even the busiest of lives, offering recipes, kitchen makeovers, shopping and food lists, supplement recommendations, tips for picky eaters and special diets – anything that ensures we get all the nutrients we need, in the most delicious and sustainable way.

Optional extras

Enhance your weekend experience with these optional extras:

• massage treatments,
• stand-up paddleboarding,
• 1-2-1 nutrition consultation with Jane.

The food

All meals are provided, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with refreshments and snacks available throughout the weekend. Lower Marsh Farm is renowned for its delicious and nutritious meals, crafted from scratch using seasonal ingredients—many grown on-site with regenerative farming practices. You’ll savour wholesome, flavourful dishes in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where the joy of good food is complemented by laughter and connection.

Anne N said… “I’d just like to thank everyone at Lower Marsh Farm for a fantastic stay this weekend. I was really grateful to be able to come down on Thursday. It is a beautiful place, the food was amazing and everyone involved made it a perfect break.” May 2023

Katie B said…”Just wanted to drop you a quick line to say a huge thank you for such a wonderful weekend. Really enjoyed your beautiful surroundings, the delicious food, and the muddy walks! I am still smelling those hyacinths you put in the room for us :)” March 2019

June H said…”Spent three nights here – lovely location and really nice accommodation with hotel standard service. I was on a retreat so food was provided and it was absolutely lovely. Couldn’t fault it and would certainly recommend.” November 2017

You are welcome to bring alcohol for your own consumption if you wish. The weekend is going to be fun not formal and poker-faced – a little bit of what you fancy is not a problem!

Accommodation options

Orchard Cottage – single occupancy at £1,120 or twin occupancy at £735 per person. Indulge in a luxurious retreat featuring your own private living space, garden, and hot tub. Perfect for enjoying a peaceful haven on your own or inviting a friend to relax and catch up while unwinding in the hot tub!	Bulrush Barn – Already Booked The lavish option with your own private living space, separate bedroom, garden and atmospheric log burner hot tub. Great if you are coming with a friend or two.

Kingfisher Barn – single occupancy room at £850 or twin occupancy at £635 per person. Experience shared living in this expansive and atmospheric 4-bedroom barn conversion, complete with a beautiful garden and a luxurious hot tub, offering the perfect space to relax and connect.	Glamping style, absolute tranquillity – single occupancy at £850 or twin occupancy at £635 per person. Immerse yourself in the beauty and expansive openness of these breath-taking meadows, where you’ll sleep soundly in stylish, insulated yurts featuring a cosy log burner and a comfortable bed. Unwind in the shared hot tub for a truly relaxing experience.

Book your place