Perhaps contrary to popular belief, refuelling during a summer holiday in England can actually be quite relaxing.
In fact, I think taking a two-day break focused on a little rest and relaxation can do wonders for your cortisol levels and overall health.
As a reader of Women’s Health, I’m sure you (like me) have tried all the common tips for coping with life’s challenges — exercise, eat your vegetables, take bubble baths, make a gratitude list… and sometimes they really do help. But too often, self-care gets pushed to the bottom of an ever-growing to-do list.
Too much “stuff” without real rest can seriously damage the mind and body, especially if relief takes too long to come. So when I had a free weekend in my schedule, I reminded myself to put my own oxygen mask on before helping others – and headed to the South Coast (with my husband) for a weekend of “rest”. Here’s how we spent our time…
Two and a half hours after leaving London, we arrived at the Nici Hotel in Bournemouth, which offers valet parking. There’s a Miami-meets-Dorset vibe here. Think bold leaf prints, brightly coloured Jackson jute beach bags hanging on the walls. There’s a spa with an 18m indoor pool, steam room, sauna and relaxation room; a gym, small yoga studio and a restaurant terrace overlooking a 30m outdoor pool (yes, it’s heated).
The theme of the weekend was relaxation, so we relaxed, headed to the beach and booked a sauna at Seawater Sauna, one of the many coastal saunas that dot the UK coastline, to wash away the stress of the week.
Under the guidance of Jane Witt, a former army officer turned sauna master, we sweated in the hot sauna for 10 minutes before walking to the beach and jumping into the water to cool off (we stayed in the water for about two minutes). We repeated this for about 35 minutes while Jan taught us about various sauna techniques, including Aufguss (steaming and waving a towel) and the Lithuanian method of leaf stirring.
Our treatment program includes a salt scrub with orange peel. After the sauna (and before heading to the sea), we apply a salt scrub with orange peel to the skin, which helps cleanse and detoxify. After use, the skin becomes very smooth.
After a hot and cold therapy session, we headed to dinner at Rockwater Branksome’s Bar and Kitchen on Branksome Glen Beach. The restaurant has made a splash on the Bournemouth food scene since opening last September, and it’s easy to see why. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, making you feel right at home straight away. Think soft earth tones, wooden parquet floors and sun-bleached timber.
Whether it’s the wind, the sun, or the high heels, the dress code here is pretty much all-encompassing. Some people put on a dry robe and go straight from the beach to the terrace. Others were a little dressier, wearing canvas beach sandals and button-down shirts.
The bar and kitchen menu includes classics such as burgers and pizzas – perfect if you’re stopping off on your dog walk and want a quick bite. If you have more time, there are also small bites and shareable platters available. Specials include Isle of Wight tomatoes with black garlic hummus, catch of the day (whole fresh Weymouth sole) and Pimm’s herb panna cotta.
On Saturday morning, I headed to Rockwater for a 45-minute morning yoga class, while my husband headed to Who Dares Gyms, a British Special Forces gym, to sweat on the beach (to really get the blood pumping). Afterwards, we took a Wim Hof ​​breathing and ice bath class with Heather Ashley, a certified Wim Hof ​​instructor, lifestyle coach, and healthy habits advocate.
Heather runs cold water immersion courses (aka sea bathing) at Rockwater Branksome every Monday and Friday throughout the year. We did a private ice bath session where Heather spent about half an hour helping us lie on our backs on yoga mats doing Wim Hof ​​breathing techniques (it felt a bit psychedelic) before we had a two minute ice bath on the beach. Very refreshing.
Cold bath enthusiasts claim that ice baths provide a wealth of health benefits, including mental clarity, pain relief, and even weight loss. As someone who constantly keeps an eye on new health and wellness trends that will help reduce stress in life in 2024, I’m usually always up for a new challenge.
I climbed into the tub, which was right on the beach for everyone to see (you were literally swimming in ice, while everyone at Rockwater across the beach was ordering avocado mash and French toast). I sat up quickly. The ice-cold water burned my skin, and my breathing quickened. I had a dull ache in my toes and fingers. When I got out, my fair skin was red and swollen. Heather taught me to squat, wrap my arms around my chest, and rock back and forth to warm myself up. I felt energized, exhausted, but relaxed at the same time.
After our chosen morning workout, we ate a bowl of acai yogurt, fruit and granola, and freshly baked goods at Rockwater before heading back to Niki for some rest.
A sunny day is best spent on the beach, or you can soak up the sun in the pool surrounded by the gardens of the Nici Hotel.
If you’re more into events, check out Rockwater’s events calendar. Rockwater has a members-only event called Open Water (£1,000 a year to sign up) which, despite the name, has nothing to do with open water swimming.
Instead, there are exclusive members-only events every month, offering free places on all fitness classes. If you’re an AFC Bournemouth fan, it’s worth it, as the club also offers hospitality and home match tickets to visitors.
On Saturday afternoon we attended Open Water, a two-hour tour and gin tasting at the Conker Distillery in Bournemouth.
Dining on the rooftop terrace at Rockwater Restaurant is an unforgettable experience. The menu upstairs is a little pricier than the bar and kitchen downstairs, but it’s still affordable and luxurious. Better yet, the roof can be completely retracted, making it the perfect spot for sunbathing on sunny days. Pick a spot at the far end for the best views of the sea and the Old Harry cliffs.
As for the food, we shared a few appetizers. The bread was served with a unique apricot cream and jalapeño butter, although I found the jalapeño butter a bit too spicy for my taste. The chicken liver pate with apricot jam and toasted brioche bread was probably the most popular appetizer, but the cod croquettes with leeks were also easy to swallow.
For our main course we had the cote de boeuf (grilled beef ribs) with caramelized shallots, roasted grape tomatoes, green salad and triple-fried fries. This, my readers, is quite filling. To digest it, we had to take a walk on the beach before bed.
If you’re anything like me, you always pack a pair of running shoes on your trip, just in case you have the opportunity to go for a quick jog. I went to the beach and ran along the boardwalk, passing dozens of joggers, some wearing performance vests, others running with their dogs. It was only 8:30 a.m., but the beach was already filled with paddleboarders, open-water swimmers, and divers.
After a quick shower, we checked out of the hotel and headed back to Rockwater for brunch, because every 10K run has to end with French toast with smoked bacon, creamy spinach, poached eggs and maple butter. Delicious.
I don’t know what it’s like to be at the beach, but the sound of waves gently lapping the shore always instantly calms me down. Research backs this up. A 2013 study found that the sound of ocean waves relaxed female volunteers more than soothing music, and a 2017 study found that ocean sounds activated the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and relaxing the body.
Add to that the fact that being by the sea (or ocean) increases levels of happy hormones and even helps improve sleep, and it all adds up to the powerful stress-reducing effects of blue spaces. So, if you’re feeling like “life” is starting to get to you, it’s time to head to your nearest beach (preferably Bournemouth) and completely unwind.
Rockwater Branksome is on the other side of the south coast of Bournemouth, right on the beach. It’s a great stop if you want to explore the South Coast and the New Forest.
Of course, we are a little biased – the beaches are busiest in summer. But summer has its downsides too: crowds and fierce competition for parking near the beach. So if you decide to go during the school holidays, be careful.
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