“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” Allen Saunders.
A few months ago, I treated Yvonne and fixed a niggle that she couldn't get rid of. After 18months of the same dull headache caused by whiplash, Yvonne had assumed that she had to learn to live with her pain. During her session we spoke about injury prevention, our views on self-care & healthcare, and the link between the gut and the body. Having plenty to chat about, it was clear that Yvonne and I come from a similar school of thought. After a couple of sessions, her niggle was gone and Yvonne didn’t need my help anymore. As much as I enjoy discharging a patient after we have worked together to successfully release their pain, I had the feeling that Yvonne and I were destined to meet again.
As a result of our chats and the success of her treatment, Yvonne kindly asked me to attend her retreat as a visiting physiotherapist, and a couple of months later I found myself in France, being introduced to the most amazing group of retreaters. Forget what you have heard about retreats, this experience is something else. We arrived at the airport to be greeted by Yvonne’s husband, Christopher. As he drove us to our new home for the next few days, he told us about the history and heritage of the area. We arrived at the retreat to be greeted by a friendly dog and proceeded to walk in to the most beautiful French accommodation in the middle of the French countryside.
I was lucky enough to be able to join their nutritious gut-health meals, as well as some of the activities on offer. It only took a day or two to see and feel the benefit of Yvonne’s nutritional advice. I was introduced to the team before presenting my view on physiotherapy. I explained:
How your food, physical health and mental health choices are all linked
The importance of preventative thinking when it comes to healthcare
Body awareness and understanding how to recognise a problem so you can fix it before it comes back
The difference between fixing a problem temporarily, and giving people the tools to grow strong enough to prevent repeat injury
After this, the retreaters booked in to talk to me about body concerns, where their issues may come from, and, of course, for treatment! With a few sessions booked in back-to-back, you’d be surprised what we achieved in just a few days, especially with Yvonne’s nutritional advice, life coaching, Baked Salt & Rosa Rigby in the kitchen, and other specialists on hand. By the time I left the retreat, I could feel a sense of growth and self-learning from every individual there, including myself. I was able to release pain and help to remedy:
Neck pain
Shoulder issues
Foot related problems
Back
Hips
And self-understanding
I got to know some amazing people who came together to make the retreat their home. Some visitors were there for a few days, others for a few weeks. If you think you might like to head out there and join me next year, give me a shout with any questions you have, or we will chat about it in our next session! If you are ready to take your self-understanding to the next level, you can read a bit more here: wellbeingandlifestyle.co.uk/
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