110 goodthingsmagazine.comTHE SCARLET Cornwall
by Georgina Wilson-PowellA
s the seagulls wheel and caw in
the sky above, I stand on one leg
on the top of a cliff. Wildflowers
dot the foreground and, down
below, the rapidly retreating tide reveals the
square-jawed bay of Mawgan Porth.
I move into the next yoga pose, gently
reminded by Hannah Bridges, The Scarlet
hotel’s lovely teacher, to breathe. And what air
to breathe in – a salty Cornish breeze moves
slowly past me as the cobalt blue sky makes us
marvel at the way summer has suddenly hit.
Who knew yoga retreats could be, well, so
enjoyable? Long gone are the hippy dippy
days of enforced silence and fun-free meals- modern yoga retreats are a relaxing, warm
way to find a bit of me time, even if you don’t
know your tree pose from your pigeon.
Beanbags & bubbly
Here at The Scarlet, a design-led eco hotel
that’s just for adults, me time is what it’s all
about. As well as the usual bar and restaurant,
this multi-level, modern hotel has a number
of spots to just curl up and relax, plus
stunning Atlantic views. Get comfy with a
book on a huge beanbag big enough for two,
sit by the natural pond pool, or slip into a cliff-
edge wooden barrel hot tub where a bole of
bubbly is brought over as the sun is seing.
The three-night yoga package here
includes a spa journey with a personalisedmassage and bathing ritual. The Scarlet’s
spa is like a womb of wonder; essentially an
adult-sized fort made from duvets. I can’t see
a single proper wall and, with tiny salt lamps,
it’s like an Aladdin’s cave for massages.
Aer one of the best treatments I’ve ever
had, utilising rose-scented oil and plenty of
long calming strokes, I’m decanted into a
teardrop-shaped tent filled with cushions
hung from the ceiling of a dark room. It looks
like something Peter Pan might have dreamt
up. I climb in unsteadily and am instantly in
love – it’s a circular cocoon of calm. Covered
up with a blanket, I doze for much longer than
I intended, which is all part of the plan.
A yoga break here also includes access to
the morning yoga programmes. These are a
delightful way to come to before a gorgeous,
all-organic two-course breakfast – complete
with a daily smoothie, locally-ground coffee,and seasonal dishes such as pancakes with
roasted apples and maple syrup.
Within two nights, I’m practically
horizontal, and it feels like an effort to
take a walk down the cliff steps to explore
one of the best beaches in Cornwall.
Smooth sand and a protected bay make it
perfect for a swim, while surf schools operate
all year-round. I plump for lunch at the local
chippy, which serves up fish so fresh it’s
practically still flapping.
The lack of denial or sacrifice is the truly
great thing about such a relaxed yoga package- this is all about enjoying the small moments
and revelling in the Cornish seaside vibe...
which resolutely comes with chips.
Three-night yoga breaks from £760 per person,
based on two people sharing a Just Right room.
More details at scarlethotel.co.ukChill Out HOME or AWAY
The spa is like a
womb of wonder
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Yoga_MATT ZPCathy ZP.indd 110 04/04/2017 16:25