Rebalancing in Beautiful Bath
*Press trip
It was such a treat to be back in Bath last week. Not only one of my happy places but also the city of healing, wellbeing, rebalancing and health. Ever since the Celts discovered bubbling hot springs beneath the city, Bath has been a destination for healing, and not just physical – The Romans used to flock to the baths to cure all manner of ailments – but also for spiritual and psychic healing.
This February, Bath has held its very first festival of wellbeing – Rebalance Bath – and I was there with some other lovely folk to discover what it was all about. Various events are being held all over the city in different venues, including everything from sound baths, restorative walks, to crafts, cooking and treatments. I was also looking forward to enjoying a little bit of R&R myself. I hopped aboard a Toot Bus and explored the city in style, before mooching about and enjoying many of the gorgeous corners of this beautiful city…
Me on my Toot Bus!
Dough Pizza
We headed to Dough Pizza for lunch – a gorgeous independent pizzeria, who have 12 options of pizza bases to choose from, including their famous chocolate base! There really is something for every dietary requirement. I opted for Kamut – an ancient grain with antioxidants and more protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals than modern wheat.
Dough Pizza will also make your pizza in the shape of a heart, if you’re feeling that way inclined 🙂
Paddywax
Lunch was delicious. We then strolled round to Paddywax Candle Bar, where we all poured our own candles. This was a real highlight of the trip for me – such a calm and mindful activity in beautiful surroundings. Paddywax is an American company and this one is the first and only store currently in the UK. I am now campaigning to have one come to Walthamstow! Candle pouring workshops are £35 and once your candle has finished burning, you can either reuse the vessel for another purpose (mug, plant pot etc) or you can bring it back for a refill, which costs (wait for it) £10. Love.
Choose your fragrance and your vessel, then create and pour your candle! 
The Soul Spa & Robun
I headed back to the hotel for a little rest (I’ll be writing all about my wonderful hotel tomorrow!) before heading back out for a sound bath at The Soul Spa. It was absolutely mesmerising and incredibly relaxing – I would have happily fallen asleep and stayed there all night, but it wasn’t to be as we were headed to Robun for a wonderful Japanese meal for supper. They specialise in a modern take on Yakiniku – the art of grilling meat, seafood and vegetables over a traditional robata charcoal fire. Their menu is extensive and also incorporates sushi and sashimi, tempura, gyoza and bao buns.
Thermae Bath Spa
Then it was back to the hotel to sleep before an early-doors date with the fabulous Thermae Spa!
It’s always such a special experience visiting these baths. I could lounge here for days, very happily. It’s so calming and restorative – my brain just shuts down and I feel as though I enter a kind of deep, deep rest. This is one place that should be on everyone’s Bath bucket list.
Combe Grove
Then we were off to Combe Grove – a stunning wellbeing and health haven, tucked away in Somerset’s heavenly countryside yet still just a stone’s throw away from Bath’s city centre. I had no idea what to expect when we set off, but as soon as we arrived, the beautiful Georgian buildings and extraordinary views rather took my breath away…
Combe Grove is a health club as well as a health retreat. Members of the club have access to 70 acres of mature woodland and meadow (which is about as restorative as it gets in my book) indoor and outdoor swimming pools (STUNNING) unlimited use of 65 timetabled weekly classes, all-year-round tennis, a nature-inspired gym, specialist clubs and and and… the whole of Combe Grove is deeply serene and upon arriving you immediately breathe deeper and feel an overwhelming sense of optimism that your life is about to become better, healthier, stronger and longer…
The team at Combe Grove had invited us for lunch, which we all enjoyed, while they told us all about the wonderful place we were in and how they were all so incredibly proud to be working there.
They told us all about their Metabolic Health Retreat, which I found equally fascinating and inspiring…
“Medical research increasingly points to thriving metabolic health as key to enhancing and extending wellbeing.
Created by experts who coach you for improved health, vitality and longevity, the Metabolic Health Retreat will support you in identifying your unique areas for improvement.
Make gradual and realistic adjustments to food choices, movement, sleep, stress levels and environment to balance your metabolic health”.
I left Combe Grove reluctantly, mentally calculating how I could find a way to sneak away from being a mummy for a week so I could attend this wonderful retreat! I think Izzy might spot my absence, but I am investigating full size cardboard cutouts 😉
Then it was back to my hotel to pick up my bags, before heading to Bath Spa station to catch my train home to London Paddington.
The two days I spent in Bath, although full to the brim and absolutely packed with activity, was calming and nourishing and I came home feeling as though I’d had a proper little holiday.
Rebalance Bath is on until 27th February and there is still so much more to come, by way of hand and arm massages at Molton Brown, Spiritual Movement and Meditation in Bath Abbey, Yoga classes, walking groups, life drawing, Kitchen Garden Tours at The Pig and so much more.
So if you are in need of a little rebalancing yourself, there’s a train to Bath that leaves at 08:32 tomorrow from Paddington.
Now off you go and pack. Your new zen self can thank me later.
Press trip with http://visitbath.co.uk/
