Star Stressbusters

The French Retreat is already getting a name for itself as a hideaway for stressed celebrities to unwind. Whilst we cannot spill the beans on what courses or workshops they attend it is the case that many celebrities turn to the wisdom of alternative therapies for deep relaxation. If you’re feeling the pressure here’s a guide to the effective techniques they use.

Stop, take a breath and think about how you feel. Is this the first time you’ve relaxed today, this week, this year? Stress is a modern day phenomenon, no longer necessary for survival but an every day fact of life. These days, as access to alternative therapies gets easier there are more ways than ever to stress bust. Whether you want to clear your mind by learning to meditate, exercise your body to disperse tension or discover ways to harness your ‘chi’, you can use natural techniques so powerful even the most stressed out stars swear by them. The one thing that doesn’t feature among the stress busting tips of the rich and famous is sitting in front of the TV with a ready meal. So if you don’t want to be part of the couch-potato, road rage generation, but enjoy a calm and fulfilling life, it’s time to get off your sofa and learn new ways to unwind.

Homoeopathy

There are many people who think going back to nature can provide them with everything they need to relax. Calming remedies were made from plants long before chemical sedatives were available. you can take your pick from herbal tinctures, flower remedies or homoeopathy, each of which address the needs of the whole person and has no reported side effects.

The homoeopathic remedy sepia is perfect for hard working people trying to juggle too much, while aconite is goof for those who are highly strung. Actor and former Bond girl Britt Ekland swears by homoeopathy saying “I’ve always been an advocate. If I get nervous on a first night I take aconite to calm me down, where as if I’ve been partying to hard in the evening, I take nux vomica.”

Yoga

If you would be rather doing something - than trying to do nothing - yoga is one of the oldest relaxation systems in the works and it’s currently enjoying unprecedented celebrity popularity. Former Spice girl Geri Halliwell put her honed body down to yoga, which as well as relaxing your mind, helps tone the body inside and out.

Yoga was originally taught on a one to one basis by a guru who chose specific positions or ‘asanas’ for each student. This is the reason for the number of different systems that are now in existence, You might come across Iyengar yoga which concentrates on getting each asana corrected holding it for several minutes; Sivananda yoga which is gentle and relaxing, with an emphasis on breathing and meditation; or the power yoga known as Ashtanga, a fast paced system practiced by Gwyneth Paltrow and Sting.

Sting says of his practice: “When I do my yoga in the morning I have more energy during the day. I get more done and my mind is more composed.” Each asana works on a different part of the body, helping to release tension, which the breathing techniques help calm the mind. Tests have even shown that experienced practitioners can control temperature, heartbeat and blood pressure. In the short term regular practice - consisting of at least a couple of sessions a week- can improve a number of stress related ailments such as tension, backache, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure and heart conditions. Zen Yoga, as taught at the French Retreat by Sophie Hanson, is a combination of different yoga practices with emphasis on being in the moment or being in touch with the here and now. Sophie says: "I incorporate aspects of Hatha and Iyengar yoga into my classes which I have practiced for over 20 years. Zen Yoga was practiced and taught by Buddha who through yoga and meditation attained enlightenment."

Meditation

Meditation has long been used to calm the mind. It hit Britain in the 1960s when The Beatles became devotees of Transcendental Meditation (TM) guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. These days meditation is practiced by millions of people around the world. Richard Gere is often pictured sticking the pose, while other celeb devotees include Madonna and Isabella Rosselini. TM has an impressive list of health benefits, all backed up by huge amounts of scientific research.

This research has, according to the TM association, been carried out in more than 200 universities, hospitals and research institutions, in 27 countries, covering a variety of physiological, psychological and sociological effects. TM is believed to be twice as effective as other relaxation techniques, which reported benefits including deep relaxation, reduced stress, increased energy and stamina, lowering the risk of heart disease, reduced cholesterol, reduced hypertension and relief from chronic fatigue.

Singer and actor Olivia Newton John found it particularly useful in dealing with her breast cancer. “It’s extremely important to nourish yourself spiritually,” she says, “whether that means through your own religious beliefs, prayer, or - in my case - meditation, which I found very helpful.”

At The French Retreat, meditation is part of many yoga retreats in particular one being offered in June 2024 by Amy Nicole, who brings a strong spiritual element to the week. https://www.retreat.fr/yogameditationretreat

Hypnotism

Many actors and singers use hypnotism for a range of stress-related ailments, from overcoming low self-esteem and stage fright, to giving up smoking. A hypnotic ‘trance’ is thought to be a state of mind which we go into naturally when we are day dreaming, just before we fall asleep or wake up and when we are fully immersed in an emotion - be it happiness or sadness.

Hypnosis has been used since ancient times as a form of therapy. Egyptian priests, for example, introduced a hypnotic state with incense and incantations, whilst shamans and medicine men and women in tribal societies have also used hypnosis. Hypnotherapy doesn’t involve going to sleep - it just requires a person to become very relaxed so the hypnosis can work at a deep level. To encourage the client to move into the trance state the hypnotist speaks in a calm controlled, relaxing and confident way, and either counts down from 10, uses music or other tools like visualisation. The depth of trance is determined by the client not the therapist and does not have an impact on effectiveness. The process will involve giving the subconscious mind positive suggestions or ideas to help that person work though their problems.

Hypnotherapy is good for people who want to give up smoking, or who experience migraines, anxiety and panic attacks, as well as a range of other health problems. Geri Halliwell was seen at the capital Radio Awards with Paul McKenna whispering positive thoughts into her ear to help her fight nerves, whilst Friends stars Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston have all visited hypnotists to help them give up smoking.

Pilates

Pilates is a form of exercise based on stretching, It was invented in England during World War 1 by German-born Joseph Pilates and was taken up after the war by dancers, actors and athletes, because of its suitability after injury. The slow, controlled movements - which strengthen muscles without forcing them - also makes it a perfect way to restore the body after pregnancy. However, the technique is now acknowledged as being good for people who are experiencing stress and stress-related diseases, as Pilates is based on eight principles: relaxation, concentration, co-ordination, alignment, breathing, flowing, movements, centring and stamina.

A class takes place on a mat or simple wooden equipment and can be taught privately or in a small group. It is a balanced workout that starts very gently by targeting core postural muscles and results in increased strength and flexibility. It differs from a regular keep-fit class because the correct posture and alignment of the body is always taken into consideration.

Pat Cash - the Wimbledon tennis champion - regular practices the Pilates technique. “Having originally taken up Pilates to help me recover from a back injury, I now find it invaluable to help me unwind during tournaments and to ease the effects of a hard match.” Cash says. “A Pilates relaxations session after a long-haul flight has also become and indispensable part of my travel routine.”

Claire Hawkins teaches Pilates at The French Retreat and runs a retreat every September. You can find out more here.

Aromatherapy

Smell is such a powerful sense that aromatherapy can be an excellent way to beat stress. Using essential oils for massage, vaporising or in a warm bath can encourage relaxation and calm the body and mind. After discovering the stress-relieving benefits of aromatherapy while she was appearing on the New York state, top 1960s model and actress Twiggy became such a fan that she launched her own Aroma Therapies for Face and Mind to help calm the mind and relieve the damaging effects of tension and stress. Excellent oils for relaxation include lavender (to help relieve fatigue and tension) calming valerian, and sandalwood which can raise your spirits if you are depressed.

Try the following massage oil blend recommended by Cher Brunsdon, The French Retreat’s holistic therapist: take 30ml of sweet almond oil and add 5 drops of lavender, 3 drops of orange and 2 drops of petitgrain essential oils.