Review: Body & Soul escapes Britain & Ireland

Following hot on the heels of sister travel book, Body & Soul escapes, Body & Soul escapes Britain & Ireland is an essential reference book - or day-dreaming aid - for anyone interested in taking time out to re-balance and re-group.

Author Caroline Sylger Jones, a respected travel writer and experienced yoga practitioner, has amassed the best holistic breaks the British Isles has to offer - from serious Buddhist retreats to mainstream spas, and anything in between.

Clear format

As in the earlier book, entries are presented in a clear, well structured format that includes symbols to reference facilities or themes; for example, whether the individual establishment offers ayurveda, yoga classes, holistic therapies or is parent-friendly.

There is also a price guide to each entry, and, towards the beginning, a clear, comprehensive guide to what kind of retreat the reader is searching for.

So, under the heading 'I'm an exhausted parent', there folllows a suggestion of three different retreats to watch out for.

Other headings include 'I'm stressed out', followed by six suggestions for types of retreats (including nature retreat, wellbeing break and meditation retreat) and 'I'm overweight and unfit' (suggestion: a wellbeing or fitness break, or a detox retreat or food and cookery break).

Easy to read

This book's refreshing accessibility and attention to detail are two key strengths: the author answers commonly anticipated questions such as when to go, who to go with, group dynamics and what to expect from a certain break.

Consequently the whole (potentially intimidating and time-consuming) process of choosing which break, spa or retreat to go for is de-mystified and made easier. At the same time, a break spent at a Buddhist monastery is placed on the same level as a weekend at well-known spa Ragdale Hall: these are wellbeing holidays in the broadest sense.

Both options, after all, have a similar goal: rest, rejuvenation, time out from the rat race. The difference lies in the approach taken and the surroundings.

There is a tantalising range of retreats to choose from - boutique hideaways such as St Moritz Hotel in Cornwall; reasonably priced B&Bs with a holistic slant; serious detox or Buddhist retreats; and specialist ayurevda centres such as the wonderful Essential Ayurveda in Lincolnshire.

The length of individual reviews vary, but consistent, liberal use of images allows the well written text to come alive.

Detail

Caroline does an impressive job at providing the reader with as much detail as possible - we're talked succinctly through each retreat's setting and nearest station, as well as any therapies on offer, quality of food, accommodation arrangements and likely daily routine.

Peppered between reviews, there are engagingly written and presented mini-articles devoted to different themes relating to wellbeing: 'Be well' mini features include titbits on chakras, ayuveda, beauty without chemicals and teas.

'Eat me' features include a piece on What's in season in spring, while 'Special Features' cover topics including Bathing in Bath, and Food and cookery breaks in Devon.

Along with her first book on worldwide escapes, this book is virtually guaranteed to awaken your spiritual wanderlust, whether you're a seasoned retreat goer in search of a specific type of holiday, or simply someone seeking time out to nurture body and soul.

Review by Lucia Cockcroft

Body & Soul escapes UK and Ireland retails from good bookshops at £14.99. Caroline Sylger-Jones is also the author of Yoga Abode's Travelling Yogini column on UK retreats (to read Caroline's articles for YA, click here). A dedicated yoga practitioner, Caroline completed a two month introduction to iyengar yoga teacher training with Glenn Ceresoli in 2007.