A women’s specific programme centred on perimenopause, menopause and overall female hormonal health. Renew a sense of energy and understanding about what is happening to your body amidst the intervals of change that are related to age on the Realign and Thrive – Women’s Movement Retreat. A special time to focus on tuning in with yourself, learning how to prepare for this magnificent stage in life, taking care of your hormones and your changing body by cultivating a lifestyle that promotes your continued journey to flourish.

LEADING EXPERT
Balance Holidays welcomes Monique Eastwood as the leading expert on this programme. A celebrity trainer of Emily Blunt, Hayley Atwell and founder of The Eastwood Movement Method, a dynamic, full-body movement system which incorporates multi-directional power sequences that will be showcased across this retreat. Monique will also be drawing from her personal lessons of navigating transitionary hormonal cycles, menopause and multi-decades of experience working with a wide spectrum of individuals to bring guests on an energetic and exciting, forward-looking movement journey.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Following Monique’s belief that challenge is change, on this programme, keep the movement going, focusing on health and fitness, core, posture and form. Breaking up the schedule, incorporating snack-sized exercise into the day, while simultaneously bringing the rhythms of the heartbeat higher every few hours to nurture the change you desire. This retreat is an opportunity to thoroughly reawaken the body and support women stepping into the chapter of perimenopause, menopause and harmonious hormones to feel empowered and encouraged by the body’s intelligent ability and flexibility to transition. Recognising the significance and beauty of the process and learning how a simple and effective lifestyle routine that keeps movement and heart rate up and energy fuelled by a nutritional diet impacts the body’s behaviours during this special stage.

ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS
Emerging from beneath the quiet and still waters of the Balearic Island, power your day with a Morning Walk. Letting your movement fall in harmony with the day’s first dawns of light, activating the muscles and joints and gently increasing your heart rate as the fresh air fills the lungs and nature puts on a delightful display. Replenish the body’s nutrient storage in preparation for the higher intensity workouts that will follow with a carbohydrate-rich composition breakfast. Create lasting change in the body in a short amount of time and in high energy in HIIT. A preferred method of training for Monique because it gets your heart rate thrumming into an anaerobic state, fires up your large muscle groups and consists of multidirectional movement by mainly using your own body weight, to challenge your deep core. In considering how muscle mass and bone density is challenged when we enter our midlife, targeting many of the big muscle groups and firing them up again will be the focus of the Power Session workout. Enhancing their activation to stimulate the body and cultivate enduring change and awareness. Before raising the heartbeat and kick-starting movements again in the afternoon, increase blood-sugar levels with healthy snacks and tea. Then, engage in Pilates Flow. A low impact method of supporting the body and mind and a way to realign and bring the focus deeper into yourself to gain heightened self-awareness. All the while strengthening and lengthening the muscles around the joints, stabilising and developing a strong core and pelvic floor. Be open and transparent with one another, sitting and discussing what we struggle with at home and our routine on a Tools To Take Home Group Session. Diving into a range of discussion topics on what you would like to do, the changes you want to bring forward and guidance on maintaining the practices and habits discovered across the retreat into the long term. A cliffside Power HIIT, followed by a plunging swim in the translucent Mediterranean waters will provide a spectacular starting point on the morning of the final day on this retreat. Across the programme, turn generous opportunities of rest and free time to embark on spontaneous coastal strolls or find restoration under the island’s warm, scented air.

Two separate workshops that will be live-streamed with guest expert, Dr Katie Armstrong will advance the conversation on women’s hormonal health, perimenopause and menopause. The first workshop will cover a mixture of topics such as the roles of female hormones throughout your life, symptoms of both perimenopause and menopause, long term effects of menopause and more. Equipping you with the knowledge to listen and understand your body and take control of your hormones to enhance ability to continue thriving. For the second workshop, vulval, vaginal and urinary tract symptoms, libido and testosterone in women will be the main discussion points as these are generally considered taboo. Dr Katie Armstrong will also open a Q&A to dive deeper into other topics of interest. As well as share resources related to menopause and female hormonal health to help you navigate the mindfield of information online and provide advice on how to approach the conversation with your GP/Doctor.

PHILOSOPHY ON FOOD AND NUTRITION
Complementing Monique’s ethos to wellbeing, health and keeping movement up, all meals across the retreat will be made using locally-sourced and in-season ingredients. Interpreted into simple but healthy and nutrient-dense dishes from a specially designed menu by Balance Holidays that provides an authentic taste of nature.

THE LOCATION
Reflecting the harmonious unity of untamed Mediterranean coastlines and lush greenery, separated only by secluded bays and sandy footpaths. Relax in the laps of simplicity and tranquility at OKU Ibiza. Derived from the Japanese spiritual and architectural concept of “inner space”, OKU Ibiza opened its doors May 2021. With direct access to a tucked away beach, Cala Gració a short distance away and the largest swimming pool in Ibiza, it has been meticulously designed to inspire guests and awaken their true inner self: connected and rested.

WHY CHOOSE THIS RETREAT?
The Realign and Thrive – Women’s Movement Retreat provides the occasion to step away from routine and to reacquaint yourself with your changing body through movement, nature and deeper connections with yourself and others. Indulging in time and space for self-care and in celebration of our body’s achievements. Where Monique’s preferred approach is to not overcomplicate the workouts or concepts on the retreat, be equipped with sufficient know-how to move forward into life at home energised and excited for all that is yet to come.