FIT FOREVER

The Menopause Fitness Retreat

This three-day retreat is designed to help women find exercise and lifestyle strategies for perimenopause and beyond.

Aimed at busy women with real lives, the retreat will show that exercise in this phase of life is about much more than simply weight loss and looking good. It’s about finding joy in movement, celebrating our bodies and learning how to future-proof them by following a holistic programme that addresses not only obvious areas such as cardiovascular, bone and muscle health but balance, sleep, stress management and cognitive function.

Through classes and workshops you will explore a range of exercise modalities including Pilates, strength training, cardiovascular workouts, flexibility and balance work. Weather permitting, there will also be an opportunity to get out and about on the rugged South West Coast Path with its amazing views.

Fit Forever will include both theory and practical sessions that will provide participants with the knowledge and tools they need to create a programme that will work for them and be both sustainable and enjoyable in the long term.

The Venue

Set in the countryside, just a few miles from Penzance and a short distance from the spectacular west Cornish coastline, Middle Colenso Farm is the perfect location for a restorative retreat.

The three granite cottages are nestled close together in lush semi-exotic gardens. They have been extensively renovated and decorated in a modern rustic style with mid-century and Scandinavian design.

Participants will also have access to the Barn - a large communal space with an open fire and book-lined shelves - where we will come together to talk and relax.

The fitness studio is a light and airy space with a sprung wooden floor. It has a range of Pilates and fitness equipment including:

TRX suspension trainers
Free weights
WaterRower rowing machine
Balanced Body Pilates Springboards
Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer and Tower

About You

This retreat is for you if you’re menopausal or in the years leading up to menopause and are struggling with exercise. Perhaps your body is changing and the things you’ve always done are no longer working. Perhaps you don’t have the energy or the inclination to work out or simply have no idea what you should be doing.

You may already be a keen exerciser or someone who’s never set foot in a gym but you’re looking for something that will improve your wellbeing now and ensure your body stays fit and healthy into the next phase or your life.

All participants will be asked to complete a health screening form before they arrive so I can make sure all of the exercises are appropriate for you. I have many years’ experience adapting exercises to individual needs but if you’re not sure whether this is suitable for you please get in touch and we can have a chat.

About Christen

With more than 15 years in the fitness industry, I will be leading the retreat. I have been interested in fitness since captaining my school netball team at the age of 11. After studying history at Oxford University, I worked as a journalist in the UK and Bermuda where hours of sitting behind a desk and a bout of back pain led me to discover Pilates.

I took up a full-time career in fitness when I moved to Western Australia in 2008. For the next five years I ran my own personal training and Pilates business. During that time I also wrote a regular fitness column for The Australian newspaper.

Since moving back to the UK I have taught Pilates and fitness classes at my studio at Middle Colenso Farm and through continued professional development have explored a wide range of fitness interests, most recently exercise strategies for midlife women.

Now in my late 40s, I fully understand the challenges and frustrations associated with this time of life and want to use my experiences to help other women understand and overcome them.

Dates & Prices

I aim to run two retreats each year but if you have a group of friends or family who would like a bespoke experience please contact me and we can create a unique retreat designed for you.

The next Fit Forever retreat will take place in spring 2025. Exact date TBC.

Arrival time is from 3pm on Thursday and check out is before 10am on Monday but it may be possible to extend your stay depending on other bookings in the cottages. Ask me about availability and pricing if you're interested.

To ensure that everyone has their own private space, places are limited to six.

All rooms are single occupancy although some bathrooms are shared. Please let me know your preference and I will try my best to accommodate you.

Smugglers Lane

One-bedroom cottage with ensuite bathroom £1,250

Carter’s Croft

Two-bedroom cottage

Double room, shared bathroom £925

Twin room, shared bathroom £850

The Old Granary

Three-bedroom cottage

One room with double bed and ensuite shower room bathroom £975

Twin room, shared bathroom £850

Bunk room, shared bathroom £825

We require a 20% deposit to reserve your place and our usual booking terms and conditions apply. You can find out more here.

How to book

To book your place or for more information email middlecolenso@gmail.com or call Christen on 07932 625144.

"Honoured to have been part of Christen's first fitness retreat - a simply wonderful experience. Meeting four lovely ladies, spending four days sharing ourselves, our trials and triumphs and discovering new ways to keep healthy has been a joyous experience. Christen's care and skill as a teacher and practitioner has been inspiring."

Juliet