Move, make space and nourish – practices to heal body, mind and soul

Nature. Whether looking at a cell under a microscope, or up to the expanse of the galaxies, nature follows repeating patterns. Dr Sally Bell believes that the seasons are nature’s invitation for us to do the same. As our wellness director, a GP of more than twenty years and a big advocate of lifestyle medicine, Sally directs the ethos of the estate’s growing programme and hosts wellness workshops here.

Some may see winter as a dark, inconvenient obstacle to the abundance of summer, but for Sally, it’s an invitation, a preparation and a valuable time of internal reflection, to make room for a new season. It’s also a time to nourish our bodies with the food we eat. Doctor’s orders.

The power of movement in nature

Sitting is the new smoking when it comes to health and longevity. Research shows that even if we exercise for an hour at the gym or on a run, if we sit for the rest of the day, we lose many of the benefits. And with shorter days and colder temperatures, we’re even more inclined to do plenty of sitting indoors at this time of year.

Research also shows that, quite apart from the vitamin D benefits, being in nature calms us. We are only just beginning to understand the mechanisms behind why forests and woodlands have a soothing effect on the parasympathetic nervous system. But whatever the science, walking in nature triggers mechanisms that promote healing, something the body is wired to do when we give it the chance. At Hampton Manor, we’ve got 45 acres for you to explore, as well as our Field Guide of local walks in each bedroom and a marked out path to make it as easy as possible for you to explore. There are also plenty of National Trust properties and woodlands to have a good stomp in, travelling to and from the estate from all regions.

While walking, you might want to consider the bare trees, having let go of their leaves. What do we need to let go of? Consider the leaves under foot—while some will be damp and decayed, the old leaves from a previous season are being transformed into food for the next. Consider the challenges and growth of the previous year, glean the wisdom and wonder from it to feed and strengthen you for what is to come. Consider the bulb hidden in the dark, cold earth—life emerging in unseen places, reaching for the light. What life is awakening in the hidden places of your heart that is reaching for the light of day? Consider the first shoots of the snowdrops heralding the promise of new hope. Take time to see the signs of promise and hope in your own life.

Or simply stroll with no particular aim in mind—I almost guarantee that you’ll feel better for it.

The power of decluttering

Just as we see nature letting go of leaves, winds blowing down the dead wood, ecology rotting last year’s growth for this years’ food, winter is nature’s season of rest and anticipation.

A great practice to echo that in our lives is decluttering. Consider key areas of your life, such as work, home, social life, mental health and physical health, then ask yourself the questions

What and/or who brings me life, encourages me to be myself and brings me delight?
And what diminishes me, keeps me locked in patterns of fear and keeps me from growth?

Practical results from this exercise might include:

• decluttering your phone by removing apps that distract you and don’t serve to call the best out of you;
• prioritising those friends that help to bring out the best in you, and diarise time together.
• booking activities that bring you joy; and
• decluttering your workspace, wardrobe and/or kitchen.

Start small—book in one activity, remove one app and declutter one space. See how that makes you feel.

We are living out lives that began in a previous generations’ imagination. Creativity begins in the imagination—a thought, an idea, a picture, a musing. And that playful quality of creativity is another essential part of feeling good and living out our potential. But we live in a time when many things clamour for our attention and often distract us from those things that make us feel good.

The art and science of decluttering, mentally and physically, is the first stage of freeing up creative space and the birth place of new ideas for us and for the generation to come.

The power of nourishment

Food is a glorious gift on so many levels. But modern society has a habit of diminishing the conversation about food to convenience and calories, especially as part of the new year narrative. Here at the Manor, we see it as so much more.

Food is nourishment, information and energy. It serves to nurture our mind and body, especially in the colder months. We believe in the power of food to gather us around the table, to celebrate and to mark precious moments in our memories.

It’s a great storyteller too—of our history, our childhood and our landscapes. But even more than that, of our soil, our growers, our makers and the creativity of our chefs. Food can be seen solely as fuel, or it can be seen as a language of love and nourishment for the soul.

Every season has a story to tell but what about winter? Across the estate, you will see more emphasis on roots, potatoes, winter cabbages, brassicas, apples, preserved and collagenous meats, hearty stews, beans and pulses. Food that comforts and warms, as well as being really good for you.

Roots are complex carbohydrates that sustain energy in the colder months. While brassicas, like cabbages and broccoli, are packed with fibre, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and bioactive plant chemicals, supporting detoxification.

Cooking with cuts of meats like beef shin and oxtail provides collagen, an often overlooked nutrient which is essential for brain, muscle, skin and gut health. While iron provides energy and zinc is essential for keeping those cold at bay.

For our non-meat eaters, the increase in the use of dried beans and pulses is great for fibre, iron, B vitamins and zinc. Win, win, win.

@drsallybell

Looking for some well-being in your 2024? Email events@hamptonmanor.com about upcoming wellness events and workshops, ideal for away days and corporate retreats.