The Body Retreat - Dorchester

Wendy Hodges-Jackson

Arrived exhausted, left revitalised with a spring in my step! This was my first time on retreat with the Body Retreat and what a life changing experience. From a lovely warm welcome, to amazing wholesome food, to exercise within my own limits, to presentations, massages, saunas, hot tub, sleep clinic, nutritional guidance, mindfulness.....the list goes on. I returned home with a zest for life that I had lost prior to meeting Jules and Julie and am looking forward to joining them on many more retreats - they are without a doubt, the dream team! Fantastic from start to finish - well done girls!

Wendy Allen-Smith

Stress Reset at Somerset

I wasn’t sleeping well, waking in the night & not being able to get back to sleep. I had low energy & had lost interest in the fun stuff. I was also feeling overwhelmed with life in general. I decided the Stress Reset would be a good retreat to try as I was so tired I didn’t really want to be jumping around.
The Stress Reset was prefect – 5 days of being looked after, being served fab nutritious meals, gentle exercises and lovely country walks. I enjoyed everything from morning workouts, workshops, swimming, sauna, hot tub (thankfully I took 3 swimsuits!) But best of all was sleep hypnotherapy at the end of every day, I had some great sleep & when I did wake up I could go back to sleep – Amazing!! I now own an actual alarm clock and my phone does not sleep with me!
I left calm, refreshed and minus a few pounds !

Thank you so much team Julie/Juls & Bella (dog)

Heather Clark

Best thing I've ever done. Got my lust for life back in body and brain. It is worth every penny. Women only, great programmes for each retreat, great nutritional, activity and exercise knowledge and variety. Juls and Julie are so understanding and helpful. I felt safe and cared for by them and fellow retreaters. Stunning accommodation and surroundings. 3rd visit, and not my last.

Vigorous Orange

Juls, Julie the rest of the The Body Retreat crew really know their stuff. They are amazing hosts, and the days are packed with workshops, classes and exercises, all in a stunning location (for lovely country rambles and inspirational sunsets) with great facilities like a hot tub, pool and sauna, and massage treatments if you want to relax further after all the exercises!

The meals were divine; really tasty. It was enjoyable meeting the other people on the course, and everyone was very supportive. I learned so much during the week which challenged what I had assumed. They structured it really well so there’s safe and steady progress of weight loss over the week, while showing why it works and demonstrating how to continue a healthy lifestyle at home, there’s also continued support available afterwards.

I’d recommend this retreat to anyone; I learned so much, and was very happy with the results!

Helen Bunker

Just home from a fabulous Sugar Detox Retreat with The Body Retreat. My fifth retreat with Juls and Julie and I am already scouring the diary for an opportunity to return.

There really is nothing like it. Whichever retreat you choose (weight-loss, stress reset, sugar detox or menopause - I have done them all!) you will be looked after, nourished and nurtured in a way that I have never found anywhere else.

Each retreat my knowledge grows as Juls and Julie, plus an wonderfully curated series of experts, share their knowledge and training around food, fitness, habits and simply how to thrive.

The accommodation is faultless and the opportunity to stay in such a lovely house, hiking every day from the front door is really special.

Returners keep coming back, not because it doesn't work, but because it does....and we want more of it!

Amanda Saunders

Can’t recommend The Body Retreat highly enough. Just got back from their Healthy Holiday in Andalusia and feel ten years younger, a few pounds lighter and with a new lease on life.

Rebecca Simpson-Hassell

I have just completed my 6th week at The Body Retreat. Jules and Julie’s creation is honestly the jackpot of retreats which is why I keep returning.

They have meticulously and caringly planned out every aspect of your weight loss journey with their whole hearts. The expert, scientifically based workshops are life changing in terms of how you learn to understand how your body and mind works. The food is delicious and nutritious. Julie’s exercise is also really manageable, fun and effective (coming from a ex exercise hater who she taught to love movement).

I had a really fun week with lovely ladies and the best ever retreat dogs who are just the cherry on the cake! I am leaving with a smile on my face but not because of the 5kgs I lost but (as Jules says) what I gained!

I couldn’t recommend it more… book book book!

Sara Murphy

The Body Retreat is so much more than 'just a weight loss week'. Great venue in the hills of Dorset. Comfortable rooms, lovely sitting area with fab views of the surrounding countryside. Nice pool - not too big if you are worried about swimming and standard 4 ft all the way along. Morning exercise if 15 min either outside or inside depending on the weather. Nice mix of HIIT training. The walks in the countryside are of varying lengths and are different everyday. Again, great scenery! Afternoons are for another class (including pilates, yoga, aqua fit etc), which gives you the opportunity of trying something new. Various other activities are available, including massage, hypnotherapy, 121 PT sessions.

The other side of the retreat is all about food and the science behind what and how we eat. Juls is unbelievably knowledgeable, the workshops are informative, easy to listen to and clear up the confusion around all the marketing we are hit with everyday. TBH it is an eyeopener about how we are manipulated by advertising.

The best bit for me was understanding how and what my body needs. Everything from size control (and an easy way to get the portions), what you need on your plate to feel satisfied, breaking down some of the built in behaviours (you must clear your plate), to name but a few.

The food was amazing. Tasty and different types provided during the week to illustrate how you can be flexible to suit your lifestyle if you plan ahead.
For example you can have a healthy breakfast on the go. Prepare your overnight oats in a jar the night before, pick it up out of the fridge in the morning on your way to work and boom! Satisfying, healthy breakfast which sustains you until lunch!

Thank you to Juls and Julie for providing me with the tools to break the bad habits I had fallen into. My health was starting to suffer and this break, gave me the space to get back on track.