How the sea can improve your mental health: “Blue Mind” break launched at Cornish Hotel

Published October 18th, 2023

To mark World Mental Health Day 2023, Housel Bay hotel on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall has teamed up with Blue Mind coach Charlotte Lodey to share the benefits of blue spaces such as the sea with a package retreat for those in need of a mental wellbeing escape.

Housel Bay hotel is situated on the remote Lizard Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the most southerly point in Britain. Its location offers a bounty of stunning vistas, walking opportunities, beaches, fishing coves and nearby attractions, paired with limited phone signal helping guests to switch off.

The Blue Mind package will run Friday 15 to Sunday 17 March 2024 and includes:

• A two night stay at Housel Bay hotel with Cornish breakfast.
• A tasting menu experience at the hotel’s two rosette restaurant, Fallowfields.
• Four group workshops, including Blue Mind theory, making smudge sticks, and blue breath sessions.
• A mindful walking session.
• A cold water experience in Housel Bay Cove.
• Yoga and meditation sessions.
• Optional Reiki sessions.
• Time for relaxing and exploring the area, including walking the South West Coast Path or taking a dip in the sea.

All workshops and experiences will be run by Blue Mind specialist Charlotte Lodey, who is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation.

Prices start at £442 for single occupancy or £403 per person for a shared twin room.

Charlotte Lodey said: “There are so many powerful benefits to being in, near or on water. Just the sight or sound of water can deepen our biological connection with nature as well as lower our heart rate, helping to regulate our nervous system.

“A simple walk on the beach, can help us untether from the overstimulation of everyday life, lessen stress levels and bring us back into the present.”

The theory was supported in Chris Whitty’s 2021 report on health in coastal communities in which he stated that “Once socio-economic and demographic characteristics are accounted for, there are health benefits (both physical and mental) to living near the coast.”

Housel Bay hotel General Manager, Alfred Mesropians, said: “We’re passionate about mental health here at Housel Bay and we want all our guests to leave us feeling relaxed and recharged.

“The brand-new Blue Mind package will certainly do just that, and we’re really excited to launch it, especially on World Mental Health Day. Our location is perfect for a wellbeing break like this and we’re certain it will be a hit.”

For more information on Housel Bay hotel’s Blue Mind package, visit www.houselbay.com/events/blue-mind-retreat.