Words by Jamie Crocker
Just a short distance from the wide crescent of Gyllyngvase Beach, St Michaels Resort is a place that not only offers luxurious accommodation and fine dining but extends a warm welcome to those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. For 2025, they have expanded their Wellness Breaks, a series of transformative activities designed to inspire and uplift.
Whether it’s reconnecting with nature through wild swimming, finding balance with yoga, pushing limits with paddleboarding, or grounding the self through breathwork, St Michaels Wellness Breaks will have something to offer every guest or visitor.
Fully embracing its proximity to the sea, St Michaels is an ideal setting for open-water swimming. In 2025, the Wild Swimming Retreat will be led by Salim Ahmed, founder of Swimlab and a master of the art. Salim’s approach to swimming goes beyond conventional teaching. For him, swimming is more than a sport – it’s a performance art that combines body alignment, flexibility, and a deeper connection with the water. “At Swimlab, we think differently,” says Salim. “We help you connect with the water, enabling you to move through it efficiently and gracefully. During the weekend retreat, we focus on the latest techniques in stroke development whilst emphasising the importance of how your body interacts with the water itself.”
Guests participating in this retreat will not only gain skills for life, but they’ll also experience the liberating effects of wild swimming in one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the UK. Salim’s aim is to help swimmers of all levels leave the retreat with the physical skills and confidence to continue their journey long after the weekend ends, whether they choose to swim for competition or pure pleasure.
One of the most anticipated experiences for 2025 at St Michaels is the Wim Hof Method, hosted by Cat Paterson. A Level 2 Wim Hof Method Instructor who specialises in mindfulness, meditation and breathwork, Cat brings a wealth of experience to her sessions. Cat’s background as a Rapid Transformational Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist ensures that her retreats go far beyond traditional wellness approaches, touching on deeper layers of mental and emotional healing.
“The Wim Hof Method is a pathway to re-establishing harmony between mind and body,” Cat explains. “By engaging with breathwork and cold exposure, we can unlock the deep intelligence that resides within all of us.”
Students will be guided through breathwork, mindfulness and cold exposure exercises, all designed to bring the body into a natural state of balance. These techniques not only offer health benefits like improved immunity and mental clarity but also help to alleviate stress, anxiety and other ailments. Her classes are known for being transformative, with her students often leaving feeling more centred and empowered to face life’s challenges.
For those looking for an active, outdoor adventure, St Michaels Resort is pleased to offer Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) courses led by Brendon Prince. As the first person to SUP around the entire coast of mainland Britain and a world record holder for the longest-ever journey by paddleboard, Brendon brings a wealth of experience and passion to his sessions. “I’ve seen every beach our island has to offer, but there’s something special about Falmouth,” Brendon shares. “This area is without doubt one of the best locations for SUP in Britain.”
The sheltered waters of Falmouth Bay, along with the Helford and Fal estuaries, provide perfect conditions for paddleboarding, no matter the weather. Brendon’s classes are designed for both beginners and more advanced paddlers, focusing on the fundamentals of paddleboarding while also providing opportunities for exploration. His knowledge of the UK’s coastal geography ensures that guests will get to explore hidden coves and secret inlets, adding an element of adventure to their wellness retreat.
No retreat experience would be complete without yoga. Here, enthusiasts will find their perfect opportunity, thanks to two highly experienced and passionate instructors, Bex and Ruth. Each brings a unique approach to yoga, ensuring that every participant can find the right path that aligns with their needs and abilities.
Bex, who trained in Dharamsala, offers a multi-style yoga practice that incorporates mindfulness techniques, making her sessions suitable for all levels. “Sharing the practice of yoga in such a beautiful location is a dream come true,” Bex says. “We aim to help unify the body and mind, allowing guests to leave feeling deeply restored.”
Ruth, a seasoned instructor with over 27 years of teaching experience, specialises in restorative yoga practices, including Yoga Nidra, a deeply meditative form of this ancient practice. Ruth also leads classes focusing on Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs, a specialised 12-week course aimed at addressing chronic pain issues. Both instructors share a common goal: to help guests unwind, reset and return to their daily lives with a renewed sense of energy and peace.
Beyond the transformative wellness experiences, St Michaels Resort ensures that guests are pampered from the moment they arrive. The resort offers a wide range of rooms, from cosy classics to luxurious kings full of space and light. Each one is designed with comfort in mind, offering the perfect environment to unwind after a day of activities. Guests can indulge in spa treatments at the resort’s world-class wellness centre, which features a hydrothermal pool and a Cornish sea salt steam room, along with a bespoke range of treatments that incorporate locally sourced ingredients.
Dining at St Michaels is an opportunity to sample some of the finest food this part of the world has to offer. The resort’s restaurant emphasises fresh, local and sustainable ingredients, offering a menu that celebrates the flavours of Cornwall. Whether it’s freshly caught seafood or seasonal vegetables from local farms, guests will find a menu that complements their wellness journey. For those participating in wellness retreats, the chefs work closely with instructors to create meal plans that nourish the body while remaining delicious and satisfying.
St Michaels Resort offers more than just a wonderful stay on the Cornish coast – it provides an opportunity for guests to embark on a holistic personal journey of self-knowledge and regeneration. Whether through the exhilarating experience of wild swimming, the calm and centring practice of yoga, or the thrill of paddleboarding, there is a retreat for every type of guest or visitor. Combined with the resort’s exceptional accommodations and dining, the Wellness Breaks at St Michaels promise to leave guests refreshed, restored and ready to take on the world.
Whether you’re looking to escape the stresses of modern life or push your limits, St Michaels embraces activities that will fulfil your wish to pursue these desires.
