Every now and then, during a busy period such as the Brighton Fringe, life can get hectic and even the smallest task can seem daunting. Wouldn't it be nice if we could get away from it all without leaving the city? The Urban Retreat with Jing Institute Of Massage in Brighton's city centre gives you the chance to switch off for three hours, whilst learning new skills in mindfulness. Run by co-founders Rachel Fairweather and Meghan Mari along with their current students, they create a safe and welcoming space, whilst enabling creativity and holistic healing.
An atmosphere that is both relaxing and enlightening
Due to the popularity of this particular retreat, there is a lot to process in three hours and at times does seem a little fast when taking you through each taster of yoga, meditation and beginner massage techniques. If you prefer something slower and more intimate, then it is recommended to come to one of their more detailed sessions. What balances this out is you are encouraged to take part at the level you are more comfortable with and no judgement is enforced. This in itself creates an atmosphere that is both relaxing and enlightening and makes you feel comfortable when exploring all on offer.
In the Yoga section, under Fairweather's mindful and equally fun approach, we take a journey into finding our Vinyasa (flow) with some fun uplifting 'eighties vibes' as she calls the accompanying music. This is done in such a way that even if you haven't done any form of yoga in a long time, you find yourself enjoying everything and finding the empowering healing form of laughter emerging from some of her insightful jokes putting us at ease as each position becomes more challenging. You find yourself rediscovering the playful aspect to Yoga here, grounding and resetting the mind and body.
This is then followed by a peaceful meditation session led by Mari to fully ground us before a break whilst they changed the room to become a massage studio. The words used are very reflective and create the space to take that well needed pause moment to reflect on where we are right now. The most powerful words for me I take from that section are 'how do you feel if I told you that you have everything you need to create happiness right now?'
The massage techniques in particular are the most enlightening part of the whole retreat. Both Fairweather and Mari team up with the students to show us how massage when done properly uses the whole body, creating less stress on our shoulders, arms and hands. It becomes very clear why they include the movement and stillness, as by doing this, it enables a more flexible, intuitive and creative way to relieve pain, stress and more when both receiving and giving a massage. Fusing both Sports and Middle Eastern techniques, they create a system which is accessible for all levels of expertise.
Urban Retreat with Jing Institute Of Massage is ideal for those who need mindfulness during fringe season and beyond.
