A closer look at the real meaning of sustainability this Fashion Revolution Week Written by Lottie Lewis The Salt Sisterhood is a community deeply rooted in nature. Our essence is found in the gently flowing tides, in the rolling waves and the forests and fields that surround our coastlines. The retreats we host are focused on connecting women with the outside world, allowing them to find peace, happiness and themselves. For this reason, we are dedicated to being as eco-conscious and sustainable as possible. Our new swimwear line meets these morals and beliefs. For she who is stirred by the sea, each piece is made with careful consideration for the environment and for people. When thinking about slow fashion, most of us simply think of the materials a product is made from. Surely as long as the fabric is organic or recycled then a piece is sustainable? This isn’t quite the case... Sustainability within fashion reflects not only the environmental impact of a brand, but the social impact on people and the supply chain when creating a garment. The Fashion Revolution is an initiative launched to bring awareness to wages and working conditions. Fashion Revolution Week unites the world’s largest fashion activism movement, educating and inspiring everyone to know the real value of what they buy and wear. The theme for Fashion Revolution Week this year is MONEY FASHION POWER. The campaign is calling for new laws that require businesses to conduct due diligence on living wages, transforming the lives of the people that make our clothes and redistributing money and power throughout the global fashion industry. Many big brands rely upon exploiting both natural resources and labour. Prices can be kept low by underpaying workers, and unregulated working conditions make for unsafe, unsustainable factories. Fuelled by overconsumption and throwaway fashion, our clothes have lost their real value. However, the rise of slow fashion is turning the tide on this. The Fashion Revolution calls for safe, fair and dignified working conditions for everyone in the supply chain, an end to waste, an industry that works to conserve precious resources and regenerate ecosystems, and much more. Click here to read all about it. The swimwear of our Salt Collection is created to last. The fabric is made from regenerated nylon in Italy, sourced from ghost fishing nets and other plastic waste destined for landfill. It’s buttery soft, flattering and durable, plus it cleans up our oceans and tackles plastic pollution. Not-for-profit organisation Earth.Org found that up to 1 million tons of ghost fishing nets enter our oceans every year, a shocking statistic that leaves us feeling incredibly concerned for the health and wellbeing of marine-life and the climate. Not only does the ocean provide us with solace, but it’s an integral component in the survival of our planet, making it our duty to protect it. By working with fabrics that are created from recycled marine plastics and pollution, we are making small steps towards saving our seas. Designed and tested in Cornwall and made in London, we keep our air-miles to a minimum and carbon footprint low. We chose to manufacture in Britain as we wanted to guarantee, and see for ourselves, that the garment-makers had exceptional working conditions and fair wages. Each piece is handmade by talented sewing machinists in London, in a factory that prioritises low carbon emissions and working conditions of the highest standard. By sourcing our fabrics from regenerative processes and working with ethical makers, we are opposing the throwaway, fast fashion industry and taking responsibility at every step of the supply chain, from conception to finished product. At The Salt Sisterhood we know that sustainability is a partnership between planet and people, and there is no sustainable future in fashion without considering the workforce as well as the production and materials. To support slow fashion is to carefully consider the clothes we buy and knowing the value of what we wear. We need to choose ethical brands and companies and take care of our clothes. The most "eco" items are the highest quality ones that last the long-haul, being fixed and patched, darned and loved for years on end. We envisage your Salt Swimwear pieces accompanying you on many a dip and surviving the test of time.

Words by Lottie Lewis | Images by Megan Hemsworth I don’t really remember the first time I went for a cold water dip. I’ve grown up in the sea, snorkelling and surfing and splashing in the waves, but it was only as I got older that I began swimming with intention. Packing my bag and setting off for the coast with the goal of pure immersion. Calling the girls and organising a sea swim. Planning my mornings and evenings around the tide and sun position. Slowly and without realising it, swimming has become as commonplace in my day as my morning tea. Aside from the pastime and the pleasure, cold water swimming has started conversations, opened doors and introduced me to other like-minded water women. It’s encouraged me to talk about my mental health and discover that we are all in this (ocean) together. Over the past few years I’ve swam alone and with my sisters and my best friends and new friends and old friends. I feel so grateful to be a part of a wonderful sea sisterhood. Through our ever-changing emotions and situations, trials and tribulations, the ocean has stayed steadfast, welcoming us back every time. One. Sometimes it’s important to be alone. To settle into the rhythm of our thoughts. To know that we can do things by ourselves. The calm that I feel when I swim solo is unmatched by any other activity. Attuned to the sound of my dogs paws crunching in the frost, winter boots thudding against the footpath, the westerly wind in the trees overhead, my nose sniffing and the rustle of my woollen roll neck in my hair, I make my way to the water. Thoughts fly around inside my head as I pull my hat lower, my hair escaping. I take a deep breath, before pulling off my socks and wading silently into the sheltered harbour. Hidden from view and watched over only by empty fisherman’s cottages, I slide into the inky depths, my breath mingling with the steam rising from the sunrise surface. All feelings of anxiety and reproach, stress and sadness dissipate. I sink into a place of solitude, held by the gentle swell of the tide, the ocean reminding me that we are never really alone when in nature. Two. My sister and I cycle in the sunshine to the coast. Singing, we weave across the empty roads of the first lockdown, absolutely aware of how incredibly lucky we are to have the sea as an escape from the monotony of isolation. Our backpacks are stuffed with swimsuits and towels, bottles of water and chocolate bars. We feel giddy with freedom. We free wheel down the final hill and bump our bikes across the golden sand. Mother Ivey’s beckons us with her turquoise tenacity, enticing us into deserted crystal ocean. Shrieking as we run towards the shoreline and diving below the surface before our toes have hardly touched the water, we remember what liberty tastes like. No rules or curfews, boundaries or behaviour, it’s as if we had forgotten how sweet the salty sea can be. Cold water swims during dry lockdown days were our salvation. Three. Through refreshing dips over the scorching summer, hot rocks dotted with naked bodies, burning our bums and rolling in the white sand, we reawakened our inner wild women. We stoked a smouldering fire within the sisterhood of swimming. My best friends and I decided to escape the crowds and venture west. Taking our tents and dogs, bikinis and boards, we headed to the beaches that lay down winding roads and steep descents, where the water sparkled and the crowds were sparse. Years of carpark changing has made us feel entirely comfortable together. We immediately strip off to nothing, bare bottoms suspended in the air before diving head first into clear waters. We lounged by the coast for days, no phone signal or commitments drawing us home. We’d rinse the salt from our freckled skin in the river, before retiring to our tents under a full moon, only to spend the next day exactly how we’d spent the last; drinking tea, swimming in the sea, exploring the footpaths with the dogs and watching the sunset with mugs of wine in hand, sharing secrets and stories, wishing the summer would never end. Mid-week dreams. Eight. Winter is easier with a tribe of sea-loving kin. I feel immensely lucky to have girlfriends who love braving the waves, diving into cold water and encouraging each other to take the plunge. The idea of the unofficial ‘after work winter swim club’ came easily; I wanted to connect all the water-women I knew. My sisters and friends, cousins and acquaintances. I organised the first meet on my Stories, simply stating the idea (cold water dipping with likeminded others), place (my favourite secret spot) and the time (the half an hour of light between finishing work and sunset). When I arrived at our meeting place there was a group of girls huddled together. A sea of faces of my favourite people, bobble hats bouncing in the wind, bags stuffed with towels and swimsuits, an assortment of knitted jumpers and tracksuit bottoms. Women from all professions and walks of life, upbringings and situations, united by a love of cold water. The moon was rising and the light fading as we waded into the sheltered waters of my favourite swim spot. Shrieks and laughter rang through the depths of December. Each of us swimming for different reasons, but emerging from the ocean with the same range of emotions; euphoria, pride, peace. The ‘after work winter swim club’ reiterated that together we are stronger. Together we can weather the storms. One. And then I was alone again. Packing my swimsuit and pouring myself a steaming flask of lemon and ginger tea. Coaxing my dog out of bed as the sun rose over the eastern horizon. Heading down to the shoreline as the first rays of the day spilled across the still surface, my breath mingling with the mist rising from the ocean. The never-silence of nature reminds me I am not alone, really. The sea birds wheel overhead and my dog takes up her sentry at the water’s edge. I sink slowly into the dark depths of late winter, and notice there’s a hint of spring in the morning air. Today I feel peaceful and the ocean mirrors my emotions right back at me. Words: Lottie Lewis Images: Megan Hemsworth With thanks to Atlantic Blankets for the cosy companions.

A blog written by our Surf Sisterhood 2019 retreat guest Theres Heinrich One week, seven days returning to (or rather starting) a yoga routine. Cornwall, southwest England, is no typical place for yoga or surfing as you might imagine other places such as Bali or Sri Lanka. But, for me it was really the perfect combination. I could not wait to get on the plane at the beginning of my trip, the journey really came at the right time. Digital detox and discovery of your own doshas included! However, more on this later - but one thing was said at the very beginning: It was so fantastically beautiful! I have not laughed and learned so much in a long time. From the group dynamics, to the conversations - it was just as good (or even better) as I had imagined it to be. Cornwall Cornwall is calm, harmonious, green and wet. In addition to the single airport runway, there is only space for 84 people at Newquay Airport. The weather changes every hour between rain, sun, fog and storm. But I like it and enjoy it very much. The Week and Daily Run Each day started with a morning yoga session in one of the most beautiful yoga studios imaginable. Looking out over the small boats, the first rays of sunlight of the day shone through the glass vaults of the studio, the wooden floor warm under our yoga mats and feet, we watched the dew and fog play millimeters above the water surface. Then home, for breakfast together. Every morning there was another hot dish, which we enjoyed in the kitchen overlooking the harbour and shared our goals for the day. Pear porridge, chia pudding with chocolate or grilled mushroom bread as a refreshment for the day prepared by the always smiling Kat. Then packing our stuff and start looking for the perfect swell. Change in the van (a mobile changing room!), warm up on the beach, grab the surf board and get into the cool water. After surfing we always had our strength returned with a cup of hot chai tea, banana bread and delicious energy balls by the beach. In the late afternoon, when we are back at the tranquil Salt House, where we lived together for the week, we have some free time for ourselves. Reading, sharing the experiences of the day, sharing tips and life philosophies. In the evening we went either to the town to eat together in one of the many sweet little restaurants of Falmouth or cook together in the kitchen at home. Every day was different: Depending on the weather conditions, the swell and thus the perfect surfing conditions changed every hour. This means that the days are spontaneous and flexible. Depending on the location, a yoga session is held either in the morning or in the evening. Twice we did yoga in the morning and then we went out to the beach. Due to very good surfing conditions on two more days, that changed and the yoga and meditation classes were moved to the evening. We were able to use the right wind in the morning and take full advantage of the surf! On these days we had lunch at the van. After a break in the warm sun, we went in for a second time into the clean waves. In the afternoon, we made small trips to more beautiful places, to Kynance Cove, to the workshop of OPEN Surf and to local brands like Atlantic Blankets. Yoga and Meditation How was the yoga? Can beginners keep up? Yes, definitely! The nice thing about this retreat is that you do yoga in a smaller group and spend several days together. Thus, the yoga teacher can better understand and meet the individual needs of each participant. It has become clear that the well-being of each person is very important to Lauren. Basically you can divide the yoga and meditation sessions during the retreat like this: Vinyasa Yoga (mostly in the mornings as an eneregising flow to focus and to start the day) Breathwork as a support during the exercises and meditation Yin Yoga (in the evening, as relaxation/opening of the muscles and reflections on the day) Surfing Patrick was a great surf teacher. Full of patience, motivation and fun, he has approached every wave with us. Warming up at the beach, body surfing through the waves, Patrick has shared every little detail with us and even pushed us with confidence into the intermediate green waves on the last day. The surf sessions are something for every level. Lauren surfs the bigger waves further out with the more accomplished surfers while Patrick strives for the perfection of the still practicing beginner surfers. And so we had plenty of time for us, as well as always a private professional by our side, who surfed side by side with us in the white water waves to constantly give new tips and tricks for improving. Popping up, foot positioning for a better and easier turn, how to immerse yourself in a wave that is too big to avoid being swirled around by the force. The salty taste, the sound of the sea, the glitter of the breaking waves I still remembered all these details in the evening when I went to sleep. For hours we sat on our boards, enjoying the Cornish landscapes or a new wave towards the beach, facing the green cliffs - rushing with euphoria and freedom. And yes, on the last day we finally all sat together, out there in the green water, trying out the bigger waves. The sisterhood all together + Patrick. The feeling as I take my first green wave, was indescribable. Strength, energy, self-confidence! Amazing. I came back up from the waves breaking over me, leaning on my board smiling, ready to paddle back out to the others as they cheer me and shine at least as well as I do, pure pride. "And how does it feel?" Soft, gentle - happy. Why I Loved the Retreat So Much Lauren and Patrick really gave all their love to this retreat, the group had a great dynamic and I felt really good. We got along so well that we formed a little sisterhood "in our little bubble," as we called it. I was able to fully let go during the yoga sessions and was simply relaxed at the end of the week. The combination of the vibe of Cornwall combined with the family-like principles of the small retreat made one grow, relax and open up. Lauren has come up with sweet little things that have harmonized the retreat: The Salt Sisterhood Goody Bag, which greeted us on our comfy beds on arrival, was filled up with sustainable and useful products, especially during the retreat (Surfer sunscreen from SeventyOne Percent, A Salt Sisterhood camping mug for our chai teas, and my chakra band from Pineapple Island, which still recreates my daily mantra) and each of the yoga classes was completed with a blissful Savasana (the extended lying incl. Small massage of the forehead and temporal region with the fingertips with some delicious smelling oils). During the retreat, Lauren and Patrick are fully responsive to the needs of the participants, so we put the world to rights during the car rides, started a race with the other car or simply shared the silence and enjoyed the passing green scenery. All in all a very harmonious and loving retreat, which I would like to experience again. Thanks to all participants and The Salt Sisterhood for this great experience! Thanks to Theres for writing this lovely review of our Surf Sisterhood week, and also a BIG THANKS to these brands who supported our retreat and made the experience extra special by gifting us these treats for our Salt Sisterhood goody bags: SeventyOne Per Cent Thought & Built by surfers this amazing sunblock kept our retreat guests well protected from the sun while they were in the water. This stuff really stays on good and the best part - it's made from all natural ingredients! Check them out: www.seventyone-percent.com Pineapple Island We were treated by Pineapple Island to some delicate handmade chakra themed bracelets www.pineapple-island.com West Coast Surf Wax Our boards were kept nice and sticky with wax from this UK based wax company, not only that but they also very kindly kept our hair smelling delicious with some of their new eco friendly shampoo bars! www.westcoastsurfwax.co.uk Do you want to join us in 2020 for our Surf Sisterhood retreats? Find out more here This was September 2019... SEE ALL OUR 2020 DATES HERE

In this blog I would like to share with you the story behind The Salt Sisterhood, my project and my passion. I was originally struggling to find a name for my business (being too close to the project) so I decided to enlist the help of a very talented copywriter, Jess Collins to help me through this creative block. In the end it came down to something so simple but full of impact and relevance - The Salt Sisterhood - “For She Who is Stirred by The Sea”. This name embodies everything for me that the brand is all about. A Sisterhood, women coming together to empower one another, a love for the ocean, but also SO much more than that... Salt is something buried deep within the earth, and found as an integral part of the ocean. Salt exists within us. Salt is something that we extract and something that we need to survive. The Salt Sisterhood on a deeper level is all about this process of extraction.  In the philosophy of Tantra Yoga - there is a belief that each of us is already perfect and divine as we are, and that we do not need to strive to change in order to “be better” but that we simply need to rediscover what buried treasure already lies deep within us. We simply need to come home to ourselves and remember this truth that we are already everything we need to be (easier said than done, I know!).  As women, in the society and climate that we currently live in, we have even more work to do in order to rediscover and embody this truth - that we are already enough just as we are. We are told on a consistent basis how we are “not enough”. Not enough of anything, and that we must constantly work more and try harder to be and do “better” - in all aspects to reach (impossible) external standards. In striving for these unattainable goals set out for us by society, we forget ourselves, we forget our own power, we forget our TRUTH. We move further and further away from the gifts that are already inside of us. Those gifts which make us unique, are ours to embrace and own, enjoy and share with the world - this is our birthright.  The Salt Sisterhood is a platform for women to come together with one common goal in mind - salt extraction. In other words, clearing away what is blocking us from our own salt - our truth - the truth that we are already enough, already powerful, already creative and entirely deserving of our own self acceptance and love.  As a woman who has personally struggled over the years with anxiety, depression, self worth and and general self acceptance - my yoga practice and my relationship with the ocean have been my two biggest teachers and saviours in terms of finding the path to remembering the truth that I am already enough, just as I am. No matter how I am tested or in which ways, I am strong enough and deserving of my own love and self-acceptance. This is the mission and the passion of The Salt Sisterhood - through coming together, connecting, being in nature, re-wilding, sea-wilding, exploring and having fun we aim to reconnect to ourselves and with one another. The Salt Sisterhood is a platform designed for women of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to come together and empower one another through a shared love of the ocean, and I feel so privilaged to have the opportunity to provide this platform for women over the years since the company was founded in 2018. Having several yoga and surfing retreats under my belt now, I often worry that people might assume that I'm super good at surfing, can ride massive waves or hang ten on a longboard, or that I have a very advanced yoga practice and have mastered the art of the handstand minus a wall for support (I can do none of these things on the regular). Then I step back and look to the bigger picture, and gently remind myself (and my ego) that this is NOT what The Salt Sisterhood is aiming to be about! I don't need to feel that kind of pressure in order to share what I love doing, and most importantly - neither do any of the women who I want to work with and host at my retreats. The Salt Sisterhood is not about being "good" at surfing or yoga or anything for that matter... It's certainly not about being 'the best'. It IS about being 'the best YOU' that you can be and meeting yourself where you are with a sense of loving compassion, authenticity, joy and FUN.  It's about bringing together a community of women in a supportive and encouraging environment, so that we can try something new for the very first time or simply have fun doing something that we've been doing for ages - without feeling any pressure! One of the most rewarding moments I experienced on last year's Yoga & Wild Swim retreat in Cornwall was when our group were out on one of our swimming trips and one of my lovely guests watched as some of the other ladies dove off the rocks into the sea and she confided to me - "I have never done a head-first dive into the water ever, and I don't think I could do it! But I really want to!". So I took her aside and asked her why she thought she couldn't do it. With a little bit of coaxing, a short instruction in head-first diving (not my specialty so it was very basic) and a BIG DASH of bravery from my guest and - there she went!! Diving head first into the ocean for THE FIRST TIME EVER! And our amazing photographer Lizzie Churchill was there to capture the moment so our guest could keep that treasured memory forever. So, sometimes our goals are big, sometimes they're small - but it's not about measuring or comparing yourself. It's about tackling those personal goals of YOURS one at a time, in a safe supportive way with women who HAVE YOUR BACK. I am so very excited to share this venture with you. Lauren x

Ayurveda is a centuries-old system of health and wellbeing that was first developed in India – the birthplace of both Ayurveda and Yoga – which is still practiced and recognised today the world over. In basic terms, the overall aim of Ayurveda is to balance the energies that exist within the body in order to restore both body and mind to a state of health. Ayurveda often refers to ‘imbalances’ or ‘excesses’ of energies within the body. These energies relate to the elements and are split into three distinct categories, each with its own set of related qualities in physical appearance, behavioural or emotional aspects and associated health problems. These three categories are Pitta, Kapha and Vata. Each individual’s constitution is a combination of Pitta, Vata and Kapha and usually a person is predisposed towards one Dosha in particular, or perhaps two. Interestingly, no two people have exactly the same combination of the three Doshas. Each person’s constitution is uniquely their own. The work of Ayurveda is to identify imbalances and associated health concerns, and then to prescribe both a diet and activities which will help to restore balance back into these areas. There are many ways in which Doshas can be balanced – through diet, aromatherapy, massage, Yoga postures and pranayama practices – even the time of day you wake up can have an effect on your Dosha type. Ayurveda is a very broad and complex science, so bear in mind that this is just a very short summary of a very complicated and interesting subject! HOW DOES AYURVEDA RELATE TO YOUR YOGA PRACTICE? “Yoga & Ayurveda are two closely related spiritual or sacred sciences rooted in the Vedic tradition of India. Ayurveda is the Vedic science of healing for both body and mind. Yoga is the Vedic science of Self-Realization that depends upon a well-functioning body and mind. Both disciplines developed together and have always been used together. Therefore, those who are interested in one would benefit from studying the other.” – Dr. David Frawley Both Yoga and Ayurveda originated from India and were developed as two sister sciences at a round the same time. Both were intended to be self healing practices – but for very different reasons. Yoga can be viewed as the science of Self-Realization, whereas Ayurveda is the science of maintaining health and wellbeing. Ayurveda acts as a support to the practices of Yoga, by helping to keep the physical body aligned with a state of optimal health. Both of these practices support, inform and inspire one another. Ayurveda and Yoga both share the same Vedic roots, and offer two differing paths to the same common goals of self-understanding, healing and union. When practiced together in conjunction the effects of Yoga and Ayurveda together are profoundly healing. ALL ABOUT THE DOSHAS… “Ayurveda teaches us to love as is – not as we think people should be.” – Lissa Coffey PITTA Pitta Dosha is the energy associated with the elements of Fire and Water. The qualities of Pitta are hot, light, sharp and penetrating. Physically, people with a high level of Pitta are usually a medium and athletic build. Their eyes tend to be light in colour and have sensitivity to the light. Pitta’s skin type is usually yellowish or reddish, may have freckles and can be prone to sunburn. Pitta people can be quite competitive, driven and success orientated. As I mentioned to my students in a recent Pitta-pacifying class, a bit of Fire or Pitta energy is a good thing – because it can provide the drive and motivation for us to get things done, or have the courage and energy to start a new project. However, too much Pitta can result in over-competitiveness, anger, aggression, discontent, irritability and generally being a bit hot-headed! Physically, an excess in Pitta energy can cause thirst, dehydration, heartburn & indigestion, rashes, irritated or red eyes and inflammation. Tips for balancing an excess of Pitta Dosha (particularly relevant at the moment as Summer is the season of Pitta – yes, the seasons also relate to the three different Doshas!): Stay playful in your Yoga practice (and off the mat too!) and try not to take things too seriously. Avoid or notice any tendencies you have to be self-critical or judgmental. Enjoy the movement in your body and try to ‘be in your body’ and not just your head. Soften your gaze and face, and smile! Focus on your exhalations, releasing the heat of Pitta through your breath and along with it any associated feelings of frustration and stress. Less is more! Try to pull back a little from your physical practice rather than ‘working’ your body at 100%. Remember to enjoy the sweetness or Sukha to be found in your movements. Favour cooling foods like sweet juicy fruits and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. KAPHA Kapha Dosha is associated with the elements of Earth and Water, with its qualities being slow, oily, cool, smooth, soft, dense and stable. Physically, Kapha Dosha people have a medium to heavy build with a tendency to gain weight more easily than the other dosha types. They are usually attractive looking with large eyes, straight white teeth, glowing skin and thick lustrous hair. Kapha people are very grounded and calm and provide a lot of love and nurturing support to others. These even-tempered and stoic dosha types make great parents, teachers and healers. Kapha energy is slow and heavy, which in moderation can provide a good sense of grounding, but in excess it can lead a predominantly Kapha person to feel very unmotivated, lethargic and sedentary. If there is an excess of Kapha energy in the body it can cause slow metabolism, weight gain, excess mucus and a general sense of heaviness. Tips for balancing Kapha Dosha: An invigorating yoga practice is the best kind for balancing Kapha. Challenge yourself with an energetic flow practice on your mat and really make an effort to get things moving! Kapha can suffer in a cold or damp environment so take care to stay warm. Kapha tends to want to keep hold of objects and maybe even hoard stuff, so having a regular clear out can help to avoid feeling claustrophobic and keep your space clean and clutter-free. Warm and stimulating aromas such as clove, ginger and cinnamon help to balance Kapha – a cup of warm ginger tea will help to stimulate Kapha’s sluggish digestion. When you are feeling lethargic and want nothing more than to insert yourself into the sofa go out for a brisk walk or take a bike ride, even if it’s the last thing you feel like you want to do. You’ll feel so much better for it. VATA Vata Dosha is associated with the elements of Air and Ether and is the Dosha that is the most linked to illness. The qualities of Vata energy are light, quick, dry, cold, rough and clear. Physically, Vata people have a small and light frame and a tendency to lose weight easily. They often have an oblong face, thin or wiry hair, dry rough skin and chapped lips (think all the qualities of air and dryness). Vata people are highly creative and fast moving, and they love to travel. They are very fast learners and show a lot of enthusiasm but can also have a bit of a poor memory. Vata types make excellent counsellors, teachers, creatives and spiritual people. Although the Vata mind is a little scattered, they can often be very well attuned and sensitive to subtle energies. When out of balance, an excess of Vata can cause anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and mental instability. Physically, too much Vata can cause dry skin, dandruff, bloating, constipation, colds and a myriad of other illnesses. Tips for balancing Vata Dosha: Vata can suffer from the cold so it’s a good idea to stay warm – preferably under a palm tree on a beach in a hot sunny country! A grounding practice is the best kind of Yoga for Vata, poses which are low to the earth and strongly rooted balance postures all help to stabilise Vata. Enjoy foods that are warm in temperature and favour a lot of root vegetables like sweet potatoes and cooked carrots. Avoid dry and light foods like popcorn or crackers. Treat yourself to a massage with a moisturising and warming scented oil. SO, HOW DO I KNOW WHAT DOSHA TYPE I AM? Having read this blog you might already have a rough idea of which Dosha type or types you might be. But if you aren’t sure, follow the link to take this quiz and find out: https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/prakriti-quiz/ My personal experience with Ayurveda is somewhat limited to the basics as stated here, but I am fascinated by this science as it seems to be spot-on for me and I am interested to learn much more. I am a mixture (almost equally) of Pitta (slightly more) and Vata (a bit less) and I find that during the season of Pitta in Summer I am much less anxious, less often ill and a lot more motivated to do things. However, when winter comes around my Vata easily becomes out of balance with the arrival of the cold, light and dry qualities of the season – causing me to feel anxiety, worry and become ill more often. My best solution to this so far has been to relocate myself to warmer climes for as long as possible! But of course there are many effective ways to balance Vata whilst staying at home during the winter as well. The three Ayurvedic Doshas are at the core of the Ayurvedic idea of what is called Prakriti – meaning ‘constitution’. Prakriti is the the concept that each and every one of us has a unique combination of all three Dosha types that is solely our own. According to Ayurveda, our Prakriti or constitution is established at conception, and remains consistent throughout the rest of our lives, helping to provide us with a measure or point of reference for monitoring our own personal health and unique discrepancies. Alongside the self-study element of Yoga, this science provides us with another way to really know ourselves, and therefore know what we need in order to move in a more positive and balanced way through the ebbs and flows of life. #ayurveda #wellbeing #yoga

Our resident retreat photographer Lizzie Churchill wrote this blog piece on her experience at our first ever Yoga & Wild Swim retreat in September 2018, here's what she had to say about her experience with us. As a fan of yoga, swimming and the beach it didn’t take me long to make a decision about joining The Salt Sisterhood on their Yoga & Wild Swim retreat in September as a guest and photographer but I honestly wasn’t prepared for just how in love with all three I was. With an itinerary that would have us in the sea for 8am, morning and evening yoga practice, insane meals cooked for us three times a day and a group of the most wonderful ladies, it was a slight shock re-adjusting myself to my ‘normal’ routine after a few days and I only live 10 minutes from the retreat house! However, it wasn’t just the secluded location that took me away from the norm, it was the people I was around, the conversations we had, private shoreline to swim from, the quaint beaches we visited, the calm of our routine and above all our decision to be mindful. During our daily practice Lauren asked us to focus our energy and thoughts towards ‘looking after ourselves’, ‘balance’ and being ‘brave’. Not only did these three elements resonate with me on the retreat as we threw ourselves into the water each day,  nurturing our minds and bodies but they’ve become practices that have well and truly stuck with me since leaving. I often now remind myself these focus points and believe if we all consciously weave these thoughts into our daily routines we can only benefit from them. So why a Yoga & Swim retreat? Well, I cannot think of a better way to promote and demonstrate improved wellbeing than to surround yourself with good company, wild swimming, a healthy diet and mindful yoga. I often speak about my love of the sea and how being in, on, or by the sea is like an escape and I’d never really thought about why that was. I guess I didn’t really think I needed a reason, it just always had been and always will be how I feel but during our retreat Lauren recommended a book that has well and truly amazed me; Blue Mind is an incredible body of scientific research that proves our mental and physical health is directly effected by the water. “Water can give us energy, whether it’s hydraulic, hydration, the tonic effect of cold water splashed on the face, or the mental refreshment that comes from the gentle rhythmic sensation of hearing waves lapping a shore. We know instinctively that being by the water makes us healthier, happier, reduces stress and brings us peace.” - Wallace J. Nichols Submerging myself into the sea at any given opportunity during this retreat, absorbing as much water therapy that I could I can genuinely say it was easier than I thought to jump in and embrace the cold - and my goodness it really does leave you feeling incredible after. On my first day with the retreat team we sat with chai tea and bliss ball post-afternoon swim and took the time to reflect on how it made us feel. ‘Invigorating’ was an immediate thought as well as ‘clear’ and ‘refreshed’. However it isn’t just the water that can have a positive and healing effect on us which is why this retreat makes so much sense; yoga tied into our daily routine effortlessly too as we focused on ‘self-care’ and ‘balance’. It had been literally months since I’d last done a yoga class so I was really looking forward to checking in with my body and really stretching out (having had problems with my right elbow and wrist due to work (yup!)). This is where yoga became another saving grace for me as we balanced out our bodies working evenly through both sides. Lauren described the left side of our body as Ida nadi - the feminine, calm and lunar side with our right side being Pingala nadi - the masculine energy symbolised with the sun. During our class we attempted to bridge the gap between the two, encouraging both to work  together in harmony; and for myself in particular to give my masculine side a rest as the control, work and stress had cleary been too much. (arm issues on my right side!) On my last evening I participated in Yoga Nidra, a form of yogic sleep which leaves you drifting just between being awake and well…asleep. A state in which the body is so completely relaxed you almost ‘drop out’ of consciousness as your body becomes so heavy and free you simply slip into the deepest know form of mediation and WHAT a strange sensation it was. I can’t really describe it other than ‘hovering’ above sleep but feeling so utterly relaxed I may as well have been - it’s a complete cleanse of any tension and worry! With our minds clear and our bodies revitalised it was only fair that our guts were looked after too as our fuel and energy for the week - and boy, it did not disappoint! Joining us we had two top female chefs Jo & Tess who’s nutrition and flavour knowledge is outstanding. Everything was completely handmade from locally sourced, fresh fruit and veg which meant there was a constant mouth watering aroma from the kitchen as they worked throughout the day to provide us with breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as tea for our day trips and coffee on tap. We had soup, kitchari,  porridge, salads, polenta, fruits, fresh bread each morning….I could go on…but luckily I have photos too. I cannot reccomend a week away like this enough and I genuinely believe everyone neeeeeeds this in their life. Since leaving our bubble (this is now what it’s known as) in the East Wing, I’ve realised how effective just a few days away from ‘life’ was for me. I’ve never felt as detached from everything as I did then which as crazy as that sounds, is true. We stayed in a house tucked away on the Helford, lived in a small group for a week, sat around the table together each day to eat, discuss and plan, travelled to quiet, isolated spots where we barely saw anyone and emerged ourselves in self-care. What’s not to love. Thanks again SO much to Lauren, Tess, Jo and all of the incredible retreat-ers, I miss you all. x Visit Lizzie's photography website here: http://lizziechurchill.com/ #yogaretreat #wildswimming #cornwall #wellbeing #saltsisterhood #staysalty #womenandwater