Natural beauty

Home is where the heart is

Anada fuses spa, wellness and nature to create something truly unique. Robes and slippers at the ready for an afternoon of sensory relaxation at home

We’ve all had a taste of the nature pill. Something so simple, yet oh-so effective. When we’re feeling stuffy or we need to escape our minds for a while, a moment or two in the great outdoors can work wonders. During the lockdown period, we have all had time to stop and take notice. Noticing the natural beauty around us and understanding why it is so important to our general wellbeing. Our natural landscape creates a wellness experience of its own. It’s no coincidence

that we turn to the sounds of crashing waves, tweeting birds and swaying trees when we train our minds to switch off. Throw in a traditional spa treatment, cleansing herbal teas, guided meditations and the ability to really put yourself first, and you’ve got the ultimate soul-enhancing wellness experience - based around the beauty of the great outdoors. Anada Home is a personalised, at-home experience that invites positive energy to help reboot and revitalise. Inspired by the Scandi way of life and taken from the Swedish word for spirit, Anada nurtures and invigorates the mind, body and soul. It’s the brainchild of Deborah Carr - a spa specialist with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Inviting Deborah into your abode is an absolute joy. She is kind, calming and instantly makes you feel like a guest in your own home. She is clearly passionate about everything she delivers. And with a genuine love for the great outdoors - Yorkshire in particular - her job is to ensure her clients can really escape for a few hours. The Anada experience came to life during the initial lockdown period when Deborah was out on her daily dog walks. “It’s something that has been bubbling for a while,” she says. “But it came to light when we were forced to think on our feet a little. It just seemed like the perfect solution for getting that spa experience at home.” Born out of an experience with nature, it made sense for Deborah to ensure that every little detail brings us back to earth. The great outdoors is a constant source of energy. Everything we do is centered around what is going on outside. Our mind and body is always adapting to the seasons, and the landscape that surrounds us is so important to our physical and mental wellbeing. Whether it’s big open spaces, crashing waves, woodland walks or soothing waters, all of these natural and incredibly powerful elements give us the tools to tick off the five key pillars of health. The result: a mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially enhancing experience. A real, restorative box-ticker. With that in mind, Anada’s soul-enhancing experience invites groups of up to four to share a sensory, holistic spa journey in the comfort of their own homes. With treatments themed around the forest, the beach, the river and the meadow, Deborah uses a mix of tried-and-tested spa products including Elemental, Herbology and Natural Spa Factory, as well as Anada’s very own luxury essential oils. In the days leading up to the experience, Deborah reaches out to share information and get to know the group so that each treatment can be tailored to the individual. Our fluffy robes and slippers arrive in the post the day before, so we’re able to start the wind-down before our therapists arrive. On arrival, the Anada team work their magic to transform your home into a serene space where you can truly switch off, relax and indulge in some much-needed ‘me time’. Complete with candles, incense, herbal teas and lavender, everything we associate with a blissful spa sanctuary has arrived in our living room. It’s a COVID-friendly experience from start to finish, with therapists wearing PPE, regular cleansing treatments and the added bonus of being able to keep your own robe and slippers following the spa day. The experience starts with a cleansing ritual using hot towels and lemongrass, before the therapists use a smudging stick to shift any negative energy in the room. A calm, woody aroma is released from the gentle burning of herbs - a practice that dates back to a time when Native Americans would spiritually cleanse a living space to strengthen intuition and improve focus. Grounding follows, with soothing breathing exercises to help centre the body and calm the mind. Next up is a tea ritual; a time to rest up and socialise over a cuppa - we’re in Yorkshire after all. Fully relaxed and ready for a revitalising treatment, it’s time for the main event. We are invited into our ever so tranquil living space, filled with candles, scents and cosy blankets. We’re in for the forest treatment. The authentic sounds of swaying trees, rustling leaves and raindrops takes over as we drift off to dreamtime. Complete with woody aromas, essential oils, birch whisks and wooden massage sticks, we’re wandering through savannas, grasslands, swamps, bamboos, and palm forests in no time.

It’s a soothing, full-body massage, deepening the pressure on targeted areas to leave the body feeling fully revitalised, banishing tightness and toxins. We leave the living room feeling completely new, ready to continue the relaxation with DIY facial treatments, mood cards, guided meditations and plenty of herbal tea. Anada Home is unlike anything we have experienced before. It’s a fantastic way to pick the spa up and bring it to your own living space. And the beauty of it is, following your treatment, you can while away the rest of your day in your robe and slippers, continuing the wellness experience with your post-treatment gift set and your newfound knowledge on how the power of nature can bring us back down to earth.

The Anada Home experience is available to clients based in Yorkshire and Cheshire. Prices start at £150 per person. Gift vouchers are available for Christmas. For more information, visit: anada.co.uk

The region’s best

ON THE HOOF

with Deborah Smith

The days are shorter, the clippers are out and winter is certainly in sight. We barely seem to have got going this year and now 2021 is just around the corner. I’m determined to remain upbeat; it’s been a funny old year, but I’m keen to make the most of the brilliant winter training we have available across the whole region. So, here’s my own personal celebration of the best northern coaches who go that extra mile for clients and their horses... as he is always working towards longterm goals, so you feel like there is a well mapped out journey ahead. Because I see Paul so often, he is always there to help with training questions: the what, the why and the how… and he really is a font of all knowledge. Paul is based at Hole House Farm with two lovely arenas inside and out. He has had a great year himself with his horses, and his 19-year-old, Felix, has been super-smart at PSG, with an outing to the Premier League show in March at Myerscough. So well-

THE BEST… Winter all-round training Charlotte Ridley has something of a go-to destination at Park End Equestrian for those cold winter days. Having stepped back from her own very successful competitive career as a rider, Charlotte now concentrates on helping the rest of us get on and have fun - and win lots of rosettes, of course. She runs her legendary grid sessions throughout the winter and there’s usually flat, jumps and indoor XC going on as well. They don’t start until December, but I’m already checking the booking page on her website. Everyone comes away feeling motivated and all the horses seem to grow an extra hand in height after one of her lessons. Charlotte is always encouraging, cheerful and a master at teaching mixed groups. Always busy - so get booked up early. Park End Equestrian Centre, Simonburn, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 3AA Tel: 01434 230 394

Email: charlotte@parkendequestrian.co.uk THE BEST… Intensive dressage / individual camp If you want to have some focused, intensive dressage training, then a two-day ‘individual camp’ with Vikki Hayton is hard to beat. With two under my belt and a third in the diary, I can’t recommend them enough. BD Northern Region Chair, Vikki, is a hugely experienced rider, coach and judge. After a general assessment and goal setting deserved and what a great partnership they have. Paul Langford Equestrian Services, Hole House Farm, Lanchester, County Durham, DH7 0SY Tel: 07788 594051 E mail: paullangford22@hotmail.com

THE BEST… Pre-competition sparkle John Hill is always good value and what I love about his teaching is that he is so enthusiastic about every horse. He always finds something good about what he sees in front of him. Hairy cobs, sports horses, badminton hopefuls - John loves them all. All horses seem to go really well in front of him - in some ways it’s a shame he isn’t a judge, then we would all get 80%. He is a great confidence giver just before a competition. John has been whizzing up the levels this year with Ailsa Trafford’s lovely Polly, who is now out at Advanced Level. What a talented mare she is. Apparently, he has been wearing the same Mears tailcoat for 32 years and it still fits. John Hill Equestrian Training

THE BEST… Regular coaching I’ve been having lessons with Paul Langford for two years now; he must have the patience of a saint. Recently achieving his British Dressage Level 3 coaching qualification, Paul offers thoughtful and well-structured lessons. I’m fortunate to train with Paul twice a week and Oli and Strider have really come on under his discerning eye. He does work us hard, but I like his calm demeanour and his quiet determination to do things properly. We have learnt so much and Paul is excellent as a regular coach, Facebook: @Johnhillequestrian Email: John.horse@btinternet.com

discussion, the sessions are tailored and productive. With two horses, both very different, I have come away with a much clearer idea of how to ride each to progress and develop. The whole atmosphere at College Farm Equestrian Centre is so friendly and welcoming. It is convenient to get to, the facilities are super and everything is on-hand so even in winter it’s perfect. College Farm Equestrian Centre, West Markham, Tuxford, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0GT Tel: 01777 870 886 Mobile: 07860 276 578 THE BEST… Up-to-date show jumping The more BS I do, the more I realise how show jumping course building follows different trends. Sarah Tubbs is both a Level 4 British Showjumping Coach and a Coach Educator for British Showjumping. Sarah makes a real effort to keep up-todate with what style courses are being built at the big show jumping venues, so your training is current and you are as well prepared as possible. So this year, we have trained with Sarah over more technical courses and practiced combinations she has met herself while competing with her super mare, Aurora. Oli and Strider love their jumping and although we haven’t managed to do as much this year, our lessons with Sarah are so much fun and a welcome change for the boys to keep them on top form. Sarah has a super 50x30 indoor arena, perfect for those chilly Teesdale winter days. Marwood Equestrian Centre, Travellers Rest, Marwood, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8SR Tel: 07886 485201 Email: sarah@sarahtubbscoaching.co.uk