Summer is fast approaching and (we hope) it means some good weather....and you know what good weather means girls - SWIMWEAR, shorts and bare legs!

Whilst we love summer, we do understand that these words fill many a good woman's heart with fear for several reasons: body image, hair and radiant skin.

So here at Middle Piccadilly we have come up with some solutions for you:

If you are worried about Body Image this summer, try our fabulous Detox Juice Breaks. These programmes are designed to help to 'detox the body' over a period of either 3, 4 or 5 days using the treatments to assist detoxification of the body and a combination of fruit and vegetable juices for the supporting diet. The Detox will leave you feeling cleansed, refreshed and full of energy. There is also the potential for slimming and weight-loss as a direct result of taking a Detox Break. All treatments will help support the detoxing process and we include the Detox Mud Bodywrap and Exfoliating Bodyscrub in your program. (Detox Breaks start from £351 per person for 3 nights)

If unwanted hairis your 'summer nightmare', you will be pleased to hear we have recently introduced MOOM organic hair removal at Middle Piccadilly.

In the mid 1970's, burned by waxes, frustrated by what was available on the market, Jinous Nouri, a chemist, set out to create the perfeect waxing solution for unwanted hair. Jinous brought together for the first time Sugar, Chamomile, Lemon Juice, Water and Tea Tree Oil, creating a totally new system for removing unwanted hair. In 1990, Jinous introduced MOOM into the market and n ow we are proud to introduce it to Middle Piccadilly Spa Retreat and Wellness Centre.

Finally, if you want to get your skin in 'tip top' condition why not indulge in a two-night package at Middle Piccadilly called Full of Eastern Promise (2 nights) Where you can indulge yourself in a flavour of the East with the Oriental treatments included in this two nught break. Treatments include a Thai Hot Stone Massage and an Exfoliating Bodyscrub to ensure you look perfect for the beach! All for £323.00 per person

So, wedding season is upon us kicking off, of course, with the BIG one!

 We do realise OTHER people may get married sooner, or on the same day, but  for many people Will and Kate’s day is the one and all everyone seems to be talking about.

 Here at Middle Piccadilly Spa Retreat we love a wedding (especially wearing a hat!) and whilst weddings are magical we realise that they are also very stressful for the bride, friends of the bride, mum-of-the-bride and the mother-in-law. With this in mind we wanted to remind you about our wonderful packages, designed with YOU in mind and perfect if you have thought about everyone else.We believe Middle Piccadilly would really provide the perfect break after all the organisational demands of a wedding and provide time for you Mums of the Bride or Mother in Laws.

 The spa and retreat offers a range of wonderful packages; from the  ‘Mini Me Moment’ (£295) to the fabulous ‘Ultimately Chilled’ (£625), a four night to rebalance your life. The spa Retreat is a small place with a big heart. The 17^th century thatched cottage is set in two acres of land and surrounded by Dorset countryside.  MP is renowned for its peaceful atmosphere and simpler life.

 We hope to see you soon!

 Log onto www.middlepiccadilly.com for more information on the Spa Retreat and the range of packages we offer

We are as patriotic as the next person here at MP, however we do realise that not everyone likes football;  so we have created a special package for anyone wanting to get away from it all while the boys are on the pitch. Called ‘FreefromtheWorldCup Special’, this promises to take you away from footie fever. Bring a friend and we will give you two free full body massages of your choice absolutely free (worth £140) and we'll also give you £49 off the normal full board accommodation rates. This offer is available until the end of July 2010 and we promise not a football in sight! Check the website for full details.

 

As well as doing more interior design, we’ve also added a poly tunnel to the garden, which is full of vegetables ready for guests. There’s nothing more satisfying than pulling out some radishes, tomatoes and lettuce from the garden and serving it in a salad to our guests. Speaking of raw food, we’ve been working towards the first Raw Food Spa, which is being held on November 22nd - 27th, at the wonderful Victorian Barn under Bulbarrow Hill in the rolling Dorset countryside.

 

We are very excited about this event and think anyone who signs up for this will experience incredible benefits. Raw food diets have been show to increase energy, help people feel younger and fitter, to mention just a few pluses.  Over the five days our aim is to introduce you to the benefits of the raw food diet, we facilitate this through a series of informative 'Taste and Learn' sessions spread throughout the course of the program.

 

To provide you with a richer, more fulfilling experience we've included yoga and meditation sessions, and nutritional talks so sign up now, for a new and life changing experience. Places are limited but never fear there is another Raw Food Spa from November 22^nd – 27^th, check it out it could change the way you eat forever!

 

Lisa’s Heath Tip this month is:

 

·         Eat your five-a-day of fruit and vegetables at least: This is a fairly easy one if you just pile your plate full of salad and vegetables at lunch and for your evening meal. TOP TIP: Just three dried prunes relates to one of the recommended five-a-day!

Learn about our  new Ultimate Health Choice!

 

Spring is the time to get cracking on all those jobs that we’ve had to put off over winter....not that we have been doing nothing, far from it, as we have been hectic with detoxers over the winter months and working on our exciting new project (more on that later!).

 

In recent weeks, here at Middle Piccadilly, we’ve been giving the wonderful Star House, set in the beautiful grounds of our 17^th century farmhouse, a facelift. This is a beautiful place for meditation and yoga and inside is in splendid order; but we did feel it was time to renovate the outside. Now it is looking very inviting. We’ve also been decorating the guest rooms using the sumptuous Khaki Mist paint, a warm and calming colour; which seems fitting for the guest bedrooms at Middle Piccadilly!

 

After digging the veggie patch this week ...we’ve found we are now in desperate need of one of the wonderful massages, available at Middle Piccadilly. We have been planting produce, so that guests can enjoy our wonderful home-grown vegetables from August, and of course, fruits from the orchard.

 

As well as all this we have been working on our VERY exciting and cutting edge Raw Food Spa, a five day fast and raw, with raw food training, raw meals, meditation, yoga, holistic therapies and nutritional advice. This is the ultimate health choice.

 

We hope to teach guests the benefits of adopting a raw food lifestyle and to experience new taste sensations and new energy levels. This is something we’ve had in planning for ages and are really excited to finally launch it!

 

The five day Raw Food Training, run at the beautiful and rural Victorian Barn, consists of two days of demineralising using  super green juices (which will give your body a break from digestive stresses and prepare you for a raw food sensation) then three days of raw food. There is also time for guests to indulge themselves with holistic treatments, time lounging by the pool or watching an inspirational presentation. Read more about this exciting new venture at www.fastandraw.co.uk

 

Lisa’s Tip: Brush your troubles Away!

The skin brushing techniques is an improtant and easy part of cleansing the body.

Practise skin brushing, using a natural bristle brush and gently brush your body in long strokes, always moving towards thw heart, away from toes to groin; fingers to armpits. Lisa says: 'After skin brushing, give yourself an Epsom salts bath - dissolve 450g of Epsom salts into a warm bath and relax for about twenty minutes or add two cups of apple cider vinegar to a warm (not hot) bath. Drink peppermint tea while in the bath. Wrap yourself in several large towels (include your feet) and go to bed like this'.

(Note: Avoid Epsom salts if you have heart trouble or are diabetic.)

After coping with all the snow, collecting guests stranded at the station; shovelling snow and keeping warm by the beautiful log fire at Middle Piccadilly, we are now preparing for spring and the all important Mother’s Day; when we have the chance to thank our mums for all they do.

 

With that in mind, we have installed a brand new Danz spa to help our guests relax even more during their stay (if that is possible!) and have moved toward spring vegetables when preparing wonderful home-cooked vegetarian food. We are also venturing into the ‘Raw Food’ world, as we are planning a five-day Raw Food Retreat in September at the  www.thevictorianbarn.co.uk, and we have been testing out some of the delicious dessert recipes on some of our guests. We have tried Pomegranate cheesecake, which was a huge hit and have plenty more exciting recipes, so why not come and try them out!

 

Here at Middle Piccadilly, we know how important mums are so we've developed a package just for them! The 'Treat Mum' package is totally designed with mums in mind - by a mum!Co-owner Lisa and mum-of-three, came up with the fabulous idea for the 'Treat Mum' package and thinks mums will love it so 'come on Mum, give the kids a prod to book you a lovely weekend away.'

 

The wonderful package costs £299 per mum, offers two nights full accommodation at the wonderful retreat, set in the beautiful Dorset countryside with treatments including an organic fresh fruit facial, Spezia Hand on Heart and a Thai Herbal Soak. The organic fresh fruit facial lasts a wonderful 40 minutes long and uses natural organic products and organic fruit masks while the Specia Hand on Heart lasts a heavenly 75 minutes and is all about you, with slow rhythmic massaging of hand and feet, orientated towards pressure points, which stimulate energy interactions through -out the body and culminates in gently rebalancing the chakras. The thai herbal soak allows you to enjoy the warmth and relaxing calm.

 

We are relaxed just reading about it...

Lisa's Top Tip:

There's nothing better for the body than taking a deep breath - it'll help you feel revitalised and give you renewed energy.

* Inhale slowly and deeply

* Exhale briskly

* Flatten your abdomen as you exhale

* Inhale again naturally

* Repeat several times and return to normal breathing.

So, after months of you, our lovely clients asking us why we do not blog, we have finally organised to write down all the lovely things that happen at Middle Piccadilly, so you will want to come and visit us even more than ever.

Here at Middle Piccadilly we have had a busy 2009 summer with the wonderful Hen Night events that have run through the summer with lots of brides-to-be and their friends enjoying treatments, such as a fresh fruit facial or spa ritual pedicure, lounging in the spa or just taking time out.

Now, we have some planned for the winter but this time in a Yurt, which used by the nomads of Mongolia! The yurt is decorated with rugs, cushions and a wood burning stove to ensure guests are warm and cosy. And because of demand we have opened these special events up to people other than Hens, so if you fancy a night in a yurt with a wood burning stove on a crisp winter night – get in touch with us.

We  love this time of year for one reason only because Dom makes his gorgeous PUMPKIN SOUP...nothing like it when you’ve been outside building fences and it is ideal for combating the chills of the winter season...

To make you need:

2 pounds of pumpkin flesh in cubes

1 large onion, peeled and diced

1 large potato peeled and cut into small cubes

1-2 cloves of garlic

1 flat teaspoon of curry powder

3-4 cups vegetable stock

Instructions:

1) Boil pumpkin in water

2) Fry onion in oil in frying pan

3) Add garlic to pan, mix in curry powder

4) Pour in cooked, mushy pumpkin

5) Add potatoes and stock, salt and pepper and simmer until cooked

6) Mix in blender, when cooled slightly, until smooth and creamy

7) Enjoy with crusty bread!

 

 

LISA's Healthy tip:

 

Drink more water...! If you don’t drink enough fluid you will get dehydrated. This can cause bad breath, fatigue, tiredness and poor skin!  Water makes up about 60 per cent of our body weight. It is good for your skin, your digestive system, kidneys. It can help in weight loss and cellulite reduction.

TOP TIP: If you don’t like the taste of water try adding a slice of lemon or lime.