Interview with Mel, Lovegrove Wellness

Mel at Lovegrove Wellness runs a variety of seasonal wellbeing retreats in the Gullivers Wellness Yurt. Blending yoga, meditation, mindfulness… and delicious food and drink from the Gullivers’ team, Mel’s afternoon and evening retreats are welcoming and accessible, nurturing the mind and the body.

We chatted with her to find out more about the importance of yoga, her inclusive approach and what to expect from one of her retreats…

What do you love about what you do for a living?

I love that I get to share my passion for yoga and wellbeing, and that I can make it accessible to anyone and everyone.

It brings me so much joy when I see people falling in love with yoga and wellbeing. Especially when they realise how beneficial it can be to them – not just physically, but mentally as well.

How did you decide this was your path?

I have worked in the fitness industry for eight years now. I’ve always loved helping people and showing them how looking after their body is so important to their everyday health.

When I started to delve deeper into my yoga practice myself, six years ago, I realised how important it was to not only look after the physical but also the mental wellbeing.

But it was over lockdown that I really accelerated my vision. It made me realise that my mission was to make yoga and wellbeing accessible to everyone. To show that you can delve into the world of yoga and wellbeing, no matter your age or ability.

You run a selection of retreats at gullivers. What’s the common theme connecting them all?

The theme that runs throughout my retreats is: yoga for all! I really do believe that yoga is inclusive, and it can be enjoyed by anybody and everybody.

I like to make my sessions playful and inclusive, so that whether you’re an experienced yogi, or a complete novice, you will come away feeling accomplished and uplifted.

Gullivers is a place where people and community really matter. What does community mean to you?

Community to me means connection and feeling a part of something. I like to create a safe and inclusive environment for all my guests and always start my retreats with a welcome circle. This really helps everyone to feel relaxed and connected.

I often have guests attend my retreats on their own. It’s lovely to see the connections they make during the day. I also offer a Facebook group community for all my retreat guests so that they can connect with friends they may have made during the retreat days.

What’s the one thing we can all do to improve our mental wellbeing?

I love the quote, “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day. Unless you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”

I would be lying if I said I meditated for 20 minutes every day! But on the days I do get to meditate, I love to focus on breath work. I use very simple breathwork techniques at the start of my yoga retreats to get my guests into the right mindspace for the rest of the day.

Focusing on the breath is so powerful. It’s also really helpful when we’re feeling anxious or stressed. A simple technique I use is to focus on elongating the exhale. It really helps to relax. This can be done any time throughout the day. Try it for five minutes and let me know how you get on!