Laura Greenwood Osteopath - what can I do to help you?

Discover why staying active on holiday boosts mood, prevents muscle loss, and makes your break more enjoyable and energising—with simple, feel-good movement.

Run a Retreat They Said… “Run a retreat,” they said. “It’ll be easy,” they said… Well, it wasn’t easy — but it was absolutely wonderful ! On 1st May , a group of 20 of us flew into Alicante, Spain, and headed north to the stunning setting of Oodles Retreat in Benissa. With one brilliant chef, three dedicated instructors, a reflexologist, and a skincare expert in tow, we were ready for a week of wellness, movement, laughter, and connection. Oodles was the perfect home base — each room came with an ensuite (some with private terraces), and there were three comfy lounges to choose from. Most of us, however, gravitated to the poolside and the long tables perfect for group meals — both indoor and al fresco, including an unforgettable BBQ evening. The incredible Wendy from Hillstart Nutrition kept us nourished and satisfied with three delicious meals a day , fuelling a packed itinerary of activity and relaxation. Guests dipped into yoga and mindfulness with the calming Tina Morgan from Tina Morgan Yoga, pushed their endurance with running and cycling led by Harry Yates of Storm Performance, and brought the energy with Studio, Pool and Beach Fit sessions with myself, Jo from Deanslade Fitness. It was magic to watch the group gradually unwind, open up, and really settle into the experience over the days. We kicked off with a shared dinner on Friday night and an overview of the days ahead. Each evening finished with a slumber ritual led by Katrina from TempleSpa , helping everyone rest and reset for the next day. And yes — by Monday, the calm had turned to happy chaos ! Throughout the retreat, guests could book in for treatments with Linda from Holistic Feet Time — her reflexology and ear candling were much appreciated! And as the week went on, new ideas bloomed: Monday saw a group take on the incredible Coll de Rates cycle (what a feat!), and by evening I had introduced a whiteboard so everyone could design their perfect final day. That final day started with Beach Fit at 7am , followed by a joyful mix of cycling, yoga, shared meals, and the brilliant Partner Yoga session — which resulted in an incredible amount of laughter. We closed our activities with a calming Yoga Nidra , but the fun didn’t stop there. The lovely Laura organised an evening meal out for the whole group, and we were joined by Denise , who played a big role behind the scenes helping me pull the retreat together. Huge thanks to her! I’ve always said wellness is everything , but for me, it starts with happiness — and this retreat was bursting with it. It wasn’t a “dry” retreat, but everyone stayed sensible… and joyful! I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much, so often. Angie even presented me with a handmade “thank you” plaque by the pool (crafted from a ripped box!) — and miraculously, I wasn’t thrown in! So, would I do it again? I said “maybe in two years”... But the truth is — July 2026 is already calling .