Step away from the stresses of life and cleanse your mind and body on this two-night retreat, created with fitness and wellbeing experts 'Fitter, Stronger', who offer a sustainable, realistic approach to exercise and nutrition that fits in with busy lives and leaves you feeling confident and motivated to maintain a fitter,  stronger you.

Double Olympic gold medal winner James Cracknell will join guests for dinner and explain how he fought back to full fitness following a near fatal head injury.  James who is scheduled to appear on ITV's 'Eternal Glory' sporting challenge programme this autumn said: "Fitter, Stronger struck a chord with me.  Recovering from the accident, which was predominantly a brain injury, physical activity and sport were the things that I could control, keep a diary and monitor my progress.   The confidence and belief you gain to conquer issues in other areas of your life, when you can objectively see improvements that are of your doing, is enormous," he says.

During this exclusive weekend retreat based at Chewton Glen, you will be guided on hikes in the New Forest, take part in cardio, bodyweight and core sessions to develop strength and stamina and unwind in gentle Pilates classes, with our expert coaches.  The retreat is suitable for complete beginners, those returning to exercise following illness and injury and others who have exercised all their lives.

Guests will enjoy delicious, filling, nutrient-dense food, much of which is grown in the Kitchen Garden at Chewton Glen and be taught how to keep their bodies efficiently fuelled, by nutritionists who also advise Formula 1 racing drivers, the England cricket team and top GB team athletes.

Retreat founder, Paula Kerr says “Our message is simple.  Keep your mind and body strong and you'll achieve far more than you think possible. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I discovered just how powerful exercise and nutrition can be and how incredibly resilient our bodies are if we train and fuel them correctly.  Nutrition and training weren't just good for my physical health, they gave me a positive focus away from cancer, helped me look beyond my condition and to the future.  We offer a luxurious location, delicious food and we take a practical approach, tailoring advice for busy lives and scaling exercise according to ability."

The retreat includes:

• Two-nights luxury accommodation at Chewton Glen

• All meals taken throughout the retreat

• Fitness training sessions including, cardio, Pilates and core stability

• Guides hikes through the New Forest.

• Nutrition advice session

• Motivational talk by and dinner with James Cracknell

•  Full use of the hotel, spa and leisure facilities.

  Prices for the retreat start from £1,140 per person, based on two guests sharing a double or twin room.  The retreat will run on the following dates in 2016

  •    13th – 15th May 2016

  •    10th – 12th June 2016

  •    1st – 3rd July 2016

  •    9th – 11th September 2016

   For further information or to book a place please call Paula Kerr on 01732 824443 or visit www.fitterstronger.org 

For further press information and interviews please contact:

Angela Day                                                          Paula Kerr

Head of Public Relations at Chewton Glen                    Founder of Fitter, Stronger

Direct Line: 01304 617755                                       Mobile: 01732 824443

Mobile:  07785 619294                                            E.mail: paulakerr@btinternet.com

E.mail: aday@chewtonglen.com                                www.fitterstronger.org

www.chewtonglen.com

Editor's Note:

Chewton Glen is a five-red star privately-owned luxury country house hotel, located on the edge of the ancient New Forest National Park in Hampshire and just a few minutes' walk from sea. Featuring an award-winning restaurant, world-class spa and leisure activities, luxurious accommodation and modern meeting facilities, the hotel has 70 individually designed bedrooms and suites including the 12 tree-house suites, a nine-hole par three golf course, croquet lawn, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and a spa which has been voted the best in Europe.

A very special place, Chewton Glen is a proud member of Relais & Chateaux and is one of the finest luxury hotels in the UK, it has been voted 'Best UK Holiday Hotel' and listed as one of the 'World's Best Hotels' by Condé Nast Traveller readers.

Fitter, Stronger – Questions Answered

What is Fitter, Stronger?

It is a luxury rural weekend retreat, offering a tried and tested, realistic, sustainable approach to fitness and vitality, with talks on nutrition and motivation from doctors and athletes.

Where is Fitter, Stronger?

The retreat is held at Chewton Glen, a luxury hotel and spa on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire.  www.chewtonglen.com

What do you need to bring with you?

Participants will need trainers, walking shoes and comfortable clothes to exercise in.

What are the activities?

Participants will have hikes through the New Forest, Pilates and exercise sessions that will concentrate on cardio fitness, bodyweight exercise and core strength. There will be a talk on nutrition and another on motivation from James Cracknell OBE, who will also join the group for dinner. There will also be an opportunity to tour the Chewton Glen kitchen garden, nursery and orchard with Estate Manager, Darren Venables.

Do you have to join all the activities?

Full participation is encouraged and, wherever possible, exercises are organised according to agility, ability and experience.

What level of fitness is required?

The fitness sessions are customised to suit the needs of the participants. When booking, a questionnaire is forwarded to determine physical ability. If guests are recovering from illness or injury, the team will work with them to provide a fulfilling and rounded programme of activity.

What if the participant has never exercised before?

Experienced exercisers and complete beginners are made equally welcome. They will be taught the techniques needed to exercise effectively and safely based on their level of fitness and ability.

How many people will be attending the Fitter, Stronger weekend retreats?

A maximum of 20 places is booked for each weekend. The Fitter, Stronger team want to ensure that all participants receive their full attention in exercise classes and that sufficient time is available for discussion and asking questions. They also run two Pilates classes, each will have a maximum of ten participants.

What is included in the cost?

Accommodation, all meals, activities listed in the programme and attendance at talks, together with full use of the hotel, spa and leisure facilities at Chewton Glen.