January is pretty rubbish for a number of reasons, so if you’re feeling down, you’re not alone! Make sure you take some time for yourself, and if you’re not sure where to start then scroll on…
Wellness Events
The Wellbeing Weekender at GRUB
Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th January
GRUB is hosting a Wellbeing Weekender this weekend with some amazing classes and food and drink offerings if you need a chilled out end to your week. On Saturday you can take part in a Stretch Class and a Sleep Yoga workshop in the afternoon, and Sunday will see a Beginners Yoga class take place, along with Guided Meditation, Tarot Reading and Wellness focussed market traders. There’ll also be low and no alcohol offerings for those of you ditching the drink this month! The whole weekend is also working under a pay as you feel donation towards Manchester-based not-for-profit organisation ‘So Let’s Talk’.
Stress Management Workshop at Seesaw
Sunday 16th January
Three established names in the Manchester wellness industry combine to bring this unique and holistic workshop to Seesaw on Sunday 16th January 2022. Eirian Collinge of Cariad Yoga, Dr Jessicarr Moorhouse – NHS Doctor, Personal Trainer and founder of TRIBE.MCR and Emily Brinnand of Matter of Mind Coaching are coming together to explore our relationship with stress and how to regulate stress-responses through mindset, movement and rest. During the workshop they’ll explore a range of accessible & creative techniques to help you build resilience to stress: Fun, inclusive exercise, gentle yoga practices, realistic self-care, journalling and mindfulness. The workshop is an inclusive space that encourages everybody, no matter what fitness level to join in, bucking the trend that ‘wellness’ has a certain aesthetic.
Pamper Yourself
Relax & Unwind at home with Secret Spa
One of the best ways to relax, unwind and destress is by treating yourself to a well-deserved spa treatment. Whether that’s a full body massage, a manicure or finally waxing your overgrown wooly winter legs, a trip to your local beautician is always a good idea when you’re desperate for some downtime. What if I told you you could get all of this from the comfort of your own home, though? Secret Spa is a brand-new service that’s arrived in Manchester, one where you can arrange for one of their highly-skilled, professional beauty and wellness experts to come directly to your house and make you feel fabulous. They offer everything from gel manicures, facials, waxing and spray tans, and you can bag a whole £20 off your first treatment by using the code MCRFINEST.
A Luxury 5* Night and a Meal at The Lowry Hotel
Another great way to treat yourself is by booking a relaxing stay in a fancy hotel, and if you don’t fancy venturing too far, the five-star Lowry Hotel is offering a locals only discount this January. The offer, for Manchester residents only, includes 30% off an overnight stay in the hotel’s newly refurbished executive King Room, early check in and late checkout, a lovely 20% off food and drink at the hotel’s stunning River Restaurant and an exclusive cocktail voucher to spend at the bar.
State-of-the-Art Floating Pods at Float Level
Float Level is the North West’s only dedicated float centre with three spacious, state-of-the-art pods. Floatation is an incredible means of achieving deep physical and mental relaxation as well as a whole host of other benefits from increased creativity to chronic pain relief. When you float, you lie in a specially designed 8ft x 5ft pod filled with a salt-water solution. The water and air inside the tank are heated to skin temperature and, with over 1000lb of Epsom salt dissolved in the water, you are able to float effortlessly without the burden of gravity acting on your body. The health benefits are huge, with the pods helping with full-body relaxation, thought processing, creativity and pain relief!
Get out of the House
A Cuppa and a Cake at Feel Good Club
Feel Good Club, the brainchild of positive power couple, Aimie and Kiera was set up to make you feel good by creating clothing and physical and online spaces to spread positivity, love and normalise talking about your feelings. The coffee house, bar and brunch spot is not only a lush place to chill, but they also host events on wellbeing, art, music and pop-ups from local foodies, championing everything great about the city.
Weekend Walk: Lud’s Church
Contrary to its name, you won’t find a church in sight along this route on the outskirts of Buxton and Macclesfield – but you will step straight into a prehistoric landscape that wouldn’t feel out of place on the set of Jurassic Park. It may only be a short route, but the scenery is immense. Hidden high up in the moorland over an ancient, wooded valley, Lud’s Church offers a truly atmospheric day out. Sometimes known as Ludchurch, this charismatic chasm was created by a massive landslip on the hillside above Gradbach.
Walks Near Manchester: Lud’s Church
Try some Wild Swimming
Manchester might not seem like the kind of place where you can go wild swimming, and in fact it might not sound like something you’d ever, ever want to do, but trust us – it’s fantastic for your wellbeing. Wild swimming has been proven to decrease muscle soreness, reduce pain and inflammation, boost your immune system, improve circulation and boost brain power. Be very careful with where you do it, it can be extremely dangerous, so just go for regulated, organised events. USwim hold open water swimming sessions in Salford Quays and there’s regular events over at Sale Water Park too.
Wilds Swimming at Salford Quays
Tegg’s Nose Country Park
Another located just outside of Macclesfield, Tegg’s Nose is a perfect place for walking, rock climbing and in winter a favoured place for sledging where exposed moorland is often snow-covered. Offering stunning views of the Cheshire plain, Tegg’s Nose is rife with history. Dating as far back as the Bronze Age, the area has a burial chamber and you can learn about how the area has been shaped by quarrying since the 16th Century.
Walks Near Manchester: Tegg’s Nose
Explore the City: Medieval Quarter
Featuring some of Manchester’s oldest buildings, the Medieval Quarter is perfect for a leisurely stroll through the city, and you might learn a few things along the way. In this small corner of the city centre you’ll find Chetham’s Library, the oldest free public reference library in the English-speaking world, which was established back in 1653, as well as Manchester Cathedral and also Manchester’s oldest pub!
Relax with a Book at Chapter One
Chapter One is a one-of-a-kind, independent bookshop in the Northern Quarter that began out of a family’s love for great books, cakes and coffee. Your shoulders automatically drop as soon as you walk into the cafe, and you can grab yourself a book to snuggle up with in the gorgeous, rustic interior while enjoying a coffee and freshly baked cake.
Explore the City: Northern Quarter Street Art
There’s always a new bit of street art popping up somewhere in the Northern Quarter, and so taking a nice walk around the area to spot as many as you can makes for a great way to spend an afternoon. Start off in Stevenson Square and make your way down the back streets of the old industrial warehouses and factories – you’re going to find A LOT of art on the walls let me tell you. At the end of it all – head down Thomas Street for a couple of well-earned pints and some food.
David Dixon/Geograph
Worsley Village Circular
Bridgewater Canal, the birthplace of the transport revolution is amongst this walk, as well as black and white timbered houses and woodlands. 3 miles in total, there are also a handful of picturesque pubs and restaurants on the canal side that you can enjoy after exploring all the heritage Worsley Village has to offer.
Walks Near Manchester: Worsley Village
Classes & Exercise
Yoga Sessions at Yoga Soul
You’ll find Yoga Soul in the heart of the city, offering a wide range of yoga practises for people of all levels. They provide a platform and a home for you to take part in Manchester’s yogi community, helping you grow your yoga practice in a way that is significant to you. Whatever you are looking to gain from yoga, whether it’s a challenge, a space to shut off from the world or somewhere in between, they’ve got you covered!
Get those endorphins flowing: Train Crossfit
Train creates and delivers programming that is varied, challenging, interesting and more to the point, fun. If, like me, you’ve ever felt extremely intimidated stepping foot into the gym, the coaching team is there to support and involve you in the community to ensure you get fit, be your very best and most of all have fun and make lasting friendships. The programming can be tailored to your ability and comfort, but is most of all guaranteed to provide you with an enormous sense of achievement as you learn new skills and exercises.
Yoga & Wellbeing Classes at Transcend Studios
Based in Eccles, Transcend Studios is a unique collaboration of wellbeing practitioners offering a wide range of specialist workshops and wellbeing classes based in the Bridgewater Mill in Eccles. They run yoga classes with something for everyone, from Hatha Yoga, Trapeze Yoga and Kundalini Yoga – all designed to harmonise the nervous system and provide a sense of peace. You’ll also find various fitness classes and meditation sessions that will teach you how to take some time out of a hectic day. Transcend Studio also run online sessions if you can’t make the physical classes.
Barry’s
We’ve all heard how good a workout can be for both our mental and physical health, and it is true that the sweet, sweet endorphin release does instantly boost your mood and clear your mind! But, it’s still hard to get out of bed and hit the treadmill at 6am, though, isn’t it? Barry’s on Byrom Street is a unique, class only fitness experience that explores a huge range of training targeting different parts of the body, so, you can actually FINALLY enjoy the gym!
