Suffolk &amp; Cambs


<p>It’s February, which means the wellness goals you set on January 1st have quietly slipped through your fingers. The gym bag’s back in the boot, the smoothie blender’s gathering dust and consistency has very much left the chat. So instead of pretending we’re all smashing it, we asked four local wellbeing experts what really counts in 2026. </p>



<p>The answer? No extremes, no fads, no guilt. This year, wellness looks like longevity over quick wins, eating with the seasons, proper rest and remembering to pause. A refreshingly grown-up approach to health — and one we’re very much here for.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sophie-mclaren-founder-of-the-roaming-sauna-suffolk">Sophie McLaren, founder of <a href="https://www.theroamingsauna.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Roaming Sauna</a>, Suffolk</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1000x667.png" alt="The roaming sauna in Suffolk" class="wp-image-47132" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If 2026 had a wellness personality, it wouldn’t be smashing green juices between meetings. It would be slowing right down, breathing deeply and doing fewer things properly. Which is why contrast heat therapy — sauna followed by cold — feels very much like the new health rule to know.</p>



<p>&#8220;The Year of the Horse is said to symbolise freedom and energy, and that neatly mirrors what’s happening in wellness right now,&#8221; says Sophie. &#8220;We’re moving away from quick fixes and biohacks and back towards simple, restorative rituals that support both body and mind.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1-1000x667.png" alt="The Roaming Sauna in Suffolk" class="wp-image-47133" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-1.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Enter the British sauna movement: quietly growing, deeply grounding, and all about connection. Wellbeing isn’t just what you do to your body; it’s how you feel in yourself and with others.</p>



<p>&#8220;The magic of sauna still isn’t shouted about enough,&#8221; Sophie tells us. &#8220;Regular sauna use encourages the nervous system to genuinely switch off (rare these days), easing tension while boosting circulation. Even once a week has been linked to better cardiovascular health, improved sleep, reduced stress and a stronger immune system. The heat gently raises your heart rate, a bit like light exercise, and releases those feel-good hormones that leave you calmer, clearer and oddly proud of yourself.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-2-1000x667.png" alt="The roaming sauna in Suffolk" class="wp-image-47134" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-2-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-2-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-2-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/01/sauna-suffolk-2.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Add a cold plunge afterwards and things get even better. &#8220;Cold water reduces inflammation, improves circulation and builds mental resilience.&#8221; Hot followed by cold is a full-system reset; bracing, yes, but incredibly rewarding.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sophie-s-top-tips-for-beginners">Sophie’s top tips for beginners:</h4>



<ul>
<li>Start gently — you don’t need to be heroic</li>



<li>Listen to your body (it always knows best)</li>



<li>And yes, get a sauna hat. It looks ridiculous. It works brilliantly.</li>
</ul>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lisa-smith-personal-trainer-absolute-body-conditioning">Lisa Smith, Personal Trainer, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/absolutefitnesswithlisa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Absolute Body Conditioning</a></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-9-1000x667.png" alt="Lisa Smith, personal trainer" class="wp-image-47209" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-9-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-9-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-9-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/Feb-Guide-Suffolk-9.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>For the last few years, strength training has rightly been having its moment — especially for women. Lifting weights builds muscle, supports bone density, improves metabolic health and helps us age well. All excellent things. But here’s the 2026 wellness truth bomb: ditching cardio completely might actually be holding you back.</p>



<p>&#8220;The healthiest, strongest bodies aren’t built on one thing alone,&#8221; shares Lisa. Resistance training preserves lean muscle, supports hormonal balance and improves functional strength (aka carrying shopping bags without pulling a face). Cardiovascular training, meanwhile, looks after your heart, lungs and circulation — all deeply unglamorous but absolutely essential if you want energy, stamina and longevity. &#8220;I often see women who cut cardio entirely notice they’re more breathless between sets, slower to recover and hitting performance plateaus, despite lifting consistently,&#8221; says Lisa.</p>



<p>The goal isn’t extremes or endless hours on a treadmill. It’s smart, realistic programming. &#8220;In an ideal world, three to four strength sessions a week, paired with two or three cardio sessions creates a brilliant foundation.&#8221; It doesn’t have to be complicated. &#8220;Regular walking supports recovery and stress regulation, while short bursts of higher-intensity cardio can boost cardiovascular fitness when used strategically.&#8221;</p>



<p>Consistency beats perfection every time. &#8220;Training should fit into your life, not compete with it.&#8221; When strength and cardio work together, you get a body that’s not just strong on paper, but capable, resilient and built for the long haul. Which, frankly, is the whole point.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-briony-lawton-founder-of-space-together"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/_spacetogether/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Briony Lawton</a>, founder of Space Together</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1366" height="2048" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/PHOTO-2026-01-29-16-25-43.jpg" alt="Briony Lawton" class="wp-image-47208" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/PHOTO-2026-01-29-16-25-43.jpg 1366w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/PHOTO-2026-01-29-16-25-43-534x800.jpg 534w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/PHOTO-2026-01-29-16-25-43-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/PHOTO-2026-01-29-16-25-43-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2026/02/PHOTO-2026-01-29-16-25-43-1025x1536.jpg 1025w" sizes="(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px" /></figure>



<p>Something is shifting this year. You can feel it, can’t you? After years of endless scrolling, digital overload and badge-of-honour busyness, there’s a collective exhale happening. &#8220;We’re quietly admitting we’re tired, and that we actually need each other. Quite a lot,&#8221; says Briony.</p>



<p>Here’s what Briony says the science is saying (and your gut already knows): real, face-to-face connection matters. &#8220;When you spend time with people you trust, your brain releases oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine — the good stuff that makes you feel safe, connected and alive. No amount of screen time can replicate what happens when someone really gets you, or when you’re outdoors, breathing fresh air and suddenly feel better without knowing why.&#8221;</p>



<p>The wellness trend nobody’s shouting about yet according to Briony? Emotional and social rest. &#8220;This is the kind of rest that comes from dropping the mask — the one where you say “I’m fine” when you’re anything but. When you’re with people who don’t need you to perform, fix or explain, your nervous system finally gets to stand down.&#8221; Research shows true rest comes from being your real self — messy bits included. &#8220;It’s like putting down all the bags you didn’t realise you were carrying,&#8221; Briony says.</p>



<p>&#8220;In my work with midlife women who move mountains, I help them shift from knackered to sustainable. Through nature-based gatherings: beach huts, Unplugged sessions, simple time together, women remember how to slow down, laugh properly and breathe again.&#8221;</p>



<p>Briony&#8217;s advice? Get outside. Say yes to cuppas you leave feeling better from. This kind of rest isn’t indulgent — it’s medicine.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fiona-berry-seasonal-nutritionist"><a href="https://itstheberries.co.uk/suffolk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fiona Berry</a>, Seasonal Nutritionist</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/12/wellbeing-whats-on-1-1000x667.png" alt="Fiona Berry" class="wp-image-46848" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/12/wellbeing-whats-on-1-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/12/wellbeing-whats-on-1-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/12/wellbeing-whats-on-1-400x267.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2025/12/wellbeing-whats-on-1.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Wellbeing can start to feel like just another thing on the to-do list. With thousands of decisions to make every day, we’re told to meditate more, supplement harder and nail the perfect morning routine. Exhausting. &#8220;For me, the simplest, and most nourishing, wellness rule for 2026 is eating with the seasons,&#8221; says Fiona.</p>



<p>For Fiona, seasonal eating is wonderfully low-effort and fits into real life. &#8220;Food grown locally and in season is often fresher, more nutrient-dense and easier to digest, but the benefits go far beyond what’s on your plate. Eating seasonally naturally reduces food miles, supports local farmers and reconnects us with where our food actually comes from. It also gently increases the diversity of nutrients in our diets — because when you eat what’s growing now, you automatically eat more variety across the year. That sense of connection is deeply nourishing in its own right.&#8221;</p>



<p>The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle or become someone who ferments things for fun. Fiona&#8217;s advice? Start small. &#8220;Try a local or organic veg box (Sunshine and Green and Riverford are brilliant), chat to a grower at a market (Suffolk Market Events listings are a great place to start), or source just one ingredient locally — honey, eggs or lamb, for example. Invest in a seasonal cookbook (River Cottage and Angela Clutton are favourites), or hunt for gems in charity shops — I’ve found some absolute treasures.&#8221;</p>



<p>As a nutritionist, Fiona sees time and again that simplifying food choices brings ease back into wellbeing. &#8220;Instead of asking, <em>What should I eat</em>? try asking, <em>What’s growing here, right now?</em></p>



<p>For more seasonal wellbeing guidance, click <a href="https://itstheberries.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.<br></p>


4 local wellness experts reveal the new health rules for 2026

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