HGMC Stretch & Relax 26/02/26 

First and foremost, I’d like to say a huge thank you to, Lauren who facilitated the class for us. She did a wonderful job of guiding us all through the stretches and poses, making sure that everybody could follow along and that nobody was pushing themselves too far. She set and maintained an atmosphere of openness and comfort. 

This evening, we were at the sprawling and almost palatial grounds of Champneys. Some parts of the site date back to 1874 and in 1925 it became a “Health Farm” establishing itself as the U.K.’s first purpose-built health spa. It took a little bit of shepherding to get everyone in the right place but we made sure all attendees had a way to get in touch with us and before long we had ticked off every name on our register.  

Following a couple of costume changes and a bit of catching up, we were ready to begin. Lauren led us into a peaceful and softly illuminated space ensuring we had all picked up a mat and had ample space around us. She then talked us through what the class is designed to do and made sure she was aware of any injuries that may impede participation. 45 minutes went by in a flash. The stretches were challenging but not to the point of excluding anyone and the final meditation had everyone feeling relaxed and grounded.  

Before leaving we had designated some time for the group to talk. This is at the core of what HGMC is all about. Getting men to get out and do something. It may be something completely alien to them, an activity they’ve always wanted to try or something they already participate in. Engaging in an activity helps the group to begin feeling comfortable around each other. The hope is that when the group talks we all feel more content to do so honestly. Once everybody had had their time to talk we packed away and wished everybody a fond farewell. Feeling refreshed and relaxed emotionally, mentally and physically we set off towards bed.  

Thanks again to lauren and to Champneys. We hope to see you at the next one.