Welcome to our new contributor - Get away from it all with The Quirky Coach

Sitting in the yard on a hay bale, the only sounds were of swallows tweeting, sheep baaing and the occasional whiffle of a horse’s breath, says Zoe Dawes, The Quirky Coach.

All the tarradiddle of daily life drifted away, leaving a delightful feeling of calm. I took a deep breath in and let go of all the tension I’d been holding on to. Suddenly a rip-roaring fart ricocheted round the stable – Otto the Clydesdale was obviously letting it all out too …

I was at Whasdyle Farm not far from Windermere enjoying a Full Circle Retreat day of mindfulness and creativity with four Clydesdale horses and a group of women from around the North West. Retreats have become a big thing these days and there are ones to suit all interests, from yoga and pilates to cookery and crafts, crystal healing and aromatherapy to finding your life purpose. What they all offer is the chance to destress, detox and relax in attractive surroundings, with like-minded people. But why the big surge in the number of retreats, along with complementary therapies, holistic businesses and the growth of spirituality?

I think it’s because we’re all spending too much time on our phones (oh no, my #screentime has increased by 3.5 hours this week), obsessed with celebrity (did you see what they got up to on Love Island last night?), getting desensitized to the hardship of others (what, another disaster in some far flung corner of the planet?), traumatised by the insidious grasp of Social Media (why has she got more Instagram likes than me?) and focused on a digital world that is taking us far away from our ancestral roots.

Earlier this summer I went for a walk in Brigsteer Woods, near Sizergh Castle. Did you know it’s one of the oldest woods in England? Rain pattered gently onto the leaves in rhythmic harmony, both soothing and reassuring. (Someone once told me the reason we like the sound of rain when we’re indoors is that in prehistoric times when we lived in caves, we knew the rain would keep the predators away.) I spent about an hour wandering through the wood, not meeting another soul, simply enjoying being outside in the fresh air.

On my return, I made a little video of my walk and searched out some quotes to add. My favourite was Walking in the woods, I felt in touch with the Universe by Alice Walker, author of ‘The Colour Purple’. That sums up how I felt that day. You can watch A walk in the rain in Brigsteer Woods here.

Apparently wandering around trees is now called #forestbathing. Forest Bathing is spending time in a forest to reduce stress and feel a sense of wellbeing. The concept originated in Japan, where it is called shinrin-yoku and draws on the therapeutic powers of nature, connecting people with the natural environment.

Whether it’s meditating with horses, wild-water swimming, climbing a mountain, forest bathing or simply sitting in the garden looking at the flowers, take some time out to reconnect with nature and calm your busy mind for a wee while. You know it makes sense …

Welcome to my new column. I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences as a Life Coach for business and ambassador for a simpler way of living. Having worked and travelled all over the world I now relish being in this special part of the UK. Being close to the natural beauty of Morecambe Bay and the Lake District is very important to me … except on a Bank Holiday weekend when I get as far away as possible. This place lifts my spirits, frees my mind and reminds me of what’s really important, which is my family, good friends, harmonious environment, doing a job I love, red wine and lemon meringue pie. Let me know what’s important to you and what you’d like to see in this column. Till the next time…