A HISTORIC castle was transformed into a yoga retreat as women came together to celebrate mental health awareness.

Hedingham Castle saw visitors roll out their mats in their 900-year-old Norman keep.

The castle hosted a yoga and Pilates event to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week.

The event was organised by Great Maplestead-based Pilates instructor Jade Gooding.

Jade, 36, has her own Pilates business which grew from her posting videos on YouTube during the pandemic.

She was convinced of the health effects of Pilates and yoga after they helped her recover from life-changing ligament damage in her knees.

The mum-of-two hosted a 25-strong group. The Pilates session was held upstairs in the keep wile a yoga class took place outside in the castle’s grounds.

The event was also a chance for visitors to chat about their feelings and mental health.

This was followed by another yoga session in the keep as a well as a gong bath.

Jade says the event was a big success and plans to hold more in the future.

She said: “I have an online Pilates and yoga membership site, so I like to organise days where we can all get together in person.

“It was a day filled with Pilates, outdoor yoga, restorative yoga and a gong bath.

“The intention for the day was to slow down.

“Living in such a fast-paced world, we often forget to pause and to truly check in with how we are feeling.

“So, I invited 25 lovely ladies to explore their feeling through movement, meditation and breath, and all coming together to talk and explore together, created a fabulous energy we all shared.

“I feel so unbelievably grateful to have been able to share this special day and experience the powerful energy that these wonderful ladies created together.

“What a fantastic way to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week.”

Jade says she plans on holding another event on October 18 at the castle.

For more information, visit pilatesandyogawithjade.com.