WHY I TOOK MYSELF TO A HEALTH RETREAT AND WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT MYSELF?
I have just got back from the most life changing experience at Eden Health Retreat in the Currumbin Valley (SE Qld). Having recently come out the other side of stage 3 adrenal fatigue that was wreaking havoc with my hormones, I knew I needed a ‘reset’ but due to life’s demands, business, school, 2 houses and a string of other responsibility, I had to think carefully about exactly what I needed. I had been to Living Valley Springs before but Eden kept popping up on my social feeds and it was one of those ‘callings’ that I get from time to time. Spontaneously I booked it- knowing I would have full support from my husband. Telling him the next week the dates I was going we soon realised he was actually away at a conference the same week on the Gold Coast and we were even meant to be coming back on the same flight. Long story short I managed to swap my reservation for the week prior- which wasn’t a problem in fact probably suited me better. Going away for 5 days on your own and leaving your kids/husband might sound like a dream but was actually harder than I expected. In one breath I knew I needed this more than anything but I also had the feeling of intense guilt.
Sometimes a mothers mental load becomes so high (especially if you are high functioning empath too) that the overwhelm gets mistaken for anger and hostility.
Having studied and obviously teach mindfulness and stress management techniques one would think I should be ‘all over it’ and ‘have it all together’. I believe because of these things in my tool box I am able to cope with a lot of pressure, but… my body and brain was tired.
The Currumbin Valley holds a piece of my heart, having lived in Broachbeach 12 years ago we would often venture up there on weekends to escape the city life and embrace the natural beauty. It is similar to Tasmania in terms of its clean and green air, but only 14 degrees warmer. Coming up the valley in the transfer car, I could instantly feel my energy shift and my senses ignite. This was until we drove in the gates and I realised we had no phone reception. Wifi was limited to the reception area which was literally 500m (hill climb) walk from our cabins and not available in the dining or reaction areas. I almost missed the initial beauty of the retreat due to my intense anxiety of not having my phone. How could I possibly not have it readily accessible for 24 hours of the day? It was in this moment I realised I was absolutely phone addicted and I didn’t even know it! I could still ring my husband and kids off a landline but I had planned to do a bit of work, research etc. Turns out this was exactly what I needed! Less than 24 hours and my anxiety turned into a deep sense of calm and open awareness.
4 days of yoga, pilates, meditation, saunas, pool and spa, gym sessions, functional movement classes, spa treatments, sound healing, bush walks, creative activities, talks on health related topics but most of all connection with people of all ages, backgrounds and plenty of stories. It was everything I believe in and align with.
This environment and limited digital devices allowed the answers to come and the mind to be clear to get the messages I have been seeking. Nature is our greatest gift and it is amazing what you see when you are consciously aware. We ate the most amazing organic, local and fresh nourishing food for every meal and held gratitude of what we were giving our bodies as fuel.
During my Kahuna Massage which was a 110 mins of Hawaiian bliss, I was able to release so many emotions that I have been subconsciously holding onto and as I asked for guidance as the therapist suggested during our session, I was unexpectantly given a song in a soft acoustic tone. I immediately started singing it in my head “Let it be” by the Beatles. For someone else it might not mean a lot but for me it was exactly what I have been seeking.
The Eden values of connecting to country, aligning to purpose, respecting the ritual and engineering your experience are similar to my own with Mindset and Me.
These are applied when at Eden but also when you leave. Despite it only being 4 days, I was very quickly (without the distractions of the modern world) able to tap into my intuition and find what was needed in my life to bring the changes I have been desiring. By turning your attention inward you discover so much about yourself.
Whilst I only took a few books, I did find one in the Eden library called ‘The Art of Happiness’ a Handbook for Living by the Dalai Lama. He discusses relationships, health, family and work to illustrates how to ride through life’s obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. It reiterated for me that it is only through love and compassion we can work through feelings of hurt, sadness, resentment and even grief.
Things I was been able to contemplate on during my time there:
- Everyone has a story
- When you only have your own thoughts you have the chance to explore the depths of your mind and understand yourself more profoundly
- Being ‘busy’ all the time is actually a coping strategy
- NOW really is the time because tomorrow is not guaranteed
- We need to get back to our roots, so much of health and wellness is dependent on the air we breathe, the food we eat, the environment we live, the quality of our sleep, how much we move our body, the people we associate with and the stories we tell ourselves
- Self love and self worth are essential foundations for a happy and fulfilling life
My biggest take home was:
My true purpose in life is to help others in all the areas I know how. My joy is empowering people to find their own inner spark. “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Mother Theresa
Whilst I appreciate not everyone can get to a retreat such as this one, we can create all of this in our own environment. Take a weekend off social media, spend time in nature, take yourself somewhere daily for a few minutes if silence, book yourself in for a massage, spend time gratitude journaling, fuel yourself with goodness and get your body moving…you will be glad you did. #youareworthit
“The answers are within you”
Love J x