Retreat to Recharge
Words Lija Austen
Maree is a busy mum with 2 young children living on the
beautiful Tweed Coast. Her husband travels a lot for work but she manages to keep fit, look after the kids well, run her own side business and enjoy time with friends. Her life looks great and it is. However, she is exhausted! She is constantly on the go and never seems to have time to rest…It is Sunday afternoon and she has organised for her husband to have the kids while she goes on a mini retreat. Something new for her. When she walks into the studio with the soft lighting, beautiful fragrances, gentle music, friendly women and yoga mat waiting for her – she takes a deep breath. She didn’t realise how much she needed this until now.
Women are tired. In our busy society we have never ending to do lists and many of us are trying to keep up with the images of perfection we see through social media! On Instagram we see pictures of perfect homes, families and businesses – we don’t see the reality of the days that homes are messy, the kids are fighting, the business is going through a wobbly patch and women are feeling overwhelmed and lonely. Modern life is a balancing act for women. We are still doing the traditional work of women while also trying to pursue our own career goals and keep up with the fast pace of life. Living the wonder woman life can be exhausting in the long term! In the retreats I run, women often come in so keen to dive onto the yoga mat and experience some deep rest. Something we crave but find it hard to make time for with our busy schedules.
Women throughout history and across cultures have taken time out from everyday life and chores to rest, reflect and connect. Many indigenous cultures had a ‘moon lodge’ or ‘red tent’ where women would spend time each month while they were menstruating to rest and connect away from daily pressures. We are cyclical just like the moon. We need time to slow down and rejuvenate to balance our times of high activity. Imagine if you gave yourself time out every month to rest and recharge?
There is a resurgence of women’ retreats in this region. We live in the most stunning area filled with coastal wellness studios and beautiful hinterland retreat centres. We have so many holistic health practitioners offering mini retreats, day retreats and overnight retreats with nourishing practices like yoga, sound healing, reiki, massage, acupuncture, qi gong and lots more. Some people are also getting more adventurous and going on destination retreats, combining a holiday with healing. If you have the time and resources, imagine going somewhere beautiful and exotic for a week of deep restoration. Maybe swimming with the whales in Tonga, meditating in Balinese temples, or staying local nestled within a rainforest at the foot of Mount Wollumbin in Uki?
Retreats create a nurturing environment of quiet and calm to allow our nervous system to slow down and replenish. Taking ourselves out of fight and flight mode allows us to find peace and gain a fresh perspective on our life. Whether you have an afternoon, day or week to spare – you will notice an amazing difference to how you feel.
Retreats are a great remedy to our fast-paced modern world. Try a retreat and experience the benefits for yourself. Your body, mind and soul will thank you!
Lija Austen is a counsellor, coach, retreat leader and owner of Kingscliff Saltwater Studio (a boutique wellness and arts studio). She runs regular mini retreats, qi gong classes and private sessions at her studio. She is passionate about supporting women to take time out to rest, recharge and reflect. She knows personally how important it is to refill your inner well. www.kingscliffsaltwaterstudio.com @kingscliffsaltwaterstudio @lijaausten
