Here I was – wondering why I, a sixty five year old matronly woman, was sitting in a minivan with a group of strangers heading to a luxury Wellness Retreat. Travelling with women who looked more in their thirties or maybe forties. Beautifully youthful and manicured. I felt slightly out of place as the adventure began.
Yet I was on a journey that’s become more common. Destination travel to health and wellness retreats has increased. Post pandemic it has drawn individuals to potentially reset and restore away from the frenetic pace of modern life, technology and constant expectations. A time devoted to focus holistically on the body, mind and soul. Aro Ha embodies a thoughtful balanced ethos of offerings. Their staff, a beautiful selection of supportive human beings. The surroundings invite a sense of awe and inspiration. It’s no wonder it is gaining recognition and wonderful reviews in this sector.
The road from Queenstown to Glenorchy takes a meandering path along the edge of Lake Wakatipu. It’s one of New Zealand’s most picturesque drives with rolling hills and mountain vistas abundant. Soon the entrance to Aro Ha appeared. A very unassuming rock with the retreats name blended onto its face. As we wind up the hill there is little evidence of the retreat centre’s location. It is hidden beautifully on a hillside. A collection of simple timber structures with a central meeting space for dining, connection and activities.
As I settled into my room, one of four in a complex with two shared bathrooms, I sensed a peace and groundedness. The large window above my bed gives me a beautiful vista of the farmland and setting sun on the mountains beyond. A few cows stand quietly observing the action of the new arrivals. I meet the other women who shared our accommodation. We exchanged our names and a few introductory insights about ourselves. There is the initial awkwardness of a new experience.
The first evening set the tone for our six day stay. After settling into our accommodation the group were invited to an onsite hike to check out the grounds of Aro Ha. While going downhill to the staff quarters was enjoyable the uphill return was challenging. I privately wondered how I would manage the daily hikes ahead. Early evening we were called over our room intercom to the Aro Ha room for Restorative Yoga followed by a beautiful light plant based dinner. Afterwards The group of twenty strangers congregated in the living room for an evening circle. We were welcomed and asked to share two insights with the group.
- What has brought you here to Aro Ha Wellness Retreat?
- What do you bring to the group?
For me, the desire to experience a wellness retreat had become a wish list item. I had read a short piece about Aro Ha in-flight in an airline magazine and felt an affinity. It’s beautiful surroundings captivated my imagination and I began following Aro Ha on social media and their website. A six day retreat fitted perfectly with a month long trip we planned of New Zealand’s South Island so I knew this was something I could manifest into reality.
The characteristics I felt I could give to the group were my calmness and patience. I have found as I get older, I have developed a greater acceptance of life as it unfolds. The broad perspective of years of experience means little surprises me anymore and I am able to be more curious with life and others and less reactive. It does help that life is calmer around me with less responsibilities and more freedom to choose how I spend my time. I have left my professional life of teaching behind and now pursue more of the things I love – dance, writing and travel.
Each of the Aro Ha days were filled with interesting activity options and nourishing foods predominately from garden to plate. We were woken for yoga to greet the sunrise. While the first day I woke not long before the class began, I found myself drawn to the still and relative darkness of the pre-dawn of the Aro Ha room. Subsequent days I would spend time in private meditation before the others arrived. It became a daily delight to slowly awaken my body while watching the emerging daylight reach the mountains from the room’s stunning vantage point.
Morning’s were for more active pursuits with a daily hike to some stunning walking tracks. Variations of activity level were available with some opting to climb higher peaks while others focused on mindfulness walks in nature. On a particular wet morning we kitted up with full wet weather gear for a walk along the Glenorchy Nature Reserve and picnic in the rain all sitting side by side on a large log. Whichever option we chose, plenty of staff acted as guides and we each carried a walkie talkie to stay in touch along the way. I learnt to master walking poles to aid movement over uneven terrain and techniques to pace my breathe with my steps.
Afternoon activities were interspersed between our daily massages. A highlight I’m sure everyone looked forward to. There were so many interesting offerings including movement and breath-work sessions, mindfulness activities and journaling, kitchen garden tours and talks about preparing plant based meals and the fermentation process. The first few days prepared us beautifully for a day of sacred silence, intermittent fasting and voluntary detoxing from our technology mid retreat.
What were the lovely takeaways I experienced from attending the retreat?
The acceptance – the hugs, younger women gravitating to an older woman who listened. This gave me the opportunity to encourage and support particularly women who were preparing for or in the midst of mothering children. Recognising the fear that young career women have about becoming mothers, particularly concerning losing their freedom and identity as a person. It was lovely to see women gaining assurance from others that it is possible and to trust the journey.
The connection – the small moments of shared experience. Whether it was walking together, asking for or accepting support when needed, snippets of conversation that deepened understanding of each other as individuals. The shared human experience connected each of us regardless of age, gender or life experience.
The learning – There was such a smorgasbord of offerings for both physical and mental well-being. The highlight of the retreat, amongst many highlights, was the Cacao Ceremony. The building of ritual around the drinking of this deliciously prepared beverage was palpable. The interweaving of family constellation work was very powerful and for me provided a healing ‘aha’ moment that had remained elusive. I was able to find real peace in writing a beautiful six page letter to my mother following the experience.
The chance to be me – Those who know me, know I love to dance. There were some lovely opportunities for free flowing movement and Tai Chi during the retreat. I enjoyed expressing movement freely as an older, uninhibited woman. Inspiring others to loosen their bodies in response to movement prompts. I came with no preconceived ideas or expectations of the retreat so this allowed me to stay present with the experiences as they happened.
Post Retreat Reflections
Six days is a short time in our everyday life. A week goes quickly often with us registering very little of the experience in a meaningful way. Taking the time to experience a wellness retreat gave each of us the opportunity to step away from our usual routines and into a space to appreciate natural beauty and receive nurturance. It’s a space equally beneficial for both men and women and for people at different stages of life.
We may have arrived as strangers, yet by the close of the week connections had deepened and conversations flowed more readily. A journal entry captures this change.
‘As the early evening approached on the final full day several of us find relaxation in large beanbags on the open verandah overlooking this magnificent view. More join us and soon there are small groups in natural, relaxed conversation. A few of us marvel at this impromptu women’s circle that’s gathered and one of those present grabs her phone to video record the moment. These are the small, spontaneous moments of life to be savoured.‘
Now dispersed to our daily lives, each of us are armed with memories of the experience and hopefully some habits that can be implemented. While the intensive experience of a retreat cannot be fully replicated in our lives its an opportunity to bring focus to and reset our well-being. I’m glad I chose this particular time in my life journey to experience Aro Ha and all it had to offer.
