[travelmum]

My New Years Resolution is to look after myself more and would love to attend a Health Retreat....
Anyone been? What are they like??
Thanks in advance!
Nat

[30bt]

my mother's group has been going to solar springs in bundanoon for about 7 years- once a year, last year we didn't go and I missed it, love the relaxing and having to only think about yourself for a weekend!

[mez70]

will be watching this with interest???
I have often thought of something like this but the cost and some of the more alternate foods were offputting.

[living~in~the~no...]

Not health retreat as such but did a yoga retreat two years in a row for a weekend. It was wonderful. And the alternative foods were quite palatable!!!!

[travelmum]

I really just want to escape and have some time on my own without the craziness of life!

[gina70]

They sounds like heaven! But one here in QLD charges $2500 for 5 nights, too much for me.

[Therese]

I think they sound fantastic.

[Sassy Girl]

I'll also be watching this post with interest. I'd love to go to one but we can't afford it atm

These are the two I've been looking at

http://www.goldendoor.com.au/health-retrea...ia/introduction

http://www.gaiaretreat.com.au/

Hopefully one day I can afford it as I think it's something I really need to do.

[librablonde]

I have and it was the best time of my life. I went to Crystal Lodge in Katoomba, Blue Mountains. It was about 8 years ago and I went there for 2 weeks. At the time I was 33 years old and had money to burn (single/career corporate chick) and was feeling very depleted and stressed out in my life. I had been looking at a trip OS but finally decided that I couldn't be bothered with actually "travelling" and wanted to just sit and be pampered.

So I booked 14 days at Crystal Lodge and it was divine. They served wonderful vegetarian wholefoods for every meal and encouraged clients to just relax. I went all-out and booked at least 1 treatment (often 2) for each day I was there: reflexology, massage (I had a different one every single day!), full-on appointment with a naturopath, iridology, facials and manicures, spiritual reading, full astrological reading, you name it, I did it. It was just heaven for me. All up, I spent less than $3k and had a ton of fun. I read a lot, slept a lot, stared out the window and relaxed a lot, it was great. Most other guest were only there for a few days and did only a very few of these treatments, so they would have spent much less money

Of course, most retreats aren't like this, most are more "health and relaxation" orientated rather than new-agey/spiritual. I also did yoga, bushwalks and other healthy pursuits. I would LOVE to do another one but now I'm no longer footloose and fancy free so I think it'll be many years before I can do something like that again.

I floated out of Crystal Lodge feeling amazing and totally relaxed for probably the first time in my whole life. I remember I started back at work the day after I left the retreat and as soon as I walked in the office people started racing up to me, complaining about work issues and with various grievances and melodramas. I remember I hadn't even put my bag down or made it to my desk before the chaos that I'd been avoiding for 2 weeks was back around me with full force

If you can afford the time and money to go on a retreat then I can totally recommend it

[travelmum]

Thank you! That is just what I needed!