Retreats to soothe every soul
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Sometimes you need to stand back to see the big picture.
Imagine taking a few days to disconnect from the daily grind, focus inwards and untangle the knots of thoughts in your head and heart.
Such a break could be life-affirming—especially when uninterrupted hours of thought, relaxation and introspection are supported by experts in the fields of emotions and mindfulness.
It is this concept of providing high-quality, professional and restorative retreats that has fuelled the life’s work of Relationship Counsellor and Mediator Janine Moran.
Twenty years ago she purchased 130 acres of land near Bermagui, bordering National Park and kilometres of unspoiled coastline. There she built the Indigo Retreat—a luxury eco-lodge which provides an inspired location from which Janine regularly conducts intensive retreats to focus on some of the specific needs she identifies from her busy counselling practice in Manuka.
The pristine coastline bordering Indigo Retreat.
Next month (15-19 October) the retreat will host artist Lorna Crane—a former artist-in-residence of the Bundanon Trust—as well as yoga and mindfulness practitioners, who aim to take women out of the hustle and place them gently back in touch with their quiet and creative side.
“This is a four-day retreat which will really appeal to the busy woman who simply feels so overwhelmed by demands and her to-do list that she has lost her connection to herself. It is about disconnecting from daily demands—and for many that will include family—waking up in nature, walking the private track to Murrah Beach, or lying by one of the infinity pools, stretching with yoga and spending the days working with Lorna on creating art,” says Janine.
Artist Lorna Crane at work.
The promise of gourmet catering by Kelly Eastwood—who’s worked behind the scenes on MasterChef and River Cottage—and relaxing with other guests in front of the fire while someone else cooks the dinner may be enough to tempt many women. Meditation and optional massages and are also popular choices for downtime.
One of two infinity pools for maximum self-reflection.
While this retreat sounds every inch of indulgence, Janine has also partnered with Psychologist Melanie Sheehan to offer more therapeutic retreats, including upcoming Couples Retreats, and also “Surviving and Thriving After Separation” (30 November to 2 December). This is a retreat focused on helping women regenerate after the breakdown of their relationship and is suitable for those recently separated or those who have been “just surviving” on their own for a more than a while.
“This weekend offers a mix of optional therapeutic and educational sessions, depending on where you’re at: grief and loss after a relationship breakdown, communicating and successful co-parenting with former partners, looking after yourself and steering your life in a nourishing and positive direction. After the weekend finishes, guests have the option of staying on at Indigo Retreat at no extra cost until Tuesday morning (4 December) and having time to rest, relax and reflect.”
Luxury finishes abound at Indigo Retreat.
The retreat also provided an opportunity for private counselling sessions with qualified experts.
According to Janine, “the immense impact of relationship breakdown is often misunderstood and dismissed—this retreat is a chance to focus on healing and bouncing forwards in the way many women have been yearning to do with professional guidance”.
Meanwhile, in recognition that some people who could benefit the most from a “retreat” were often unable to get the time and space to travel to Indigo, Janine is also running a Canberra weekend relationship workshop out of the East Hotel on 20-21 October.
While the concept of group relationship work often seems awkward and can be a barrier to some people coming, Janine says there was something affirming about coming together in small groups to reconnect as partners.
“It actually works amazingly well—to get couples from disparate backgrounds and to bring them together to learn about their various relationship dances. When people are removed from the stresses and pressures of everyday life, they hear this material and two things happen: they understand that there are many common threads which run through partnerships and get an understanding that their painful issues aren’t so terribly unique or worth splitting up over.”
Sometimes, participants also get annoyed: “Why didn’t we know this stuff? Why isn’t it taught in schools?” is a really common response Janine receives at the end of workshops.
She also stressed that nobody has to get into anything personal in front of the others as “there is plenty of time and space for couples to work together in private with our professional guidance.”
the essentials
What: Abstract Art, Yoga and Mindfulness
When: 15-19 October.
Where: Indigo Retreat
What: Canberra Weekend Relationship Workshop
When: 20-21 October
Where: East Hotel
What: Surviving and Thriving after Separation
When: 30 November-2 December
Where: Indigo Retreat
For further information on any of the retreats mentioned, go to janinemoran.com.au/retreats/workshops.aspx or email reception@janinemoran.com.au
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