Raw Food Forums

I want to go away for Christmas / New Year for a healthy rest. Thinking somewhere in NSW.

I was hoping to find an affordable retreat where I could eat healthy food, do bush walking, swim, relax, do a little bit of meditation, tia chi , yoga etc… Maybe a donation type retreat run by Buddhists or some other similar group.

Every time I try to find a retreat of this nature, I just end up finding some ultra expensive spas in Byron Bay and Queensland.

A friend of mine is doing a ten day silent meditation retreat in Wisemans Ferry over this period. I don’t want to do that, as I usually get bored of meditation after ten minutes, so I would never survive ten days. She often does the yoga ones in the Blue Mountains but apparently it’s not on this year, not that I would want to do ten days of yoga either.

I hate Christmas day, both myself and my husband are alone on that day and find it very boring staying at home. Well maybe hate is a strong word but when you don't share it with family, it just really becomes another day but with the added pressure and expectation to "have fun" - no wonder there are so many attempted suicides at this time of year.

Does anyone have any suggestions or can direct me to website that offers shorter or more varied flexible retreats?

Thank you.

 
(Edited due to spelling mistake)

best advice i can give you,is get outside in nature...do something for less fortunate people~donate your time or food to those who dont have the luxury of a home or abundant food...

grab your bikes go for a ride,lay on a blanket gazing at the blueness of the sky....dreaming of the wonderful things that are coming into your life, and what you have to be grateful for!

doesnt sound like a 'retreat' is what you need..well not catered by others anyway!make your own retreat.....work on bonding somehow with your inner self and with your partner....

what are the things you love to do....by yourself and with your partner?

just a few thoughts here....i have made it my lifes work to amuse myself...came from being a lonely youngest child....

no judgement here,just unconditional love and its just my opinion here,take it or leave it....

Yes I want a retreat, preferably catered by others. I do not want to stay at home.

Don’t need to bond with my husband, already very bonded! If we bond anymore we will need a chisel to separate us!

Just need to both relax somewhere away from all the bull**** that normally surrounds Christmas, as it drives us both mad. So want to stay at a healthy retreat somewhere in nature.

Between now and 19 December it is frantic at work, so want to unwind over the Christmas period.

In past years we go to a hotel and book into their restaurant for Christmas Day lunch or dinner – but that won’t be suitable this year.

Perhaps you could look at a B&B, rural chalets or something?

There are a few over here that offer massage and have bushwalks nearby.

We went away a few months ago and stayed in the hills (can't really be classed as mountains can they!) in a chalet. We took our own fruit and veg for me and DH and the kids had vegan meals provided. I did yoga daily, the kids swam in the creek, we went walking on the trails, and I had a few massages. It was gorgeous!

It was also a LOT cheaper than a 'retreat'.

Something to think about...

Enjoy planning it! That is part of the fun I think.

Thank you for your suggestions but the main reason I want a catered retreat is to protect myself from myself.

I use to love Christmas, in fact some of my most cherished childhood memories stem from wonderful Christmas days spent with my Mum, Dad and family.

However, every Christmas since I was ten years old (the year both my parents died) have been horrible, empty, depressing and sad.

I normally get through this period by getting very, very, very drunk and crying a lot.

Since going raw (or at least since juicing everyday) I have become highly sensitive to alcohol and rich food, and I really don’t want to go down the same destructive path this year. Which I fear I will, if left to my own devices.

I have actually discovered a possible raw food retreat. Not for the time period I want but it may be useful in the future:

http://embracinghealth.com.au/retreat/ (http://embracinghealth.com.au/retreat/)

Anyway I am still looking for something for Christmas, so if anyone can think of anywhere.

You could stay with friends or perhaps someone from the forum... ? There are lots of people that don't celebrate christmas for one reason or another. Hope you find something.

Hello sweetpea,

There are a few popular ones I've heard of, all of which I'm sure would do raw for you on request. Hopewood (near Sydney), Gaia (Byron), Gwinganna (Gold Coast).

I know these are quite conventional retreat places, but I guess if a bit of s-plushing out is on the agenda, they sound quite indulgent.

Good Luck!

Edit:

Oh, whoops! This is just the info you didn't want! I just re-read your request for affordable not indulgent! Sorry about that! In that case, savvy womyn's suggestions sound great.

Hi Sweetpea,

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the pain of losing both parents so young. It must have thrown you for a six.

I can imagine though, being a parent, that if I died, I would want them to enjoy their lives. So I want to thank you... after reading this thread I had a little cry at the thought of my babies being left without Bill and I and how they would cope. I'm going to talk to Bill's sister about whether she will take legal guardianship of our children and I've also written them a letter each in the case that something will happen to Bill and myself.

How are your plans coming along? Have you found anything? I was wondering if you would be able to have a really good cry in the morning and then go and celebrate somewhere. Not celebrate anything in particular, just go and have a good time.

I hope this doesn't seem harsh or uncaring as it's definitely coming from a place of wanting you to be happier... more healed. But sometimes the best intentions can come across wrong in sensitive places like this.

Hugs

xooxxo