I feel myself instantly relaxing as we turn into the Resolution Retreats driveway and see the familiar grounds and modern buildings that I remember from last year’s retreat. I’m here to relax, learn new things, enjoy some pampering, form new friendships and I’m relishing the idea that someone else will be doing all the cooking for three whole days. And what makes everything perfect, is that I get to enjoy this experience with my wonderful husband, Mark.
You may be wondering why Mark is with me – after all, isn’t Resolution Retreats an award-winning women’s only retreat? Yes it is, but thankfully Joelene Ranby, the owner and founder of Resolution Retreats, has seen that many men and women are battling through these tough times and need some assistance to build their inner strength, with the help of a few new tools in their toolbox. And this is where Resilience Retreats comes in.
Held at the same stunning location with expansive gardens, modern buildings and all the facilities you could imagine, Resilience Retreats offers a destination where issues such as stress, conflict and anxiety are acknowledged, and guests are empowered with tools to manage them.
RESILIENCE
What exactly is resilience? It’s the ability to withstand adversity and be able to bounce back from difficult life events. I’m sure you’ll agree these past 18 months have been anything but easy. Resilience in all aspects of our lives has been severely tested yet we are still expected to perform as normal in our roles as parents, family members, leaders and professionals.
Having resilience is important because it gives us the psychological strength needed to process and overcome hardship so that we don’t get easily overwhelmed and turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Resilience Retreat’s tagline is ‘taking care of the wellbeing of your people’ and the idea is to empower people with tools to manage stress, conflict and their mental health. Its aim is to help people build a stronger mindset, rather than always defaulting to the ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’. In other words, it’s about tackling the root causes – a scenario where prevention is better than the cure.
LIFE ON RETREAT
Mark and I are shown to our beautiful, self-contained private bungalow, where we quickly unpack before heading back to the communal building to meet the other guests and Retreat Team. Guests have come from all over the North Island – some have come alone, others in pairs.
Over the course of the three days we attend two workshops a day given by professionals in their respective fields. We all make copious notes in our workbooks as we absorb information on sleep, mental health and resilience, confident communication, stress and heart health, essential energy and nutrition, and effective habits and productivity.
In between the workshops there is ‘bliss time’ where you choose how to spend your time, and the choices are endless – go for a walk, play tennis, curl up on the couch in your chalet and read a good book or have a snooze. Many guests head to nearby Cambridge for a wander around the shops or, perhaps, prefer to indulge in a mid-afternoon bubble bath!
The heated swimming pools are popular and Mark and I enjoy swimming a few lengths before joining a number of guests in the smaller, warmer, pool to wallow and chat. Mark also enjoys time trying out both the wet and dry saunas – both “wonderful” is his verdict.
What we really look forward to is time at the on-site, 5-star spa, where a full menu of treatments is on offer for guests at an additional cost – everything from lash tints, manicures and pedicures, through to massages, facials and pamper packages. I indulge in a Resolution Facial one day, a Revive Massage the next; Mark enjoys two different types of massages. The Spa team are very good at what they do and we emerge from each treatment wrapped in fluffy white robes, dozy and relaxed. Life is good.
When we aren’t learning new tools at the workshops, enjoying some bliss time or a spa treatment, we are eating! The meals are delicious and nutritious and there’s plenty of variety – homemade pizza, massaman fish curry, chicken and mushroom filo, and a chef’s lamb dish. The portions are generous and the added joy is that I haven’t had to prepare a single one of them… or tidy up.
Each morning there’s a yoga and meditation session in the specially built yoga centre – but there’s no pressure to attend. This is our time, after all.
Joelene Ranby
The three days are over before we know it and everyone agrees that they would love to stay longer. Our batteries are recharged and we’re armed with new tools to help in these unprecedented times. It’s time to head on home.
