Health retreats in Australia are increasingly in demand. Whether they be for relaxation, mental health, weight loss, detoxification or meditation etc., there are many high quality choices to choose between.
If you’ve never been on a health or wellness retreat before, you may be wondering what actually happens at one. Well this partly depends on what the retreat has to offer and partly on what you’re looking for…
One way or another, the main goal is that your mind, body and soul are rejuvenated and you return home feeling balanced, lighter, more energised and sometimes even with a feeling of having a new lease on life.
Let’s take a closer look at what you are likely to experience…
So What is a Wellness Retreat?
People go on wellness retreats (also called health retreats or health resorts) for many reasons that could include: to have a couple of days to themselves, to detox, lose weight, nurture and pamper themselves, relax and rejuvenate, the list goes on.
Health retreats can offer all of this, although they usually focus only on some of the health and wellness aspects such as mental health, fitness, spirituality, weight loss, yoga, meditation etc. However, although they offer a range of services, they all focus on health and healing, whether it be physical, mental, spiritual or a combination.
The main objective of most wellness retreats is to slow down, relax, re-balance your life and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.
Why Go on a Health Retreat?
Although we would all benefit from going on a health retreat, those who feel chronically ill, exhausted, or believe they are at a crossroads in life could benefit the most.
Numerous studies have shown that a visit to a wellness retreat can offer a huge relief to people suffering from chronic health conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, multiple sclerosis, heart conditions, mental health problems etc. [1]
You stand to benefit the most if you choose a retreat that focuses on what you need the most, whether it be a detox, meditation, nutritious food etc.
As people become more health-conscious, they are realising how destructive stress can be. More and more people are making a conscious effort to de-stress whenever they can.
At the same time, they realise that unhealthy lifestyles are the main cause of most of the “diseases of civilisation” [1]
We have summarised five of the main benefits you will experience from attending a wellness retreat in Australia below…
5 Key Benefits of Going On A Health Retreat:
1. It’s an opportunity to de-stress
If you are stressed out, it’s best to go away for a while – ideally, without a laptop and a smartphone. While being away will not solve your problems, by removing yourself physically from environments or people who stress you out, you have an opportunity to look at your life from a different angle.
The main reason most people go on health retreats is to relax and “get away from it all.”
It is during deep relaxation that your parasympathetic nervous system is activated.
If this system is not working properly, you become unable to truly switch off and relax. And chronic stress (i.e. the inability to relax) sooner or later leads to anxiety.
Therefore, the key to de-stressing is to consciously activate your parasympathetic nervous system.
The easiest way to do that is through meditation, deep breathing and spending time in nature – activities that all health and wellness retreats offer.
2. Your focus and creativity improve
Getting away from your daily routine enables you to slow down and become more mindful. You’ll become focused on the “here-and-now” rather than dwell on the past or plan for the future.
In this state of mind, it becomes easier to stop the inner chatter (the ‘monkey brain’) and relax.
Besides, on a health retreat you are immersed within nature and physically active which stimulates your neurological pathways that boost creative thinking.
3. You feel more balanced and emotionally stable
Most health retreats include meditation in their programs because there’s plenty of scientific evidence showing that meditation helps you on all levels.
On the emotional level, it helps you beat stress, depression, and anxiety.
On the mental level, it helps you still the inner chatter and “switch off”.
On the physical levels, it calms you down, lowers your blood pressure and encourages your brain to start producing alpha (a state of wakeful rest) instead of beta waves.
Most retreats are located in clean and beautiful surroundings and being outdoors helps your body to create more serotonin (the feel-good chemical), obtain Vitamin D from the Sun as well as negative ions (particularly around waterfalls) that can neutralize harmful oxidants in the body.
There is scientific evidence that our bodies and cells have an electrical charge and with the electromagnetic frequencies all around us, positive electrons gradually build up in our bodies, often in the form of damaging free radicals. Direct contact with the ground (i.e. with your hands or bare feet) helps to balances this energy and prevent cellular damage as the ground has a negative charge.
This is called “earthing”. In the past, we lived closer to Nature and were, in one way or another, constantly in touch with the earth. Today, it is only those who spend a lot of time outdoors that still practice earthing (e.g. when tilling the soil, gardening, camping, or simply walking barefoot).
Emerging scientific research reveals that direct physical contact with the electrons on the surface of the Earth stabilises your physiology at the deepest level. [2]
Feeling positive about life and being relaxed also triggers many important biochemical processes in the body.
4. You learn about healthy eating habits
The reason you stand to benefit from going on a retreat is not only because it’s an opportunity to relax but because it introduces you to an upgraded healthy lifestyle.
You may feel inspired get up early with the sunrise, exercise throughout the day, eat carefully planned and nutritious meals, meditate, relax etc…
The idea is to encourage you to continue living an upgraded healthy lifestyle even when you return home.
All retreats, regardless of the “theme” they focus on, try to encourage healthy living habits, particularly a healthy diet.
5. You reset your mind
Positive experiences turn on beneficial genes and these, in turn, activate certain biochemical changes in the body.
For example, your upgraded lifestyle and improved mindset will stimulate cellular repair (making you look and feel younger) and you will have more energy. Most people feel more motivated and creative following a health retreat
Spending time outdoors, being physically active and following a healthy diet is sometimes all it takes to find the “healer within”.
Why Go On a Health Retreat in Australia?
Health and wellness tourism is a new branch of tourism that has developed as a result of health and wellness issues becoming a priority for individuals but also for many employers.
Health retreats are usually located in lush and beautiful environments and this is where the opportunity for Australia lies. With clean air, wide-open spaces, the ocean, rainforest and a great climate, Australia has a lot to offer to the increasing number of health-conscious people.
When it comes to healthy life choices, surveys show that Australians are ahead of Europeans. They are conscious of and avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar or salt. Most people exercise, eat high quality food and engage in healthy living habits.
Wellness festivals are springing up across the country and health resorts are welcoming more and more foreign visitors.
As the world gets more polluted and people struggle to maintain their health, Australia’s growing reputation as a wellness destination is something its economy will benefit from for decades to come.
We hope that this article has helped to understand what a health retreat is and what you can expect from health retreats in Australia.
If you need a hand deciding on the best health or wellness retreat for you or a loved one – we suggest you begin HERE: https://www.besthealthretreats.com.au/
Leave us a comment below if you have any questions, we would love to hear from you…
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Best Health Retreats or its staff.
