Motivate And Move
Sundays usually start with a coffee so it felt a little odd to bypass the flat whites of Ponsonby Central and instead head upstairs to The Sapphire Room. More than worth it though as this gorgeous space is where Wellness Retreats NZ was holding its Motivate and Move urban retreat recently – a beautifully tailored day dedicated to wellbeing for busy people.
There was immediately a sense of warmth and welcome as the busyness below was left behind. Workshops, seminars and yoga filled the day within 45-minute slots, supplemented with a delicious array of food and drinks. Everything was carefully curated, seamlessly moving from one session to another.
Founder and yoga teacher, Mel Carroll, exudes an air of calmness and serenity that set the tone for the whole day. You always know you’re being truly pampered when everything runs like a well-oiled machine yet you’re unaware of what’s going on behind the scenes.
She brought together a high calibre of speakers who catered to those of us already on our wellness journey as well of those just starting out. A gentle flow, a touch of acro fun, a holistic approach to losing weight, setting and manifesting goals and a hands-on healthy snacks workshop made for a day to get immersed in with relatable stories and tools to take away. And gymnastic ribbons! Let me just say that I’ll be judging any future retreats on the inclusion of gymnastic ribbons.
(top left) Cristina Leon – Reveal Yourself + Good Health Choices Magazine (middle) Erin O’Hara – Naturopath + Founder Golden Yogi + Emma Mildon – Spiritual PA + Author (bottom left) Dr Kathleen Wills – Intergrative Doctor/(main pic) Erin + Mel Carroll – Founder Wellness Retreats (missing) Nikki Ralston – Founder Urban Ashram + The Ralston Method
Talking to some of the guests (all women on this day) uncovered a common theme. This was some well deserved ‘me’ time and they were looking forward to being inspired and establishing or re-establishing healthy lifestyle tips. These we got in spades along with a follow-up email containing links to recipes and reminders and some fabulous, exclusive promotions from the sponsors and speakers. I loved this touch as it allowed us to give our full attention to each session and enjoy the products or services at a later time.
Although most of the women were new to yoga they quickly lost any reservations in this environment. There was an easy mix of mingling and chatting amongst the guests. Of all ages, some had received the retreat as a Christmas gift; others were looking to lock in their New Year wellness resolutions. We were from all walks of life with varying levels of fitness and wearing the latest active wear was definitely not a criteria. Thankfully.
The overall feel was nurturing and friendly. There was a sense of relaxed mastery at play where nothing was a problem. In fact, going the extra mile was par for the day as Mel ended up organising accommodation for a couple of women who’d travelled down from the far north for the retreat but found everything booked out. They ended up staying with Mel’s partner’s mum. Love it! I’d say they did too as they’re coming back down for the next retreat in April.
My Motivate and Move day was a beautiful respite from everyday hustle and bustle. Everything and everyone involved was a perfect fit for the theme and along with a generously filled luxe goodie bag I left with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to start the week on a whole other level.
It was well worth skipping the coffee.
– Jane
Thank you so much for having me Wellness Retreats NZ! I loved every minute! xx
© The Yoga Connection 2016