None of us are alone in our struggles. Connect. Share Stories. Experiences. Learn and heal.
Come together with others to connect, share and learn techniques to enhance your self care practices. In a supportive environment that meets everyone’s needs, you’ll focus on personal development to improve your health, happiness and wellbeing.
You’ll be supported in two ways. First, by learning techniques to enhance your self care practices and work towards your unique health goals. Second, connecting with and learning from others.
The process of people coming together, connecting with each other, sharing stories and experiences can really strengthen our learning and healing. We are all individuals with our unique circumstances, however none of us are alone in our struggles. These struggles can be reduced greatly through group processes supported in our retreats and health workshops.
Workshops and retreats typically cater for 6 to 15 people, although we can adjust and tailor sessions for larger or smaller groups
Lisa strives to create and deliver workshops that meet the needs of participants.
Previous Retreats - International Women's Day Retreat 2019
We celebrated International Women's Day by offering 40 lucky women the opportunity to attend one of four 3-hour mini mindfulness retreats.
We wanted to recognise the contributions of women in our community. Whether it was through their involvement in community activities, the efforts they put in at their place of employment or the unpaid work done at home with families.
It was amazing to have such an incredible group of women come together. It was incredibly rewarding to see women who give so much to others, take time to give back to themselves.
The elements of wellbeing and happiness
Professional
For most people their work/profession/career can be a key contributor to wellbeing and happiness.
Having confidence in your work, feeling appreciated and respected by your manager or peers can greatly enhance your well-being. High levels of work satisfaction and fulfillment and being celebrated for your individual contribution and offerings in your work places can improve your health. Aspects such as role clarity, work life balance, support, training and supervision, and working for an organisation that aligns with your personal values, skills, strengths and attributes is important. It can greatly enhance feelings of workplace engagement and fulfilment all of which protect you against burnout job stress and help you cope with the demands of your job.
Psychological
Psychological well-being can include many things and these can greatly enhance or hamper your wellbeing.
Below are some of the aspects that need consideration. The temperament you've been born with, your levels of optimism, gratitude and resilience. The childhood living environment, levels of nurturing, stability, love, unconditional positive regard from your caregivers are important. Relationships with your parents/caregivers, siblings and peers can also influence your identity, self-confidence and psychological wellbeing. Various chapters in your life are important as well: education, career/employment, intimate relationships, peers and social connections.
Nutritional
When considering your nutritional well-being, you also need to consider chemical aspects in your lifestyle.
“You are what you eat”. Whole food eating is a great start. An idea to consider is to spend more of your investment in the fruit and vegetable shops and less in the supermarkets. The supermarkets invest in marketing agents to emotionally manipulate you in to buying generally unhealthy and processed foods. I jokingly say buy food that has had the least amount of interactions with humans and technology. Sounds purist, but the less number of people that have handled the food you buy (processing, packaging, storing, preserving) the better quality of the food and it’s better for the environment too. It’s becoming common knowledge that good gut and digestive health is essential for wellbeing. However, less is expressed how emotional stress, anxiety or depression compromises gut health. Basically, these stressed states activates your sympathetic nervous system (the primitive adrenal response of flight, fright or freeze) which is a survival response, that reduces digestive function even when you have consumed the healthiest of foods.
There are so many chemicals we breath and absorb through our skin. Our skin is one of our largest organs in the body and our first line of defence, often it gets bombarded with cleaning products, skin creams, make-ups and various other chemicals.
Physical
The physical element includes your structural health and the amount of activity/movement/exercise in your life.
Your posture and ergonomics also need consideration, for instance sedentary lifestyle and sitting within the workplaces are being linked to significant health risks. Exercise is more than attending a fitness class. It needs to include movement that is supportive, and adaptive to your unique and evolving needs. Research is starting to support the concept that being active throughout the day is essential, not just a few blocks per week. The health benefits of exercising are immense and include increases in endorphins, relieving for depression, stress, anxiety and muscle tension. I have my own bias here, I believe the best exercises are ones that support the links between physical movement and emotional/psychological well-being. Such exercises could include yoga, tai chi and martial arts.
Spiritual
The sixth element that is the centre of wellbeing and happiness is the spiritual element.
For a spiritual/religious person, it might offer you a regular practice, a source of guidance or a purpose. Having a strong spiritual connection can create a great sense of comfort, satisfaction and assurance. It can also have strong connective power that brings people together on a regular basis and offers people a sense of commonality, something to share, discuss, guide and feel a part of. Many people turn to this support when they are feeling sad or alone. Spirituality is an individual choice and with respect, I believe each person is entitled to and should be encouraged to make their own decisions around their sense of spirituality/religion or spiritual connection. For some people it isn’t an integral part of their wellbeing, for others its fundamental.
Social Engagement
Social Engagement, connectedness and feelings of belongingness is important for wellbeing.
Whether you are an introverted or an extroverted person, having strong social connections or feeling part of something outside of your own company has great benefits for your health. Contributing something to your community, work place or people in need can help you feel more socially connected and accepted. It can increase your levels of self-worth, self-esteem and strengthen your identity and make you feel like you belong, are supported and less alone.