The Week That Broke Me Open

I’d been looking forward to this trip since the day I left last year. The stillness, silence and peace was something I didn’t know how deeply I was craving. I think that’s how most people find themselves at Aro-Ha, or on retreat anywhere. 

A little escape from the busyness of modern day life, a chance to go inward and reflect before taking steps forward. Guilty of letting the pings of my phone start and end everyday, as a business owner and a mum, it’s hard to get a moment to think.

Like actually think.

And that’s just what I did this year at Aro-Ha as I immersed deeply in their intentional guided program of wellness while teaching guests about the power of detoxing with coffee enemas and para-cleansing. 

Not only movement, nature immersion, yoga and breath but deeply surrendering into meditations, stillness, silence, honouring the body and self. I forgot how good nature can make you feel. And how good it feels to experience it in the present moment with others walking this life besides you.

That’s what makes Aro-Ha so special.

The people.

Both the retreat leaders who gently and open heartedly guide you down this path but also the people who come in the same pivotal time of their lives and share the experience. For that week, we just melted together as one even though we were all perfect strangers.

I think that is something that is lost in our culture today, the connectedness, non-judgement. Tuning out from the distractions online and constant bombardment of information that will 99% never actually affect us. And instead, open our hearts, ears and minds to being present and forming a belonging with those around us. Despite our differences.

In this moment, we realise just how important turning inwards is to our health. Realising that this stillness and peace is not just a wish, but actually so important to regulate our nervous system, think clearly and to heal. The anxiety in my chest faded away, not because I was extra productive, but because I stopped. Gave into the fact that I am human, and I'm not invincible, even though I have spent the last 8 years building my shield. I gave myself time to breathe and reset. And with that came rest and clarity, the things I desperately needed.

I would think of myself as a very healthy person. I eat organic, plant based, do yoga, get sunshine, detox with coffee enemas and colonics, and until recently, I really thought that was enough. But in recent years, I have noticed more and more stress creeping into my life. I never thought anything of it, it seems to be normal, but as a practitioner I do know the consequences. I’ve chosen this stress so its mine to carry.

But what I realised on retreat this year is there is a different way.  We don’t have to ride the highs and lows like a rollercoaster, we don’t have to highly celebrate and attach to the wins and hide and shame the lows, we simply must accept them as a part of a flowing river.

The only certainty?

That good and bad will both occur, and that this too shall pass. The one thing that does matter the most? Our health. Our beautiful body, that is a miracle to even be here being our vessel through this life. That is what we should be honouring. 

As I gazed out over the mountains, feeling like a spec of sand on the earth I realised, my trivial problems melted away. I also realised, the best things in my life have happened with ease and without force. 

When the timing is right, everything falls into place. The night I met my husband, the surprise double line on the pink stick before our wedding, the yoga class where I met my best friend, the people who have come into the clinic and happy bum and simply never left.

The things I didn’t force, all stood the test of time because all of them are here for the ride, not just the highs. I had forgotten that.

If you’ve resonated with this, I cant recommend Aro-Ha enough. You can’t put a price on wellness and what you’ll gain from an experience like this could be the catalyst of change for the rest of your life. I think you deserve that chance. The chance to find your free. 

Those mountains will find me in my dreams. A home away from home. See you next year Aro-Ha.

Aroha (love)

Kyah

P.S. While I was in Queenstown I ran into some Happy Bum fans at the Novotel. It is so fun to see the love for happy bum all around the world. makes my heart sing.