A typical day on our wellness retreats
Waking up after a great sleep in your comfy bed, you face the first choice of the day: to stretch out in a Pilates Reformer class or snooze a little longer ("Alexa - turn off alarm, or wake me in 60 minutes!). If you are an early riser, grab some breakfast, hang out with the mini-goats, go for a walk, meditate in the Dome, sneak in an infrared sauna session or jump in the hydrotherapy spa as the sun rises. Benalla mornings are truly beautiful to behold.
To wellness treatment or not? Bookings for red light therapy and the flotation room start from 7am and are open throughout the day till 10pm. You could definitely sneak in a session before class if you are a morning person …. then a cup of amazing tea from the huge selection, or just a great coffee to kick start your day.
9:30am: Our "Pilates Reformer" workshop is a 'strong but stretchy' exploration of your body. Suitable for all levels and body types, you will travel from the tips of your toes, through to the crown of your head, on a journey to make your whole body feel fabulous. Loosen tight hips, niggly lower backs and shoulders...or depending on the day you might have the "Aerial Yoga Flow" option at this time slot.
10:30am: Choose from a selection of local organic fruits, home-made bread (gluten free available), cereals, yoghurts, fair trade coffee/tea/juice etc all at the time that suits you. Eat indoors or out on the deck - basking in the glorious Benalla sunshine (an essential part of your wellness retreat)
11:00am: Feed the mini-goats (and 'mini' pigs but don't mention their weight) and if you don't mind a little dust/dirt, hop over the fence for a pat, a cuddle or to sit still and experience a goat meditation. These guys will take as much love as you can give. Unless it's raining that is. Goats don't like ANYONE when it's raining. Being present with these beautiful beasts is an important part of this relaxation retreat.
11:30am: Time for some whole body Red Light Therapy (RLT) to invigorate skin, rejuvenate cellular energy systems and tone down lingering aches & pains. Follow with an infrared sauna burst to clear out your lymphatic system. Top it off with a cool shower or a swim in the magnesium salt pool to complete your perfect morning routine. Bookings for your preferred times are required and are allocated on a first in basis - this can be scheduled for any time across the duration of your stay and is a special feature of our wellness retreats.
12:30pm A healthy lunch is provided, followed by time to relax. Lie by the pool? Read a book? Bike ride, nap …
2:00pm: To bike ride or not? Listen to your body and if it’s raring to go, you can peddle of on a leisurely guided tour of Benalla Lake. Tree lined streets, re-wilded vegetation and bushland, water birds galore and a birds eye view of the best bits of Benalla (you might even spot some Wall Art from our famous yearly festival). A flat easy ride, with helmets and bikes in all sizes provided. No one gets left behind, but the odd person does choose to keep riding for a little extra to see more of our glorious town - and that is perfectly ok with us!
2:30pm: Not feeling up for a bike ride (perhaps it’s been a while?), you’ve taken this chance to tap out for an hour with some time in our Magnesium Float Tank. Ear plugs in, lights out, find a comfy position …. you’re so comfortable, it’s like you’re floating on a warm fluffy cloud and your whole body switches off. Yes, your mind might wander down some interesting pathways, but you just rise above it and disconnect. It feels like the whole world just disappears and you are left with a sense of peace, serenity and acceptance. Or at least sometimes that happens!
3:30pm: Nap time or snack time? Either way is fine with us. We won’t judge. Or perhaps you’ll find a hidden nook somewhere and read a book. Bird watching is also popular or if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of some of our local wildlife.
4:30pm: Join us for a hot yoga myofascial release workshop (where you get a targeted whole body massage while lying under infra red heaters like a cat in front of a fire!). This is a truly divine way to spend an afternoon that will make you feel fabulous, targeting all the common niggles and tight spots. You might come out of this one only to hop straight in our hydrotherapy spa - complete with medical grade massage jets… what’s not to like?
6:30pm: Head to the dining area (indoor or outdoor to match the seasons) and enjoy some local produce put together in the way that works for you. We structure our meals from a vegan base, providing ingredients tailored to our retreat guests. For example you could start with a rye dough pizza base, adding home grown tomato paste, cherry tomatoes, fresh finely sliced prosciutto/ salmon/ beef/ etc and mozzarella from the king valley to make it all your own (for the non-vegetarian). Or perhaps a satay base with spinach, grilled pumpkin and crumbled goats cheese (vegetarian & low lactose)….? The options are all yours, with a range of base dishes (ie rice, wraps, lentils, or vegetables) and toppings (salads, sauces, curries, stews, sliced meats etc) to suit a range of dietary needs. All you need to do is load your plate with things that you like to eat in the way you like to eat them. We do all the rest!
8:00pm: Winding down for the night - Evening classes include Aerial Yin & meditation or on Saturday night we have a self defence workshop that just might change your life. These sessions are designed to suit all body types and experiences - you can choose how much to participate or perhaps just relax in the silk, or sit back and watch.
9:30pm onwards: Sleep, catch an episode, a snack before bed, or join us for an ayurvedic tea or mulled wine by the fire pit (to encourage good sleep). We encourage our guests to be quiet after 9pm when outdoors for the sake of others staying with us. And fingers crossed as you lie back into your luxury bedding, listening to the sound of frogs, your mind and body will thank you for coming to a Little Farm of Calm wellness retreat.
