Last month, I was gifted something extraordinary – a lifeline, really. A kind and generous friend, sensing I was close to breaking point, offered me a week away at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. I didn’t know how much I needed it until I arrived.
To be honest, I was on my knees. My mental health had hit an all time low, anxiety through the roof, stuck in freeze response. My youngest son had just left home, and the house was suddenly quiet in all the wrong ways and I was feeling lost. I had been alone for weeks, exhausted from writing and launching my book, and recently diagnosed with PTSD after months, if not years, of sustained emotional stress.
With my husband about to travel again, the thought of more time alone felt unbearable. That’s when my friend stepped in. Her gift? The space to breathe. To pause. To reset.
With my husband about to travel again, the thought of more time alone felt unbearable. That’s when my friend stepped in. Her gift? The space to breathe. To pause. To reset.
I arrived at Gwinganna not just tired, but disconnected from others, from joy, from myself. I felt helpless, powerless, and a long way from the woman I once knew.
Passing through the gates late at night, in the dark, unsure of what the next morning would bring. But when I woke, I was greeted by light, birdsong, and the most breathtaking scenery: Gwinganna. Nestled in the lush, rolling hinterland, mist curling over treetops, sunlight spilling over every edge. It felt like nature itself was saying, you’re safe now.
At first, I was overwhelmed. Sixty guests in one place felt like a lot, especially when all I wanted was solitude. But slowly, gently, something shifted. I began to connect. With the people around me. With nature. With a quiet strength I’d forgotten I had.
What I’d been missing was human connection. That was the first piece of the puzzle. I started each morning with qi gong as the sun rose, moving in stillness, surrounded by open sky and bird song. We walked the hills together, chatting about work, kids, life – all the real stuff. It reminded me how much healing happens in conversation, in eye contact, in shared laughter.
And the food – 100% organic and made with love by passionate chefs who care deeply about every ingredient. With every meal, I felt myself returning to life. From the inside out.
Alongside the rituals and rest, I began biohacking my way back to myself. I committed to daily infrared saunas, winter swims in the pool, and exploring new wellness tech in their biohacking lounge. I tried meditation oxygen pods and other recovery technologies. These tools were so supportive, helping me move energy, clear brain fog, and reconnect with my body in a grounded, empowered way.
I had powerful treatments, including one called ‘The Journey’, where I finally explored the roots of my anxiety, tracing it back to my teenage years. My therapist helped me name it, own it, and start to release it. I left with tools, affirmations, and a new sense of agency.
The daily seminars sparked inspiration for my work. The healing practices gave me space to grieve and recalibrate. The people reminded me what it means to belong.
I arrived broken like a version of Humpty Dumpty who wasn’t sure she could be put back together again. And yet, piece by piece, I was whole again.
I arrived broken like a version of Humpty Dumpty who wasn’t sure she could be put back together again. And yet, piece by piece, I was whole again.
By the end of the week, I felt totally reinvigorated. I made incredible supportive friendships now still connected in a WhatsApp group that continues to lift us all up.
Gwinganna felt a return, not a retreat. To self. To strength. To soul.
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