The Power of Women on Retreat: What I Learned from being a participant on an All-Women’s Retreat
I didn’t know how much I needed it. I’ve been on plenty of women’s retreats as a co-host, but in Spring I signed up for my second all-women’s retreat as a guest. I was expecting some rest, maybe a little yoga, and some product research/ professional development/ networking while seeing how other women run retreats, but what I found was something far deeper—something I wasn’t even looking for.
From the moment I arrived at Montville on the Sunshine Coast to the Yogable x Rise & Conquer Retreat, it felt like there was an unspoken understanding between all the guests. The retreat was co-hosted by a woman I have idolised for years now, Georgie Stevenson, and a work colleague had warned me…."never meet your idols, they’ll disappoint you!”. Well Georgie, AND this retreat, did NOT disappoint! We didn’t know each other’s stories yet, but we knew what it felt like to carry responsibility, to be busy, to move through life trying to achieve while still maintaining peace. And in this space—away from the demands of work, family, and the mental load we often bear—there was an incredible sense of relief. These women got me! Perhaps from the outside it all looks “pretty”, perhaps “pretentious” and “perfect”, and I was nervous about fitting in. But everyone at the retreat was real, with real challenges, and shared with a real honesty that instantly put me at ease.
The sharing between women (from ages 20-60 from across the country and different cultural backgrounds) was pretty special.
What I Learned from Being a Guest at a Women’s Retreat
💛 I Didn’t Have to Be “On”
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the need to manage, plan, or anticipate the next thing. While I don’t have any children, I have two “business babies” that need constant tending to, plus I had spent the 4 months prior working on school camps in remote rainforest locations, often having 20+ children in my care in wild settings! As soon as I arrived, there was nothing to juggle and no one to take care of except myself. That was a strange feeling at first—almost uncomfortable. My bed was waiting for me with my name and a gift bag, my meals were lovingly prepared for me, and even my day’s schedule was all planned for me so I had time to learn, move and rest without needing to think about it! But as the retreat unfolded, I realised how much energy I had been spending simply holding everything together. It felt like exhaling for the first time in months.
🌿 Rest Is More Than Sleep—It’s a Way of Being
Before the yogable retreat, I had been preaching rest through our Active Rest Retreats social media and website, but still trying to get the business off the ground while working for someone else, it was challenging to walk the walk! I knew what true rest meant, but when I had 1 day for myself in between camps that needed to be filled with business admin, a gym class (self care!), partner time, food prep and laundry, it was near impossible to truly feel rested. By booking the time off from work, telling Sarah I would be MIA from the company admin for a few days, and parting with the money, I was able to truly rest! And by rest, I mean; moving gently through yoga, breathing deeply in meditation, walking through beautiful lush Montville, and sitting in quiet reflection without feeling like I should be doing something else. Rest isn’t just something we do—it’s a way of being, a way of treating ourselves with softness and care.
🔥 Women Hold Space for Each Other in a Way That Feels Like Magic
I was surrounded by women I had never met before, and yet, there was no hesitation in offering support, in sharing stories, in holding space for one another. There was no competition, no posturing (which I had been nervous about)—just a genuine willingness to listen and be present. Despite being unsure about the idea of sharing a room, I instantly bonded with my two “room-mates”, and no conversation was off-limits with them! The fireside circle chats and “letting go” ceremony was so powerful as a participant. While I had joined in when hosting retreats, to have this space held for me by strangers felt so special and made me feel seen. In a world where we’re often expected to have it all together, being in a space where vulnerability was not only accepted but celebrated was (hmmm this sounds cheesy, but yep, I’m gonna say it) life-changing!
🌊 Laughter and Tears Can Exist in the Same Moment
There were moments of deep stillness, but there were also moments of absolute joy—uncontrollable laughter over meals, giggles in the ice-bath, giving each other pep-talks in the sauna about ways to approach life challenges, shared stories that made my heart ache in the best way, spontaneous star-gazing with blankets after bed-time (my new friend from Sydney saw her first ever shooting star!!), and poolside chats about everything from grief, business, child-raising, only-fans, endometriosis, sexuality, nutrition and goal setting. It reminded me that healing isn’t always serious. Sometimes, the most restorative thing we can do is simply allow ourselves to feel it all—the grief, the joy, the exhaustion, the love, and when you’re surrounded by like-minded women, you truly feel safe to express it all!
I was warned that meeting your idols will only disappoint you, but it went just fine! Georgie Stevenson was as authentic, open and fun in real life as I knew she would be.
The Takeaway: It’s More Than Self-Care—It’s a Reclamation
Before this retreat, I had also fallen victim to feeling like self-care was something I had to earn —something to squeeze in when there was enough time (I know many of you were raised with that conditioning too!). But this experience showed me that taking time for myself isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. It’s a reclamation of my energy, my joy, my presence. And when I returned home, I didn’t just feel rested—I felt realigned.
This isn’t just about getting away for a few days, or the networking, or the benefits of bushwalking and yoga, or the wisdom you gain on an Active Rest Retreat through cultural experiences, It’s ALSO about remembering who you are underneath the noise, the stress, the roles you play. It’s about coming back to yourself and carrying that feeling forward.
🌿 Are you ready to experience this transformation? Our Wilpena Women’s Weekend is coming up in May, and we’d love to welcome you into this space of rest, adventure, and connection.