Spending three days barefoot is inherently healthy. Add in yoga, meditation and sound healing and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a wellness retreat. With a private chef serving (probiotic) ice cream and three domestic horses, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a 13-year-old’s fever dream. On the third day of my stay at Sugar Beach Ranch in Ballina, sitting (barefoot) at a table in the sand dunes, enjoying a plate of freshly baked pastries and views of migrating whales, I (honestly) couldn’t believe I wasn’t dreaming.
I took my shoes off the moment I arrived and, except for a two-hour equine wellness session where I was encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes, didn’t put them back on until I left the property three days later. Like the other guests, I spent my time at the ranch between yoga classes and al fresco dinners, taking breaks to stroll the long beach adjacent to the property or cuddle the horses in the paddock next door, who always help to calm me down.
It was late fall when I received an invitation to participate in a three-day wellness retreat on a 60-acre property. After the peak of summer’s busy schedule, the idea of turning off my phone for a weekend and spending three days by the ocean and pony pastures seemed too good to be true. Despite my best efforts, it’s impossible to capture the magic of the experience, the puppy-like joy and peacefulness that enveloped me on that first afternoon on the ranch. All I can do is hope that by writing about it, more people will have the opportunity to experience their own sweet retreat.
He was brought to life by Steve Arena, whose father was the late Chris Murphy (Stevie was one of the band managers who brought INXS to world fame and lived on the ranch until his death. Sweet Retreat is a women-only retreat that uses horses as a medium for holistic human wellness. As for the horse element, Stevie Equine psychotherapist Maxime Willems amazed me with his insight into how to work with horses and foster self-discovery.
Our days were filled with activities that naturally slowed our heart rates and reduced the noise in our heads: gentle yoga classes, meditation, painting classes, and fireside intention-setting rituals. In between activities, we enjoyed fresh cakes waiting for us in our shared cabin, read on the deck, and walked on the beach to watch the first whales of the season make their way north for the winter.
Apart from the magnesium-rich pool and world-class private chefs (the incredibly talented and loveable Pip Sumbak and Wal Foster), this retreat isn’t exactly what you’d call luxurious. Our bedroom was a 4m x 4m yurt, lovingly decorated and with a shared bathroom, albeit beautifully designed and always stocked with clean towels and locally sourced products. If you’re looking for an ultra-luxurious wellness retreat, you might want to look elsewhere. But I think the intimate experience you get at Sugar Beach is far more special than what a big hotel can offer.
Our final brunch was perhaps the most magical meal we had during our special few days at Sugar Beach Ranch. A meal we’ll never forget. As the waves lapped against the endless shoreline in front of the ranch, we gathered at a table on the sand and ate plates piled high with fresh sourdough, homemade fish rillettes, and farm-fresh boiled eggs. We poured ourselves glasses of homemade kombucha and reflected on our stay, while whales leaping graced the sparkling waters.
Stevie and her team described the experience as “simple and unmaterialistic, but rich in experiences,” which I think perfectly captures the essence of the retreat. I left not feeling pampered, but completely nurtured, with a cup full of the right things.
Retreats are scheduled to take place on a few select dates throughout the year, however if you would like to book accommodation outside of the retreat periods you can still book an equine health therapy session during your stay. Find out more about Maxim’s therapy approach here. You can book your accommodation at here.
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