Elysian Escapes - Sweat. Nourish. Connect.
Hello!
So here we are, our first official Elysian Escapes blog post. I thought I’d use this as a chance to introduce myself and explain a little about the vision and purpose of Elysian Escapes so you can not only get excited about what we have to offer but also understand our passion and goals for you and the retreat which I think is all so important when you’re deciding, ‘is this the right holiday for me?’
As a passionate health and wellness individual, I have struggled to find ‘organised’ holidays within NZ that cater to my interests without a hefty price tag, limited dates and locations, and not enough going on that really excites me. I don’t drink alcohol, I eat plant based food (no you don’t have to be vegan to come along I promise) and I LOVE working out. I don’t see working out as a chore (apart from the days I just generally don’t want to get out of bed) and so when I consider a holiday that doesn’t allow me easy access to exercising, I feel a bit lost and unenthused. When we were able to leave NZ (I know, it feels like forever ago) I used to really enjoy fitness retreats abroad and went to a few myself in various countries and locations and fell in love with the idea of a holiday where I didn’t have to think about anything - accomodation, food, socialising, exercise, chill time, coastal views, new activities to learn were all provided for me. Sometimes you just want a holiday where you don’t have to think - especially if you’re the one in your family/relationship/friendship group where you end up being the organiser. Doesn’t it sound amazing to think you just need to turn up and the rest is done for you? I know I think it does.
Before I launched my own recruitment business and now Elysian Escapes, I worked in a fast paced, high stress environment and although some holidays I loved the notion of ‘travelling’ and going with the flow without much planned, there were some times where I didn’t want to have to think at all. So, Elysian Escapes has been born with the idea of an all inclusive getaway that focuses on feeding your body and mind, nourishing you from the inside out, so when you go back home you have a revitalised energy and enthusiasm for life. Not only that, but you are armed with more ideas and inspiration for staying mindful and healthy in your every day lives and even having made some new likeminded friends. I know that now and again I just need a push in the right direction and a revamp of my fitness/wellness routine.
I use the word ‘nourish’ in our mantra for the retreat because nourishing ourselves takes so many different forms. Yes, the food part is really important. I personally believe in plant based eating being the best option for your health and the environment and so it felt right for me to promote that on my retreats just because it didn’t feel true to myself not to. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be vegan/plant based to come along and you certainly won’t be getting pressured or judged for your food choices either. I understand there are so many different diets that work for everyone but it also can be great to get some inspiration for cooking plant based just to increase your repertoire in the kitchen and realise you can feel nourished and satisfied this way. I would be stoked if anyone left the retreat taking a recipe/meal idea home with them, even if it was only recreated once. But nourish means so much more to me. I want you to nourish your mind - we have daily morning meditation just to start your day right with a calm and present mind. We have restorative yoga each afternoon/evening and we have plenty of chill time to relax and spend your hours how you want/need. Plus of course, we nourish your body and mind together through our HIIT sessions where you will leave a sweaty mess but also feeling super pumped!
When you see our byline ‘sweat. nourish. connect’ that connect piece really talks to the people and interactions we have over the days we are together. If I look back to all the fitness retreats I have done I came out of each one with new friends and connections all over the world. The beauty of this current world we are living in is that you will too, but it will be even easier to stay in touch as the likelihood is that you are all in much closer proximity to each other, all residing in NZ (for now). I hope for everyone that comes onto our retreats, and into our community that you have fun at every moment and leave refreshed and if you came alone, can continue to reminisce and catch up with the other likeminded people you have met.
Nothing is compulsory apart from having fun. If you wake up and don’t feel like a morning meditation, then skip to the workout. If you’re a bit sore, then have a lie in and join us after at breakfast. I don’t want anyone feeling reluctant to do anything but what I will say is, that you are all more capable than you might imagine and every workout can be done at your own pace. I truly believe that the more you join in on, the more you will get out of it.
Over the next few months I’ll be posting a variety of blog posts - recipe ideas, workout inspiration, plans for the retreat, information around our different partners that we are working with, as well as more about the other awesome people I have managed to get on board to make your experience even better.
I really hope to see you on an Elysian Escape and I promise I will personally make sure you have a bloody great time :)
Yours truly,
Tania
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