As working women, we often feel constant pressure to balance career demands with caring for ourselves and others. As I’m sure you’re well aware, this leads to stress, burnout, and, perhaps, a neglect of self-care.
Most of you are probably aware of this analogy, but I’m going to repeat myself as I’ve found it freeing to think about during times when I’ve felt guilty taking care of myself. It goes like this: Imagine you’re on a plane with your children. Suddenly, you hear the captain speaking, and he says, “We’re going to crash.” “Now, we’ve prepared for this. Be sure to take out your own oxygen mask first and then aid those around you.”
My first thought would be to help those around me (especially my children). However, if you think about it, you won’t be of any help to anyone if you’re not putting on your own oxygen mask first. You may actually cause more harm as you might faint in this situation.
Even though this example might seem extreme, this is also true for self-care. If you’re not looking after yourself for the purpose of caring for others first, you might actually cause more harm than good. So, with all of this being said, let’s explore how you can achieve balance again in your life. We’ll be using the example of going on a Bali Wellness retreat, as this is the best way we know how to restore the balance in your life. However, you can implement all of these steps in your home town.
1. Spend Time Nature
I’m of the impression that if you’re going to spend time in nature, why not do it in the most beautiful place in the world? (Bali, of course). However, if you’re able to, even sitting outside of your home on your lawn can offer various benefits that were scientifically proven, including:
- Reduced stress and anxiety;
- Improved mood and concentration;
- Increase in creativity;
- Improved sense of well-being;
- Improved mindfulness;
- And more!
To experience everything Bali nature has to offer, consider the following when you’re out and about:
Barefoot Walking
Walking barefoot on grass or sand, also known as grounding or earthing, is, as the name suggests, an ancient practice that allows your body to connect directly with the earth. This will help reduce stress and inflammation as it allows your body to absorb electrons from the earth.
Guided Nature Walks
There are many guided nature leisure walks through Bali’s forests where you can uncover the secrets of flora and fauna. While on your walk, you can learn more about Bali’s diverse bird population; all of this will boost your mood, promote a sense of well-being, and lower anxiety levels as you’d be taking a break from the regular demands of life.
Curious about Bali’s beautiful nature? Take a look at this short clip.
Flower Baths
Flower baths are a very popular activity in Bali, and for good reason. These baths are a fantastic way to relax and recharge, and will help to indulge your mind. In the Balinese culture, flowers play a significant role as they simbolise the connection between humans and nature. The floral scents are also known for their meditative and healing properties.
2. Yoga and Meditation Practice
“Healthy body, healthy mind” is the first thing that pops into my mind when thinking about the yoga and meditation practice in Bali. Most Bali retreats are known for their yoga and meditation practices – In case you’re unfamiliar, yoga combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation techniques to improve your flexibility and strength.
Wherever you practice yoga, you should feel the blissful benefits thereof in no time at all. Here is what we recommend your yoga sessions should include:
- Yoga Nidra: A guided meditation where you lay on the floor and relax, which should be deeply restorative and calming.
- Meditation: Here, you will learn to quiet the mind through breath and focus with seated meditation.
- Yin Yoga: With yin yoga, you’ll feel extreme relaxation and strong stretching; poses are all sitting or lying on the floor that are typically held for 5 minutes each.
- Hatha Yoga: This is a slower style of yoga where you hold poses for five breaths or more to focus on alignment, breathing, and technique.
- Mandala Flow: This yoga practice encourages you to explore every element of yourself, discover your inherent nature and observe how movements complement your true self.
- Yoga Beats: Yoga beats are all about celebrating yourself. How better to do this than to dance? Here, it’s time to let your inner child out, forget about daily responsibilities, and have fun.
- Chakra Balancing: This yoga style is designed to balance your body’s seven chakras, meaning to connect to your inner self, body, mind, and soul.
In essence, everything that is alive pulsates with energy, and we carry this energy with us emotionally, which was initially created internally and externally. Traumas are often held within our bodies as physical blockages, so it is important to create a space to release this trauma – which can all be done through these Yoga practices. After completion, you should feel lighter, more balanced and more fully alive.
3. Balinese Healing Traditions
Our Bali wellness retreat at Escape Haven, offers a unique opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of Bali and experience the healing traditions of the island.
One of the core practices offered at Escape Haven is Balinese chakra healing (as mentioned previously). Balinese chakra healing promotes holistic well-being, addressing physical ailments, emotional imbalances, and spiritual disconnection.
Another Balinese healing tradition we integrate at our retreat is the ancient Indian medical system called Ayurveda. The holistic approach usually includes the following:
- Treatments: Ayurveda incorporates treatments like massages, acupuncture, yoga, and panchakarma, along with herbal medicine.
- Diet: An Ayurveda diet promotes the eating of more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while eating less red meat.
Taking a holistic approach like Ayurveda to help you achieve balance in your life has proven to be very successful, and you can also expect to see an improvement in sleep, brain function, heart health, skin health, digestion, and memory.
4. Nutritious Cuisine and Detoxification
You are what you eat—Even though this saying might be widely popular, its impact shouldn’t be understated. We’ve helped thousands of women find more balance in their lives by simply guiding them on a path of better nutrition.
At our Bali retreat, we take pride in offering nutritious, delicious, and vibrant meals that will support your body’s natural detoxification processes and provide essential nutrients. Our foods are locally sourced with organic ingredients to ensure visitors can cleanse their bodies and increase their energy levels and mental clarity.
Looking for healthy recipes, you can make at home to feel more balanced? Take a look at our guilt-free recipes to get you feeling yourself in no time!
While you can be sure that our food at Escape Haven will be full of flavour, variety, and just a bunch of nutrients that will be beneficial for you, here are our top tips for eating food with the aim of detoxification:
- Hot Drinks: Start your day off with a hot drink (preferably green tea), to support your liver and start your day off right.
- Vegetables: Incorporate as many vegetables as you possibly can into your diet, our top picks would be brocolli, artichokes, and beets.
- Root Vegetables: Just like regular vegetables, root vegetables have many detoxifying properties and will get you feeling like yourself in no time; our top choices would be ginger, turmeric, and garlic.
5. Personal Growth & Self-Reflection
We cannot overstate the importance of stepping away from your day-to-day life (and the distractions that come with it) and creating a space for yourself to live intentionally while focusing on your own personal growth.
There are many activities that you can explore to do just this, including wellness workshops, cacao ceremonies, sound healing, and yoga and meditation to kickstart your personal transformation.
At Escape Haven, we offer more experiences than simply filling your cup; we want your cup to overflow after your visit. And because we wholeheartedly and truly care about your well-being, we’ve created discounts and specials to motivate you to take this step in the right direction.
Here are a couple of activities you can look out for:
I would’ve said treat yourself because you deserve it, but the truth is, you should treat yourself, because you need it.