Aprivé Wellness Blog
New Year, New You Wellness Retreat Recap
Queenstown Wellness Retreat
Our retreat last weekend was a huge success! This sold out event at Nugget Point Hotel and Spa blended yoga, Pilates, nutrition, meditation, goal setting and luxury relaxation for an inspiring day.
I was so humbled our guests had flown or driven to the event from all over the country! Women of all ages from Tauranga, Wanaka, Invercargill and locals from Queenstown joined together to learn tips on how to live better in 2016.
Yoga Pilates Fusion class
I pushed our guests with planks, some tricky core work and difficult balance in the yoga/Pilates fusion class. The retreat was all about starting fresh and achieving goals after all!
smoothies, nutrition & vegetarian treats
Berry smoothies followed, then our guests were treated to a nutritintion workshop by Michelle of Queenstown Nutrition. They learned how to make matcha smoothies bowls with organic Japanese matcha, a green tea powder with 137 times the antioxidants of green tea! I’m so grateful to Matcha Maiden from Melbourne for sending this superfood to us.
We also learned about the health benefits of fermented food, and tried sauerkraut by Be Nourished. The curry one was my favourite!
Talking about food made the ladies hungry, so it was time for lunch: lentil salad, mesculin and beetroot salad, pumpkin soup and a luxurious cheese board. Aprivé Wellness is all about balance, and treating our guests to a cheese board added a hint of luxury to the day, plus it stayed within our nutrition rule of 80:20. 80% of what you eat should be healthy, and 20% can be a bit naughty!
goal setting & meditation
I led the goal setting session where our guests used the WOOP technique to set an important goal for the year. They locked in their goals by writing them in beautiful 2016 diaries from The Collective Hub. The inspirational messages in their pages are sure to help all the guests stay on track this year.
Meditation on the grass overlooking the Shotover river was the perfect way to unwind and relax, with one of our guests who has a little baby at home falling asleep! She, and all our guests really needed a break, so after meditation they wandered up the sun kissed steps to the stunning Nugget point spa to enjoy the steam room, pool, sauna and hot tub.
Picking up their gift bags with products from Olive Skincare, Global Soap NZ, Matcha Maiden and Chia, each guest hugged me on their way out. I was so flattered with the kind words all the guests uttered as they left, and really hope each felt refreshed and empowered to achieve their goals for 2016.
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Queenstown Wellness Retreat
The Countdown is On
Only 3 days until out New Year, New You wellness retreat, and I’m getting so excited! We've still got 2 spots left - BOOK YOURS NOW!
What is this retreat about?
You know how hard it is to make, and stick to new years resolutions? This retreat was created to help my guests set real, achievable goals, plus give them strategies to help them achieve their dreams in 2016.
Starting with a Yoga Pilates fusion class overlooking the stunning Shotover River, guests will get stretchy while learning how to activate and work their cores. Then, they'll learn how to use real food (not starvation!) to cleanse their bodies in the Nutrition Workshop.
Goal Setting Retreat
We've never had goal setting at one of our retreats before, but since goals are such an important part of starting the new year, we had to include it! I’m hosting this session which uses techniques from WOOP; acknowledging what obstacles stand in your way, and devising strategies to overcome them.
The Collective Hub, an inspiring brand for entrepreneurs and dreamers, sent us gorgeous 2016 diaries for our guests. Jam-packed full of beautifully drawn motivational messages, these diaries are the perfect way to inspire our guests this year.
Meditation
Even if you’ve never tried meditation before, it’s such a good way to slow down and reset for the new year. We’ll be meditating outside, overlooking the stunning Shotovoer canyon, surrounded by wildflowers at Nugget Point Boutique Hotel.
I’m so incredibly excited for our retreat on Saturday and to meet all our lovely guests. I just can’t wait to help people live happier, healthier lives in 2016 with proven wellness strategies and a splash of luxury.
want to attend this retreat?
Accidentally Anxious Part 3
Is Coffee Bad for You?
Coffee is delicious. Sipping away on the dark, tantalizing beverage is alluring for the experience as much as the taste. Unfortunately, relying on coffee to combat your lack of sleep and keep you alert for your endless list of urgent tasks doesn’t help you get more done; it scrambles your brain, making you more distracted.
Caffeine fires up your nervous system. Your pituitary gland then thinks there’s some sort of emergency, so it releases hormones that tell your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline—your fight-or-flight hormone. Your body is primed to outrun a tiger or fight to the death; your blood pressure rises, your muscles get more blood and blood flow to the stomach slows. You’re raring to go, but you’re just sitting at your desk. The accumulation of adrenaline means your body is in a heightened state of anxiety, and your racing heart serves no purpose other than to leave you feeling wired.
Try This: One cup a day is fine—let’s not get too extreme! But instead of starting the day with a coffee, try a hot water or decaf. Then your daily coffee will feel like a treat rather than a necessity.
How to find your purpose in 2016
As the new year gets into full swing, finding your purpose seems to be the most popular goal, leaving those still hunting unfulfilled and empty.
I have a new theory; finding your purpose doesn’t mean what you think.
Finding your purpose: Don't believe the hype
As the new year gets into full swing, finding your purpose seems to be the most popular goal, leaving those still hunting unfulfilled and empty.
I have a new theory; finding your purpose doesn’t mean what you think.
The odds of finding your 'purpose' are slim
At school we’re exposed to at least eight different subjects, and in high school, most of us expand this to include exciting electives like media, cooking or wood shop. After this twelve year ride, we head off into the workforce, a trade school or University to begin the journey to find our purpose. We’re forced to narrow our exposure of day-to-day topics and information from around fifteen at school, to just one. If that one thing doesn’t lead us to our purpose, we’re supposed to be constantly searching for something that will.
The odds of this journey leading us to a vocation that makes us want to jump out of bed in the morning and scream “Yay!” are slim to none. Some people do find a passion or purpose, and that’s great for them!
But for most people, burning passion isn’t part of their daily life. They just live it. And that’s OK.
I’ve found a sort of purpose; a business I founded and created that makes me happy, fulfilled, super positive and gives me a sense of helping others. But! I wasn’t unhappy before I founded my business, and I don’t have an overwhelming sense of fulfilment I was lacking. I just really enjoy it. Just as I really enjoyed other things I did before.
Is purpose confused with positivity?
What if finding your purpose is about changing your mindset, not living one specific passion?
In his Masterclass sessions, James Patterson talks about how he used to accompany his grandfather on his delivery route. They’d get up at four a.m, and his grandfather would always be singing to work as they drove. One day he turned to James and said “Jim, when you grow up, whether you become the president or you drive a truck like I do, just remember you gotta be singing on your way to work.”
This is a great example of the power of positivity over purpose. It’s doubtful James’ grandfather thought being a delivery man was his life’s purpose, but he enjoyed it anyway. He just liked his job. I’ll bet there were freezing days when he’d have to get up at three am. to brave the icy roads on his route, but his positive attitude made most days genuinely good.
Health and wellness expert Dr Libby Weaver says “for many people, I don’t think there is some elusive purpose out there. It’s here within them. There doesn’t have to be a big realisation or major moment of discovery of your life’s purpose.” And I agree.
Finding enjoyment and contentment in the life you’re living might actually be the real purpose all of us should be searching for.
So! If you catch the train to work and smile at the ticket man, then work at a job you kind of like and get home to nestle into bed and watch Netflix with a smile on your face, maybe you’re living your purpose right now. It’s time to call off the search.
What do you think?
New Years Eve in Queenstown
What to do on New Years Eve
It's nearly NYE 2016! If you're planning on celebrating in Queenstown, New Zealand, here are my top picks for where to go and what to do.
Living well over the holidays can be tricky, so my best advice is just....relax and enjoy yourself! So many of us are stuck in cycles of anxiety and busyness, so escape the stress by letting go and indulging in some fun over New Years.
1. Free Stuff for Families
Queenstown puts on a good show for families and kids on New Years Eve. Live entertainment, bands, fireworks and tasty food trucks on the waterfront make this the perfect, low-key way for you to ring in the new year. Plus! If you're keen on having an early champagne toast, you can drink anywhere in the CBD until 10pm.
Handy Hint: After the countdown, if you have kids you may want to head back to your accommodation. It can get pretty rowdy in Queenstown (like any city) as the night draws on.
2. New Zealand dining
Plenty of award-winning restaurants in Queenstown are open on New Years Eve and have menus to match. Sample local wines with your meal at Eichardt's private hotel on the waterfront for a hint of luxury.
3. Rhythm & Alps FESTIVAL 2015/16
Get your festival fix with this Kiwi music event set deep in Cardrona Valley, between Wanaka and Queenstown. This year, check out Kiwi favourites Katchafire, Shihad and famous Aussie band Sticky Fingers among other great acts like Chali 2na as you camp in the Southern Alps.
4. Glenorchy Races
Horse races are such a fun day out, so head to one of the world's most breathtakingly scenic towns on January 2nd for the Glenorchy Races. Surrounded by stunning mountains and rolling farmland, this is a fun day out with family and friends.
5. new year, new you
Looking forward to 2016, I hope you all have a happy, healthy year, and achieve everything you want. If you need extra motivation to live better, why not try a new year wellness retreat full of inspiring nutrition workshops, yoga, goal setting and luxury relaxation? Book your spot here.
Whatever you decide, take the pressure off yourself this year and do what YOU want to do for New Years Eve. Wherever you are, especially if you're in a stunningly scenic town like Queenstown, NYE is the perfect opportunity to remember all the things you're grateful for.
Happy New Year everyone!
-Caitlin xo
Science Meets Holistic Health
Our retreat on January 16th blends evidence-based science with calming holistic medicine to help inform the health and wellbeing choices of people just like you.
See the day's inspiring schedule below, and book online now! http://www.aprivewellness.com/queenstownwellnessretreatjan…/
