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Sound Bathing Medicine Wheel Ceremonies WHAT IS IT? Sound bathing, WHAT IS IT? “The medicine state and we enter the or healing, immerses the senses The rise of wheel is an ancient problem- medicine wheel, walking in a chorus of Tibetan singing solving device and advanced around it until the person is bowls, helping create a sense tool that allows drawn to a certain direction,” of calm. Research by Naropa people to gain deep says Pask. “They then sit University in the US shows perspective,” says Rezinate facing that direction and are the sound encourages our retreat co-founder Debbie taken through a guided brains into the parasympathetic Pask. “The whole process meditation to help have their (relaxed) state, which promotes lasts two hours, at least, and questions answered.” stress release. NOW-AGE afterwards people usually feel WHERE TO TRY IT The HOW IT WORKS Sound elated and deeply moved.” Rezinate retreat in Bellingen, bathing ceremonies are led HOW IT WORKS Participants on the New South Wales by musicians and meditation establish the question they north coast, offers medicine teachers trained to guide a are seeking guidance on, then wheel ceremonies, among group through an immersive a guide sets up a wheel using other modalities as part of experience. They usually go for stones to prepare an a four-day getaway. $2190 about an hour and participants grid. “Drumming music is per person, all inclusive. report feeling everything from HOLIDAYS played to invoke a deeper Visit rezinate.com.au complete relaxation to having As spiritual wellbeing becomes a new measure of an out-of-body experience. health, travellers are searching for a getaway that “For me, it is the ultimate in offers something beyond unlimited spa treatments stress reduction and relaxation,” says Nolan Dalby, general and bargain shopping, writes Emma Vidgen manager of The Sanctuary in Thailand. WHERE TO TRY IT The he girls’ trip has come are living very fast lives and are Sanctuary, on the island of a long way since the very often parents,” says Alan Koh Phangan, offers sound- all-inclusive booze Dolan, aka the Breath Guru. healing workshops along with cruise. As the pace of “What they have in common is other therapies. Rooms start modern life reaches that they’re overloaded and have at about $117 a night. Visit Tdizzying new speeds, so too does so many responsibilities.” thesanctuarythailand.com the need for something meaningful. Today’s spiritual getaways are Healing modalities once dismissed all about stepping off the hamster as ‘’ are increasingly wheel and reconnecting with topping holiday wish lists. yourself. Here, we round up five “Most of the people I work with now-age trends coming to a are stereotypical professionals who holiday near you... Walking WHAT IS IT? Yoga walking combines yoga with, you guessed it, walking! “The idea was to marry meditation with bushwalking – an exercise that nourishes the mind, body and Breathwork soul,” says Rajesh Krishnan, WHAT IS IT? “Breathwork is a ailments ranging from depression from Nirvana Retreat in self-healing modality designed and anxiety to sleep disorders, Barrington Tops, NSW. to be done by you, for you,” says chronic fatigue and severe pain. HOW IT WORKS “Guests Dolan. Using a series of connected “Indigenous tribes have been choose a walk depending on exercises and techniques, experimenting with sound, rhythm, the area they wish to focus on. the practice puts participants into movement and breath since the The Peace Walk, for example, a meditative state where the body dawn of time. To me, breathwork is explores the concept of shanti, can rest and repair. very, very ancient. We’re really just or inner peace,” says Krishnan. HOW IT WORKS “Breathwork rediscovering it.” WHERE TO TRY IT Nirvana activates the body’s auto-pilot WHERE TO TRY IT Dolan runs Retreat runs regular four-day recalibration system,” says Dolan. workshops throughout the year getaways incorporating yoga “The cells begin to work better and from his property in Lanzarote, walks. Bonus, Nirvana is more efficiently, and that means Spain. Four-night retreats start pet friendly, so your best mate you also work more efficiently.” from approximately $2000 per can come along, too. From Dolan has helped people with person. Visit breathguru.com $1250 per person. Visit nirvanaretreat.com.au

Balinese Energy Healing WHAT IS IT? Drawing blocks that could be WHERE TO TRY IT on ancestral traditions, resulting in physical or Fivelements, located in healers work with the emotional problems. the lush Ubud hinterland, elements, , Based on the Balinese offers Panca Mahabhuta and massage spiritual ethos of sekala- (five elements) retreats, to release energy blocks niskala – that we exist in which can last anywhere and balance chakras in both a physical and from three to 21 nights. order to heal the body spiritual realm – they tailor In addition to healing and mind. a mix of body work, therapies, they include HOW IT WORKS meditation and energy nourishing food and Shamans draw on their healing to restore balance beauty rituals. A three- unique family lineage and and encourage healing of night retreat starts from connection to the spiritual everything from chronic about $3000 a person. world to identify energy pain to anxiety. Visit fivelements.org