Your Guide to a Healing with Nature Retreat in New Zealand
A healing retreat based in nature is a powerful experience designed for deep rest, recovery, and personal growth. It provides the essential space to fully disconnect from daily stressors and reconnect with your inner self.
What Are The Benefits of a Healing with Nature Retreat?
Healing retreats harness the natural environment to support your wellness journey.
Stress Reduction: Stepping away from screens, work, and daily demands significantly lowers stress hormones. Routines incorporating healthy eating and scheduled activities, like those at Maruia River Retreat, help regulate the nervous system. The luxury villas are intentionally designed for a deep sleep experience, featuring black-out curtains, luxury linens, and the absence of TV or internet to remove common sources of noise and stress.
Mental Clarity and Focus: By clearing the mental clutter of everyday life, a healing retreat allows you to gain perspective, make clearer decisions, and reestablish priorities. At Maruia, this is supported by access to the heated magnesium pool and hydrotherapy spa, which aid physical relaxation. Mental stillness is cultivated in the Yoga Chalet through complimentary yoga and breath-work sessions, and meditative walks through the beech forest trails.
Emotional Release and Renewal: Guided practices such as meditation, breathwork, and journaling offer a safe environment to process and release stored emotions, aiding emotional healing. Maruia's program includes group sessions in yoga, breath-work, meditation, and sound healing ceremonies. The private forest bathing experience in the riverside hot tub and sauna offers a serene, isolated space for personal contemplation.
Physical Rejuvenation: Focused time on nutritious, locally sourced food, quality sleep, and movement restores physical vitality and establishes healthier habits. Movement is key at Maruia, with complimentary yoga classes and guided nature walks across the 500-acre estate. The kitchen supports this physical reset with an omnivore menu of seasonal gourmet meals, sourcing ingredients from Maruia’s own kitchen garden and the local region.
Expert Guidance: Healing retreats are led by experienced facilitators. At Maruia, owners and hosts Cristina and Lasse Holopainen, both accomplished yoga teachers, shape the experience, offering professional support in yoga, breath-work, meditation, and sound healing sessions.
What Are The Different Types of Healing with Nature Retreats?
Retreats are tailored to different areas of wellness:
Wellness Retreats: Focus on a holistic overhaul of health, combining light fitness, nourishing food, spa treatments, and introductory mindfulness. Maruia River Retreat blends restorative practices rooted in the healing power of nature.
Yoga and Meditation Retreats: Centre on deepening a mind-body practice through multiple daily sessions, breathwork, and cultivating inner stillness. Maruia offers daily complimentary yoga/breathwork in the Yoga Chalet.
Detox and Deep Rest Retreats: Focus on cleansing the body through fresh, delicious and well-prepared meals, often paired with light exercise and therapeutic treatments. Maruia provides seasonal, nourishment-focused gourmet cuisine and hydrotherapy spa access.
Emotional Healing Retreats: Designed to help individuals process trauma, grief, or life transitions, often including group therapy or expressive arts. Maruia facilitates release via sound healing, meditation, and private forest bathing for contemplation.
Specific Focus Retreats: Tailored to groups (e.g. women’s or couples' retreats) or interests (e.g. river rafting), always incorporating a layer of personal wellness and healing. Maruia hosts specific focused retreats year-round, blending wellness with luxury getaways.
How Do I Choose The Right Healing with Nature Retreat?
Selecting the right retreat starts with defining your needs:
Define Your Goal: What do you hope to achieve - a simple digital detox or working through a deeper emotional challenge? If deep relaxation and a reset surrounded by nature are your aims, a secluded location like Maruia is ideal.
Scan the Programme: Ensure the daily schedule offers a balance of structure and free time that meets your needs. Look for guidance without being overly rigid. Maruia's flexible stays (like the 'Reconnect With Nature' retreat) offer daily yoga and dinner, leaving space to reflect at your own pace.
Consider the Location: The environment is crucial. New Zealand is renowned for its pristine natural beauty. A retreat nestled deep in its surroundings, like Maruia, promises seclusion and a deep connection to nature, which research links strongly to positive mental health.
Amenities and Cuisine: Prioritise high-quality accommodation for deep rest. Check that the food aligns with your dietary needs - Maruia's cuisine focuses on local, seasonal, and nutrient-rich ingredients to support overall health. Ensure on-site wellness facilities, such as a sauna or dedicated yoga space, support your goals.
What Are Maruia River Retreat’s Offerings?
Maruia aims to be the ultimate escape to disconnect, unwind, and recharge. The core benefit across all stays is the ability to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with your inner self in a quiet, tranquil setting.
Personal Restoration Retreat: An all-inclusive, fully curated experience for solo travellers or pairs seeking a deep, guided reset. Includes daily gourmet meals, spa treatments, a tailored wellness schedule, and unlimited access to the Wellness Centre.
Reconnect With Nature: A flexible luxury experience offering private villa accommodation, daily gourmet breakfast and three-course dinner, daily yoga classes, and the private forest bathing experience.
Lovers Luxury Getaway: Designed for couples to de-stress and reconnect, featuring private dining, couples' spa treatments, and the romantic riverside hot tub setting.
One-Night Stays: A perfect introduction for those with limited time, including gourmet dinner and breakfast, private villa accommodation, and access to the forest bathing area for a quick, luxurious reset.
Across all retreat packages, the commitment to well-being remains the core focus, with health-focused gourmet food and intentionally designed villas to facilitate deep, restorative rest.
Discover your perfect retreat at Maruia and book your secluded New Zealand wellness escape today. Let us hold the space for your next transformation.
