Activities

1. Billabong Wellness Program • Our two-day Wellness program includes over eight hours of yoga & meditation workshops, activities & practical tools to help you refine your mind, body & breath, and move towards your optimal physical and mental health. • Benefits For The Body • Increased flexibility, balance & strength • Reduced tension & tightness • More efficient respiratory function • Benefits For The Mind • Increased mental resilience to stress • Improved ability to focus & learn • Greater peace of mind & happiness • Our program teaches to connect body, mind and breath, and how to to observe thoughts, sensations and emotions rather than becoming them. We explore the science of neural plasticity and our ability to rewire our brains, and practice this through our Optimal Wellness Four Step Process. View teachers View daily program

2. Wholefood Nourishment • Food is an integral part of our Optimal Wellness Program and the more natural food you eat, the more you will enjoy radiant health and happiness. • Example Breakfast • Summer muesli w/ fruit salad and Greek yogurt • Free range eggs with breads Jam, honey, vegemite. • Example Lunch • Miso (Japanese broth) with shiitake mushrooms. • Asian greens and brown rice. • Omelette with dash of oyster sauce • Spiced ginger cake or zucchini carrot slice • Example Dinner • Sweet vegetable curry, dahl, rice. • Chinese eggplant and tofu. • Grilled stone fruit with vanilla bean ricotta and flaked almonds

3. Yoga • Our two-day Wellness Program is based on the traditional teachings of Yoga and includes over eight hours of workshops, activities & practical tools to help you refine your mind, body & breath. • It is included in all of our retreat packages. The teaching director Paul von Bergen was trained by Michael de Manicor, Director at the Yoga Institute and President of Yoga Australia, following the linage of Krishnamacharya, one of the finest yoga masters and Sanskrit scholars of this century. • The program explores the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras alongside modern scientific thinking. It includes the Yamas (Universal moralities), Niyamas (personal observances), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breathing), Pratyahara (senses), Dharana (focus), Dhyana (absorption) & Samadhi (bliss). • The simple techniques learnt, if practised daily for 15 minutes, will help you life a longer and happier life. Our program teaches to connect body, mind and breath, and how to to avoid being a slave to the senses. • All our workshops involve physical postures, the flow between these postures and the harmonisation of the breath with the movement. Everyone leaves having learnt a short personal practice that they can use on their own at home.

4. Meditation • Meditation has always been an integral part of Yoga and the Yoga Sutras teach us the steps and obstacles to achieving a state of bliss. • Within our two-day Wellness Program you get to learn a variety of simple techniques including postures, visualisations, mantras & breathing methods, all of which can help to take you towards a place of stillness. • Billabong Retreat is blessed with an abundance of quiet peaceful spots to relax, practice meditation and sooth busy minds. • We also explore the science of meditation with discussion of topics such as neural plasticity. • Our two-day Wellness Program is included in all of our retreat packages. • Click to view our teachers. • Click to view daily program

5. Colo River Adventure • On selected mid-week retreats we offer an option for a bush walk into the Wollemi Wilderness on day two of the retreat. • The Wollemi is the largest area of wilderness in NSW and is simply breath-taking. To fully appreciate the magic of the surroundings we practise silence for the first part of the walk (approximately 60 mins). • We then do a short guided meditation / yoga practice before an optional swim and a delicious packed lunch on the beach. • After the 3km walk back up we travel back to the retreat in time for the 3.30pm yoga class. • This excursion features • Transport to Wollemi NP from the retreat • 7km bush walk (300m descent and climb) • Beachside meditation & optional swim • Delicious packed lunch & snacks

6. Spa Treatments • Treat yourself to a relaxing and rejuvenating treatment in our waterside Spa room. All treatments need to be booked at least 7 days in advance. • Massage (Remedial Oil) 60 mins $95 • Relax down on our waterside pavilion overlooking the lotus garden as our therapists gently knead and stroke your muscles to create a feeling of wellbeing and relaxation. They can work on any particular area required and also with injuries. • Massage (Energetic) 60 mins $95 • Our therapist is Theta healing trained to work with the subtle energy within your body to release blockages and maximise flows. • Holistic Healing Facial 40 mins $95 / 60 mins $120 • A flower essence journey that indulges the skin and senses. High performance actives, anti-oxidants and essential skin nutrients in a soothing base of healing herbals and wildflowers, work to cleanse, hydrate and revitalise the skin. Elemental aromatherapy oil facial massage melts away tensions, for stress-free skin that glows with radiant health.

7. Special Programs • We are developing a range of programs as follows • Baby-moon Pre-Natal retreats • Persons affected by cancer retreats • Mother & daughter retreats • Bush walking & yoga retreats • Yoga & canyoning retreats • Boys to men retreats

8. Nearby Places • If you or your fellow guest doesn't want to do our Optimal Wellness Program then there are lots of nearby activities. • Bushwalking, canyoning, kayaking and abseiling trips can be organised on request.