Transcript

Hello, hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Hormone Hub. This is where we dive deep into all sorts of topics surrounding women’s health, hormones, [00:01:00] perimenopause, empowerment, self-care, and I’m your host, Kylie Pinwill. Today we have a very exciting episode lined up for you. We’re gonna have a look at the transformative benefits of girls weekends away, women’s retreats, and just the power of when a group of women get together. So, I’m gonna chat about my recent experiences on a hiking trip to the Lara Pinta, and, mountain trips, as well as a sneak peak into our upcoming retreat in Bali. Okay, so before we dive deep into the incredible benefits of, a group of women getting together, let me share my recent adventures with you. So earlier this year, I was totally out of my comfort zone on a whim. As I’m scrolling on the lounge through Facebook, I booked myself on a long weekend Women’s Adventure. Now I booked it. It sounded great. Sounded fun. I didn’t [00:02:00] know anyone going. I felt I actually, no, that’s not, not true. I did know the host, a beautiful lady, by the name of Tatiana who I had met, through my brother actually. So I just met Tatiana once. She told me what she did and I went, oh, that’s kind of cool. So when this particular weekend popped up, I jumped in. So like I said, I didn’t know anyone going.

I felt a bit guilty, you know, because it was also coinciding with my wedding anniversary. It was just, but it, it really sort of spoke to me. So, on the way there I got lost, there was an accident on the highway, so I had to take this massive big detour and, it was actually in the Guru National Park, an area from where I live on the Sunshine Coast.

So it was probably, maybe meant to be a four hour drive and it took me like five hours and, it was quite the adventure getting there, but, I did, and by the time I arrived, I got myself sort of a bit worked up, which was so unlike me, because of the detour. I was driving [00:03:00] through the, the hillsides and the countryside, which was beautiful.

But I had no phone reception. I had no map to get me through. And of course, we don’t have a Gregory’s in the car anymore, so I couldn’t like, just pull it out and look at, at where I was. So anyway, so by the time I got there, I was feeling a little bit more anxious than I would be and that’s generally not like me at all.

So, we get there and there was some, get to know you bonding exercises, which generally I, to be honest, I really hate them. You know, where you’ve gotta introduce yourself, you know, what do you love? What was your reason for coming away? Those kind of exercises always work really well when I am running the session and I think, maybe it’s my control freak there, but when I had to introduce myself, I really just wanted to sink into a hole and die.

But as we went around the circle and we all introduced it ourselves, I, I kind of, got out of my own way and [00:04:00] started listening to, the other women’s reasons for being there. And, it was really interesting. So most women had come on their own. There were a couple who’d come as friends, but most had come on their own.

And everyone was sort of looking for three things. Everyone was looking for connection, with like-minded people. You don’t go on a women’s adventure weekend and, and not get, people on the same page. So everyone was looking for connection. People were feeling lonely in their day-to-day lives, so there was a lot of people who, worked from home who were, just felt that disconnect, in their social life.

And, everyone wanted to try something new. So it wasn’t like anyone was some kind of like mad ab sailor or hiker or anything like that. There were varying levels of fitness and, and, whatnot going on . One of the things that I was worried about was, was I gonna be fit enough?

Was I gonna be the oldest person there? All of those things. But it actually, was a real mix of women, age between sort of 30 up to I [00:05:00] think 68 was the oldest lady there and we were all there seeking the same sort of things. So across the weekend we were nourished with good, amazing food.

So Tatiana is French. And all of the food she made from scratch, there was a team there and , it was made with love. Across the weekend we were physically active, we were challenged. Then had the restorative practices with lots of yoga, lots of meditation. And if you’re sort of freaking out going, Ugh, meditation yoga’s not really my thing

think of it more as just stretching and breathing because you know, that’s, that’s what it was. Cause for some of the women, they’d never done it before. So we walked, we talked, we relaxed, and it was such a great weekend and I made a promise to myself that I was going to do more of that. So fast forward a couple of months.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you will know that I’ve been training for the Lara Printer track, which is [00:06:00] absolutely breathtaking and stunning. So I did that last week. It was in the most stunning location, sort of in the heart of Australia’s Northern Territory, about an hour north of Alice Springs, for those of you who don’t know where it is.

So it was, the rugged kind of beauty of those red desert landscapes. There was the camaraderie of a group of adventurous women. It was a truly unforgettable experience. So during our trek, and there were, this time around, women, that I, I did know most of them.

It was sort of like a group organized through a group of friends. And we had a guide, which was, thank goodness. It was pretty challenging terrain without doubts. We pushed our physical limits. It also happened to be, of course, the coldest, wettest, windiest week that they had had in, however many years.

But it was these kind of challenges that actually bonded us together. So it really fostered [00:07:00] that deep connection amongst us. You know, we laughed and I think that shared experience of, pushing yourself through, definitely out of your comfort zone, and encouraging one another, and I think that’s what sort of creates those sort of beautiful bonds.

So, we were surrounded by, like incredible majestic peaks that we couldn’t actually always see because of, we’re in cloud, a lot of it. It definitely tested for all of us. I think our endurance, our strength and our resilience. And, when we did get to the top of the mountain on the coldest wettest day, which was also by coincidence, the highest, hardest

mountain to get up. That feeling of accomplishment when we got to the summit was indescribable. So we were in the clouds, the temperature was around zero. We were all sort of frozen, but it wasn’t just about, conquering that mountain. It was about, tapping into that inner strength and kind of realising, you know what, we are [00:08:00] actually so much more capable of what we give ourselves credit for.

 And that’s definitely something, that, that I’ll take away, as well as that shared experience and those bonds that happened then.

So this has just been my personal experience, this year. I’ve previously also been on, business retreats.

I’ve been on, yoga retreats and there’s just such a broader benefit to, going away and whether it’s a retreat, whether it’s a girls trip away, I think it’s that shared experience. And I think, one of the, the biggest benefits is that connection with other women.

So retreats certainly, offer you an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, form those beautiful bonds, become friends with people that are usually out or, potentially normally outside your friendship zone. And definitely, you create a support network that extends into, extends way beyond the retreat itself.

Often these connections sort of blossom into, long lasting friendships and, it really provides a sense of belonging [00:10:00] and connection. I think that’s something particularly after all the ,the covid years, it’s something that we’re all craving.

When it happens, it’s actually so empowering. So another thing that I love about the retreats that I’ve, chosen to go on is that holistic focus. So often, there’s nutritious and delicious food, you know me, I’m all about the food. We want that, that

 nourishing, foods that are gonna support your body, nourish your soul, and then this, in turn you feel good because you are doing your digestive system a favour. You’re filling your cup. You wanna feel good about the food that you’re eating.

And also know that you’re fueling your body well. And another thing I love about retreats is, the physical movement. Okay. And I think this is a really integral part. So whether it’s, something a bit more, that you’ve gotta exert yourself a bit more, hiking, whether it’s yoga, so just moving your body.

I mean, yoga can be lying on [00:11:00] a mat and breathing. It really, truly can be. Or, whether it’s just being out in nature. I think these activities really provide an opportunity for you to get out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself physically, and then this sends off all your endorphins and it gives you the chance to reconnect with your body.

I think as we whiz through day-to-day life, we forget to do that. So, when you are engaging in any kind of physical movement, Particularly when you are in sort of like a stunning kind of natural landscape, it revitalizes you, it invigorates you and it really just helps you tap into, all of those happy hormones.

And, this has a profound effect on your cortisol levels, your mental health, any anxiety as well. And retreats, it’s not all about, you know, eating healthy food and moving your body and singing kumbaya. It’s the importance of, relaxing and rejuvenating yourself.

So it’s giving you the chance to step away from, everyday [00:12:00] life. It gives you the chance, the whole focus is for you to prioritise your self-care. So whether it’s, meditating, whether it’s nicking off to the day spa for treatment, whether it’s just having downtime where you can just relax and read a book, whether it’s, connecting with someone you’ve just met and having a cocktail at the bar, it’s, it’s all gives you a chance to sort of recharge and also reconnect with yourself.

That it’s pretty, profound. And I think not all about, being serious and self-reflection. You know, retreats also offer a good balance of, opportunities for laughter, for fun, for, being silly. As much as I said I didn’t like the group bonding thing, the group games, if you just take it for what it is, if you’re sharing, a good conversation or a story around a bonfire or, just lighthearted sort of activities, the atmosphere is positive and it’s filled with that, just that sense of joy.

And I think, when you’ve got, [00:13:00] laughing, constantly with people that you’ve not met before, it really does weave together those kind of moments of, of growth and connection. All right. So if this has sort of tweaked your interest at all, and I, I just can’t, and Okay

I’m still on a high, I’m just off the back of, of my Lara Pinta track. But, if this is something that, you’re curious about and you would like to be part of, we are organising, if you haven’t already seen, a retreat coming up in Bali, so it’s called the Connect to You Retreat, and it is October 23 through to October 27.

In the beautiful, like Bali truly is paradise. If you picture yourself surrounded by lush, tropical landscapes, being immersed in the culture and then , also having that transformative power of a women’s retreat. Okay, so we will be offering, an array of activities, to nourish your mind, your body, and your spirit.

Lots of yoga, Pilates, breathing, sessions [00:14:00] overlooking the beach. The perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. Lots of beautiful sunsets sharing laughters. Connecting with other women. So if you are looking to prioritise your wellbeing and connect with like-minded women, you are curious about coming on a retreat, pop it in your calendar.

I’m gonna put the link in the show notes. You are most welcome. We have already sold 18 spaces on the retreat. We do have a few more spaces available, so be sure to, jump onto it’s kylie pinwill.com/ retreat. Save your spot and, learn more about the incredible experience that is awaiting for you.

Okay, so that wraps up today’s episode of The Hormone Hub. I hope that my recent experiences have sparked your curiosity and inspired you to consider, it’s okay. Give yourself permission to, go on a retreat. Alright. [00:15:00] Incredible, amazing. All right, join us next time as we delve into another empowering topic of the Hormone Hub.

And until then, Take care of yourself. Be kind to yourself. Prioritize your self-care, and yeah, embrace that power of the sisterhood. All right, everyone. I’ll see you in the next episode.