People get their energy in many ways. Personally, if I’m feeling burned out and in need of a reset, it’s off to nature I go. Forty minutes from Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges is home to more than 250km of walking tracks, year-round green native bush – and a no-frills retreat that’s the perfect spot to unwind.
First created as a yoga house in Orewa, north Auckland, in the 1960s, the Aio Wira Retreat Centre moved to its West Auckland setting in 1970 by followers of renowned Indian sage and yogi Swami Venketesananda.
In 1971, the centre’s first newsletter declared, “The purpose of the centre is a coming together of people with a sincere desire to perceive the underlying goodness in all things through helping one another… A retreat for those who need a short time to rest and reorientate themselves.”
I booked in for a fast, which involves light exercise, juice every two hours, group meetings, gentle yoga and an evening broth, with extra treatments on offer too. Staff are on hand to tell you everything you need to know, including how to reset once the fast’s over.
For now, I was on no solids for four days. I wondered if I’d be trying to eat my foot by day two, but many guests are regulars. One woman, who’s attended biannual fasts for the past eight years, explained, “Here, I feel myself getting cleaner. It reminds me I don’t need that extra piece of cake or glass of wine. It’s a reset I never realise I need until I’m here.”
Despite a couple of hunger pangs early on, the tranquillity was food for my soul. I basked in the spa and sauna, bushwalked by the river (it’s swimmable, but I’m not that brave in winter!), walked to the nearby waterfall and treated myself to a Reiki session, body massage and “havening”, a new treatment designed to reduce anxiety and stress.
The rooms are functional but comfortable, and despite initial concerns, I didn’t miss solid food at all. And I certainly didn’t miss my frantic schedule!
Aio Wira is affordable, with three-day retreats starting at $430. At the start, I wasn’t sure if fasting was for me. However, I returned fully restored and ready to take on the world again. Until next time, anyway.
For more information on Aio Wira and fasting, visit aiowira.org.nz.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
