TURN OVER A Niue leaf
KERRE MCIVOR BEATS A NOT-SO-HASTY RETREAT
I’ve always liked the idea of a retreat – but the reality? I wasn’t sure I was ready. I thought retreats meant silence, dawn rises and deprivation, and though I know it’s good to have a little bit of silence and early rising and lentil-eating in one’s life from time to time, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it for five days.
However, the yoga, fitness and adventure retreat in Niue run by Melissa Carroll looked to be the perfect blend of healthy living and fun times. Yoga, fitness training, wellbeing seminars, and hikes and swims around the beautiful island sounded like a lovely way to relax and recharge.
It helped that I knew two of the facilitators who help Mel run the retreats and they are the best in their respective fields. Paddy Flavell is probably the busiest physical trainer in Auckland, and integrative nutritionist Kaytee Boyd has a three-month waiting list for new clients.
This is the third retreat Mel, Paddy and Kaytee have run in Niue and they make a fantastic team – it was a very good sign that the first three women I met as we waited at the airport for the bus to our resort were return customers.
We were a party of 16 women and one brave man, although Mel says there are usually a few more men on the retreats. Hayden was gorgeous and we were very happy to give him honorary ovaries for the duration of the stay – he earned them by being unfailingly cheerful and supportive despite the oestrogen overload.
On our arrival at the beautiful Scenic Matavai Resort, we were given a cold (non-alcoholic) drink before being shown to our rooms. We had spectacular views over the ocean and I was looking forward to going to sleep to the sound of the sea.
That first evening we all met on the lower deck of the resort for a light yoga session – more of a stretch, said Mel reassuringly – and it was a great way to limber up after the flight from New Zealand.
I had been a little sceptical about the yoga. I don’t bend.
I’m built to prop scrums. But I really enjoyed my initiation session. Mel was gentle and reassuring, and warm sea breezes on my face and the sound of the waves created the perfect atmosphere for relaxation.
After that, we sat around on couches (with an alcoholic drink for those who wanted one) and introduced ourselves and explained why we were there.
There were sets of sisters and mothers, and daughters and great mates, a husband and wife, and women who’d come on their own. They were lovely – honest and sincere and, as it turned out, a lot of fun.
The days followed a leisurely rhythm – a training session with Paddy at 7am, followed by a smoothie, then yoga and a healthy and delicious breakfast.
Kaytee had us in the palm of her hand while in her uniquely entertaining way she shared her formidable knowledge of the human body and how best to care for it. She had us howling with laughter one minute and moved to tears the next, then gasping in astonishment as she revealed the intricacies of the human condition.
After a gorgeous lunch, it was off to explore the beauty of Niue – hiking, snorkelling and swimming with the dolphins or swimming in the rock pools around the island. Those who didn’t want to hike stayed behind and relaxed at the resort – there were no strict rules.
At the end of our time, many of us said the experience had been life-changing. And all of us said we’d be back.