Mention the words liquid diet and memories of late nights, after wine-fuelled days spring to my mind, a new type of liquid diet lured me in, says Joelle Thomson, who shares a fasting retreat like no other.
Wine writer Joelle Thomson, cycling before her juice fasting stay at Kimi Ora Eco Resort, Kaiteriteri.
The Reyouvenate escape
The call from a friend saw me sign up for a retreat in Nelson, where there wasn’t a glass of wine insight for the next four days and then some. I was headed to stunning Kaiteriteri, in the Tasman Region of the South Island, to join an eco fasting yoga retreat called Kimi-Ora Eco Resort. Ten of us were there to participate in this year’s first Reyouvenate retreat, hosted by Di Donaldson. To give you some background: Founded by Donaldson, Reyouvenate has run for 20 years. As a fasting retreat created by Valmai Becker of Phytofarm, an organic vegetable farm on the Akaroa Peninsula, Reyouvenate is a fast and yoga retreat where fruit juice and vegetable broth are the only things on the menu for four days. So, why I would want to go to a fasting retreat? Well, it was for more than a break from my diet of light-bodied Pinot Noir. I went to Reyouvenate because I felt unwell physically and emotionally. My stomach felt full every time I ate even small amounts. Everyday stress seemed disproportionately challenging to deal with and the deaths of my sister and two close friends over the past 12 months were more than I could bear. The past year has also been a rough one for so many, my family included. Shock saw me lose a significant amount of weight a year ago, which I stacked back on to the point that I felt over-saturated whenever I ate or drank anything. Here’s what’s it like to go food and wine free and why fasting helped me.
At Kimi Ora Eco Retreat where at Reyouvenate freshly squeezed juice is on offer all day.
Day one
I have often debated if fasting retreats are all that they’re cracked up to be? It’s a question I’ve asked friends and family who have been and come back looking refreshed but ravenous. And I can definitely attest to the fact that there are some serious hunger pangs. I got to Kimi Ora Eco Retreat at midday on day one, to be greeted with a delicious freshly squeezed juice; mine was carrot, orange and fresh turmeric. Amazingly full of flavour, even though diluted with water. The rooms are set in the bush, and each has spectacular sea views out to Kaiteriteri beach. The rooms come equipped with a kitchenette (for making hot or cold water) sadly no minibar. A great shower with underfloor heating in the spacious bathroom. The first afternoon passed quickly, as guests arrived to chat before the group session in the late afternoon. That followed a yoga session, and a liquid vegetable broth all I had to look forward to on day one was an early night. Sitting out on the balcony that evening, I was inspired by those brave enough to share their vulnerabilities about having had a tough year or three and the need for a reset. Most people at the retreat had goals of feeling healthier, and happier. For me it was grief. My sister’s death nearly a year ago to the day had reverberated through our entire family and life without her had not been easy. Add in the deaths of two other close friends over the past year and for me, it’s been a below-average twelve months. The group discussion and incredibly calming yoga, followed by the vegetable broth seem soothing rather than a dinner of denial. I do have to confess, my last thoughts that night were food, not the herbal tea, vegetable broth and juice, I had to look forward to the next day.
“Each room is spacious and tranquil, with a balcony that looks out across the Kaiterireri beach.”
Day Two
The aim of the four-day liquid diet is to give your body a chance to rest instead of digest. Apparently, our livers, stomachs and skin, work overtime when we eat and drink calorific foods. It’s also a yoga retreat but this is optional and those attending can choose to go, or not, without any sense of pressure. Day two was when the hunger pangs really kicked in, by mid-morning followed by strong psychological pangs in the afternoon around 3.30 pm. So, I did what I do when I feel at a low ebb physically, I took myself off for a four-kilometre bushwalk and listened to a podcast to distract the deafening groaning from my tummy, which worked a treat, until feeling light-headed on the walk back. There is a day-long availability of fresh vegetable and fruit juices, which make the hunger more palatable, (excuse the pun), but I was bloody hungry on day two. More powerful than hunger was the fact that I arrived at the retreat feeling bloated, uncomfortable and unwell, so, I reminded myself, that being hungry was something I was willing to endure to try and get to a place of recognising my well being again.
Thomson and another guest at Reyouvenate.
“The rewards of taking a physical break from eating were for me incredibly therapeutic for both my mind and body.”
Day Three
This was a turning point in the retreat. I woke up on day three feeling lighter and my headspace had shifted that day too. Also, a relationship worry that had been consuming me seemed to melt away and my thoughts were forced onto feeling well. It turned out, in our group session, that others felt the same shift on day three too. After an outstanding 90-minute group session led by Di Donaldson, our yoga tutor and retreat owner, who talked about the stomach microbiome, vagus nerve and how our physical stomach health relates directly to our mental wellbeing. That night, the group bonded over yet another cup of broth, and I realised what I loved about this retreat is that it was not a boot camp, it was about individual choice. Focussing on removing food from the body’s digestive system, strangely allows you time to truly relax.
Day four
The idea of food had begun to lose its lustre by day four. I felt lighter mentally than I had in months and was surprised to discover that I craved nothing, except perhaps a cup of Earl Grey tea. This was fortunate because on day four you need to reintroduce food gently. No rushing out for eggs hollandaise with salmon on the side, the menu was a baked potato and a cup of veggie broth, with instructions of no protein for at least another three days. I had come this far there was no point breaking the fast by rushing out for a piece of chocolate or strong espresso my go-to when I need a treat.
“Kaiteriteri beach, the jewel of the Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson is a view I will never tire of.”
The take-home
Do retreats really work? This one did for me. As a fellow first-timer said, “We will be repeat offenders.” I gradually reintroduced baked vegetables, rice (brown) and a little bit of fish several days later. And while the lightness I felt both mentally, physically and emotionally was almost enough, the rewards of taking a physical break from eating were for me incredibly therapeutic for both my mind and body. I’ve already booked in for the next one, in June, there is also a November retreat too - and I can’t wait for the date to roll around.
Reyouvenate at Kimi Ora Eco Retreat cost $1500 per person for a private cabin or $1200 per person for a shared twin room.
A designer scent laced with vanilla.