After learning everyone\u2019s names, Barns-Graham gives an emotive talk about what to expect over the next few days and how best to engage. He explains the J Curve; the discomfort of abstaining from what we use to numb and distract, whether it\u2019s alcohol, caffeine, or work emails. \u201cIt\u2019s a sign we are purifying ourselves,\u201d he says of the temporary crash, adding that ditching screens often makes the greatest impact.<\/p>\n
The process is, arguably, improved by our location: a luxury retreat tucked in the Southern Alps. On the hillside, no buildings, power lines or signs of modernity can be seen, just rugged mountains that mimic the Scottish Highlands, and Lake Wakatipu below. Dreamed up by Americans Damian Chaparro and Chris Madison, the almost entirely self-sustaining, environmentally friendly retreat was built for $30m in 2014 with the vision of helping people \u201crevive and thrive together\u201d. If dozens of global wellness, retreat and spa awards are anything to go by, they\u2019re on the right track.<\/p>\n
The lounge at Aro Ha Wellness Retreat. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Back in the lounge, Barns-Graham explains we are free to spend the days as we please but strongly encourages participation in scheduled activities. \u201cHow you do anything is how you do everything,\u201d he says with a wink. On this note, we\u2019re invited to share what brought us here, and what follows is unlike anything I\u2019ve witnessed on a retreat.<\/p>\n
One woman, through sudden tears, reveals she\u2019s amidst a divorce, while the man opposite is approaching 60 and needs a moment to reflect on his life. One woman working in anti-terrorism for a Government abroad discovers, while sharing, that she wants to quit her job. \u201cI\u2019ve never said that out loud,\u201d she says in disbeleif. Two days later, someone else admits a similar dream of leaving their executive role to teach yoga.<\/p>\n
Two separate guests are grieving the premature death of a sibling. By the end of the retreat, another will realise they have unconsciously been doing the same for decades. What floors me isn\u2019t just the universality of struggles or depth of personal revelation that surface but that people are willing, after as little as six hours together, to share them and support one another. <\/p>\n
Aro Ha\u2019s meticulous architecture, both physical and intangible, is no small reason this can happen. <\/p>\n
Staff aren\u2019t frostily flawless or subservient like some retreats, but full of warmth and endearing character. Rituals abound, from a chime before every vibrant, plant-based meal to the nightly candle-lit yin class. It\u2019s the way we softly pad around the wooden floors in socks (no shoes allowed inside) and the many opportunities throughout the day for deep reflection and sharing \u2014 at mealtimes, during journaling sessions or after meditation. It\u2019s rare in life to have time to consider, let alone discuss, how one feels emotionally or spiritually. <\/p>\n
The stunning yoga chalet at Aro Ha Wellness Retreat. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
In my private room, the decor mirrors the rest of the property; a restrained chalet aesthetic with warm wood and soft textures that are comforting yet calmly austere. Three windows frame views of brawny mountains dotted with grazing sheep, snow-dusted peaks and a sky that changes from powder blue to pure white. It\u2019s another element that undoubtably contributes to the serenity here; whether you\u2019re in the outdoor magnesium spa, walking nearby trails or eating in the glass-walled dining room, you can almost always see the magnificent views. <\/p>\n
Days follow a dependable rhythm. We\u2019re woken by chimes and a soft voice calling us to morning yoga and meditation, followed by a nourishing breakfast and a hike. On the first day, this means two toasted slabs of banana walnut loaf on orange cr\u00e8me (a meal so tasty it almost makes me forget about the missing coffee) and a 30-minute drive to hike a breathtaking section of the Routeburn. <\/p>\n
We naturally separate into three groups, so no one feels hurried or held back, chatting most of the 6km trail before stopping for a snack and walking the return in contemplative silence. <\/p>\n
Aro Ha Wellness Retreat. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Back at Aro Ha, we tuck into a Mediterranean feast starring on-site produce: falafel balls and sweet microgreens, a thick bowl of hummus with salty seed crackers and juicy roasted olives. Seated at tables of six, it\u2019s a relief to have the option to join conversation or contentedly listen. <\/p>\n
The afternoon is for our daily massage alongside the optional exercise classes (think Pilates or functional strength) and educational sessions (from contrast therapy to inner voice work), always followed by dinner and meditation or yin. Those wanting more can book additional treatments, such as a Flowpresso lymphatic therapy. Curious about lymphatics, I book a facial massage with Annie Gummer, a physiotherapist and Face Up specialist, who kneads five years of tension and bloating from my face and neck before sharing exercises to take home.<\/p>\n
Retreats run five or seven days long, with some starring specialist experts. On this one, we\u2019re guided daily by Tom Cronin, who quit his high-powered financial job in Australia to become a Vedic meditation teacher in the 1990s.<\/p>\n
In the yoga chalet with magnificent lake views, Cronin\u2019s sessions dive into Vedic meditation. We learn about transcending the temporary, limited \u201cself\u201d to reach the omnipresent \u201cHigher Self\u201d and the importance of mantras. He explains how one achieves true fulfilment (spoiler, not via the dream body or big salary), and guides us through journaling exercises to uncover limiting beliefs that hold us back. We yell affirmations at one another at the top of our lungs (a terrifying yet liberating exercise), stretch our bodies and sit in silent meditation for 20 minutes. <\/p>\n
The stunning yoga chalet at Aro Ha Wellness Retreat. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Speaking of time, caffeine isn\u2019t the only thing you won\u2019t find at Aro Ha. Dedicated to the concept of \u201ctimelessness\u201d, there are no clocks or times around the property. And trust me, I looked, going as far as peeking behind the front desk to try to spot a printed itinerary, control freak that I am. Instead, days unfold in half-day chunks shown on a board in the dining room. Your massage isn\u2019t at 3pm, it\u2019s \u201cone hour after lunch, but we\u2019ll give you a 10-minute notice\u201d, delivered via intercoms dotted around the property. <\/p>\n
The concept is, at first, infuriating. \u201cI\u2019m thinking more about time, not less\u201d, I grumble and stubbornly keep my watch on. It\u2019s humbling to realise the issue wasn\u2019t the approach but my inability to trust it. On day three, I\u2019m calm enough to submit to the system, and the lightness of not being chief operations officer of my own life can\u2019t be understated. <\/p>\n
Aro Ha Wellness retreat near Queenstown.<\/p>\n
This is one of two inconvenient truths you learn at Aro Ha. First, as nice as a short break is, the body can\u2019t be hurried. It does indeed take days, not hours, to soften and slow fully. It takes time to endure the initial discomfort of missing our favourite forms of numbing to experience the sharpness and clarity you feel without the second espresso or morning phone scroll. <\/p>\n
The second is this: while wellness is primarily presented as a solo pursuit, it\u2019s hard to sustain resolutions or revelations alone. What Aro Ha gets so right isn\u2019t merely what is done but how; together. You bear witness to others\u2019 aches and affirm their budding dreams, and you are seen and supported in return. Of course, retreats end and people part ways, but you do so knowing yourself better, and hopefully, with the courage to share this new version with those you love. <\/p>\n
Details<\/p>\n
Five-day retreats start from $5880 and seven-day retreats start from $8400.<\/p>\n