This was my second retreat with Belinda and my third retreat in Bali. I tried a different retreat style 18 months prior because I wasn’t able to secure a spot in Uki with Belinda (and there were no “Belinda” retreats in Bali at the time) but it wasn’t the same. Something Belinda does so well is foster a judgement free environment of complete trust with a group of women, strangers to each other, but all going through something, or even just giving themselves some time and self-care on retreat.

Women supporting women is something that we don’t always have enough of in our day to day lives but in this space you just feel so safe and uplifted in even the hardest times of your journey, and there will be hard parts. But you come out the other side with so many new perspectives and so much lighter and brighter in yourself.

I will always have so much gratitude for these very special women and of course for Belinda who manages to have you cackling with laughter and crying your eyes out in the space of a few hours. She does not take herself too seriously but takes you on a journey to the depths of your soul, if you are willing.

Thank you, and save me a spot for next year, wink wink, nudge nudge.

This was my second retreat with Belinda, first to Bali.

Wow!

You don’t think much will change in 5 days, but it does.

It’s the retreat leader, the environment, women, food, space, Dreamtime & workshops.

It’s all of those things and ME. 

I learnt the power of showing up for myself & facing my greatest internal fears through vulnerability.

Taking responsibility for my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health has been incredibly uncomfortable but the retreat was the right environment for my walls to drop away.

Bali is an incredible place & Belinda has so much respect for their way of living and culture. This is intertwined throughout our retreat very intentionally. Belinda hasn’t chosen Bali because it’s popular, she has chosen it so that we can experience their presence and ceremony that they perform every single day.

I feel like I come home from retreat learning so much more about myself which is the ultimate goal for me. I hope I can show my husband and children that life is an ever evolving practice and that our healing journey is not linear.

Thank you Belinda. The best parts of my life have been during and because of retreat.

I had such a beautiful experience on my previous retreat with Belinda in Uki, I was unsure what this Bali retreat would hold for me, but I knew I needed it and wow it was special.

Previously travelling interstate alone was a challenge for me, I would avoid it and the anxiety it would bring. I decided I was not missing out, I needed to do this for me, to take care of myself and I made it to Bali. I repeated my affirmations that I learned last retreat, I am safe, I am brave, I am worthy, while travelling. And to say I am grateful and proud is an understatement.

Bali is the perfect place for healing, self-reflection and self-care. Gratitude is present in the Balinese people, everywhere you look.

Fivelements was stunning and set the tone of a magical retreat. The lush gardens, flower mandalas, beautiful plant-based food, calming music, koi fish ponds, outdoor showers, lizards running by, butterflies landing on me and going to sleep to the sound of the river. This all promoted connection and appreciation.

The way Belinda shares her energy, learnings and creates a safe space for us on our own journey, to healing is very unique. I found so much peace from the water blessing at Tirta Empul and I found my voice in the workshop in the pool. I was able to connect with my lost loved one, in such a safe place. Water seems to be a theme for me.

But the women Belinda attracts, will always be one of the most special things. Unique women from all different lives who arrive and connect without judgement, without competition and with open hearts. There is just kindness, support and fun!!  These women hold space, show patience and respect for each other. There are not many places in life where this is an automatic way of being with a group of women, who just met each other.

We shared tears, so many laughs, cuddles and a whole lot of genuine encouragement. I would always say, I don’t do hugs, pushing comfort or connection away, but the retreat just offers the right space to explore this. The group hug in the pool, full of love and warmth and the incidental ones through the week, have changed my mind. I am worthy, I am loved, I am grateful.

The Fivelements retreat in Bali was my second retreat with Belinda, my first was January 2016 also in Bali at Warwick Ibah in Ubud.

This trip to Bali wasn’t planned for me, it was a last second decision, and I honestly went into this retreat with no idea of why I was there. But everything happens for a reason, and this clicked into place from the first day.

Belinda messaged us before the retreat and asked us to have an intention of what we would like to work on during the retreat. This planted the seed that for me flourished in Bali. I’ve always been self-conscious of where I am, and the people around me, however the group of ladies I met that first day at Fivelements put all my self-sabotaging thoughts behind and allowed me to open up and give my all.

Yoga, meditation and downtime are things my life don’t normally include, as a business owner I spend 99% of my day thinking about work and on the first retreat I went to in 2016 this was quite a shock to my system to slow down. This time around I didn’t hold back, I embraced all the chances for movement we had, my ability to calm my mind and meditate was better and my own clarity on what I want as a person was much clearer.

The safe and nurturing space that Belinda creates removes all those walls you put up. An incredibly authentic person, her presence is comfortable and allows you to be your true self, flaws and all. To the wonderful group of ladies I had the pleasure of spending this week in Bali with; from the bottom of my heart I thank you all, you all helped me see myself and not judge, know the path to take and put those feet in front of the other to get to where I want to be.

I attended my first retreat in Fiji with Belinda in April 2016. It was far more than I ever expected. I came home feeling alive, rejuvenated and with tools to self-love to my highest capability. As months went by, the more I learnt, the more I did, and the more I processed everything I had learned which left me hungry for more. I wanted something bigger, better and extraordinary for my life – the Universe answered my prayers: A Reunion Retreat with Belinda at Fivelements in Bali appeared. I didn’t even think or discuss, I just booked it, spent the following 6 months paying it off, and waited.

What were my intentions for the retreat? To get back into MY headspace and not what the world portrayed it to be. To love more and love harder. Not just the people in my life that I love dearly already, but everyone, everything, even my enemies and those who have hurt and betrayed me.

My biggest downfall is my controlling nature and my inability to be able to forgive. Fast forward to the absolute beautiful space we were in, the workshops we did, the intentions we set, the yoga, the mindfulness, the meditation, the healers and people of Bali, the special women whom I shared this time with, the guidance from Belinda, the amazing food we were blessed with, the spiritualism of Fivelements and its energy, and my downfalls began to shift because my perception changed.

The raw truths that slap you in the face about who you are and the possibility that you have created all your own heartaches, the fight that comes out in you when you realize that only you have the power to change your circumstances. It all resonated LOUD and clear for me. MIND-BLOWING, POWERFUL!

I am now home. My partner has noticed changes in me. He loved me before, may I say he f**king loves me even more now. Our intimacy is on another level because of the way I have nurtured myself. My son cannot get enough of me. And more importantly, I have noticed my own changes.

So once again, I thank Belinda from deep in my heart for digging, guiding, pushing my limits, making me cry tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of anger, tears of relief. WHAT AN AMAZING JOURNEY! WHAT AN AMAZING WOMAN!

On returning from my second retreat with Belinda, I have reflected on this week and the impact it has had on me.

The first retreat in April 2016 in Fiji was filled with massive shifts for me in allowing time and healing for myself, so in that there was much laughter and tears and a feeling of euphoria and letting go at its completion.

The Bali retreat at Fivelements in March 2017 was different, and to some extent I believe this had a lot do with my intentions as well as the program. I go on these retreats with no expectations but with intentions: what is it I want to gain? How will this improve my wellbeing and connect me more with my soul?

Fiji was all about healing, authenticity and letting go so I can truly shine in my own light. Bali on the other hand was all about deepening my spiritual practice, connecting with source and the added bonus of investing in me and my soul growth. This definitely was my experience at Fivelements with Belinda.

Fivelements was an incredibly spiritual place, connected to nature everywhere you turned. From the vegan food, which was to my surprise some of the best and wholesome food I have tasted, coming from a foodie I was a little skeptical as to how I would like this, I loved every different dish inspired by the very talented French Chef. The grounds held an intense healing energy from the flowing river to the way the architecture blended with its surrounds and the five star comfort within a completely natural setting.

The retreat was a wonderful mix of deep spiritual practice with meditation, sound healing and connection with some of Bali’s wonderful healers. I found myself throughout the week in a state of bliss, happiness and deep contentment. I discovered some deep hurts that I realise were the source of some of the blockages to moving forward on this path I have chosen.

Belinda has an incredible ability to hold that sacred and nurturing space for you to see these, feel them, and understand what it is you need to do to let them go.

Much gratitude to Belinda for shining her light so I can continue to shine mine and radiate out so many can awaken and shine theirs. Our world is magnificent and beautiful and the increasing light workers shining so bright can only bring more peace and joy to us all.

If you are considering a retreat with Belinda, I highly recommend it…gift yourself and know you are worth it! There is no happiness in dimming your light or clipping your wings.

I stopped halfway through getting groceries inspired to share my thoughts, so I recorded them on my phone lol. I probably looked silly at the time or maybe even important recording stuff in the supermarket but I didn’t care!

Walking through the supermarket I realised going on retreat with Belinda puts me in a totally different head space. You go on these retreats with Belinda and a group of women you’ve never met and you return a different person – relaxed, at ease, content with life and at peace with yourself and the world. Even in the shopping centre while you are doing your groceries you look at things differently – healthier products and options. Your whole outlook changes!

On the recent retreat at Fivelements in Bali it was totally vegan and I have to say the food was delicious! I didn’t realise how much healthy food contributes to making your mind and body feel so good.

I’m doing my third retreat with Belinda next year in Bali because they put my mind, body and soul in a completely different place – relaxed and peaceful….I love life and all because I’m in a beautiful space.

My first retreat with Belinda was at the Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas and Spas, Ubud, Bali in January 2016; and what a mind-opening experience it was!

I was there for a number of reasons and found the retreat to be mind-altering; from the initial introductions to the final day of the retreat, enjoying a connection with the other women, all there for our own reasons.

I came back home implementing my new techniques of meditating, yoga, self-talk – wanting, needing to change my outlook on life for myself, to know I am important, I am me. It didn’t always work though, and unfortunately every now and then, the “negative Nancy” took hold with negative thoughts, negative fear and negative ego coming back to haunt me – hurting my confidence, taking me back to being shy and hiding behind my brick wall.

This had to change! I needed to know more – why this was happening, how do I stop the negative mind from taking over, and allow myself to be: my true self – happy, confident and content with life. It didn’t take long for me to tick the box to return to Bali and join Belinda’s Fivelements retreat, and WOW, I am ever so pleased I did!

Belinda has installed even more wonderful techniques, guidance, NLP, Timeline and workshops with her retreats; along with ceremonies, beauty, spiritualism, outside healers, relaxation, meditation, yoga and Pilates, connection, deepness, awakening, letting go, breaking down barriers, realisation, reflection, elation – the list is great; and each and every one of us on Belinda’s retreat gained and benefited in so many ways.

Fivelements is beautiful – the retreat has a deep spiritual feeling; the staff are beautiful and caring; the Vegan menu is amazing – my thoughts towards food has changed forever! Each and every meal was an incredible taste sensation, just beautiful. The Spa treatments are heavenly, the grounds and villas immaculately kept. Fivelements is altogether its very own unique element; and I look forward to returning.

Did this retreat change me? YES!

Have I learnt why the negativity kept coming back? YES!

Have I dealt with it, released it, let it go – YES!

To say I am “healed” – if that is a word I can use – sure – healed of the hurt I was unnecessarily carrying around, the realisation of why, and the now knowing, I do not ever need to again. I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I am feeling lighter, happier, confident – I feel full of colour and I love it!!

Do I need to go on another retreat because I have come to this amazing space of where I am meant to be? YES! WHY? Because I love everything I learn on Belinda’s retreats – you never stop learning and there is always something more you can add to your life, installing an even greater connection. Who benefits? ME, my husband, my children, my beautiful Bonnie (dog), my family, my friends, my guests staying in my holiday rental property – everyone – everyone benefits because I have changed, my thoughts, my feelings, my openness, my everyday life!

THANK YOU BELINDA – I am extremely grateful.