Nurtured by Nature - Walking Wellness Retreat - Blue Mountains

This holistic healing and wellness retreat integrates process psychology,

mindfulness and meditation, nature therapy (shinrin-yoku), body (somatic) practices, nutrition, Rapid Transformation Therapy and personal leadership coaching.

Who is this for:

This small group retreat (just 6 spots) is for anyone who has the desire to heal, nourish, reset, transform or to just be with what is. You may be at an inflection point and seeking answers from within, you may be carrying grief, on the verge of burnout, seeking self-care, wanting to experience joy and awe or to be part of a community. Whatever you bring with you is welcome. We see you, we hear you and we will hold space for you.

This retreat is open to all genders and all ages over 18 years. Day 1 and Day 3 of this retreat include strenuous mountain based hiking and is designed for those who can hike 22km over 7 hours. We also have a drive-in drive-out retreat option for those who are not yet up to this physical challenge. Contact us for details.

What to expect:

This is a walk-in and walk-out retreat. Beginning bright and early at the

Explorer Tree Katoomba we spend the day walking along the Six Foot Track. Along the way you will begin to explore your inner landscape while connecting with each other and nature through a series of carefully curated invitations.

“Walking involves that crucial element of engagement of the body and the mind with the world, of knowing the world through the body and the body through the world.”

― Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking

We arrive at the private 100-acre off grid Little River Wilderness Camp where you will stay for two nights and one day. The evenings are dedicated to preparing and sharing meals while telling our stories around the campfire. We spend time stargazing far from human made light supporting you to reset your body clock and return to your natural sleep rhythm.

This is also a time for a complete digital detox, there is no mobile reception at Little River and no outlets to recharge your phone. Give yourself the space to wander and wonder, to become present to pleasure through the senses and to open up to an expanded awareness.

“Nature does good things to the human brain—it makes us healthier, happier, and smarter. Nature writer David Gessner.

On day two we relax into simply being. There is no requirement for you to do anything if that is what you desire. Or you can pass the time choosing to be nourished through guided yoga, meditation, silent reflections and nature connection activities.

After a second night spent sleeping far from the noise of the built-up environment we rise early for breakfast and set off on our hike back along the Six Foot Track to Katoomba. Once more you are invited to participate in invitations designed to support you to connect with yourself, each other and the nature around you.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks - John Muir

Prefer to have a tent to yourself? No problems!! Message Christie or Trevor for more information.

Here's what the community has to say about the experience:

'Through the live well wild weekend I experienced profound, personal insights. The clarity of thought and personal growth from these insights has been significant for me. I cannot guarantee you will personally experience the same change, but you will experience a deep connection with a beautiful part of the world, great food and a wonderfully guided experience. You will have the chance to reset, and decompress. You will leave feeling lighter and fresher, with a great sense of accomplishment. You’ll have fun.'

'I just completed my second week with no screens in bed before going to sleep and no screens in the morning until after I finish breakfast. I have noticed I get to sleep faster and in the mornings I taste and enjoy my food and listen to the birds instead of scrolling through emails and news. I’ve also been doing lots of manual DIY timber work and painting in the back yard during weekends which I’ve found very relaxing and satisfying.'

'It has been a couple of weeks of deep reflection for me ... I have been walking on what feels like a hovercraft - I now know what it is .... serenity and acceptance. Those words mean different things and they feel different to each of us. I am finding there is more kindness, self-worth and compassion towards myself and also in my work as a practitioner. Thx Christine and Trevor and blessed to have met some great souls on the weekend - have a good weekend everyone 🙏
Ps. Have cut down to 1 coffee a day, drinking hot water infused with fresh ginger and started Pilates - feeling good'

Your hosts:

Introducing Christie Little

Hello, I am looking forward to meeting you and getting to know what makes you, you. It will be my privilege to be one of your hosts should you choose to join this retreat.

There are many things that make me, me. You will get to know me as we spend time together. It is not just my education and lifelong commitment to professional development that has prepared me for this role as your host but it is also my lived experience, the grief I carry with me, the ways I have been loved, my passion for nature and my impossible quest for perfection.

I have worked for more than 15 years in the leadership, resilience and wellbeing space, supporting many women and men to transform their lives. I have owned and operated two wonderful corporate coaching consultancies, having been lucky enough to sell one of them to KPMG. I have worked within global management consultancies and learnt a lot about people over many years. I have built my expertise with certifications in many areas of healing and wellness so I could meet my clients where they were at. These include mindfulness, biofeedback, yoga, somatic coaching, nutrition and wellness coaching, Nature therapy, permaculture, psychotherapy and counselling.

I now work in the retreat space as a response to what I was hearing from my clients and friends, they were exhausted, needing space to hear their inner wisdom, to reconnect to themselves and their passions, a space to be seen and heard, a space to be with the entirety of themselves - sorrow, pain, joy, forgiveness, anger, gratitude, love and happiness. And in large part, I moved into hosting retreats because it is what I needed. After the traumatic death of my husband, Hamish, I travelled the world looking for a place where I could feel safe and nurtured, where I could make sense of what had happened, where I could begin to heal. And when I could not find it in Australia, I decided it was my responsibility to create that safe space for others. And so, here I am. Ready when you are.

In case you are interested in the details of my professional development, I have been lucky enough to learn from the best:

• Studied Nature Therapy with Amos Clifford, author of Your Guide to Forest Bathing: Experience the Healing Power of Nature and founder of International Association of Nature and Forest Therapists, becoming the first certified guide in NSW.
• Studied 200 hour yoga teacher training with Tara Judelle founder of the Embodied Flow international school of Yoga. Certified in Hatha Yoga.
• Certified in Positive Neuroplasticity training by founder Dr Rick Hanson. Author of the three best selling books, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha Brain and Resilient.
• Studied permaculture with founder David Holmgren at his property in Hepburn Springs.
• Travelled to Seattle to study and become certified in biofeedback and psychophysiology with Dr Paul Lehrer.
• Certified in Somatic Coaching from Coaches Rising, a program where I learnt from, amongst others, Amanda Blake, author of Your Body is your Brain.

Introducing Trevor Torrance

Hi! Welcome, I very much look forward to sharing the journey together as we get to know one another over the days. I look forward to being one of your hosts, if you choose to join us.

Over the days that we spend together you will get to know me, who I am and why I am doing these retreats. I have spent this lifetime in pursuit of compassion, awareness and kindness to self, society and this planet. All driven from the felt experience from trauma, judgement and unconditional love.

From the moment that I started to learn massage I have had a calling to work with nature and humanity, to bring the two together in harmony, so that both can reconnect and heal.

Prior to stepping into the corporate world, I spent 12 years playing professional basketball in Australia and Europe, representing Australia at junior and senior level. It was after leaving the sporting arena, I initially took the path of healing, studying to be a Naturopath, nutritionist, massage therapist and reiki master.

I then spent over two decades of working around the globe in the corporate world in leadership development, team effectiveness, wellbeing and personal growth. I have worked for large multi-national organisations across a variety of sectors in global and regional roles, which was the ideal training ground for me to understand the impacts of stress and burn-out. All of this lead me back into self-care, resilience, the absolute need for holistic wellbeing.

I returned to Sydney 5 years ago, newly married, second child on the way; your modern family scenario, after being in London working in another global position, exhausted. My spirit waning and me desiring change, feeling a ‘calling’ but I wasn’t really listening or ready. After 5 years of various roles in Sydney I met Christie, another wonderful story to share. Christie lent me a book; The Secrets of Aboriginal Healing. Literally, my soul woke up and from there the path has lead me to being with Christie and you, I am filled with gratitude and that whole hearted joy that comes with living my purpose.

'A persons search for meaning is the primary motivation in ones life ... This

meaning is unique and specific in that it must be fulfilled by self alone; only then does it achieve a significance which will satisfy ones own WILL and meaning.' 

Victor Frankl

My interpretation of the above is that when we abdicate taking responsibility for ourselves, we are giving up our ability to create and discover meaning. i.e. we give up on life. This the 'life' the gives me meaning and purpose.

I am a qualified massage therapist, nutritionist, Reiki master, Rapid Transformational Therapist (hypnotherapy), accredited ICF and NLP personal coach.

For a detailed agenda please contact us directly.