Rest, rejuvenate and reset your health at New Zealand’s leading wellness retreat. Resolution Retreats is New Zealand’s only live-in weight loss, health and wellness retreat exclusively for women. Positioned on the restful borders of Lake Karapiro, it’s just two hours from Auckland.
The specially created programmes that begin from three days to 21-day stays gently guide, support, and educate women to live happier and healthier lives by firstly allowing them time and space to delve inwards and be totally taken care of. Life-changing techniques have a refreshingly realistic approach to health, all delivered by a female-only team of passionate industry professionals.
Resolution Retreats founder Joelene Ranby tells Verve more about her globally recognised health and wellness offering.
Joelene Ranby founder of Resolution Retreats
Food served at Resolution RetreatsWhat led to you founding one of Australasia’s largest health and wellness retreats?
Resolution Retreats began as a passion project I ran during weekends, and away from my role in the corporate world; a way to share what I had learnt and experienced in changing my own health. As word spread, it became apparent that the escape we provided for women who craved an opportunity to put their health and happiness first and kickstart some changes was more needed than we could have imagined.
You’ve been named New Zealand’s Best Wellness Retreat. What sets you apart from other health retreats?
Many things, but key is that Resolution Retreats’ programmes are designed and run by women, for women. Our realistic health mantra, ‘progress not perfection’, and habit-change psychology, offer a unique and refreshing approach to health, helping guests understand why they do what they do, when they know what they know. For women, positive health changes are more about psychology than science.
Testimonial
“I really can’t express my gratitude enough: You put food, exercise and health into a format anyone can understand. From day one I never felt deprived or physically challenged beyond my comfort zone and look at the results – 8.3kg down as of this morning. I am looking forward to putting more of what I’ve learnt, into practice. I’m so thankful for the fabulous group of ladies with whom I was privileged to share the beginning of our journey with, and feel grateful with my lot.” — Julie xx
Inside Resolution RetreatsThe resort looks like the ultimate holiday of rest and relaxation in itself. Can you give us a glimpse into what a day typically looks like for a guest on retreat?
Many guests come to us exhausted, so we aim for a good balance of activities and rest. We rise with some sort of movement like pool fitness, followed by breakfast. Mornings will generally include a health workshop, which depending upon your retreat package, may focus on nutrition, habits, hormones, stress and heart health, body positivity, or mental or gut health. Lunch is followed by a slower afternoon known as ‘bliss time’—guests have some downtime to read a book in their chalet lounge, play tennis, hydrate in the steam room, attend a Yoga and meditation session, or enjoy the other facilities. Pampering in our onsite spa also helps guests unwind in the afternoons before our well- attended pre-dinner cooking workshop. After dinner it’s either time to retire to your chalet for a soak in your in-room jacuzzi, or optional activities to allow further bonding with other guests.
What are some of your realistic expert tips for women wanting to reset their health but feeling overwhelmed by where to start on their wellbeing journey?
Overwhelmed is unfortunately a really common starting point – knowing that you need to do something but don’t know how to begin or fit it in amongst everything else you’ve got going on. Being realistic is the first place to start – different things work for different people. Setting unrealistic expectations is a path to feeling worse, not better. Put first things first – work out what is the biggest challenge in improving your health and begin there.
Focus on that until you have made some progress, rather than tackling everything all at once. If you have habits that are distracting you from your health, next time you’re living one out, work out what is your ‘why’ for doing so. What are you getting out of it consciously, or subconsciously? It’s only once you understand the psychology behind your habits that you’re able to change them.
Testimonial
“Resolution Retreats saved and changed my life. Joelene and her team were absolutely amazing, so welcoming and personable. The workshops with highly qualified speakers were deeply informative. I experienced a major breakthrough in regards to my current mind-set because of tools taught, health education, yoga, exercise and beauty treatments. Best experience ever!” — Anon
In 2021, you expanded your offering with Resilience Retreats, your recently launched professional and personal health retreats. Can you tell us a little bit more about how this much-needed new offering came about and who would benefit most from these retreats?
Workplace wellbeing has become a necessity, particularly in industries more susceptible to burnout. Employers have a lot on their plate. Many are aware that the wellbeing of their people is important, but may not have the time or skills to really assist with that in addition to the pressures involved with running an organisation. So, individuals or teams can join on one of our Resilience Retreats to step away, rest and re-energise, while learning practical skills and strategies to help build personal and professional resilience to take care of themselves, and cope better when they return home to life and work.
Your retreats offer follow-up support. Why is this so important in keeping guests accountable for their health journeys?
It’s important for both sides. Guests become part of our retreat family and our dedication to, and support of, their health journey doesn’t end when they leave us. It’s important for our guests to know they have a team cheering for them who genuinely care about their progress. Someone they can call for a pep talk, to celebrate successes, or somewhere to escape when life throws them a curveball. It’s important for us as an organisation, that our care is genuine, and we are engaged with guests’ health needs so they can lean on us when they need us. It makes our hearts happy to see them go on and do great things.
Resolution Retreats
1002 Tirau Rd, Lake Karapiro
resolutionretreats.co.nz
