Meet CHANTELLE
REAL WOMEN. REAL LIFE. REAL STORIES.
Everyone comes on retreat for their own reasons, during their own seasons.
(We’re here for it all.)
This is a collection of stories from past guests who have experienced the magic of a PE Retreat first-hand.
These incredible women have pulled back the curtain on their personal journeys so you can get a deeper sense of how life-changing a retreat with us can really be.
PEEK INSIDE THEIR DIARIES ↓
Meet JENNA
FROM GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE TO FINDING JOY AGAIN
Meet GABY
FROM DISSOCIATED TO RECONNECTED WITH HERSELF
Meet SALLY
FROM BARELY SURVIVING TO THRIVING
Meet ANDREA
FROM LIVING ON AUTOPILOT TO LIVING ON PURPOSE
CHANTELLE’S RETREAT REFLECTIONS
WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE YOU BOOKED YOUR RETREAT?
I’d just gone through a break up and was also having a rough time at work due to a drawn out restructure and a new boss. I was wrecked, mentally and emotionally!
I was getting a really rubbish amount of sleep and felt constantly exhausted.
I felt like I’d lost my zest for life.
I ended up needing to take a short stint of stress leave from work because it had all become a bit too much. I needed the break to figure out my next move.
I knew I wanted to do something for myself and have something to look forward to after the break up. I spoke to 2 separate friends who knew someone who’d done a PE Retreat and both raved about it. At the same time I got an email about the October Move Retreat and I took it as a sign that I had to do it!
I wanted to feel refreshed and reinvigorated, I wanted to get my spark back!
I was surprised by how well everyone got along instantly, it was a wonderful group of women from all different backgrounds and it felt like we’d all been friends for years after the first day.
WAS THERE A MOMENT DURING THE RETREAT WHERE SOMETHING GENUINELY SHIFTED FOR YOU?
During the surfing day, even after getting a fin cut in my foot – just how freeing and exhilarating it was to catch a wave and be cheered on by everyone. Was the best feeling, and made me feel so alive!
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WEEK?
I realised I’m stronger, physically and mentally, than I give myself credit for.
The “after” version of me feels refreshed, like someone hit reset. I came home lighter, more energised, and more connected to what actually makes me feel good.
Returning home, I noticed I was more intentional with my time and energy.
I stopped saying yes out of obligation, and started honouring routines and habits that make me feel stronger, calmer, and more in control of my health and mindset.
I’ve added boxing into my workout routine – I loved how empowered it made me feel!
WHAT’S ONE SENTENCE THAT SUMS UP YOUR ENTIRE RETREAT EXPERIENCE?
A reset that left me clearer, stronger, and more committed to taking care of myself.
“Nothing exciting ever happens by living in the comfort zone - take the leap, your mind and body will thank you.”
Love, Chantelle
JENNA'S RETREAT REFLECTIONS
WHAT DID LIFE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN THE MONTHS BEFORE YOU BOOKED THE RETREAT?
Treading through grief pretending I was ok. Simply exhausted. Emotionally drained. Unmotivated. Burnt out. Lost. Knowing I needed a break, didn’t know what that break would look like.
I wore a constant mask. Showing up as if everything was fine.
I was completely unmotivated.
Everyday I felt tired and lacking energy.
I was very lucky that a close friend of mine could see some cracks and changes in how I was showing up.
I think I sat on the idea of attending a retreat for months, I had really looked into it and everything felt right. I received a couple of emails of info from Loz, and a reminder of spaces filling up. It was a Sunday evening and I jumped right on it and booked my spot!
Best decision ever!
I was hoping for a genuine break from life and work, a rebuild and reset that was about no one else except myself. All I had hoped was to come back with a clearer mind and a happier soul!
What surprised me most was that total strangers after one week (more like one night) felt like a real sisterhood.
Secondly, the moment you allow yourself to mend, feel, and rebuild; magic happens.
Something genuinely shifted in me during the rebirth breathwork session – I felt lighter, clearer, stronger, connected and balanced.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO MOVE YOUR BODY IN A WAY THAT WASN’T ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT, PRODUCTIVITY, OR PRESSURE?
It’s something that on the retreats really excites me. Working out everyday always feels like a chore – but when you have time and structure, it’s such a highlight of your time and the best way to start the day.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WEEK?
That resilience and strength doesn’t take away from how you actually feel. It’s important to work through your emotions, it’s important to take a step away and rebuild.
Returning home so many things shifted…my mindset and acknowledging my emotions, prioritising myself more.
Going on that first retreat in 2024 influenced me to be a part of 2 more PE Retreats! I have met the best of friends, who truly feel like I have known them forever. We constantly have more travel plans and catch ups in the pipeline.
To be fair, the amount of people who noticed such a shift in me was crazy! I am back to being more relaxed, enjoying the smaller things in life, taking more opportunities, prioritising me more, though this continues to be a work in progress!
WHAT’S ONE SENTENCE THAT SUMS UP YOUR ENTIRE RETREAT EXPERIENCE?
It was the most amazing week, meeting the best people, who literally have become friends forever, I was challenged physically, mentally, and in 7 days left a completely different person – honestly the best thing I have ever done for me!
“Don’t be me who took way too long to book my spot, worried about travelling solo, overthinking everything when the whole experience was magical. I often tell my friends that if I could gift this experience to each of them I would! Book the spot, you deserve it and you will love it!”
Love, Jenna
GABY'S RETREAT REFLECTIONS
WHAT DID LIFE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN THE MONTHS BEFORE THE RETREAT?
A constant weight in my chest and the occasional gasp for air.
I was running, not physically, but mentally, constantly on the merry-go-round of carrying the responsibility of what in my mind was a successful career, the lack of satisfaction – is this all that life is meant to be – and my intuition screaming at me that I needed to make sure I take care of myself – I was gasping for air.
In practice this meant 12-hour days, meeting after meeting, early mornings, late nights and a real feeling of dissociation of who I was and what life really mattered outside of my career.
Gasping for air. Never stopping all week and then crashing on the weekend. Forgetting to notice the little things that brought me joy – the walk along the river listening to the birds and watching the green leaves sway in the wind.
Despite performing amazingly at work, it didn’t feel good.
I was describing to someone how I was feeling and they simply said what if you just stopped, what if you didn’t do the things you think you “should do” – what would happen?
I was busy!!!! Oh so busy!!!! No time for me. I’ve got a serious corporate job, people rely on me, I’ve got a partner and a house that needs renovations and and and all the reasons on why I (perhaps) don’t deserve to book the trip.
I was hoping for space to reconnect with myself and others, and have a bit of fun, remind myself of the sparkle, the good surprises life can bring and my childlike curiosity of new experiences.
Despite being a move retreat, it brought me an incredible sense of calm into my life. And a sense of belonging and connection. I wasn’t alone in what I was experiencing pre retreat.
Something genuinely shifted in me during surfing! My oh my did I feel like a child wanting to go again and again and again. The sparkle! It was like I connected with myself again.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO MOVE YOUR BODY IN A WAY THAT WASN’T ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT, PRODUCTIVITY, OR PRESSURE?
Amazing! It was all about having fun while moving our bodies in such varied ways, Pilates, padel, strength and always doing it with a group of powerful women!
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WEEK?
I need to be more intentional about slowing down, listening to my intuition and giving myself the space to think. Most importantly the retreat allowed me to regular my nervous system in a way that I didn’t even realise was occurring. I came back more calm yet motivated and excited about life than ever.
I’m showing up as a better version of myself at work, in my relationship and most importantly for myself.
I am no longer gasping for air, but intentionally carving out the space to make sure I’m breathing and creating space for deep thinking and the little sparkles in life that bring me so much joy.
I now have a few things brewing in both my career and my personal life. The space that the retreat provided enabled me to feel my power to make decisions I didn’t think I could previously.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE “AFTER” VERSION OF YOU COMPARED TO THE “BEFORE”?
Lighter, calmer with quite a bit more sparkle.
WHAT’S ONE SENTENCE THAT SUMS UP YOUR ENTIRE RETREAT EXPERIENCE?
Never underestimate how powerful and transformational a week away to reconnect with yourself and other women can be!
“Don’t think twice. Do it for you! You deserve it!”
Love, Gaby
SALLY'S RETREAT REFLECTIONS
WHAT DID LIFE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN THE MONTHS BEFORE YOU BOOKED THE RETREAT?
I would describe my life before the retreat as surviving not thriving. Sure I was living each day as they came but there was little joy and lots of high expectations on myself and I never really felt like I was doing enough… especially as a 30 something career girlie who hadn’t hit any of societies normal milestones yet. I had been following Loz and PE Retreats for years but could never make an overseas trip work with my job so became the unofficial domestic retreat girlie!
Burnout was evident in so many ways in hindsight, this year I have been the illest I have ever been in my life to the point where I was unable to train anymore.
It was a case of putting other things (literally everything) ahead of myself and getting better.
I was constantly distracted and rarely present, ready to move onto the next thing. I started even isolating myself from those that I loved.
Consciously I knew that this was no way to be living at all. It was existing. And as if it were written for me, Loz released dates in August that weren’t year end dependent and I could escape. I booked the retreat there and then before asking for leave or anything I just knew I was going to make it work and put myself first.
I was definitely held back from booking sooner with work guilt, there was no way I could get away from work during end of financial year (dear reader, I could), what would I do with my dog, would I be able to afford it in this cost of living crisis.
I think when I was planning my 2025 and decided that my word of the year was going to be ‘thrive’, I knew I needed to start prioritising and investing in myself. So that’s what I did. I went to the day retreat in Richmond in January and that was the turning point I booked that same week.
My biggest intention was to reconnect with myself, my true authentic self and come out feeling more aligned and confident as to who that was. I wanted to come back seeking joy and actually living.
I think the thing that surprised me the most was how much work I had done to get to the retreat and how flowy it felt as the next part of my journey. It really was the most logical step for me.
One thing that stuck with me was doing some mindfulness activities in the middle of the gym. I thought it was one of the most transferable skills to being back to everyday life. It’s always easy to complete some deep thinking in a safe sterile environment, but the added element of a weight being used, music and other gym goers. This was so transferable to real life to manage distractions, create judgement for doing things that you know are good and important for your health.
I had an incredible renewed love for movement of my body.
Despite being unwell for most of the year I was surprised by how much my body could still do and achieve. It was purely movement for the love and enjoyment of movement and I was so happy to have that back in my life and returned to Australia with that mindset also.
I learnt that I can do hard things and the authentic and sparkly self that I want to embody exists and comes out in those situations and I need to trust her.
There was not one day that I didn’t enjoy. I actually really loved not having an agenda for the forward days because it meant I could focus on being present and active in the task or activity ahead of me. It also took a lot of the planning and responsibility that I as a type A person would normally sort. I was able to fully relax and just be on this retreat.
I think the main thing was feeling more in touch with myself and actually start enjoying the little things and finding joy in the everyday was so important to make that transition from surviving to thriving.
I think the retreat has influenced a lot of the decisions I make since. There was something unlocked in me while on retreat that has meant I am able to live with more clarity and sparkle and joy and I’m so grateful for the release of that version of me.
Do it, if you are thinking about it you need to do it. Don’t wait years like I had to for the most perfect time. Invest in yourself, and unlock the potential within. And the sooner you do that the earlier you can thrive!
"Just do it!"
Love, Sally
ANDREA’S RETREAT REFLECTIONS
WHAT DID LIFE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN THE MONTHS BEFORE YOU BOOKED THE RETREAT?
Stressed, crazy, hectic, little sleep, burnt out. In constant fight or flight mode.
I was constantly tired, even after waking up after sleeping for 8-10 hours. No motivation to do anything, was completing all daily tasks in auto pilot.
I was so tired and so unmotivated I kept finding excuses to stop going to the gym. I didn’t even want to go out to socialise on the weekends. I was mostly keeping to myself and avoiding all people and activities.
I was hoping the retreat would help me to get back to myself. To find my strong self again and be able to exercise without excuses again.
I was surprised with how everyone was so friendly from day 1, and how well everyone got along.
I realised how I was self-sabotaging constantly! And decided to look at myself in the mirror and love what I saw, the erratic, powerful woman I know myself to be.
Waking up on day 2 for the earlyish workout and realising I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
I learnt that I am much more capable and stronger than I give myself credit for. I can do anything I set my mind on, and even if I am not good at everything, at least I get the joy of trying and collecting new memories.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY OR DAY ON RETREAT - AND WHAT MADE IT SPECIAL?
The cold plunge, the day before last, I went into the workout thinking, I am absolutely not doing it. But Courtney and I sort of challenged each other. I started with just the face and without thinking we said to each other “I will go in if you go in” and we went in… no second thoughts. It completely reset my whole nervous system, and then after that I was fully at peace again.
WHAT CHANGED FOR YOU ONCE YOU RETURNED HOME?
I realised I had to guard and take care of my energy, it is so precious to be shared with just anyone.
I am setting boundaries now and not doing something if I really don’t feel like it. But also, I have challenged myself to do the things I want to do, even if I am tired, even if I had a long day.
Attending the retreat has made me more open to meet new people. Hey, not everyone is out there to hurt me! I needed to chill and I have since meeting a group of amazing women.
Even though I am still tired and burnt out, I am putting more boundaries and finding a better balance between personal life and work, and prioritising myself and my needs more than I was before.
WHAT’S ONE SENTENCE THAT SUMS UP YOUR ENTIRE RETREAT EXPERIENCE?
She is definitively growing places, just give her time.