Kale Pesto “Paste”
Vegan, gluten free, dairy free Next time you have some extra kale make this simple kale pesto and store it for later. So easy! You will need: a high power blender or bullet a pot of boiling water a strainer a jar with lid a bowl of ice water Ingredients: 1 x bunch of...
Body Awareness Meditation with Larissa
Enjoy this guided meditation for body awareness in order to support you in releasing tension and stress from your chest and stomach. ...
Vegan “Cheesy” Broccolini Bake
Gluten free, dairy free, vegan Serves 2 Difficulty: Easy peasy Time: 45 minutes This broccoli bake is a fusion of my Nonna from Sicily’s famous broccoli recipe and my grandma’s traditional and tasty cauliflower bake. Although both of these wonderful women would...
Book: Breath by James Nestor
I feel like every month I write a book review and every book I say “this is a must read”. But this one really is! Okay, they all are… James Nestor so beautifully explains the science of breathing including the power of breathing through the nose (and...
Choc Fudge Centered Banana Muffins
100% plant-based, gluten free I love these little muffins for so many reasons. They’re easy, tasty, look sensational and are made completely from plants. Equipment Needed: • Muffin tin & moulds plus some oil to grease the tin • A bullet, food processor or...
Find Your Roots Meditation with Basia
Enjoy this grounding meditation with Basia. She will guide you through a visualisation of being like a tree and allowing your roots to connect down deep into the ground. A great one for anyone feeling destabilised, uncertain or scattered. About Basia Basia is a yoga...
Aromatic Semidried Baby Tomatoes
Here’s a quick and tasty recipe for next time you have some juicy little tomatoes to use. Ingredients: 2 punnets (or 500g) x small tomatoes (cut in halves) A small handful x fresh aromatic herbs roughly chopped, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley – any...
Book: Untamed
Okay, this is a big statement to make, but I believe that every woman should own this book. I have been buying my local book stores out of every copy to gift to the women in my life. If you don’t know Glennon Doyle yet, do yourself a favour and check her out. I...
Coconut, mushroom and pumpkin risotto
Vegan, gluten free, dairy free Ingredients: 1/4 x kent pumpkin (700g), 2cm cubes with skins on 1 cup x rice 1 cup x leek (100g), diced 2 tsp x garlic, minced 3 tbsp x curry spice mix (pg22) or curry powder of your choice 1 cup x mushrooms, either oyster or button,...
Visualise your future with Larissa
As humans, we tend to be more focused on what we don’t want to happen in our life; caught up in worry about what might occur… Imagine if we spend just 7 minutes a day visualising what we do want our future to look like. Science shows that visualisation can...
Caramel Nut Bars
Vegan, gluten free, contains nuts These sweet treats are packed with protein and other goodness, treat yourself! Makes 21 bars in a 33cm x 23cm baking tray Ingredients: Base 1 x cup coconut flour (120g) 1.5 cups x almond meal (150g) 3 tbsp x melted coconut oil 1/2 cup...
Film: My Year of Living Mindfully
If you have been to Billabong, there is a good chance that you have watched The Connection. Well, good news. The Director, Shannon Harvey has just released a brand new documentary – this time exploring the wonderful world of Mindfulness. After looking (and...
Warming Winter Stirfry
Plant based. Serves 4. Ingredients 1 pack x pad thai noodles (200g) 1 pack x tofu or any protein (300g) – diced • 1 bunch of broccolini 2 x carrots 1/4 cup x crushed peanuts 1 x bird eye chilli 2 x cloves garlic 1 piece x ginger 4 x spring onions 1 can x baby...
Meditation to Hit Pause
In these uncertain times, the benefits of slowing down are more apparent than ever. While the world speeds up around us, why not spend five minutes per day hitting pause and connecting to your breath? Enjoy this guided meditation by Larissa inviting you to take five...
Decadent Chocolate Beetroot Mud Cake
100% plant based & gluten free BE EQUIPPED: • Circular or square baking tin: About 25cm in diameter or 25cm X 25cm if square. At least 6cm high edges. • Baking paper • Food processor or blender • Large mixing bowl • Oven • Love of food RECIPE: (Wet mix) 6 x...
Film: 2040
There has been so much coverage about climate change recently and it all seems very doom and gloom. A lot of conversations about the problem but I haven’t found that as many people are talking about real solutions. I found 2040 really inspiring because the film...
What to expect on a day retreat at Billabong
Would you love to visit Billabong but taking a few days away from your commitments has been a bit challenging to organise? Come and visit us for the day! Not sure what to expect? Picture this: You arrive at 8:30am to be welcomed by our warm and smiley office staff who...
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The Science of Sound
“IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, THINK IN TERMS OF ENERGY, FREQUENCY AND VIBRATION.” – NIKOLA TESLA We need silence in order to hear sound and we need to experience sound in order to appreciate silence. The dualities of this world that for whatever...
Avocado Cacao Mousse Cups
Vegan, refined sugar free, dairy free, gluten free This recipe is super easy, but always such a hit. I love serving mine with a little granola and berries but you can have it on its own as well. I love it as well because you get a nice hit of healthy fats and can...
Book: Attached
As someone who has always struggled to find balance and functionality in relationships, the book Attached was a huge sigh of relief for me. In the book, Dr Amir Levine and Rachel Heller outline the three different attachment systems that differentiate the ways that...
Grateful Day Meditation with Basia
Do you ever start your day “from the wrong side of the bed”? We feel you! In this guided meditation on of our teachers Basia invites you to start your day with gratitude to shift your mindset for a fresh and grateful day, We hope you enjoy it! About...
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New Year Reflections
… and just like that, our five night New Year Retreat is over. It was a whirlwind time full of laughter, tears, dancing, insights and connection. We started off the retreat with an opening circle with the intention of getting to know a little bit about each...
Books: Cook Book Christmas Gift Ideas
Wanting to cook with more whole foods but need a little inspiration? Here are four cook books I have been loving.. The perfect Christmas gift for someone wanting to spend more time cooking delicious and healthy meals at home. WHOLE BY NATURAL HARRY This is a...
Raw Choc Mint “Cheese”cakes
Gluten free, vegan Ingredients Chocolate Layer 3/4 cup x cacao powder 4 drops x peppermint oil 1/4 cup x cacao butter 1/4 cup x coconut oil 1/2 tsp x salt 1/2 cup x maple syrup 1/2 tsp x vanilla extract 1/2 cup x buckwheat Cheeze cake filling 1.5 cups x soaked cashews...
Slowing down in a busy world
Many of our guests at Billabong Retreat come to escape the busy-ness of life and restore more balance into their world. Often guests ask something along the lines of ‘how can I slow down when everything around me is so busy?’ First of all it’s important to acknowledge...
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Seven DIY Christmas Crafts
Christmas is upon us and for many people that means pulling out the plastic Christmas tree, decorating it with tinsel and other trinkets before packing it all up ready for the following year. Kirsty and Jess have been getting creative in the past weeks with recycled...
Book: Meditation for the love of it
Meditation… We all hear that it is good for us and many ‘wish’ they could do it daily, yet most still struggle to get it done. Why is that? In this book Sally Kempton encourages you to uncover your love for meditation. She implores us to stop making...
Tips for staying cool this summer
With our beautiful country being ravaged by fires and drought it looks like we are going to be in for a hot summer. We asked around the retreat and here are some tips from our team to help keep you cool, calm and collected. Simon – Executive Chef The food we eat...
Billabong Christmas gift buying explained
This year we are seeing a huge movement towards gifting experiences rather than things and we are totally on board. Often people buy gifts simply so that they have something to give and I know I am not alone in being given many gifts over the years that I never end up...
Carrot and Fennel Top Salad
Vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free ABOUT Did you know that fennel actually has this amazing top part of the herb. For some reason when you buy fennel from the shops they chop off one of the best parts. My suggestion is to ask your farmer to keep the tops of the...
Conscious Manifestation: Joy in Action
How do we bring forth our deepest aspirations into a living experience? In this article we’ll be looking at how to distinguish when we manifest from a place of presence and when we let ego run the show. We’ll also explore how we can work with our insecurities and...
Meditation on breath with Larissa
A simple guided breath awareness meditation designed to take us to a place of rest and relaxation. Take a little break out of our day to connect within for as little as 6 minutes. Just sit or recline back and listen to the recording below. About Larissa Larissa...
Book: Why We Sleep
We have been told for decades that sleep and exercise are crucial for optimal health but we don’t really consider sleep to be just as important… until now! Matthew Walker is a neuroscientist and psychologist that has dedicated his days to understanding...
Meditation: “Let go” mantra with Larissa
Below is a simple guided mantra (words repeated) meditation linked with the breath to create a sense of freedom and release. The mantra is simply “Let Go”. If there is anything that may be causing you stress or tension this is a great meditation to begin...
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Meditation 101: How to develop a daily practice
Most of us agree that meditation is good for us yet why do we find it so hard to actually practise it every day? Host Basia shares her best tips for developing a daily meditation practice. A must watch for all of you who are struggling to carve time out every day for...
Beetroot and Cacao Brownie
About I love this recipe because you can make a large batch and keep them in the freezer. That way when you are craving something sweet you have a healthier option instead of reaching for a chocolate with refined sugars that are often wrapped in plastic. Better for...
Book: The top five regrets of the dying
Have you ever spent time with a loved one at the end of their life and asked them about their regrets? What they wish they spent more time on? Less time on? Things they wish they did? In the film Embrace, Nigel Marsh talks about how we all wait for the big four before...
Meditation 101: Acknowledging thoughts with Basia
We all have thoughts circulating around our mind all the time, but are you ever actually aware of them? Can you connect with the space behind thought? Watch this video with Basia where she introduces this idea and then guides a short meditation for acknowledging...
Vegan Panna Cotta
Makes 6 small or 4 regular size INGREDIENTS Panna cotta 1 can full fat coconut milk (400mls) 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 cup white sugar (I never usually use this sugar but I wanted the traditional white look) 3/4 tsp agar powder – you can buy this at health food stores...
Cultivating self compassion with Larissa
When we are compassionate towards ourselves we are more likely to keep trying and keep moving forward. The opposite is also true when we are hard or more critical towards ourselves, we are more likely to want to give up in despair and stop trying. Over the years of...
Homemade Ghee (Clarified Butter)
Ghee has a whole scope of benefits. Ayurvedic traditions prescribe ghee for digestive issues, ulcers, and for its natural vitalizing properties. Only problem is, that when you buy it at the store it can cost you anywhere between $15-$45. The thing is, ghee is made by...
Book: First We Make The Beast Beautiful
It seems like almost everyone I speak to has some form of history with anxiety. Is it an epidemic? What is happening to make us so anxious and overwhelmed…? Author of “I Quit Sugar”, Sarah Wilson, delivers this candid, lighthearted book exploring her...
Bone Healing Beetroot Soup
Vegan option, gluten free I have recently had a knee injury. Through lots of reading and different bits of advice, I’ve decided to support the healing with organic food, supplements, gentle movement, sunshine and meditation/visualisation. To help with the inflammation...
Winter Yin-spiration with Phoebe
Winter is a time for slowing down, rugging up in your cosy woolies, drinking warm mugs of tea and nourishing yourself inside and out. When the colder and darker months approach us, we often do hibernate and curl ourselves into tight little balls of goodness and this...
Salted Caramel Cake
Vegan, refined sugar free, gluten free Ingredients Makes one layer of the cake Base 1/2 cup x almonds 1/2 cup x cashews or macadamia (or mixture of both) 1/2 cup x cacao powder 1 cup x soaked dates (soak in boiling water) pinch x salt (preferably celtic or pink salt)...
Benefits of bulk food purchasing at Naked Foods
Being an eco retreat, at Billabong we are always trying to reduce the amount of plastic that we use. There has been a big push in recent times towards bamboo toothbrushes, stainless steel straws and canvas shopping bags and that is great. But, one of the biggest ways...
Cocoa v Cacao
What’s the difference between Cadbury chocolate and the chocolate we make? A few different reasons but one of them being cacao! The difference between cocOA and cacAO is simple. Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing cacao (unroasted cacao beans). The process keeps...
Falling asleep in meditation? Watch this!
Our current lifestyle tends to be so busy and frantic that the body only knows how to move or sleep. This often means that when we sit for meditation, we find ourselves constantly nodding off. Sound familiar? Check out this video by Retreat Host, Basia. About Basia...
Why turmeric and black pepper are the perfect match
Turmeric is a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine with numerous health benefits. It is filled with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, antiseptic agents, anti-fungal agents and anti-bacterial agents. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which contains all...
Book: Yoga – The Path to Holistic Health
I would be really surprised if you have practiced yoga for a long time and have not heard of “Iyengar”. BKS Iyengar is considered one of the founding fathers of modern yoga and the creator of the Iyengar Yoga brand / style of yoga practice. He was a...
Mushroom and Lentil Hot Pot
Vegan, vegetarian Serves 5 I had it with purple sweet potato mash, beans & toasted sourdough Since cutting out meaty things from my diet I always thought it would be such a mission to make rich gravy-ish sauces, try this dish and I guarantee you wont feel like...
Why do we find it so hard to do things that we know are good for us?
“There is no teacher that can teach us anything new, they can only help to remind us what we already knew.” Why is it we know many things that are beneficial to our wellbeing, however, for whatever reason we find it hard or challenging to do so? We know many of the...
Sesame Treats
Sesame is highly regarded in Ayurveda for its powerful rejuvenative qualities on Vata dosha. This nourishing seed has long been used for its grounding and warming effects on the body and particularly the nervous system. Incorporate sesame seeds into tasty treats like...
Raw Cherry Bites
Vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free I’ve never really been a fan of Cherry Ripes… Not sure if that’s because they taste like plastic/processed cherries or what. But I do love real cherries and their in season so I have adapted my own recipe so you can taste...
How well do you AUM?
AUM is one of the most recognisable mantras in Eastern philosophy, it has amazing benefits and makes you feel so good when you chant it! Read on to learn more about this magical sound… Did you know there are four sounds which make are the mantra? AAAA UUUUU...
Stuffed Capsicums
Gluten free, vegan, refined sugar free Ingredients (makes 10) 5 x red capsicum 1 1/2 x cups of quinoa 1 cup x kidney beans or one can x organic kidney beans 1/4 cup x cashews 1/2 cup x black olives (without pips) 1 x medium brown onion 2 cloves x garlic 4 x medium...
Bed Yoga with Larissa
Yoga promotes a bounty of mind and body benefits, including things like strength, flexibility and stress relief… and we can do yoga without even leaving our bed. It’s all about finding ways that works for us that is realistic and accessible to us. There are so...
Roast pumpkin with whole spices
Gluten free, vegan A perfect companion on those cold winter nights! Ingredients 1 x medium size Jap (Kent) pumpkin 1 tsp x coriander seeds 1 tsp x fennel seeds 1 tsp x cumin seeds 1 tsp x fenugreek seeds 2 tbsp x fresh rosemary 1/2 tsp x black pepper 1 tsp x celtic...
Feeling scattered and unstable? Try this!
You probably learnt about the five elements growing up but have you ever considered how they affect us? Our current society rewards doing, achieving and succeeding and all of that physical and mental movement can mean we spend a lot of time with fire and air running...
Raspberry Mousse Cups
Gluten free, vegan, refined sugar free Ingredients 1 cup x frozen raspberries 1/2 cup x cashews 1 can x coconut cream 4 tbsp x maple syrup 1/2 tsp x vanilla 1/4 cup x melted coconut oil juice and zest of 1 lemon Optional: 1 tsp x lucuma powder 1 tsp x Reishi mushrooms...
Does meditation mean stopping your thoughts?
We hear it all the time, “I can’t meditate because I can’t stop my thoughts”. Our lovely retreat host Basia is on a myth busting mission. Watch her most recent video on the concept of stopping thoughts during meditation: About Basia Basia is a...
Mint, cacao and cinnamon myrtle bliss balls
Gluten free, vegan, refined sugar free The perfect recipe to add to your prep day so that when you’re craving something to pick you up in the afternoon you’re not always reaching for something with sugar. We love having a batch of these in our freezer for...
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Two Ways to Beat the Heat this Summer
This summer is set to be a hot one. Host Phoebe has provided two ways that you can beat the heat using tried and tested yogic techniques. Sitali Breath During these hot, steamy summery days and nights, we tend to lean on the use of fans, air conditioning, icy cold...
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Book: Making Peace Before You Eat
We might be a little bit biased, since Angie used to be a chef at Billabong, but we think that this is one of the best cookbooks out there. More than just a cookbook, Making Peace Before You Eat inspires the reader to connect with their meal, eating with mindfulness...
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Don’t search for happiness, create it!
I remember a few years ago walking past a colourfully painted mural of a rainbow sitting in a blue sky with a quote saying, “Don’t search for happiness, create it!” and I just stood in front of that mural thinking about what happiness means to me and whether I was...
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Moving from “Health” to “Wellness”
As human beings, we have always been aware that it is important to be healthy but it is only in recent times that we have had such a big focus on wellness. So what does that actually mean? Personally, I think that when people think of being healthy they think more of...
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Five reasons why parents should go on retreat, without the kids!
I am not going to lie, I don’t have kids. So perhaps I am not the best person to be writing this article. But, I have supported many students who are parents and I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of what it means to be a parent. You know: the guilt,...
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Book: Recovery – Freedom from Our Addictions
When you think of ‘addiction’, what do you think of? Addiction comes in many forms, from the more obvious and in your face like drug addiction and alcoholism to the more subtle forms of food addiction, materialism and addiction to technology. Russell Brand...
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How to Surrender to Uncomfortable Feelings
Feeling our emotions can be scary. Many of us are not afraid of our emotions themselves, but of experiencing them. We may have a resistance to the vulnerability that accompanies emotional expression especially when, during our most influential years of life, we were...
Documentary: Willandra Wisdom Walk
Walking has been used as a way of contemplation for thousands of years, a path for uncovering the wisdom embedded in the Earth, our bodies and spirits. Here is a short and sweet documentary exploring what wisdom means across different cultures and eras:...
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The Ethics of Yoga: The Yamas
Although yoga has been around for thousands of years, it has evolved in the West to often be nothing more than a form of exercise that incorporates breath. Although this is great for some and is the reason why most people come to the practice, we are missing some of...
Book: Ishmael – An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit
The thing I love about Ishmael is that it is written as a novel which means it is so easy to read! Too often I buy books that are full of wisdom but I struggle to sit down and actually read them. But not Ishmael. Daniel Quinn finally got this book published in 1992...
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Tips for a Conscious Christmas
Somehow 2018 has whizzed by and we are jetting towards Christmas at lightning speed. Given the state of our environment, the effects of the boom in social media and the increasing busy-ness of our lifestyle, it is more important than ever to be conscious of what we...
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A Buddhist Practise to Awaken Compassion – Tonglen
It takes courage to face our thoughts and emotions with gentle honesty. The parts of ourselves we’d prefer to deny and cover up with our well perfected strategies of escaping. Some are rather benign like going for a walk or watching a movie whilst others can be quite...
What are Whole Foods and why should you care?
Eating healthy can be tricky. For most of us, the discourse around nutrition and diet has come a long way since we zoned out whilst being fed the importance of the food pyramid or meat and two veg. Yet somewhat lucky and unlucky for us, many people are now zoning...
Meditation According to Tash
It feels like such a buzz word at the moment. Before I did a meditation course, to me, it felt like yet another thing to add to the to-do list. Meditation (according to Buddhism ideology) is basically focusing on one thing. When practiced regularly, it enables the...
Nourishing Sweet Potato, Zucchini and Spinach Dhal
Gluten free, refined sugar free Dhal is a highly regarded meal in Ayurveda due to its gentle and soothing effect on our digestive system. It has been used in India as medicine for thousands of years, being the first food babies are given due to the gentle nourishment...
Book Review: Everyday Blessings – Mindfulness for Parents
it is no secret that Jon Kabat-Zinn is one of our heroes! He was the real powerhouse behind getting mindfulness out of temples and into everyday homes and his program “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction” is helping thousands of people around the world. Jon...
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Watch your Words
I mean really watch them. What are you saying to yourself over and over again on a regular basis? Notice if we say I don’t have this or this always happens to me. I can’t do this or perhaps I can do that. What happens? Does it ironically always happen to you? If we...
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Self-Abdominal Massage: Why and How?
Self-abdominal massage can encourage digestion and ease stomach discomfort. Essential oils such as peppermint, ginger, lavender and fennel are great for digestive issues. Combine a few drops of essential oil to some warm carrier oil. Massage the belly in a circular...
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Book Review: Lost Connections
If you haven’t already heard of Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions, you should have. For me, it has been one of the most insightful books that I have read for a long time. Written by Johann Hari, this book...