New Offering: Nature Meditation

New Offering: Nature Meditation

Billabong Retreat is proud to announce the arrival of Right Relations, using the ‘Elemental Stations’ in collaboration with Kelly Phoenix Rose. March has provide the “go” button for Kelly to start offering a guided, 60 minute, complimentary, nature meditation practice...
Cucumber & Radish Pickles

Cucumber & Radish Pickles

Pickled foods are great for gut health due to their rich probiotic content. The process of pickling involves fermentation, a natural preservation method that encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli. These live microorganisms reach the gut...
Time For A Digital Detox

Time For A Digital Detox

We spend so much of our lives fixated on our screens. We work all day on our computers, transit to and from work with our mobile devices and finish the day in front of the TV. There can be some negative effects associated with looking at screens for extended periods...
Yoga is a practice for everyone

Yoga is a practice for everyone

Yoga is a practice for everybody… And it is much more than just a physical practice. When most people think of yoga, they think of a series of strenuous, physical postures. Yoga is also a mental, and spiritual practice. It originated in ancient India over 5,000...
The Importance of Intention Setting

The Importance of Intention Setting

Do you want to live a more meaningful life? We suggest setting intentions to help you achieve your goals and create the life you want. Define what you want to accomplish and align your thoughts, feelings, and actions with your goals. When you set your intentions, you...
Celebrate Christmas Sustainably

Celebrate Christmas Sustainably

At Billabong Retreat we love to give gifts, celebrate and share. However, we are always trying to be mindful about our impact on the environment. This festive season we are sharing our top 10 tips on how we celebrate Christmas in a sustainable way. Give Gift Vouchers...

What is Good Health

Short podcast by Billabong Retreat founder Paul about what makes good health (part 1) https://billabongretreat.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/pvb-podcast-1b.mp3 Transcript: [00:00:00] Hi, my name is Paul von Bergen, and this is my podcast. So today I’m gonna...
Day Retreat Special Package

Day Retreat Special Package

Visit us for a Day Retreat before December 23, 2022 and save $80 with this special offer. Indulged in a relaxation massage, reiki session, nutritious lunch, yoga class and wellness workshops for only $295 per person. We know it isn’t always easy to get the night...
Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Benefits of Infrared Saunas

For thousands of years we have enjoyed the health benefits of saunas, from the traditional Finnish sauna (hot rocks) to the Turkish bathhouse (steam room). In recent years we have seen the introduction of new sauna technology known as ‘Infrared’. Unlike the...
welcome to autumn

welcome to autumn

Welcome to Autumn, Billabongers! Autumn represents shorter days, cooler air and preparation for winter. As the leaves fall from the trees, Autumn invites us to let go on all levels whether that be spiritual, emotional or physical. The spent leaves on the ground...
Trigger Happy

Trigger Happy

Science tells us that life has been evolving for a billion years, and that this biological story is within each of us. Until you understand the impact this inherited physiology has on people, you will never truly understand their behavior. The place to start learning...
How To Build Immune Strength

How To Build Immune Strength

This is such an important topic right now that we’re doing two posts on the subject in one week and some great information has just come out in this article by Amy Fleming. You can read it here or our summary below....
Four Main Ways to Boost Your Immune Function

Four Main Ways to Boost Your Immune Function

There is no better disease prevention technique than keeping your own immune system working at its optimum level. Your immune system is a finely tuned highly complex system involving bacteria, viruses, enzymes, nutrients, DNA expression and hormones. It’s ability to...
What to expect on a day retreat at Billabong

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 office staff who will check you...
Seven DIY Christmas Crafts

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...
Billabong Christmas gift buying explained

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...
Benefits of bulk food purchasing at Naked Foods

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...
Book: 12 Rules for Life

Book: 12 Rules for Life

By Jordan Peterson, reviewed by Paul von Bergen # Warning: We have had reports that some people are offended by some of the things that this author has said in public. We make no judgement or support for the author. Below is simply a review of this one book # This is...
Book: This Naked Mind

Book: This Naked Mind

Wow – this book is a game changer. This is going to do for alcohol what the Alan Carr book did to help millions of people come off the crazy addiction of smoking. I highly recommend listening to the audio book rather than reading it as the audio book is narrated...
Don’t search for happiness, create it!

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...
Tips for a Conscious Christmas

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...
Why guys should be going on retreat

Why guys should be going on retreat

Statistically, women are much more likely to go on retreat than men. There seems to be a stereotype that retreats mean eating rabbit food, talking about your feelings and getting pampered. Although you can talk about your feelings if you want and, of course, we can...
Spring Rejuvenation Retreat

Spring Rejuvenation Retreat

Sunday 2nd to Wednesday 5th September 2018 Spring is about to arrive and we want to celebrate! Join us for our special Spring Rejuvenation Retreat to welcome the end of winter and the start of spring with open arms. Spring is a time when we awaken from the winter...
Ten Ways to Practice Self Care in Spring

Ten Ways to Practice Self Care in Spring

Spring is almost here! This is very exciting news as it means longer days and more importantly, warmer weather. Spring is traditionally a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Did you know? In Australia we classify seasons in terms of calendar months which means...
Farm Shop with a Heart

Farm Shop with a Heart

Warrah Biodynamic Farm at Dural supplies all of our organic fruit and vegetables and are a registered charity providing services to adults and children with disabilities in Sydney’s North West.  They grow a wide range of certified biodynamic/organic seasonal produce,...
Book: Loving What Is

Book: Loving What Is

This book is extremely helpful if you ever find that you have disturbing emotional thoughts that are very hard to ignore or to get rid of. In this book Byron Katie gives format and formula for conversations which create breakthroughs and transformation.
Book: We’re All Going To Die

Book: We’re All Going To Die

This is a beautiful joyful book that understands one of the keys to enjoying life is to come to terms with our own inevitable death. Written by an Australian medical doctor this book explains the wisdom that comes from reconciling ourselves with death, a skill that...
Book: You Can Heal Your Life

Book: You Can Heal Your Life

This book is designed to help anyone come to the realisation that we are the creators of our own suffering and we can be the creators of our own joy. This book has sold 50 million copies – think of all those lives helped. What a woman, what a life. Here are some...
Forest Bathing is Scientifically Good for You!

Forest Bathing is Scientifically Good for You!

We were fascinated by this article about some scientific research in Japan that actually explains why hanging out with trees improves your immune function! The Japanese practice of forest bathing is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone...
Instinct vs Impulse by Paul von Bergen

Instinct vs Impulse by Paul von Bergen

On first look, an impulse can feel very much like an instinct. It comes from inside and seems to drive you to do something. Instincts also come from inside but are more a general gut feeling that you should follow a particular path. Impulses are not always good for...
Film: The Living Matrix

Film: The Living Matrix

An oldie but a goldie! Great film that explains the importance of understanding the power of placebo and the energetic field that we all inhabit. Features interviews with leading scientists including one of our heroes Bruce Lipton. View the trailer AND then support...
Kindness is King

Kindness is King

By Paul von Bergen Compassion and kindness starts with the self. This is not narcissistic or self-centred but the best contribution you can make to the universe. When you love yourself you will project love to others. When you hate yourself this is what you will...
What Are Your Wellness Goals?

What Are Your Wellness Goals?

We just did some great research to find out what bothered people in their lives and we had nearly 5,000 submissions. It really seems that in today’s world many of us want to find a way to calm our busy minds, reduce the effects of stress and improve our energy...
Our Food Philosophy

Our Food Philosophy

We believe that good nutrition is one of the foundations of good health and longevity and that it should not be complicated. We serve wholefoods, as nature produced them, free from artificial pesticides, chemicals and antibiotics. We serve vegetarian food not because...
Life After a Retreat – What Now?

Life After a Retreat – What Now?

How many of you have been on a retreat, especially a Yoga retreat, experienced breakthroughs, learnt skills and come out revitalised and inspired to practice on the ‘outside’? In reality, this often proves more challenging than that first day you go back into the...
How to Make New Year Intentions Stick

How to Make New Year Intentions Stick

It’s that time of the year where new resolutions and intentions are set, but how do we actually make them stick? Here are some quick and easy tips. Limit how many resolutions you have to three (If you accomplish them early, then add more) Work out how you’ll deal with...
The New Year: Are we evolving?

The New Year: Are we evolving?

For many of us, the start of a new year usually marks the beginning of a new cycle. It is often a time of reflection on the various events that have happened in the prior year, what we have achieved or not, and the setting for new resolutions based on what we would...
Big Fat Lies by David Gillespie

Big Fat Lies by David Gillespie

By Paul von Bergen There is a lot of confusion out there at the moment about what exactly is causing the high rates of cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes that we are seeing particularly in the Western world. Certainly the trend over the past fifty years of...
Biology of Belief

Biology of Belief

By Paul von Bergen We have been fans of Bruce Lipton for a while now and the more we read and absorb, the more obvious and simple his teachings become. His core statement is that our thoughts affect our genes. We think thoughts which create emotional chemicals that...
Top Tips Supporting You Through Chemotherapy

Top Tips Supporting You Through Chemotherapy

Embarking on the road of chemotherapy treatment for cancer can be a difficult and trying time for anyone to endure. Having gone through chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer just over 5 years ago, here are some tips that I can offer to support you through...
Healing from Cancer

Healing from Cancer

My Understanding During the time I was having chemotherapy, I attended a local movie premiere of Sex In The City. The evening was a fundraiser for breast cancer. Given the nature of the movie, the cinema was naturally full of women with the odd token male. As I looked...
Practice Makes Perfect by Paul von Bergen

Practice Makes Perfect by Paul von Bergen

By Paul von Bergen We have all heard this phrase a million times and know it to be true. It is a simple concept that us humans are able to grasp. We know for instance that if we practice a sport we will get better at it, if we practice the piano our skills will...
Reuse Water Bottles

Reuse Water Bottles

Why yogis should use reusable water bottles. Yoga comes from the root Sanskrit word for yoke, which means to connect. This means connecting the different aspects of your being; your mind, body and spirit and connecting with your own nature, the nature of other people...
A Beautiful Thing…

A Beautiful Thing…

What a beautiful gift. From one human to another. The gift of life. Just watched the last ten minutes of a SBS documentary with Caroline Quentin, Passage Through India. It featured an incredible place where babies are brought into this world in a safe and loving...
City Life by Paul von Bergen

City Life by Paul von Bergen

By Paul von Bergen Why is it that when we have all this space in the world, most of us like to cram in together in cities. Is it just because of work opportunities? Is it because of the arts? Do we think we will miss out on something otherwise? Perhaps we get a buzz...

“The breath is the link between the conscious and unconscious mind”

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Indigenous Wisdom by Paul von Bergen

Indigenous Wisdom by Paul von Bergen

By Paul von Bergen If you have read the article on perspective, then you will realize that the amount of time that Europeans have been in Australia is miniscule compared to the time that indigenous people have. About 250 years versus 40,000 years – 0.00625% of the...

The trick to life is not to live in the know but to love living in the mystery

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