I’ve recently returned from an amazing six-day wellness retreat in Marrakesh. What an experience. Truly one of the best of my life. It ticked so many boxes, and now the real challenge is to retain and build on what I learnt and who I became during those glorious days.

Why I Chose to Go

I booked the wellness retreat at the end of last year simply because it appealed to me. I’m always up for new experiences. I knew the woman, Gillian, who was leading it. I’d trained as a coach within her company (Full Circle Global) and remain part of her alumni community, so I was confident it would be enjoyable and worthwhile.

But as the date grew closer, the purpose of the trip shifted. After the events of last year, I finally began therapy in September. It was helping, but the idea of a week in the sun focusing entirely on myself seemed like the perfect opportunity to really move forward.

The Journey to the Wellness Retreat

On a dull Saturday morning, I found myself in Wetherspoons at Gatwick Airport drinking a Diet Coke. Not my usual start to a week in the sun. But after a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc the night before, and knowing I wouldn’t be drinking again for a week, it felt appropriate.

The flight and transfer were uneventful, although the traffic in Marrakesh was bonkers. How an accident doesn’t happen every 30 seconds is beyond me, but somehow they get it to work.

I arrived at the villa around 7 p.m. and was shown to my accommodation, described as a “tent.” It was the first tent I’d ever seen with a king-sized bed and a marble bathroom. After settling in, I met the other retreaters (if that’s a word) and enjoyed a delicious Moroccan meal prepared by the villa’s live-in cook, and began to unwind.

Easing Into Retreat Life

Our first day included an impromptu Zumba class, a pool swim, art therapy, and a glorious massage. The day ended on the villa balcony under the moonlight, palm trees swaying above us with a Yoga Nidra practice.

I loved the slow pace. No pressure to join in, time to get to know the other women, and the beautiful food. An unexpected gift: my tent had no Wi-Fi. No scrolling. No distractions. Each morning, as I walked to the villa, my phone would just suddenly come alive with messages which I would then read while drinking my coffee.

Sightseeing 

The retreat itinerary included a couple of sightseeing excursions which you could choose to join. 

A Not-So-Desert Camel Ride

I’ve ridden camels before, in Tunisia and Egypt. Those felt authentic. In Tunisia it took the best part of a day to travel  into the Sahara, a night in a freezing hut before a ride on a camel to see the sunrise over the dunes.

This time was different. The outskirts of the Agafay Desert felt more like a vast expanse of gravel, and rather than one handler per camel, seven were tethered together under the control of one man, distracted by his phone. We felt sorry for the camels so tightly tethered together, and when it came to dismounting, he briefly lost control of a couple of them. It could have been nasty, but we were lucky. It was an experience, we had fun and we returned unscathed, but I doubt I’ll ride a camel again.

The Magic of the Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains were everything I’d hoped for. I do love a mountain, and their beauty didn’t disappoint. We drove to Asni, a Berber village in the High Atlas Mountains where our guide led us to a family home for lunch. We sat outside, eating traditional Moroccan food while drinking in the breathtaking views. Joyful.

I opted out of the trip to the Medina. I’ve no interest in shopping, and the thought of crowds threatened my newfound calm.

A Movie Night to Remember

One evening the lawn was transformed into an outdoor cinema: a screen, cushions, blankets, popcorn, and a blazing fire. We had originally planned to watch Dirty Dancing, but after a conversation about past lives, we settled on Dead Again, a 1991 Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson romantic thriller. It suited the mood perfectly.

Mind, Body, Soul

Throughout the week we had yoga sessions at sunrise and under the moon, an individual healing session with Gillian, plenty of lounging by the pool, and workshops focused on the mind, body, and soul.

I was in bed early and up early, often clocking more than eight hours of sleep- something I haven’t done in years.

The Final Evening 

On the final evening, we were invited to share our experiences and make a promise to ourselves. For me, the week had been  magical, one of the best experiences of my life. My promise was to pursue peace and purpose.

We ended with a burning ceremony, writing a letter to something that no longer served us, reading it aloud, then throwing it onto the fire to burn away.

Reflections

What a week.

I learnt so much about myself. I gained tools to help me pursue peace and purpose. I met an amazing group of women. I feel I have unearthed my spiritual side, though I remain unconvinced that we have a soul. I believe we all have brilliant minds we can choose to nurture or suppress. But that’s a discussion for another blog.

For now, the challenge is to retain and build on everything I became and everything I brought home from those life-changing days.