Having a baby isn’t all cute giggles and tiny socks, as any mum will tell you. The changes that you go through physically, emotionally and mentally even before the birth can be exhausting—which is why having an opportunity to reset and reconnect with yourself is vital. Enter the prenatal retreat, otherwise known as a ‘Babymoon’: a chance for mums (and partners, should they want to) to catch up with themselves, improve their health, and relax before the baby arrives. Yoga teacher, entrepreneur and model Rosemary Vandenbroucke, along with her husband Jason, checked in to Fivelements to do just that: she reports back on her experience in the luxury resort deep in the Bali jungle, and how the programme helped her reset.
Location
Fivelements Retreat is located in Ubud, Bali, surrounded by tropical forests and adjacent to a river. Bali is affected by the monsoon season during the summer months: I visited in June, and it rained two nights out of three, with occasional showers in the afternoons, but we did manage to enjoy some sun in the mornings. The airport is around an hour’s drive, dependent on traffic.
Resort
As a boutique resort, the setting is intimate so even at capacity, you won’t feel like there’s a lot of people. Fivelements have a fantastic spa, which has an array of holistic healing treatments, where they use and create fresh organic concoctions in their beauty lab. They also have beautiful yoga spaces, a swimming pool and an incredible vegan restaurant. The staff were all incredibly friendly, helpful and easy to communicate with.
The resort is best suited to couples looking to unwind, cleanse and connect at a deeper level not only with each other but with themselves. During our stay, the resort was hosting a tech conference: this made it crowded at times, but we still found the resort very relaxed with a lot of privacy.
Accommodation
Fivelements offer seven one-bedroom suites and two two-bedroom suites with private pool. We stayed in an enclosed room, so there was no need to worry about bugs or mosquitos. It was so spacious enough for private yoga sessions on the private patio overlooking the waterfall, and the room also featured an area in the back for a gorgeous shower in nature, had air conditioning, and a large private stone bathtub too.
Food
Fivelements serves exclusively vegan food in their on-site restaurant, with a focus on plant-based and raw cuisine. The food programme was one of the highlights: the chef customised three-course lunches and dinners for my programme. All dishes were beautifully served. My husband, being a carnivore, wasn’t too sure about eating vegan every day, but to his surprise, it was incredibly tasty: we both left feeling renewed inside and out. Menu favourite were the kimchi dumplings, vegan pizza and their raw banana pancakes. Non-alcoholic health drinks were included with every meal: the superfood smoothie in the mornings and the Jammu turmeric tonic at lunch were particularly good.
Customised 3-Night Pre-Natal Retreat Programme
I experienced the three-night, four-day Pre-Natal Retreat Programme, customised to my needs and preferences. The programme included yoga, spa treatments, a fire blessing ceremony and Fivelements raw and vegan food programme.
One of the retreat highlights for me was the prenatal yoga and session with Michael Hallock talking about the secrets of meditation and mindfulness, as I felt my husband and I really connect at a whole other level.
The pre-retreat consultation with a certified professional helped customise the retreat to my needs specifically. All retreat therapies were performed by knowledgeable and qualified health professionals. My wellness goal was to slow things down, relax and spend quality time with one another before the baby arrives, and we absolutely achieved this.
Results
The Prenatal retreat helped me achieve my wellness goals in relaxing before the birth of my baby and strengthening my connection with my partner. I felt renewed inside and out—there’s a magical energy about the place that is unparalleled to anywhere else, so I’d 100% return for another retreat experience. It’s the ideal place for anyone who is looking to manage their stress, seek clarity, cleanse or connect with themselves and others at a deeper level. Whether you are on your own or with a loved one, take advantage of their holistic treatments and immerse yourself completely with an open heart
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