Bali is probably the most popular destination for retreats on the planet, with the island hosting thousands every year. Bali’s tranquil setting allows retreats to focus on activities like yoga, surfing, meditation, detox, drug rehabilitation, spiritual awareness, fitness, and personal development. Now, two women from Perth who have navigated motherhood and careers and come out the other side laughing are hosting a new retreat in Bali for women just like them. “We work with women who are 40-plus and entering the next stage of life when they think they’ve ticked all the boxes and feel like their best years are behind them but still have many years in front of them,” says life coach Nichola Davenport, who will co-host the inaugural six-day Sembuh Recovery retreat with nutrition coach Sarah Iles.

“Typically, their kids have grown up and moved out of home, but they have sacrificed so much of themselves that they have forgotten who they were and gotten into bad habits with nutrition and health.” “Our point of difference,” Nichola explains, “is that we have so much life experience.”

“We’ve been working mums, single mums and now older mums who have led incredibly busy lives.

“There was a time in my life when I didn’t even want to be around anymore. So I quit alcohol, got a divorce and basically started to get my life back. Our message to other women is that these can be the best years of your life.” “My work is all around ‘mindset,’ which ties into nutrition, because an incorrect mindset can stop people from implementing changes,” Sarah says. “So what I do is identify patterns and guide women on how to make long-lasting changes instead of just feeding them information they might forget about the same day. Just about every woman our age wants to eat well and enjoy healthier lives, but many struggle with the mindset factor or have trouble letting go of past unhealthy habits.” But what about the fine print? What can participants expect at this retreat? The itinerary includes one-on-one “inner” audits, hands-on nutrition, gut health and mindful eating “deep dive” workshops, hypnosis sessions, emotional release, breathwork, women’s rest and release sessions, fire pit dinners, recovery reports, and take-home protocols for nutrition and healthy minds. And unlike so many Bali retreats that are held in Ubud, the spiritual capital of the island, or in rustic wooden houses in the middle of rice fields, Sembuh Retreat will be held in Uluwatu in the island’s south. “I love Ubud. How could you not?” Nichola says. “But the traffic getting in and out of there is horrendous. And not all women are into the hippy vibe of Ubud and want a bit of luxury. “So we decided to base our retreat at the Renaissance Resort & Spa, a beautiful resort in Uluwatu in the south of Bali, only half an hour from the airport. And it’s right next door to Sembuh Recovery, a beautiful little hacienda-style complex with a swimming pool, big sauna and ice baths where we hold many of our activities.” But at the end of the day, Sembuh Recovery will not be about where it is held but about healing internally and making new connections. “If there’s one thing that has come out from our past retreats, it’s women’s need for connection with like-minded individuals. Women crave it after giving so much of themselves to their families and others. So we create a safe environment and social group to get them started, and that can be incredibly beneficial,” Sarah says. fact file + The inaugural Sembuh Retreat will take place in Bali from September 4 to 9. nicholadavenportcoaching.com.au