Take a cultural tonic: Indigenous wellness activities across Australia
The founder of the Yuin Retreat at Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Max Djarla Dulumunmun Harrison taught his grandson, Dwayne, that healing and wellness are an important part of First Nations cultures.
Dwayne now runs the retreat, on the south coast of New South Wales, which is one of several offerings from Tourism Australia’s Discover Aboriginal Experiences collective that blend the cultural and spiritual with the therapeutic—from potent bush medicine to the cleansing power of a traditional smoking ceremony, and from the healing properties of an immersion in nature to the sacred, healing rituals that have been handed down through generations.
The Yuin Retreat invites guests to take part in traditional wellness activities, including a type of sound healing that uses meditative vibration, the Indigenous-led and inspired movement practice wapaya, which shares similarities with Tai Chi, and a traditional Djiringanj sunrise ceremony that reinforces that each day is unique and must be lived well.
Whilst the teachings are traditional, the retreat has made concessions to the modern, with guests staying in comfortable accommodation that ranges from glamping tents to self-contained beach homes. Feedback on the 40-hour experience is overwhelmingly positive, with guests reporting they feel rejuvenated and inspired from their stay.
‘We get people life shifting. Awakening,’ Dwayne says.
Whilst learning about culture, story, knowledge, language, and having the opportunity to visit significant sites, such as the sacred Gulaga Mountain, can help guests gain an understanding of themselves and their health, the key to getting the most out of the experience is a willingness to ‘unlearn’, reflect, and slow down, Dwayne says.
Mindfulness is integral to the process.
‘People are being guided to do the basics of breathing and sitting and just listening, because that’s not the way modern society requires us to work. Being present is a big teaching in our culture—to look at today, not so much yesterday or tomorrow—as it is for a lot of other Indigenous communities across the nation, and the world for that matter. We’re all connected to that one universal spiritual highway and, with the respect and permission from our Elders, we just want to help people travel along it.’
Yuin Retreat. Credit: Tourism Australia
For more wellness experiences, try:
Bush medicine - Maruku Arts, Northern Territory
Sign up for a Bush Medicine workshop with an Anangu woman from Maruku Arts at Uluru and you’ll discover how scented emu bush might be used to ease cold symptoms or applied topically to soothe sore joints, and that the Kakadu plum has 55 times more vitamin C than an orange.
Cleanse - wukalina Walk, Lutruwita/Tasmania
This three-day, four-night Aboriginal-led walking experience begins with a Welcome to Country that includes a traditional smoking ceremony to cleanse guests and the area of bad spirits, and promote protection and wellbeing.
Forest bathing - Lords Kakaku & Arnhemland Safaris, Northern Territory
Forest bathing, or immersing yourself in nature, has been shown to have therapeutic properties and you can’t get much more of a literal and metaphorical forest bathing experience than plunging into the waterfalls and waterholes of the Top End.
wulkalina Walk. Credit: Jillian Mundy & Tourism Australia.
Note: The NRMA is in partnership with Tourism Australia’s Discover Aboriginal Experiences. We are committed to promoting First Nations culture and experiences. The original text has been modified for clarity and style.
