The Burnout That Brought Me Back to Life

Fifteen years in corporate life taught me how to survive—but not how to live.
I was constantly “on,” managing deadlines, expectations, and the invisible emotional load of single motherhood. Add to that two beautiful, neurodivergent kids with ADHD, and my nervous system was permanently in overdrive.

Eventually, I crashed. Not just professionally. Not just physically. But on every level.

The Two Years I Couldn't Function

What followed was two years of trying to put myself back together.
Doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists. Naturopaths, kinesiologists, hypnotherapists. Hormonal imbalances, PTSD, anxiety, stress—my days became filled with appointments, protocols, and... still, I wasn’t getting better.

I did everything I could to heal. I went to the gym. I painted. I journaled. I tried breathwork and meditation. And yet—I felt utterly disconnected from myself. The deeper I dug, the more elusive rest seemed to become.

The Moment Everything Shifted

Then something unexpected happened.
I was offered two weeks off—alone. No work. No kids. Just me.

My first thought was to book a cabin in the middle of the Australian bush, throw my phone into a drawer, and disappear. I wanted silence. Stillness. No stimulation.

But then I compared prices and realised: a two-week yoga and meditation retreat in Bali—flights included—was cheaper than a week in a local Airbnb. That simple discovery changed everything.

My First Healing Retreat

The retreat wasn’t luxurious in the typical sense—but it was sacred.
Each day began with yoga and meditation. No decisions to make. No meals to prepare. No one needing anything from me. My body softened. My mind slowed. My spirit stirred.

I met two Balinese healers who guided me through powerful rituals. They shared mantras, ceremonies, and the kind of ancient wisdom that doesn’t come with a prescription. For the first time in years, I felt safe. Held. Seen.

Why I Built This Website

In the middle of that retreat, I had a moment of clarity:
“Why didn’t I know this was even an option?”

Healing retreats shouldn’t be a hidden secret or a luxury reserved for the few.
So I created Best Healing Retreats to share what I found—and to help others like me discover spaces that offer real restoration.

What This Site Is (and Isn’t)

This isn’t a massive directory or just another travel blog.
This is a curated space. Every retreat listed here is chosen intentionally—because it offers something deeper than just yoga or green juices.

My goal isn’t to list everything. It’s to find the right things—safe, supportive programs that help you rest, reconnect, and gently rebuild.

A Note If You’re Where I Was

If you’re exhausted, burnt out, or feeling like you’ve lost touch with yourself—
I see you.

I can’t promise one retreat will change your life. But I can tell you this:
Sometimes, what you need isn’t more trying. It’s a pause. A breath. A space to remember who you were before everything got heavy.

This platform exists to help you find that space.

With warmth and understanding,
— Amy