At Zensi Retreat, Breathe’s editor Madison discovers that the most profound rest comes from embracing the space within. Explore how stillness, connection, and nature can guide us home to ourselves.
‘Society has us constantly seeking answers from sources outside ourselves, and it becomes exhausting to try and filter through all the information that’s fed to us’ – Sarah Hill
Arriving at Zensi: a place that holds you
It’s the deep release my bones have been longing for. A pause in the rhythm of time, a letting go of tension, a surrender to stillness. I soften with the moment, feel my shoulders melt. In this, I am home.
I arrive at Zensi Retreat, a tranquil sanctuary nestled just 15 minutes outside of Mudgee, a little over three hours north-west of Sydney by car – a leisurely drive punctuated by sweeping treescapes and rolling pastures. The air is warm, summer lingering in the most seductive way, stretching the golden morning into something that feels infinite. As I step out of the car, I’m welcomed by the hush of the countryside and my retreat guide Sarah Hill. She introduces me to the six other women sharing the retreat space – strangers just moments ago, yet already carrying the warmth of longtime friends. There is an ease to this place – something in the way it breathes you in and holds you there. I haven’t even unpacked yet I already feel lighter.
The Deep Reset: designed for women who need to pause
This week, Zensi is home to The Deep Reset Retreat, a deeply restorative experience guided by Sarah, a seasoned yoga teacher with over 650 hours of immersive teacher training. Sarah’s journey includes studying with renowned teachers, and she weaves together her passion for movement, mantra, and breathwork to create an opportunity for unwinding, shedding the weight of daily life, and reconnecting with something quieter within. ‘This retreat is incredibly powerful for women who feel like they’re stuck on a hamster wheel, or whose spirit feels deeply tired,’ she shares, ‘because it’s an opportunity to hit pause on the hustle of life, slow down, and reconnect with themselves.’
Architecture that breathes with nature
Zensi itself was founded by Ruby Chapman and Ray Tayoun as a sanctuary for deep rest and reconnection. Thoughtfully designed to merge architecture with nature, it invites guests to slow down, breathe deeply, and settle into the rhythm of the land. ‘Every detail has been thought through to encourage you to drop into the present moment. This means less tech, more nature, more connection with the people you share the space with, and a gentler approach to living and being,’ says Ruby.
Wisdom from the land: Yindyamarra & deep rest
Mudgee sits within the lands of the Wiradjuri people, and we acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of this land. The Wiradjuri philosophy of “Yindyamarra” which teaches us to show respect, to move with care, and to consider our actions thoughtfully – deeply resonates with the values of The Deep Reset Retreat. Here, at Zensi, in this expertly crafted sanctuary, the world softens. The rhythm slows. The chatter of daily life, the endless striving, the need for more – it all begins to loosen its grip.
‘By strengthening our connection to our intuition, we learn to trust our inner wisdom, so that our choices are guided from within’ – Sarah Hill
A space that asks nothing of you
With roots in interior design and reiki practice, Ruby, co-founder of Zensi, says of the space, ‘We wanted to merge the lines between nature and the physical design, as nature truly gives us everything we need. We just need to be with her more, to notice her way of life, seasons, and never-ending cycles’.
Here, the transition from indoors to out is seamless – light spills effortlessly through open spaces, and nature feels like part of the design rather than a backdrop. Zensi’s design invites nature in – earthy textures, raw materials, and high-end luxury that feels effortless rather than excessive. The interplay of light and shadow across high ceilings, the grounding presence of black oak, the expanses of glass that showcase the land beyond – they dance together in quiet harmony, whispering, “be here now”. And so, I let myself be. It’s a place that doesn’t ask anything of you – only that you settle in and soften.
The shift from doing to being
The Deep Reset Retreat unfolds like a slow exhale – a deliberate shift away from the constant state of “doing” that so many women find themselves in. Sarah describes this as ‘a safe space for women to come together and embrace their natural, feminine, “yin” state of simply “being”, where they can replenish their natural energy resources, before they’re running on empty.’ Mornings begin in the airy expanse of the yoga studio where floor-to-ceiling glass dissolves the boundary between inside and out. Wide, open fields stretch endlessly, a sea of soft undulations, while sheer curtains billow in the breeze.
In savasana, Sarah plays her harmonium, its vibrations settling deep into the marrow of my being. Her mantras rise and fall, wrapping around the space, soothing, unravelling. I feel my body sink – fully, completely. It’s rare to find this kind of stillness, the kind that isn’t forced but simply is. I drift between sleep and wakefulness.
Healing with sound & nervous system support
The distant bleat of sheep punctuates our workshop on resetting the nervous system, as Sarah explores the balance between our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. A collective sigh and exhale fill the space as we explore the depths of nervous system regulation and how to integrate this practice beyond the retreat. ‘Nature regulates our nervous system, and when we slow down enough to notice, there are lessons and wisdom everywhere within nature,’ says Zensi’s co-founder, Ruby. Here, there is no urgency, no pushing – just the gentle encouragement to drop in, to surrender, to release, and let go of the edges of ourselves that have grown tight from holding on too hard, for too long.
Sound healing as cellular resonance
Sound healing becomes an anchor in the day, the resonance of crystal bowls humming through the air, through our being. ‘I use the frequencies of crystal bowls combined with my voice, chanting ancient mantras, to help participants drop into a state of deep relaxation, shifting from the active “fight-flight-freeze” sympathetic state into the passive, healing state of “rest & digest”,’ says Sarah. It’s believed that sound has the power to realign our frequencies, to release stagnant energy, and restore balance.
Sarah speaks of the science, but I just know how it feels – a loosening and dissolving of tension I didn’t even know I was carrying. The bowls sing, their vibrations rippling through the air, touching something deep within me. The resonance lingers after the sound has faded, like an echo in my cells, a reminder that healing is not always something we must chase, but something we allow.
Spaciousness between the sessions
And in between? There is time. Time to simply be. Time to sip tea in the morning sun, to listen to the gentle lowing of cows in the distance, to watch the way the light shifts across the hills. Time to connect, genuinely and without pretence, with the other women here. Conversations flow effortlessly, laughter punctuates the quiet, and there’s a shared understanding that we are all seeking something similar; a path to return to ourselves.
A retreat that nurtures every part of you
The retreat space, Zensi, feels like a place designed for all parts of us. Whether it’s unwinding in the dry heat sauna, sinking into the spa, or floating in the outdoor pool, there’s a sense of ease that invites deep relaxation. Ruby and Ray have created a sanctuary where every detail is crafted to nurture the spirit. The 33-acre property offers the perfect balance of seclusion and accessibility. You can explore the expansive property, find moments of stillness, or venture into town, where local charm and history await, blending the serenity of the retreat with the vibrancy of the region. Here, there is space for everything – for rest, for connection, for rediscovery.
Reflection in community & quiet recognition
There is a moment, during an afternoon reflection workshop, when I realise just how rare this kind of space is. A space where there is no pressure to perform, to impress, to explain. The unspoken armour we wear in daily life has quietly slipped away. We sit in a circle, barefoot, hearts open. There is a sense of recognition in each other’s stories, even in our silence. A knowing that beneath the surface differences, we are all, at our core, searching for the same thing: peace. And here it is uncovered so effortlessly.
Returning to simplicity & stillness
With farm life humming in the background, I set out on an evening walk. The golden light drapes itself across the fields and the sky blushes with the last warmth of the day. A single cow lifts its head as I pass, meeting my gaze with an almost knowing stillness. “Just be”, it seems to say. And so, I do.
The days unfold like this – movement, stillness, connection, silence, abundance. And with each passing hour, I feel a shedding. The need for more dissolves. The urgency to be something quiets.
There is nothing to prove, nowhere to be but here. The ego softens, and in its place, presence. As Ruby shares, here you can ‘become quiet and still enough that you can connect with the resonance of something far greater, something beyond our physical selves.’ And in that quiet, the simple joy of feeling the earth beneath my feet, of watching the play of sunlight dapple across the pool’s surface, of stretching and rinsing my body in the early morning hush – it is enough.
I used to think I had to carry everything alone, always moving, always managing. But here, it’s easy to pause, to admit that I’ve been tired, that the weight has been too much for too long. I realise I’m not the only one. And in that shared honesty, something shifts. True connection happens when we let ourselves be seen, when we welcome others into our truth – a quiet understanding that our village is everywhere, if we let it in, if we surrender to the embrace of those around us.
Letting go isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it’s as simple as exhaling. As simple as choosing to be in this moment rather than the next. As simple as realising that peace was never something to be earned, only something to return to.
A final evening & a quiet transformation
By the final evening, as we sit beneath the sprawling sky, bathed in the last warmth of the day by the sunken fire pit, I feel it – the reset. Not the kind that erases or rewrites, but the kind that brings you back to the core of yourself. The kind that whispers: this – this moment, this breath, this life – is enough. As Sarah says, ‘When you slow down, attune to your breath, and reconnect to your heart centre, you realise that you already have the answers within.’
Carrying the reset home
The drive home feels different. The same roads, the same landscape, yet everything seems new. Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe this is what it means to surrender – to release the weight of “should” and instead, rest in the fullness of now.
To book your stay at Zensi Retreat, visit zensiretreat.com.au. To learn more about Sarah Hill and plan your next retreat, visit sarahhillyoga.com.au.
WORDS: Madison White
PHOTOGRAPHY: Zensi Retreat & Madeleine Northey
