Starting a new year often brings a desire for fresh beginnings, clarity, and motivation to embrace the opportunities ahead. For me, this meant stepping away from the usual hustle and diving into a unique retreat experience.
As the year inches to 2025, I found myself yearning for a different kind of escape—not just a vacation but a mindful reset for both body and soul.
To kick off my year, I joined a weekend retreat hosted by LAC Malaysia at Hooton Retreat, a serene getaway nestled just two hours from the city.
The retreat opened with a thoughtful address by LAC Malaysia’s Senior Marketing Manager, Carrie Pang. We dove into the first session, Nutrition 101, led by Certified Nutritionist Cynthia Jetan.
Her insights into balanced diets, mindful eating, and the role of vitamins served as a valuable reminder of how nutrition underpins not just physical health but mental clarity as well.
The afternoon brought my favorite part of the retreat: the Nagomi Art Workshop. Under the guidance of Jenny Ho, a seasoned instructor, I explored this meditative art form for the first time.
Nagomi art is about creating soft, pastel-based scenes by blending colors with your fingers—a tactile and deeply calming process.
With no prior art skills, I was initially skeptical, but the session turned into a journey of self-expression. I crafted a whimsical scene featuring a "cotton candy" tree against serene mountains, a reflection of my hopes for the year—a mix of creativity, calm, and light-heartedness.
This year, I discovered that art, too, can be a pathway to mindfulness. It reflects not only your state of mind but also your aspirations for the future—your vision of what the year ahead could look like. It’s a practice that, much like meditation, offers a peaceful retreat from daily chaos, allowing you to recenter and recharge.
Framing the piece and taking it home felt like carrying a piece of the retreat’s tranquility with me—a visual reminder to stay grounded and creative throughout the year.
As the sun set, we gathered for a dinner experience unlike any other: a communal meal served on large banana leaves. Six of us shared each leaf, filled with a generous spread of hot rice, flavorful ayam berempah, rich curry, vegetables, and crispy papadam.
Eating together, it felt like a family meal, a reminder of simpler times, and a refreshing change from hurried solo meals in the city.
The next morning began with a sunrise yoga session led by Sandra Woo. The act of waking up early for yoga, stepping onto the mat with a clear purpose, and tuning in to the present moment reflects a discipline and mindset that can guide us in our daily lives.
As we stretched toward the sky and rooted our feet into the earth, it felt like we were physically and mentally preparing ourselves for the year ahead.
This practice reminded me that next year doesn’t have to be a whirlwind of tasks and deadlines. Instead, it can be approached with balance and intention, much like each yoga pose.
As the retreat drew to a close, we savoured a delicious breakfast together, sharing laughs and reflections on the weekend. The combination of inspiring talks, mindful art, yoga, and nature left me feeling deeply renewed, ready to step into 2025 with purpose and positivity.
Retreats like this are more than just a getaway; they’re a chance to recalibrate, much like a yoga practice or a holiday that offers perspective and renewal. Hooton Retreat, with LAC Malaysia’s thoughtful programming, was the perfect way to embrace the year ahead—grounded, inspired, and at peace.