Stress isn’t just in your head—it’s a hidden toxin in your life. Kimberly Ashton, Billabong Retreat host, wellness coach, and yoga teacher, explains that while some stress motivates us, chronic stress creates anxiety, frustration, overwhelm, and exhaustion. She emphasizes that understanding the source of your stress—whether it’s family, work, or your own thoughts—is the first step toward managing it.

We hear a lot about toxins in food and the environment—but have you considered that stress itself is a major hidden toxin and energy in your life? Family tensions, work pressures, social expectations, financial worries, and even self-imposed emotional stress all take a toll on your body and mind.

Modern life adds layers of stress through poor diet, constant connectivity, and lack of deep rest and downtime. Refined sugar, caffeine, processed foods, and heavy dairy can burden your digestive system and nervous system, while living “always on” keeps your mind from truly resting.

The good news? You can reduce stress and restore balance. Kimberly recommends tools that work:
Self-awareness: Identify triggers and acknowledge stress before it takes over.

Relaxation practice: Just like any skill, you can train yourself to relax—through Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, meditation, breathwork & connecting to nature.

Nutrition: Choose fresh, seasonal, nourishing foods that support your body and nervous system.

Self-care therapies: Massage, aromatherapy, and acupuncture release tension, restore flow and energy.

Lifestyle shifts: Turn off devices, prioritize quiet time, and schedule regular self-care periods.

At Billabong Retreat, our Stress Relief Weekends offer a supportive space to explore these practices, cultivate your “relaxation response,” and experience the profound benefits of unwinding in nature. Relaxation isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for your health, clarity, and happiness.