Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions about the retreats. If you have a question that is not answered here please email retreats@fertilityawakenings.com.
Who are these retreats appropriate for?
These fertility-enhancing retreats are great for anyone wanting to become pregnant. Whether you are just starting to try now and want to prepare your body and mind for the best possible start or whether you have been trying for a while and need help and guidance.
Can my partner attend with me?
Yes! We absolutely encourage partners to attend and strongly believe that conceiving and having a family is the work of two people. Having both of you working together increases your chances of success.
All our activities are suitable for both men and women and we offer partners the same experience as everyone else at a fraction of the cost in order to help them to be able to attend.
What is the average group size?
We keep our group sizes small to create an intimate atmosphere and allow personalised attention. The groups range from a minimum of 6 people to a maximum of 20 though the average is about 12.
What are the days like?
The retreat schedule is fluid and tailored to the dynamics of each unique group. Generally you start the day with a detoxing cup of hot water and lemon followed by an energising Qi Gong class in the fresh mountain air at around 8am.
We then have a nourishing healthy breakfast and begin our schedule of workshops and exercise sessions with breaks for lunch and snacks. We end each day with a relaxation exercise and guided meditation. There is time for rest and reflection before dinner, which is followed by optional activities like dancing and films.
See the workshops page for more information about each session.
Can I still follow your program if I go through IVF?
The retreat programme follows natural laws, supporting and enhancing the reproductive system. It is not invasive and so perfectly safe to follow whether you go through IVF or IUI cycles, in fact the preparation that the programme will give your mind, body and spirit will help tremendously in increasing the chances of success.
Where are the retreats held?
The Fertility Awakenings retreats are held on the edge of the beautiful Montseny Nature Park in the tranquil mountain village of Viladrau (about 75km or 45 miles from Barcelona.
How do I get to the retreat centre?
A transfer is provided from Barcelona city centre to the retreat centre in Viladrau. You will be sent full travel information with your welcome pack and joining instructions.
If you are arriving to Barcelona by air, the most convenient airport is Barcelona (El Prat). It is also possible to fly to Reus and Girona, but be aware that they are both a couple of hours away from Barcelona city centre.
How is best as a participant to prepare for the retreats?
Recommended but not required to prepare your body would be to try and eat healthily and do some exercises to keep your body flexible (nothing specific just whatever exercise you enjoy most). Mentally you can prepare by finding some time each day for inner reflection and to be aware of how you are feeling. Preparing your body and mind will help you to get maximum benefit for the retreats, but it is not a requirement, because after these 3 days you will find it much easier to continue with a healthy lifestyle.
Are these retreats physically rigorous?
No, the exercises are invigorating but gentle and harmonious, but it is your decision to participate in the activities.
What should I wear?
We encourage you to be comfortable and relaxed throughout the retreat. This is a good opportunity to leave the make-up bag and hair straighteners at home!
Bring clothes that you feel comfortable in and that allow ease of movement. You will be outside for some sessions so it is useful to bring layers that you can take off when doing exercises that will make you warm and put back on when sitting.
Retreat Costs
What’s included in the cost?
- All tuition and workshops throughout the retreat
- Accommodation in single occupancy rooms with private bathrooms
- All meals, drinks and snacks – healthy nutritious fertility-enhancing food
- Transfers to/from the retreat centre from a central Barcelona location
- Comprehensive course material to take home
- Initial telephone consultation with Uby Muñoz following completion of a comprehensive medical history and lifestyle questionnaire
- Personal consultation with Uby Muñoz including Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and acupuncture treatment
- Personalised treatment and nutrition plan (with nutritional supplement recommendations) based on western and oriental philosophies
What are the advantages of attending a retreat over and above scheduling in weekly sessions with various different fertility therapists??
The benefits of attending a holistic retreat, such as Fertility Awakenings, are numerous. We highlight the most important advantages below:
Highly educational and informative – working with groups allows us to offer an intensive schedule of workshops which is more cost effective than seeing many different specialists on an individual basis. This access to a wide range of high quality information allows you to customise a plan to suit you.
Save hours of frustrating research – many couples spend hours of trawling through the internet, articles and books, which can be overwhelming and information is often conflicting in the advice given.
Fantastic ongoing support – there are a team of therapists available to support and guide you through the whole process.
Gain a supportive community – you will meet and connect with others that are on the same journey and know exactly how you feel. The retreats provide a nurturing community in which you can share experiences and support each other.
Kick-start your action plan – the hardest part of any lifestyle changes is the beginning. During the retreat you will go through the hardest bit together and it will be easier to continue with the plan once you get home.
Holistic approach - you will receive an individualised treatment plan that addresses your mind, body and spirit. This holistic approach is much more likely to succeed that just treating one aspect.
Removed from daily routine – this is invaluable for obtaining clarity and perspective to see the road ahead. It is also an excellent opportunity to recharge your batteries and return home better prepared to face whatever you decide is the next step in your family-building.
How can I afford the retreat when IVF and other Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) are so expensive?
You may find that you do not need to use costly ART once you make the key lifestyle changes recommended by the team as you go on to conceive naturally. If you do decide to go ahead with ART then your body will be better prepared and so you will have a greater chance of success.
When do I need to book?
Because of the limited number of people that will be accepted for the retreat, reservations should be made as much in advance as possible.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require a deposit payment of 50% of the retreat cost to confirm a reservation. Places are extremely limited and so last minute cancellations do impact us considerably and, consequently, we are happy to refund your deposit (less a €50 administration fee for each person booked) only if cancellations are made more than 30 days prior to the retreat start date.
Cancellations made from 30 to 15 days prior to the retreat will result in a charge of 50% of the total retreat price.
Cancellations made within 15 days of the retreat will be charged 100% of the total price.
If circumstances arise that require you to postpone your attendance, whenever possible we will fill your space and reschedule you with no charge, though you will be responsible for all accomodation and meal costs incurred on your behalf.
Ongoing Support
What ongoing support do you offer?
Our aim is to ensure that you conceive a healthy baby and you will be fully supported every step of the way during your life-transforming fertility journey. You can connect with friends from the retreats and the Fertility Awakenings team in many ways:
- Fertility Awakenings forums allow you to share experiences and keep in touch with the group in between the retreats.
- Monthly tele-seminars (held two weeks after the retreat) are open to all retreat participants and allow you to ask questions to the Fertility Awakenings team
- Personal telephone consultations with the Fertility Awakenings team members offer the opportunity for ongoing, individualised attention
- Face to face consultations with the Fertility Awakenings team members (location dependent)
Will I receive a written diagnosis and recommendations?
Yes, soon after the retreat you will receive a written diagnosis and action plan with recommendations on diet, lifestyle and specific points to use to restore your body to balance and enhance your fertility.
Can I call you if I have questions about your recommendations?
Yes of course! You are able to arrange private telephone consultations with the Fertility Awakenings team members to ask any questions you may have. These can also help you to explore the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of your fertility journey more deeply.
Meals and accommodation
What happens for meals?
All retreat meals, drinks and snacks are provided, beginning with a dinner on the first day of retreat and ending with lunch on the final day. We will be eating delicious fertility-enhancing food based on traditional healthy Mediterranean dishes using regional ingredients.
I am a vegetarian, will I have vegetarian options?
Yes. All included meals will be vegetarian or will have vegetarian options available.
I have food related preferences and/or allergies, gluten free, what are my options?
Not a problem. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any food allergies so we may accommodate you!
Will internet and telephone calls be available?
Yes. There is free wi-fi at the hotel and each room has its own telephone line.
When should I arrive?
We offer a free transfer to the retreat centre leaving at 2pm from a central Barcelona location. If you are flying to Barcelona, you should plan to arrive at the airport by 12noon in order to catch this transfer. It is also possible to arrive at the centre by taking a train to Vic and a 30 minute taxi journey to the retreat centre.
Our retreats always begin with an introductory session at 5pm and you may check in any time after 2pm. We encourage you to arrive as early as possible on the first day so that we may schedule your personal acupuncture appointment prior to the start of the retreat programme.
Can I organise my own accommodation?
We have designed each of the retreats to include activities and accommodation in the cost. We aim to give the participant an overall experience with the rest of the group. So therefore the selected accommodation is included as part of the experience. If you have a special consideration, we will try to accommodate you if possible.
Personal consultations
What personal consultations are available?
Included in your retreat fee are:
- An initial telephone consultation with our fertility expert Uby following receipt of your comprehensive health history and lifestyle questionnaire. This allows Uby to draw up an individual treatment plan and to ensure that sessions are tailored to you
- Once at the retreat you will have a one-to-one session with Uby which includes a Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue and pulse diagnosis
Telephone consultations include:
By the end of our retreats you'll have the diagnostic and health-improvement information you need to create an integrated action plan to support your own fertility. Once back in the busy buzz of your daily routine many participants appreciate a helping hand to stay motivated and focussed. The Fertility Awakenings team are pleased to be able to offer ongoing individualised support to all retreat participants via telephone consultations.
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Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Whether you would like to use EFT to remove resistance to making improvements in your life, to clear specific emotional issues, to work on a physical-health issue or to keep stress and anxiety at bay, Liz provides telephone EFT coaching for Fertility Awakenings' participants at considerable discounts. - TCM, Nutrition and lifestyle
Natural fertility expert Uby is available by telephone to answer any questions you may have or doubts that arise as you follow your programme of lifestyle changes.
Do you guarantee that I will become pregnant after three months?
While we cannot guarantee that you will become pregnant using our methods, many couples have been successful. We offer an opportunity of becoming healthier and creating the best possible environment for conception to take place.