Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains: Happy Buddha yoga retreat, the place to relax, refresh and reflect

The broken toilet is the final straw. After a month from hell where everything I've touched has turned to dust – culminating in this failed DIY attempt to fix a leaking cistern – I've had enough. Frustrated, I throw down my tools and head to a happier place, somewhere I can breathe, de-stress and focus on the positive.

I soon discover I'm not the only person feeling overwhelmed by life. During an "opening circle" at Happy Buddha Retreat at Wentworth Falls in NSW's Blue Mountains, 20 other women share their reasons for joining this three-day midweek yoga retreat, setting goals for the journey ahead.

Some have come simply to enjoy the yoga; others are escaping family commitments, desperate for a good night's sleep. High-flying career women are taking time for themselves, going offline to focus on their mental well-being; while a few admit to physical health issues, and the need to realign priorities.

"Most people just need a break, to find some space," Happy Buddha's retreat facilitator Courtney Rattle says. "Space to reflect, space to breathe, space to move, space to have fun and be joyful. Space to prioritise, find some balance."

After holding pop-up yoga weekends for six years at various venues, Happy Buddha Retreats – led by Courtney and owner Athil Singh – found a permanent home in Wentworth Falls two years ago, with the tranquil bushland setting and relaxed vibe of the Blue Mountains an essential part of the equation.

"The Blue Mountains is such a healing place," Courtney tells me as we gaze across the dense bushland flanking the retreat. "There's something about it that really centres you, whether it's the fresh air, or the slower pace. People walk in from their drive, and there's a different feeling even that evening, because they've spent a few hours up here."

This is no rustic, hippy-dippy cabin-in-the-woods, however. Built around an enticing swimming pool, Happy Buddha Retreat is modern and slick, with spacious en suite rooms, a comfy lounge area and a communal dining room where nourishing vegetarian meals are served courtesy of Jeevi, the "Laughing Chef".

While yoga is at the core of the retreat's itinerary, nothing is compulsory. I skip the early-morning Dynamic Flow Yoga in favour of the more relaxed Gentle Yoga; and for the first time I try Yin Yoga, a gentle practice based on extended stretches targeting deep connective tissues between muscles.