by Dr. Marcel Hernandez, ND
We’re very happy to report that we recently completed a very successful inaugural eight-day Gentle Cleanse Retreat at our Hawaii Peace Garden Retreat Center.
The retreat so well that we’re excited and delighted to be able to announce that we’ll offer a second edition in October 2025. (For full information, follow the links below.)
- Guests at the Hawaii Peace Garden Retreats enjoy the unique advantage of round-the-clock medical supervision. Having supervised many personal and group retreats over the years, we are able to adapt the program to the individual needs of each participant.
- A second advantage is that the retreat program is sufficiently gentle to soften or completely eliminate the usual physical and mental reactions and side-effects typical of a major deep cleanse. Yet despite the gentle means, the cleanse is powerful enough to provide very real and satisfying effects.
At our March retreat, the participants reported physical and mental benefits that, in some cases, significantly improved the quality of their lives.
They also expressed delight at not being confined to the retreat property for the duration of the retreat. We enjoyed a number of lovely Big Island outings together in a spirit of adventure and fun.
Cleanse Details
As a basis for the cleanse, we followed our own special version of the Metagenics UltraClear Renew Clear Change program.
The primary modifications we made were dietary – the Metagenics program guide allows nightshade family vegetables that are known to have inflammatory effects, and fish, a moderate allergen. We didn’t include these, and instead provided vegan gluten-free and dairy-free meals.
Except for topical fruits, stevia, and monk fruit, other sweeteners were not part of the program. As the main carbohydrate, we used organic white rice, which has almost no allergenicity. Otherwise, we followed the Metagenics dietary recommendations.
The participants gave positive feedback about the gourmet meals. High on the list of favorites were our special chimichurri sauce, red lentil and rosemary flatbread, sweet potato falafels, and the large variety of salads – for example, black-eyed pea salad, Japanese-inspired cabbage salad, and Dr. Connie’s creative green salads.
For most of the participants, the after-dinner conversations were a highlight. During these informal get-togethers, they expressed their thoughts on wide-ranging topics, asked questions, and shared wisdom born of their life experiences.
Aside from activities on the gorgeous tropical retreat property, we led our new friends on excursions to beautiful Big Island attractions.
- We visited the Island’s most spectacular botanical garden.
- We took a four-wheel-drive van into mystical Waipio Valley, where the scenery is straight out of Jurassic Park.
- We visited a gorgeous beach park outside of Hilo.
- We walked the historic streets of the former “sugar town” of Honokaa, which has gradually evolved into a colorful mix of boutiques and local eateries.
- We took a botanical tour of the Peace Garden Retreat property, introducing our guests to the tropical fruits and medicinal trees and plants in the orchard. Participants also visited the local farmer’s market.
Each morning began with chanting, meditation, and healing prayers. We enjoyed several evenings of kirtan (devotional chanting) at a neighbor’s spectacular home with an expansive view of the Pacific.
Our guests were surprised that Drs. Connie and Marcel prepared and served all of the meals, with priceless assistance from our close personal friend, David Hardin James. We feel this is important, since we believe that the conscious energetic component of food preparation and service enhances the nutritional value and enjoyment of the meals. In a nutshell, while doing food prep, we are consciously intent on blessing and “spiritualizing” all of the ingredients that our guests will take into their being.
At a practical level, the participants discovered foods that they were allergic or sensitive to, and the physical and emotional impact of these foods on their daily lives.
The mood of the retreat was consistently positive, upbeat, and uplifting. New friends were made, experiences were shared, and we felt that we were explorers together on a journey of self-discovery.
Does the thought of a gentle cleansing experience at the Peace Garden Retreat appeal to you? We’ll offer our next retreat on October 7-15, 2025. Follow this link for full details.
Experience the Beauty and Serenity at
Peace Garden Retreat Center in Hawaii
The Next Retreat will be held from
October 7 to October 15, 2025
Spaces at the retreat are limited to 4 to 7 people.
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW HERE!
Please contact DrMarcel@DrsHernandez.com
or DrConnie@DrsHernandez.com for further reservation instructions and information.