This weekend, I was blessed to lead 3 friends from our university days through their introduction to all things yoga, mindfulness, meditation & omm in a mini-retreat.
It was a beautiful weekend full of laughter, chat, reconnection & of course yoga & mindfulness. There may have been a little vino & a delish Thai meal out in the evening too – well it was a weekend break after all!
Since this is my passion, it was heavenly to be utterly absorbed in something I relish & to revisit these practices through beginner’s eyes, which can often give you a whole new almost child-like perspective again.
But it got me thinking, why is the practice of yoga & meditation so much deeper in a retreat environment than at home?
Well the first & most obvious is that you are simply away from all your usual distractions, which means you can literally unwind more deeply, enjoy the experience more & take your practice to another level.
Whether a beginner or a more seasoned yoga or meditation practioner, getting away helps give you a new perspective, giving you the space & opportunity to view the world & even yourself in a new light.
When you actually have free time, away from the stresses of family & the demands of work, it is a lot easier to immerse yourself in what you are doing, let go & allow yourself the freedom to meditate, breathe deeply & just be fully engaged in the present moment. After all there is no more important moment than right now.
It is much easier to relax & de-stress when we actually dedicate the time to do so & give ourselves the permission. All too often, even if we take the time to go to a yoga or meditation class, what we have to do once we leave is still pressing on our subconscious. When we have literally left that all at home, we have no option but to let go, de-stress & enjoy the moment.
Whether it’s starting your journey into yoga & mindfulness or wanting to take your experience to the next level, being in new surroundings can be a powerful catalyst. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a deserted beachside or mountain location, just a completely different environment or extended period to totally immerse yourself into the experience is enough.
You may also get the chance to make new friends. I certainly did the first time I went on retreat in Thailand. We often dined out together in the evening & shared our experiences of the day. One night was full moon, so we did a little full moon ritual of getting rid of limiting beliefs by writing them on a piece of paper & burning them. The plan had been to do it by the sea but the rains came in, so we did it on my balcony, burning the bits of paper in the bin. The shared experience was liberating & amusing & I have often recalled that evening with a fond humour.
Going away from home certainly makes you appreciate it so much more once you get back. You return energised, invigorated, feeling happier, healthier, more grounded & with a renewed appreciation for the things & people we often take for granted.
But most of all, the best reason for going on retreat is because you deserve it – we all need a break the usual monotony of modern day living & what better way than to treat yourself to a little mindful break.
Of course, we can’t all jet off to sunnier climes. Indeed, my Thai retreat occurred when I lived in Bangkok & could literally hop on an internal flight & finish the journey on a long-tail boat. Nowadays I’m not so fortunate but I am firm believer in the benefits of the retreat style setting.
This is why in January I will be launching a regular monthly mini retreat or workshop-style weekend of yoga & mindfulness. So keep your eye on my website www.myananda.co.uk for all the info or email me at alex@myananda.co.uk for more details.