Why choose a yoga retreat?
The need to ‘retreat’ is a strong one. It calls out to us quietly at first, we place it on the back burner telling ourselves that it’s something we will do soon but maybe in a month or so when funds are better… we forget about it or keep putting it off until that call becomes all we can hear, drowning out anything else making it difficult for us to happily get through our day to day lives and find balance.
Most of the time that need is calling us due to burn out, exhaustion and overwhelm. We are all familiar with these emotions. In today’s society it’s actually encouraged that we work until we drop and have nothing left in the tank leaving no time for ourselves and most importantly our mental health.
I decided to embark upon my first UK yoga retreat when I was overwhelmed, my anxiety was in the driver’s seat and I knew I had to do something. I needed a change of scenery and time to myself. I needed to switch off. And that’s just what I did. I switched off my phone, told my friends and family not to contact me for a few days and allowed my external world to wait. I’d be back.
Choosing a retreat is easy once you know what you need. Being someone who suffers with anxiety, I needed to relax, have space held for me to release tension and learn new things along the way. A great yoga retreat will offer all those elements. Ultimately retreat means ‘an act of withdrawal from what is difficult’. Life is difficult enough for everybody so right there is our cue to retreat!
I personally enjoy a retreat with a mixture of yoga styles, but especially restorative, nurturing practices. Personable teachers who are invested in creating a safe space for you and home cooked nourishing food. The questions you should ask before heading off onto a retreat are…
Am I overwhelmed; do I need some me time to reset?
Would I like to switch off for a few days?
Would I like to deepen my own knowledge around yoga and learn how to take the lessons off the mat and into my daily life?
Would I enjoy connecting with like-minded people who are open and most likely in the same place as me?
Am I invested in my own mental wellbeing and keen to learn more?
If all answers to those questions are yes, then why are you stalling? Take the cues from your body and mind and give yourself the gift of a retreat. I can tell you I have never regretted a yoga retreat; they always fill me up to make my heart soar. When I return home, I feel that I can give my full attention to loved ones around me and excel within my work. Whatever you choose, it will be the right decision for you because you already know what you need... you just have to listen and acknowledge that call.
Thoughts from Molly, a True Nature Host