What’s better, a Summer or Winter retreat?
A very good question, one that is important to consider when you feel like it’s time to take off and book in some serious ‘me’ time. The obvious difference is the weather, but what else could factor into your decision when choosing your next (or first!) retreat? Read on!
The Summer one will likely have more outdoor activities, whether that be yoga, meditation or any other workshops.
The weather is likely to be sunny and warm (depending on where the retreat is of course!) and therefore in your free time, if you are a sun worshipper, then that is your chance to soak up some vitamin D.
The food will be light, plant based most likely, and if the retreat is using seasonal produce, will include lots of tasty fruit.
Foraging in Summer is a pure delight, you would be surprised how many very common species you would normally walk past and can be included to pimp up salads, teas and oils.
If the retreat is being held near water then you might expect sea swims, lake or stream dips so pack your swimmers!
Longer days, so more time for workshops and classes, and maybe earlier mornings getting up for sunrise yoga and meditation
Potentially more dynamic flows, as the masculine and energetic part of us is our ‘sun’ side, being part of a retreat in Summer could involve some of those sweatier, more challenging practices.
Winter on the other hand…
When we think of winter, we are indoors, cosy-ing up by a fire with a warm cup of something delicious, and winter retreats can have that feeling too.
As the weather will be much colder, there will be an opportunity to wrap up warm, enjoy a brisk stroll in Mother Nature and then retreat to your cosy shala for a deeper and more grounding practice.
Your free time can be spent by the open fire, so get on those big knitted socks, grab your favourite book along with a herbal tea and finally allow yourself to sink into a chair and just be.
The food, if we are staying seasonal, will be more directed to root vegetables, nourishing, warming and delicious.
Foraging in winter delivers something totally different to Summer, if you get the conditions right, you can happen upon mushrooms, chickweed, navelwort and even winter chanterelles.
Cold weather means even colder swims, just because it’s winter doesn’t mean they won't try their hand with some cold water immersion! Totally optional of course :)
Shorter days means rising up alongside the sun and slowly drifting to your morning yoga class to wake up your body, the kindest and most loving way you know how.
Winter can mean more of the yin yoga styles and will therefore give space for added deepening breathwork.
So to sum up, there are different merits for both, and depending on where you look, there may be no difference in content in a retreat held in summer and winter. At True Nature yoga retreats our mission is to walk you back to your true nature…joy, and if you ask us, we would say we love both.
The excitement of our May retreat being at the beginning of Summer, allowing us to practise outside, bask in the sun and spend those long summer evenings relaxing and reflecting on your day is simply heaven. Compared to our November retreats, that bring refreshing walks, grounding and nourishing practises, deep releasing massages and cosy nights by the fire sharing and connecting.
So as you can see, we started with a question that we have in no way helped answer! Ultimately it comes down to you, what is going on in your life, see if you can zoom out, see the bigger picture of your world, and if now is the time to give back to yourself, then make the choice… book in and get ready to experience your True Nature… whatever the weather.
In the interest of offering something in most seasons we will be back in 2023 with three weekends in May, September and November so stay in touch for more info!