3️⃣ unique benefits of taking a retreat ✨
A sense of agency, the power of community, and manifestation. 🤗
Happy September, friends! Let me just join the chorus of others who came before me and say truly how the heck is it already Labor Day? But time marches on and I combat my temporal anxieties by doing my little practices and journaling and remembering that my word of the year is presence and that there is always enough time — despite what my fun and overactive brain might have to say on the matter…
On that note, I come to you with a special delivery as I am growing ever more excited about my upcoming intentional yoga retreat that I’m hosting with
in just a few short months for New Year’s.Today I’m reflecting on the three big reasons that I believe retreats are so transformational based on my own experience and what I’ve heard from past retreaters’ feedback. So, if you are even the slightest bit interested, I encourage you to read on…
1 - You develop your sense of personal agency.
Something you will find about this retreat (or any that I have hosted) is that all of the activities are optional and that there is ample time for retreaters to do whatever unstructured activity most calls to them. This often means that throughout any given retreat, nearly everyone at some point or another opts to go off on their own and wander during a yoga class or sleep in/nap rather than join for a workshop or meditation.
It also gives you lots of freedom to enjoy a pace of activity that’s most aligned for you. Forget the social pressure you might find while on a bachelorette weekend or family vacation — this time is all about resetting your system in a nature-aligned way, trusting your intuitive sense of how much socializing is right for you and when you need chill out.
2 - You’re held in community, without the social pressure.
In recent years, about one in two adults reported experiencing loneliness, with the U.S. surgeon general deeming it a global health concern. There is definitely not a one-size-fits-all cure to the isolation crisis and I believe much of this exists on a systemic level, with responsibilities across various areas of society from workplaces to the government to media and technology. But there are also ways we can work to create better connection amongst each other through our individual actions. I think retreats can play a great role in that.
Now, I certainly don’t think that signing up for any ol’ travel tour or even any yoga retreat you find on the interwebs would necessarily provide you with community. But I can confidently say that Catherine’s and my retreat can, because that is the basis around which it’s designed. Having hosted these groups for the past five years we have found without fail each group that forms has been supportive and kind and the women are just some of the most outstanding people. Perhaps some will even become your friends, as several women I’m honored to call my friends have while on retreat over the years.
But it’s not just that the most wonderful people come together, but also that there is a collective sense that we are supporting one another on our journeys. We use nourishing rituals to mark the time and give ourselves a map to refer back to once we have parted and gone back to normal life. Retreats are the perfect setting to foster such a community and experience. You are also largely uninhibited by the typical obligations of life such as work, household or caretaking tasks. You may find your energy feels different, and without the distraction of screen time (lol, there is very limited wifi) or the social lubrication of alcohol (and it’s subsequent anxiety/depressive spikes for many of us) — it becomes more natural to engage, connect and be open with one another.
3 - You get to spend focused time and energy manifesting your intentions and desires.
I’ll admit that a part of me from a former time in life still wants to say the word “manifestation” very quietly for fear of how it will be negatively received or dismissed as pseudoscience. But another part of me calmly understands the reality of manifestation from personal experience and understands that it is validated by the current neuroscience literature. (I also see it unfolding within past retreaters, like Janice who shared her intention and aligned action to open a yoga studio while we were retreating in Sedona in 2021. That studio (Feel Free) is now thriving in Athens, GA!)
The thing is, our bodies and nervous system form the foundation for realizing our intentions. In Dr. James Doty’s Mind Magic, he talks about the role that physiology plays in manifesting, writing: “Only when we have shifted into the rest-and-digest response of the nervous system will our brains allow us to reclaim our attention, access the power of our imagination, and unlock our subconscious.” Being within an environment and doing activities that help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system response — such as from the calming effect of a sound healing session or yoga practice — help to create the fertile soil for you to plant the seeds of your intentions for the year ahead.
So, what are you up to this new years? Something tells me we are going to be collectively needing some time to take a giant freaking exhale slash decompress come January and I am personally very relieved to be doing so in this way. A few ladies from past years are already signed up and you will be in such great company.
If you are seeking a way to connect with your body, align your mindset and nurture your spirit in supportive community this new year’s, I really hope you will consider joining us! You can visit our retreat page to learn more below. Always here if you have any questions! 🥰