Happy Healthy YOU
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(A wellness column by Kelly Spencer: writer, life coach, yoga & meditation teacher, holistic healer and a mindful life enthusiast!)
The word retreat comes from the Latin verb “to pull back" or retract. This past week, I was blessed to co-facilitate another retreat with one of my soul family members and friend. In fact, two retreats.
We travelled up north to a beautiful lake front property. The first group of retreaters came Friday until Sunday. We had a few hours of quiet time for ourselves until the second gathering of spiritual seekers came Sunday until Tuesday.
Many were unfamiliar with the concept of a spiritual retreat, but remained open and present. Together we practiced yoga, meditation and took quiet time to journal and reflect. Most reported feeling more aligned, more aware and more mindful of what is important to their lives, when they departed.
You see, retreats are not about getting away from life. They are more about returning to yourself. Coming home to the aligned and holistic self: body, mind and spirit. To be clear, spirituality is not religion and therefore whether you have a specific affiliation or not, it does not matter.
Silence. Stillness. Solitude. These qualities can seem scarce in our busy lives. Yet we at some level realize, and spiritual teachers and authors remind us, that quiet is necessary for us to know who we are and our connection to our own spirit. Retreats are an ancient practice. Fortunately these days, to retreat, we don’t need a mule and a Sherpa to climb a mountain and begin a fasting regime nor stay in isolation.
Retreats are a time away from our normal activities to spend time getting reacquainted with ourselves, to examine the priorities of our life and to make concrete and practical intentions for improvement. Time going inward can be a powerful step toward personal conversion, expansion and empowerment.
How retreating benefits the body, mind and spirit:
1. Break free of ordinary. We are creatures of habit and we like our routine. But what if that routine is in a rut? One of the most powerful aspects of a retreat is the disruption of the ordinary. The experiences are much different than the R&R of vacation, as you don’t really know what is going to happen. I mean our students this past week knew that we were doing yoga, meditation and personal investigation with the theme of self-love, but they didn’t really know the agenda. Something unique happens when we are taken out of our regular schedule and comfort zone. Something powerful happens, when we let go of the control and focus of the external world, surrender to guidance and bring the spotlight and focus inward to ourselves.
2. Deep Connection: Although the objective of a retreat is introspection, there is compelling connection with those we share this with. Deep connection can be somewhat of an elusive commodity. When we share and reflect in the presence of others, the energy is amplified with support and understanding. Many of our relationships in life, no matter how pleasant, can be shallow or surface relationships. When we connect to our true self and get clear on how we feel about what is currently transpiring in our lives (jobs, personal goals, relationships and so on) and then we share that with another, a deep bond through shared experience is felt and witnessed.
3. Clarity and Vision: It is through mindfulness, meditation and stillness that we allow honest, personal inventory. When we are in constant motion, live in fear mode or on mundane autopilot of tasks of daily living, we can lose sight of our deepest needs and desire and our priorities can be unclear and lost in the fog. Taking time to find our vision of what happiness, joy and bliss looks like and feels like, for each us, should remain a priority in life. Taking time to retreat can provide us with clarity. Slowing down and getting still, and inquiring within is the first step of present moment awareness. How do I feel right now? Where do I hold that feeling in my physical body? How do I want and intend to feel? What are my visions and dreams for my life? Get curious with what brings you happiness.
4. Reset, recharge and refresh. Time away from daily routine, committed to self-nurturing, self-expression, and self-reflection allows us to surrender. This isn’t always easy. But when we are able to dedicate time to appreciate and love ourselves, we allow alignment and balance to reset. Remember, self-love and self-care are not selfish. In fact, I think it should be a one of our first preference. When we are able to hit the reset button, we can emerge refreshed and recharged and ready not only for everyday life, but to expand and step into our personal desires, goals and visions.
5. For you and those you love. Retreats create happiness, not just during the time you spend going inward, but afterwards. The peace and happiness of parents, for example, often depend upon their children having affection and compassion towards them. And the children's peace and happiness depend upon their parents' affection and compassion. The same is true for couples, partners, teachers and students and each relationship we are in. Fill your own cup with compassion, kindness and love to yourself, and let the overflow extend out to those around you.
Let's face it, life can have a way of being overwhelming. Heck sometimes it can be downright physically and emotional exhausting. It can steal your time, attention, and desire to go inward to heal and release outdated thoughts, patterns and belief systems. Taking time to retreat, whether that is a morning meditation, an afternoon of insightful reflection, a drive in the country, sitting on the beach in contemplation or an actual organized retreat, will energize you again, igniting the spark and flame within you, to live your fullest potential and purpose.
Just imagine if we all dedicated time to release, heal, get clear and nourish our body, mind and heart. Envision each of us refreshed and nurturing our spiritual growth. The ripple effect from each of us blooming as our best versions of ourselves would expand out into our work world, our friendships and to our family and homes.
Pulling back can provide us with hope, strength and encouragement for our life as we honor what is and connect to our passions and purpose. Retreats provide opportunity to live joyfully.
(If you would like to see an article on a specific topic, please email kelly@indigolounge.ca)