Retreat In Place

One of my forest walks near Victoria

I’m a big fan of retreats. Who doesn’t love a beautiful location with spectacular food and yoga and boutique bedding and communion with nature!  I spent over a month at a beautiful retreat centre on the west coast in 2008, long before wellness tourism had become the big business that it is today. It was a work exchange arrangement for me and still, it changed my life, truly. After 5 weeks of morning yoga, daily forests walks, spiritual growth and garden to table eating, I promised myself that no matter what fell away when I returned to real life, I would commit to a regular yoga practice. I continue to benefit from that retreat setting and life changing decision more than 18 years later.

I’ve had the privilege to attend shorter retreats over the past decade and I always take away something special every single time. A really good friend of mine has registered for an upscale (yes, you can read that as REALLY costly) 1-week retreat in the mountains this summer that promises to reboot energy levels, melt stress away, restore mental health, reduce inflammation and establish lasting habits. I’m really happy for my friend, for she is absolutely deserving and worthy of this experience.  I asked her what habit shifts most for her following a retreat and she said it is the important reminder to move her body out in nature every day. Right?

As a holistic coach, I see the deep benefit of retreating to a beautiful location to dim all of life’s noise and focus in on self. So powerful! Here’s what I’m curious about – how can retreat vibes and benefits be accessible to all who crave it and cannot manage or decide against the expense of an exclusive retreat experience?  How can intentional shifts become less episodic and more of a permanent habit evolution?  

This year, I’m going to think about all of the ways that I can Retreat in Place. Easy to say, given that I live in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet and I’m soon off to beautiful Mexico for 6 weeks. But also, this - retreating is an important inside job!

In the year ahead I expect that I will advance in many areas, as this is what time allows us to do. Simultaneously, in the interest of discovering how I can Retreat in Place, I intend to further develop safe haven in my immediate surroundings and in my self with that same aim of rebooting my energy levels, melting my stress away, restoring my mental health, reducing inflammation and building lasting habits in a way that sticks. I wonder if I’ll be surprised by what I already have in place.

I do know that my favorite things about retreats include the intentional time in nature, beautiful food, spiritual nudges, physical movement and new knowledge that leads to beneficial growth and shifts for my aging body and mind. I know I can integrate these benefits at home (or wherever I happen to be). I’ll be wanting more beeswax candles and that’s a given. I’m so curious to discover what sort of juicy outcomes will emerge!