What Everyone Ought to Know about Retreats

Are you are wondering where on Earth the name RETREATmd came from? What's it all about? 

Here’s a quote I love that sums it up very nicely:

We want to make the world a better place,

By slowing down our frenetic pace,

By doing so we make a space,

To open up to Love and Grace

Eoin Finn, www.yogainit.com

We make a space. That’s what retreat time is all about. A time to pause, to step back from your busy life, to take refuge so that you have the time and space to rest, rejuvenate and reset. And maybe…to reinvent yourself.

It was during one of my breaks in the south of France that the concept of RETREATmd was born. It was a shift in perspective, away from conventional office-based ‘sickness care’ toward a proactive, preventive approach. It was an a-HA moment! It's where I want to put my heart and my energy at this time in my life.

I'm recommending retreat time to my patients more and more now. I truly believe that taking that time to rest, rejuvenate and reset is critical to the health and well-being of women in our generation, especially those of us still getting up for work every morning.

It’s about balance. Let’s return to balance.

Retreats come in different sizes 

Retreat time can be taken for a few minutes or hours every week in your home or at a local day spa, or by planning a longer retreat holiday in a new and exotic land.

Both are effective, although different.

Mini retreats at home or the spa

As I see it, the time you take out of your busy schedule for self care on a weekly basis is maintenance work. And very necessary too.

Like putting gas in your car when your tank is low, you’re literally replenishing your energy reserves so you have the strength and motivation to carry on. These precious moments of down time go a long way to prevent burn-out. And to help you be there for those who need you.

It's easy to make a start. When you wake up in the morning, take a minute to ask yourself what you'll need that day. Is it a few minutes of solitude? Inspiration? Exercise? Rest?

Then, carve some time out of your daily schedule to look away from your work, to breathe and be fully in that moment. Perhaps meet a friend for a walk at lunchtime. Or book a regular spa appointment. And keep it!

Make these meetings just as important as your office appointments – because they are.

If you aim to make these mini retreats permanent fixtures in your schedule, they can become gentle balancing moments that will bring you back to who you really are, and to who you want to be – fit, healthy, relaxed, in tune with yourself, and having some play time in your busy day.

Sure, we all fall off the wagon sometimes, when life gets busy and our self care again falls to the bottom of our to-do list. But, that’s the beauty of the RETREATmd community. We’re here to support each other and get back to prioritizing ourselves ASAP!

Destination retreat vacations 

Retreat vacations are another story.

Healing holidays are a new trend for our generation and you can find many out there that are geared to your particular needs and desires.

Whether or not this holiday is an organized, themed retreat where you’ll work with experts on a specific area – such as yoga, hiking, or spiritual development - or simply take a week in a cottage by the sea with your books and ideas - you’ll experience new insights, learn a few things, possibly make new friends, and definitely connect with yourself on a deeper level.

Have you ever come back from a vacation absolutely frazzled? Well, this is not that kind of travel! These destination retreats are usually located in serene, natural beauty. You'll leave behind your daily routine and, perhaps, your comfort zone and the roles that have defined you, tied you down.

In other words, you’re freeing yourself to open up to new possibilities and experiences – to learn, to reflect, to explore, to connect, to just be.

According to Dr Sheri Rosenthal, DPM, founder of Journeys of The Spirit Travel, “experiential travel is … awe-inspiring, soul-stirring, heart-opening, fun, and above all, life changing.”

A trip like this is a real gift to yourself.

Retreats work

The idea of “wellness tourism,” as it is known, has captured the attention of health insurance companies and policy-makers. Their interest is driven by escalating health costs related to the high incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and arthritis.

A study on the retreat experience was reported in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in February 2017. It found that retreat experiences can lead to sustained improvements in many areas of health and well-being.

Further research is required, but there is a flicker of hope for the future of health care coverage; one that would include retreat experiences as part of a healing program.

Just so you know, I’m on on this path with you!

Due to my busy workdays and mentally draining job, I have to plan ahead and schedule my much-needed home retreat hours carefully.

I usually take a morning off so I can wake up naturally, sit quietly and meditate, exercise or write, then take a lavender bath and enjoy a healthy lunch before I go into the office for the afternoon.

Unless I’m writing, I stay technology free during that time. Totally switched off. The backdrop is a mixture of chirping birds, rustling palms, and waves lapping against the sea wall.

I find my mind is free to wander where it will, and I am much more productive and able to stay in the moment without the distraction of pings on my phone or talking heads on TV.  

It’s bliss! I do this at least once a week to prevent burn-out and stay mentally sharp and motivated.

My next retreat vacation is in the delicious planning stages for Autumn ’18, having just returned from an uplifting retreat workshop in Sedona, Arizona – with it’s glorious red canyons and energy vortexes – it was a perfect location for a reboot.

For you, and I know it may be a stretch, I recommend a regular routine of mini-retreats at home to maintain your health, beauty, and energy levels, and at least one exciting, mind-opening retreat vacation each year to get you out of your comfort zone and into growth mode.

Need help?

As your RETREATmd, I can help you design a personalized home retreat schedule, geared to your wants and needs. You'll be able to book an online consultation with me as of June 1, 2018.

And, starting in 2019, I’ll be leading retreat weeks in Provence, in the fabulous South of France, where we’ll focus on creating awe-inspiring, life-changing experiences with lots of special features, such as topics that you, my tribe, will suggest.

For now, I’d love to hear what going on retreat means to you. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below, or come on over to the RETREATmd Facebook page and join the group discussion there.

In the meantime, take care of your self,