How to Take a Personal Retreat
By Gyandev Rich McCord, Director of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training at The Expanding Light |
Everyone occasionally needs some inner rejuvenation. Whether you want to break new ground, spiritually speaking, or you simply want to reclaim your peace in the midst of a hectic life, going on retreat can be a perfect solution.
A true retreat is much more than a vacation—it can be a time of conscious, spiritual opening, of making an enjoyable effort to rise to an entirely new state of awareness. Here are a few tips for a retreat experience that is both relaxing and spiritually rewarding:
Find a supportive environment. The right environment can give you a tremendous boost—and the wrong one can work against you. (Isn’t that part of why you need a retreat in the first place?) If possible, choose a place with an established spiritual tradition, one that is harmonious with your own spiritual inclinations. For example, if you are primarily devotional, you probably won’t feel nurtured in a strongly intellectual environment, and vice versa. Look also for a place with the uplifting influence of beautiful natural surroundings, and with space to be alone whenever you wish.
If you’re new to being on retreat, go to a retreat center that offers individual guidance. Optional, guided group activities—such as yoga postures, meditations, nature walks, etc.—are also a plus. Occasionally tapping into a group magnetism can help even experienced retreatants keep their energy high and focused.
Other scheduling possibilities include guided yoga postures and/or meditation before breakfast, and possibly again later in the day.
While you might feel that you really need your sleep, you’ll find a tremendous benefit in starting the day with guided practices, even if you need to nap later in the day! Consider trying more guided sessions of yoga and meditation than you might want to at first—you may discover a more satisfying sense of relaxation and rejuvenation than you get from sleep or lounging around.
Just a word about food: Many people go on retreats hoping to lose weight. As much as possible, try not to make a big deal of food during your retreat. If you are able to touch a deep part of your being, to experience your soul, to feel God, this is much more central and long lasting. Since the food at your retreat center might be different from what you eat at home, you may want to bring along some healthy snacks, such as nuts and dried fruit. You probably won’t need them, but they may give you the confidence not to over-eat at meal times. Overeating will make you feel lethargic and will be counterproductive to your overall goals.
Prepare yourself. Just as athletes need training for peak performance, you’ll get more out of your retreat if you prepare in advance. Eat right and get rested; otherwise, you may need the first day or two of your retreat just to pull yourself together. If you already engage in spiritual practices, get a head start by putting extra energy into them before departing.
Go on a “worry fast.” As soon as you leave home, put all problems forcefully out of your mind. Preoccupation with problems can suffocate your retreat; while a worry-free retreat can actually help you solve problems more effectively.
What you do is not as important as whether your inspiration and “joy level” are high. You don’t have to pray and meditate all day long; few people can do that constructively, anyway. You don’t even have to stay in silence or solitude, though many people find these beneficial. And don’t “over-retreat”: if you’re a first-timer, 2–4 days is plenty. Focus on enjoyment, rather than “shoulds.”
Schedule variety into your retreat. For example, you might use the mornings for your most interiorized efforts: prayer, meditation, journal writing, or spiritual reading. Then be more expansive in the afternoons: walk in nature, do something creative, or listen to uplifting music or lecture tapes. Reserve your evenings for lighter fare: a spiritual video, a humorous book, or simply relaxed, quality time with like-minded people. And always allow for the inspiration of the moment; don’t be locked into anyone’s agenda—even your own.
Above all, relax and enjoy your retreat. Don’t put pressure on yourself to see immediate, dramatic results. When you go on retreat, you are planting a spiritual seed. If you water it by your own continuing spiritual efforts, in time it will surely sprout into the flower of peace and joy that you seek.
For more info, contact The Expanding Light Retreat at (800) 346-5350 or www.expandinglight.org, specializing in spiritual retreats for radiant health, meditation and stress reduction.
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