Three Misperceptions about attending a Yoga or Meditation Retreat

There are many misperceptions out there about what goes on at a yoga or meditation retreats. What do you imagine? Do you imagine a bunch of hippies smoking pot and gathering and chanting? Or perhaps, you have heard of sweat lodges. Well, all of that might be true. However, our retreats are just about that person seeking adventure, tranquility, clarity, peace, or maybe courage or tapping into the warrior or goddess within.

1. You will be doing yoga and meditation all day long. Oh gosh, anything in excess is not balancing.

Retreats for us are about relaxing and rejuvenating; finding some space to just BE. We want them to be nurturing to body, mind and soul. On most yoga retreats there will be two scheduled classes per day, a rejuvenating (though accessible) mindful flow in the morning, and a more relaxing, restorative class in the evening. 

Sessions are completely optional and centered around how you feel that day. If you just want to chill, then that’s totally fine! You'll always be encouraged to allow yourself to let the retreat experience be what's needed for you at that time. Some of our retreats focus on meditation, mindfulness and yoga nidra sessions with no active yoga, and again these are all optional, depending on your own needs and wants.

2. You will be required to eat what we tell you. This is your retreat! We won’t tell you what to do or how to be. We will provide beautiful foods that will nourish the body, the mind and the soul. We believe in freedom so you be free to eat what calls to you!

An important philosophy on our retreats is that food is not only fuel for our bodies - integral to our health and wellbeing - but something to look forward to and savor. We are able to cater to most dietary requirements. Just ask! Having a glass of wine over dinner is by no means discouraged on our yoga retreats (though more immersive mindfulness retreats are alcohol-free), though guests wishing to abstain will find it easy, with herbal teas aplenty!

3. You need to be like a professional yogi. Definitely a NO! What would that be anyway. If one thinks they are like a professional yogi, then they are not. Never done yoga, we welcome you! Been practicing yoga for a year, we welcome you! Been practicing yoga for 5 years then not for a year, we welcome you! We will meet you where you are, not where we want you to be or where you think you should be – but just where you are!

The Instagram effect has taken over: images of lithe young models in bendy yoga poses dominate our social media feeds, leaving many with an unrealistic view on what a ‘yogi’ looks like. From running both a yoga studio and a retreat business, we can answer that easily - people who practice yoga come in all shapes and sizes. Some are naturally slim, some are larger, some have natural flexibility, but many cannot touch their toes. We can guarantee that happiness will not be any more attainable with the simple ability to touch toes! Yoga is about awareness; it's an ancient meditation, born of marriage between breath and body - and that means absolutely anyone can join our retreats. Some of our retreats involve guided hikes, adapted to the particular needs of the group.

We could say anybody and everybody, because we believe in the great amazing benefits of yoga, meditation, ayurveda, energy work, and just simply being in a space where you can literally JUST BE. However, not everyone is ready to experience the just being part. We put together a list of those folks that may get the most benefit from our retreats:

• Recently divorced and feel like you lost yourself.
• Empty nester and looking for what’s next.
• Unexplained health issues that no one seems to have answers for and it is frustrating.
• Feeling like there is more to life than what is happening right now.
• Feeling stuck in a job or career that you know is not right for you.
• Recent loss of a loved one.
• Looking for a like-minded community.
• Reach out! We would love to chat and see if our retreats are a good fit for you.

Call/text us at (623) 986-2899.