Retreat : at home
Next Retreat : New Year, January 13-15, 2023
Twice a year, we gather for a long weekend at-home retreat. Always around the New Year and always mid-July.
Retreat is an opportunity to come home to yourself. Life pulls and pushes us, challenges and thrills, and this era especially has brought us to our knees...dare I say in both beauty and in heartache.
Our retreat days will begin with morning practice designed to access strength and resilience, move stagnant energy and invite in vibrancy.
In the evenings as the sun begins to set, we take time to be still, to move less, and to soften into the second practice of the day.
An opening Zoom call the week before we begin helps to set the tone, get clear, learn, and move through. I’ll leave space for Q&A too.
A few tips and suggestions for the week :
· Gather props : yoga mat, two blocks, either a bolster and meditation pillow or a selection of bed and couch pillows. Have an eye pillow? That too.
· If there is any trepidation around your abilities to do this, I assure you, you will do great. I no longer lead classes that twist anyone into a pretzel or move at a pace faster than a slow deep breath. My main goal in every single thing I teach is nervous system care and regulation, so my method is accessible yet challenging, steadying and soothing. Just enough. If you don’t know all the moves, it’s OK! If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. I will make sure everyone has my cell phone number for questions along the way.
· Journaling isn’t required, but a lot can come up during retreat. I will offer a few questions for contemplation throughout and you may wish to take notes during the Zoom calls. Maybe 2023 is deserving of a beautiful new empty journal and set of pens?
· Where will your practice space be? Make it yours, make it beautiful. Candles, a plant, flowers, stones, a photograph…time to gather some items.
· What to wear? Whatever you feel good in and can move freely in. One of my longtime students and friends cracked me up when she said “you know what I love about practicing at home? No whiny music and costumes.” I die. Nobody will see you at all during the yoga classes. Please get comfy. Or, dress up in fancy yoga clothes! I love and do both depending on my mood.
· I encourage you to look at your calendar and see what you can offload during retreat. Consider your attachment to email and social media, news media and just scrolling and opening apps just for the sake of distraction. I plan to go dark on social media during retreat week and not open the apps at all. It is a personal choice and not required of course, but I know from experience that a break like this is so deeply healing. Letting go temporarily of the opinions and outlooks of anyone and everyone is how I remember who I am. Over and over. Forget who I am, remember who I am.
In anticipation of you having a beautiful at-home retreat experience, I welcome you.