Going on retreat at home
Retreats of all kinds (Yoga, Meditation, creative, contemplative...) have become more and more popular with all sorts of people looking to unwind and get away from their busy lives. They have also become quite expensive, and not everyone has the luxury of being able to go away and leave work, families, pets and so on for any length of time. The most awesome thing (for me) about going away on retreat, has always been that it forced me to disengage from my day to day life entirely and that I could relax back in the capable hands of a good teacher. I realised a few years ago that I could also be that teacher for myself (for a short period of time anyway), and that I didn't need to take off to some exotic location to restore and disengage. When I need it, I write myself a retreat program spanning a day or a weekend. Here is a sample of what I would consider a relaxing and restorative day:
7am - 8:30am: Yoga Asana
8:30am - 9:30am: Pranayama and Meditation
9:30am: close morning session with chanting
9:30am - 10am: Tea and breakfast
10am - 11am: Hot bath with essential oils
11am - 1pm: Reading a real book & more tea /snoozing
1pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm - 4pm: Artist walk out in nature (take photos with a camera or find a quiet spot to draw or write)
4pm - 5pm: Come home and have tea (again) & write postcards to friends and family
5pm - 6pm: Yoga Nidra
6pm - 6:30pm: Seated Meditation
6:30pm - 7:30pm: Dinner (make and eat)
7:30pm - 8:30pm: Read a real book
8:30pm - 9pm: Restorative Yoga Asana
9pm - 9:30pm: Prepare for sleep
9:30pm: Go to bed
It's important to stick to your schedule if you can, and also leave plenty of time for each activity you pick to do. If you fall asleep for the whole day, you probably needed it, so don't worry about not making the schedule. See it more as a sign that you probably need more than a day or two in retreat. Make sure you select truly relaxing activities, that encourage you to "rest and digest" rather than anything adrenaline inducing or depleting. I love to surf and skateboard, but I leave those activities out of my retreat days, because although I'm used to doing them, they're dangerous and not quiet, safe, and restorative in this sense. If you have kids and/or a partner, send them all away for the day.
Very important:
- Switch off all your devices and your laptop
- Don't invite anyone over
- Be present - enjoy this special time
- Make sure your program is realistic (I am long time Yoga practitioner so this sample is good for me. Make sure you pick activities that are comfortable and familiar to you. This is not a time to achieve goals and strive for something new)
- Make sure you have everything you need prepared in advance so that you don't have to go to any stores for supplies
Of course early the next morning, you may, as I do, frantically run to check your email and phone only to discover that the world has survived a day or two without you.