Imagine this: A spa treatment in a woodland sanctuary. Singing in harmony around a campfire. A workshop with an inspiring teacher. A steaming cup of scented tea in a quiet room.
Ahhh...such are the rewards of retreat.
The retreat experience is a temporary break from the rigors of daily life. It's precisely the change of environment that refreshes mentally and physically. The rules: no laptop, no cell phone, and no paperwork.
But what if time or financial constraints make it difficult to get away to a spa or retreat centre? No problem. There are many ways to have the retreat experience without leaving town or even spending a dime. Jennifer Louden, author of The Women's Retreat Book describes "mini-retreats" as alternatives to long retreats.
How can you create a mini-retreat in your home? How about a soothing candlelit bath with all sorts of decadent lotions and potions. Or a half-hour all alone with the weekend newspaper, wearing one of those thick white terry robes.
As Louden says, "a mini-retreat can look like just about anything if it is embedded with the archetypal structure of retreat: ritual withdrawal from the ordinary, a way to be (present)...as you listen to your deepest self, and a conscious return to ordinary life."
All too often these days we feel exhausted, depleted, and just plain cranky because of competing demands, constant phone calls, and other pressures. We need to get away from the rat race. And the choice is ours to make.
