1. You’ll get time to truly meditate
Every day we fill our minds with so many thoughts and tasks. These activities are not transforming our lives for the better but rather keep us preoccupied with a more or less meaningless flow of busyness. During a retreat, we take time off from these superficial actions to go deeper into our souls. In order to do that, we need to still our minds and when we take time off to focus wholeheartedly on that task, we are much more successful in silencing the busy parts of our minds.
2. You’ll get time to meditate deeper than at home
In order to meditate, we first need to silence the mind, and once that is accomplished, we are better able to awaken our inner soul awareness. We are better able to maintain meditative awareness when all we have to focus on is to practice yoga and meditation in silence. It is also much easier to go deep in your meditation when you are surrounded by other people who do the same in a peaceful natural setting. The collective energy created during a retreat will aid you in going deeper within.
3. You’ll get a fresh perspective on life
In a retreat, you are in a new environment surrounded by new people and new experiences. Your routine thoughts, feeling and actions are no longer dominating your experience, and you open up to new possibilities. As your external activities slow down, you open up your heart and mind and begin to listen to your vast inner reality and potential. In meditation and yoga, you explore hidden aspects of yourselves, often revealing new possibilities, deep insights and delightful inspirations.
4. You’ll have a digital detox experience
During a retreat, you will leave your distracting digital devices behind and focus on what is most important in life: the vast open screen of your inner self!
5. You’ll enjoy healthy, delicious food without having to do any work
The plant-based food at Prama is famous for its great taste. And many retreat participants have said that when they eat the food during a retreat it taste better than they have ever experienced. Yes, you may actually have a gastronomical enlightenment experience!
6. You’ll get time to focus on your yoga like never before
Imagine going into the yoga room while listening to the birds sing in a natural environment without any noise from cars or impressions from your life at work. During a retreat, you are in a sanctuary and you will practice accordingly, deeply and peacefully, just like an ancient ashram yogi.
7. You ‘ll begin replacing new habits
Deep reflection and deep practice will also deepen your resolve to change old habits with new and more constructive ones. You have finally time to focus on life’s essentials, and the inner resources and ideas to improve on your lifestyle, which are key to health and wellbeing, will naturally emerge and awaken new possibilities.
8. You’ll make new friends
Even if you go to a retreat alone, you will live in community with new friends and teachers who will assist and inspire you on your journey of spiritual transformation. You may even find a new friend for life, or a new life partner.
9. You’ll get time to appreciate being your true self
When you strip yourself of your daily habits and activities, the real you will emerge. Parts of you that you may have rarely experienced will come to life and be expressed. The busy mind will gave way to a more soulful experience. The real inner you will begin to emerge—that inner self described in the wisdom teachings of the yogi sages.
10. You’ll appreciate going home to a new life with new beginnings
Taking time off for a soulful vacation, even if only for a few days, can be the beginning to a new life, a new beginning. A new career. New insights to an old relationship. New inspirations to new projects. New tools to overcome stale habits. Going a few steps inward may make you go forward many times over.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Sid Jordan
As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Sid Jordan taught psychotherapy and directed mental health, alcohol and drug services while in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. from 1969-1993. He began his practices of yoga and meditation in 1971 pursuing the integration of yoga and psychology in his teaching and clinical practices. In 1997 he trained as a yoga and meditation teacher in India applying the tantric yoga teachings of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti the preceptor of Ananda Marga.
Currently he is Director of the Prama Institute where he teaches yoga psychology and spiritual practices. At the Prama Wellness Center he offers yoga therapy and stress management to individuals and groups. He continues to offer his 40 years of experience and teaching of yoga psychology, philosophy and practices to audiences worldwide.