I added a new requirement to my Mentorship Programs this year……….a Restorative Retreat. There are many wonderful retreat centers and talented retreat facilitators but I wanted my students to have the experience of a solo retreat they were in charge of themselves. One of our intentions is to develop a strong sense of personal responsibility. Deciding the environment, the food, the intentions to work on was all a part of the success of each retreat.
Well, the evidence is coming in!! And it is nothing but SPECTACULAR!! Clarity, insights, peace of mind, time to do the deeper work……….they are experiencing their own wisdom and their own guidance when they give themselves the gift of time and a strong format. Every one of the students has LOVED it and already thinking about when they can schedule another one for themselves.
One went tent camping, one to the hermitage at Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Janesville, a couple did it at home, (one had to send her family away:), one to a camp ground and others will be setting their own retreat up in different settings. Whatever works for them to be alone and silent for their allotted time.
They find it a huge relief.
I required 1st year students to do a 1 day retreat, 2nd year students to do a 2 day retreat and 3rd and 4th year students a 3 day retreat.
I am speaking of this today as I am offering this idea to you. This format is inexpensive, effective and hugely self empowering.
This is the dictionary’s description of a retreat: “to withdraw, retire, or draw back, especially for shelter or seclusion”
We are so “leaning forward” into our lives most of the time that it is a relief to “withdraw, retire,or draw back”.
In my classes we often speak of the importance of slowing down and simplifying our lives. To live a life of awareness and presence we must have some time to reflect and be with our selves. A retreat gives us that time. In fact it magnifies that time.
A well spent retreat needs to be nurtured on the home front as well. There is a book written by Jack Cornfield entitled, “After Enlightenment, the Laundry”. The title says it all. To have the greatest effect, we will take what we learned or surrendered to during our retreat into our daily lives. The way that I do that and my students do that is through their Daily Practice that they have been cultivating from day one of the 1st Mentorship.
How would this look in your own life? Do you have a Daily Practice that keeps you connected and grounded in your own body, mind and spirit? Could you take the leap and set up a silent retreat for yourself?
I highly encourage it.
The pre- requisite to enter into the Level I Mentorship Program with me that begins each March, is to have taken at least one of the following:
7 Week Chakra Class
http://melaniejwilliams.com/foundational-classes/7-week-chakra-class/
6 Week Beliefs Class
http://melaniejwilliams.com/foundational-classes/6-weeks-beliefs-class/
Mona’s 200 Hr. Yoga Teacher Training Program
http://www.sunmoonyogastudios.com/TeacherTraining.php
(or something equivalent you have done elsewhere)
If your summer is packed with summer activities, look at your fall or winter schedule. It is a wonderful time to go into deeper reflection when the days get shorter and we enter into the “dark” of the year.
Let me know if you decide to take this on AND your results!
Let’s see…….when I am going to do my next retreat………
Much love! Melaniej
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