Happy & Healthy
WHY YOU SHOULD EVER DO A YOGA RETREAT
Excuse me, may do
It is of course very un-yogi to say that you must do something. Because you really don't have to do anything at all. Yoga is mainly about finding your inner-dalai lama and cultivating a cute yoga butt. But if you do yoga (or not, but I would still recommend some yoga experience), it’s nice to fully immerse yourself in it once. This week I did a fantastic Kundalini retreat in Ibiza with the wise and humorous (how nice is that?) Guru Gian. And earlier I did a retreat in Goa and also once another retreat in Ibiza with the lovely yin yoga teacher Alison Melvin. I won't say it's always easy, as you really confront yourself. But both times I came back feeling reborn. Therefore, here’s a list of what you can expect at a yoga retreat. And because I love lists and I know you do too, right?
1. You will go through ups and downs
Doing a lot of yoga every day brings up a lot in a person. I can bet that on the second or third day I will cry very hard. For no reason. Once even on the yoga mat, which was quite embarrassing. Emotions get stuck in your body and are released through yoga. Don’t ask me how it works, but it happens. So prepare yourself for the four seasons during your stay: you will feel grumpy, you will feel euphoric, you will have days when you can’t do anything, and you will have days when you can do everything effortlessly. And that all belongs to the prrrrrroces of getting closer to yourself. And getting the body of a yoga goddess.
2. The food is usually fantastic
OMG! I have never done a yoga retreat where the food wasn't spectacularly delicious. Not even this week in Ibiza. Chef Monica from vegitalesibiza.com came every day to prepare the most amazing vegan meals for us. The tastiest homemade soups, savory pies, raw pizzas, and the desserts..! Man oh man, they were to die for. And everything looked so beautiful. Monica is also a food stylist, and that was evident. Be sure to check out her site for inspiration and recipes.
“The more you can focus on yourself, the more you can get out of your yoga week.”
3. The location is usually fantastic
This week in Ibiza we stayed in a wonderful villa on a mountain. I’ll just mention the infinity pool, a large sun terrace facing south, a beautiful nature area around it, the view over the valley, and million-dollar sunsets.
4. Go alone
Yes, of course, it’s nice to go with a friend. But if you really want to get something out of it, go alone. The more you can focus on yourself, the more you can get out of your yoga week.
5. Book a single room
You can of course book a double room, but then you will be assigned to a stranger. I personally don’t like that. Especially since there aren’t always two single beds. By the way, there are this time at the retreat I’m at now. But I have seen it differently before. Now, of course, I am a writer and I love to be alone a lot. But even if you’re not a hermit like me, it’s nice to have your own little spot where you can retreat.
6. Try not to make friends
You are of course placed with a bunch of strangers on a mountain for a week, who don’t even have to be fun (although they often are). If you, like me, have a bit of group anxiety, it gives you a lot of peace to think in advance that you’re not going there to make friends. If you don’t care whether the others like you or whether you like them, you can focus nicely on yourself, because that’s what you’re there for this week. Just bring a few books and a nice playlist, and you’ll entertain yourself just fine. And if you accidentally make friends anyway, that’s just a nice bonus.
7. You come back glowing and radiant
A week of super healthy eating, going to bed on time, and downward-facing dog does something to you. You’ve gotten to know yourself better, your eyes are shining, your skin has had a nice detox, you might be a kilo lighter, and you’re a lot more flexible.
