Retreat to renew and revitalize yourself

My husband just finished a weeklong Montana retreat with his close-knit tribe of growth-minded buddies.

By the time he got home he felt energized and inspired: a renewed lease on life, so to speak.

Retreats are amazing because they give you the opportunity to get out of your normal routine and get into a positive healing space to reflect on your life as a whole.

I witnessed a similar transformation with the ladies that attended my recent Renew Your Radiance Retreat. Many of the women attended because they needed a reset.

Whether it was a reset on their diet and lifestyle, their emotional operating system, or an overhaul with their job or love life – it was a chance for them to go within, reflect, and create the space needed for clarity, growth, and renewal.

Which is exactly what happened!

We began the retreat by getting into nature and connecting back to ourselves in a much deeper way than how we are operating in the 24-7, fast-paced world live in.

By utilizing the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (forest therapy), it gave us a chance to slow down, reset the nervous system, and clear a busy mind – it’s only with a clear and calm mind that clarity surfaces.

Our expert practitioner, Kelly Bruce, led us through a few gentle activities to connect us to nature with our senses.

We took brief moments to sit and experience the coolness of the earth under the canopy of the trees, listen to the splashing sounds of the waterfall, the birds tweeting above us in the trees, and we did it without computers or cell phones to distract us from being present in the moment.

Many of the women immediately felt more grounded, relaxed, and re-connected.

Andrea J. had this to say about her first forest bathing experience, “I’ve been on hikes before but not in the way that we were in the forest. It really allowed me to stop, ground myself, and take in my surroundings. I feel like a new person. I am feeling re-energized, focused, and grounded.”

Whether it’s simply sitting by a waterfall, or walking slowly on a path through the woods, the benefits are undeniable. Even medical science understands the significance of using forest therapy to calm anxiety, reduce stress hormones, and prevent heart disease – the #1 killer of all people around the world.

Plus, the healing benefits of Shinrin-yoku last long after you’ve left the forest.

An article in Harvard health had this to say about forest therapy, “Trees give off volatile essential oils called phytoncides that have antimicrobial properties and influence immunity. One Japanese study showed a rise in number and activity of immune cells called natural killer cells, which fight viruses and cancer, among people who spent three days and two nights in a forest versus people who took an urban trip. This benefit lasted for more than a month after the forest trip!”[1]

The women attending my retreat were immersed in various levels of forest therapy on a daily basis. Including when we connected with each other during group fireside chats to integrate and digest our experiences.

Our fireside chats were an opportunity to bond, share intimate experiences, and connect socially.

Jeffrey Rediger, MD, in his bestselling book, “Cured,” says this about social bonding:

“Social connections turn out to be an essential nutrient like any other; you can’t heal without micro-connections to light up your vagus (nerve) just as you can’t heal without nutrient-rich food to fuel your body. Love and connection are clearly among the most potent medicines. We should be writing prescriptions for people to spend restorative time – those micro-moments of positivity – with friends, family and new acquaintances, just as we write prescriptions for pharmaceutical medications.”

Jeffrey Rediger emphasized that you cannot heal without micro-connections to light up your vagus nerve. Those micro-connections are how we deepen bonds in our social circles.

Here’s what Susan had to say about her experience at my retreat:

“Andrea is so open and loving and genuine and caring and attentive. And, every other member here is like that. The love between us as we spoke about our struggles, and helped each other with our experiences, and laughed together, and walked through nature, and sat at the fire, and ate together, and roomed together, and brushed our teeth together, … it’s all just been amazing. I am feeling so much gratitude. I would absolutely recommend this to others.” Susan D

When you are fully immersed in an integrated healing space, you experience the power of connection to your human family. We are all in this together – and our strong social bonds keep us feeling connected, seen, heard, and healthy.

As we move forward in these challenging times (that are going to get more chaotic), connect with a community of wellness focused, loving, and supportive people.

Otherwise, you may find you and your loved ones repeating and experiencing the tragedy of the last few years; separation, disconnection, anxiety, and isolation.

If finding the right community to experience healing on many levels calls to you, check out my October retreat and get ready to Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit in a loving and supportive environment.

Details here – Rediscover Your Radiance

[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-forest-therapy-enhance-health-and-well-being-2020052919948