I’ve heard it said that it’s hard to heal in the same environment where we get sick and that the most effective way to dislodge anything that feels stuck, stiff, or stagnant is to physically move to a different location.
Sometimes this just means moving across the room to a different chair — where the light is better and your muse might find you.
Sometimes this means moving across the country for a few weeks to get that 180-degree perspective change.
I know that for myself, I’m highly susceptible to the environment I’m in, and I can’t imagine that I’m alone in this. For better or worse my whole being will expand or contract in response to my surroundings.
Beautiful, spacious, uncluttered: expansive.
Dilapidated, cluttered, noisy: contract.
You get the picture. It’s a little like the “broken windows” theory for the soul.
We are creatures of our environment, as they say.
I also know that the Number 1 way I’ve found to deepen my meditation practice is to go on retreat.
I hear it time and again from every meditation teacher I respect and admire.
Getting bored of your practice and hitting a plateau?
Go on retreat.
Want to sink deeper into your meditation than your current 20 minutes a day allows?
Go on retreat.
Ready to recommit to practice after a long hiatus?
Go on retreat.
Ready for some deeper study to give your meditation practice more context?
Retreat, Retreat, Retreat.
Even the word “Retreat” denotes a surrender and withdraw from the speed and obligation that so often has us playing either offense or defense to our own lives.
To retreat is to wave a white flag and step back so that we can approach our circumstances fresh. More grounded, balanced, clear.
I personally have always described meditation retreat as the process of cleaning the sh*t out of my eyes. It's nearly impossible not to see things more clearly when you're spending that much time on the cushion.
On that note, I’m excited to announce that I'll be pairing with the incomparable Megan Mook in the New Year to host a 6 Day Meditation Retreat at Apoyo Lodge in Nicaragua that was developed in the spirit of doing just that: :
Stepping back, reconnecting, and offering ourselves a gentle immersion in self-care (with a little vision-cleansing to boot).
There will be meditation, absolutely, along with a bevy of other offerings to nurture and nourish, like 70-80 degree weather in January (thanks, Mamma Nature), swimming in an ancient volcanic lake (pictured above) gentle morning yoga and much more.
Because while physically shifting locations can certainly help to dislodge what feels stuck, a bit of sun on the skin in winter, daily meditation practice, good food + good rest never hurt either.
Also, lest we forget, beauty is a healing modality all it's own.
To your practice. xx