Why Retreats are so Essential....

Periods of uninterrupted practice and quiet reflection allow us to melt away the stress and strain of the compulsive busyness that defines most of our lives. When we rest in the spaciousness of uninterrupted practice, supported and guided by a loving teacher, we can begin to see our fears and attachments more clearly and we can stop identifying with our outer roles and responsibilities, and begin remembering who we truly are, apart from what we do as mothers, fathers, business people, yoga practitioners, etc.

On retreat, we receive deeper philosophical teachings that underlie, but are unavailable in, daily asana classes. With time for reflection on these ideas and practices, and  wholehearted focus for a period of time, we begin to release habitual ways of being, and thinking. Our practice is strengthened. We cultivate more clarity and compassion for ourselves and others. We become more apt to catch our patterns of distraction when we return home, more apt to turn inward and employ our practices rather than succumbing yet again to reactivity.

Ultimately, retreats are an opportunity to come home to ourselves, to allow our inner wisdom to be unveiled, to grow our intuition and trust of our true nature. On retreat we find again our internal reservoir of joy and tranquility. And we rest.