As the country leapt into pre-pandemic activity this past holiday weekend, I felt a measure of overwhelm. While grateful we can truly connect with each other again, I am unused to traffic jams and standing in crowds. More importantly, I fear losing the lessons learned from going inward, not needing to spend money or energy on what holds little value in the long run. Can we allow the spiritual truths to inform a new way of coming back together? Can we integrate our place in nature with how we view each other and understand the earth as the home of our bodies, minds and souls?

Gratefully, there is another change at the intersection of connecting in the flesh and grappling with our new world. Some of our beloved retreat centers are re-opening or soon to be welcoming back folks to in-person events. This includes Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center in North Andover, MA, the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY (July 23rd) and Kripalu in the Berkshires (Aug 19th).   With what has been awakened this past year, we need them more than ever to sort ourselves out to cultivate our evolution as beings living from brave solutions.

Here are a few things to bring into your planning/consideration:

1) Retreats get you out of your usual patterns, instead of doing, analyzing and performing, they bring you to your yin nature, where you can come back into your body, allow things to unfold in their own way and tune into all we miss in an overscheduled existence.

2) Most retreat centers weave in time spent outside. Here, we don’t just find our awe for the outdoors but we remember we are a part of nature. Knowing our natural selves shifts emotions and brain chemistry, as it gives us our truest bearings.

3) When going on retreat, give yourself space. That starts with ample time to travel without added stress, to unwind, and to be present with what emerges from your consciousness. I bet your soul has a lot to say to you, so let it fully express itself. Afterwards, and I can’t stress this enough, allow your re-entry to be slow and even-paced.

4) Retreats are about rest: Mental, physical, emotional and social. Once on a silent retreat, I got to wear a sign that said, “In Loving Silence”. This meant that while being with other people, I could drop the usual social niceties, like small talk over the lunch table. Instead, I noticed the flavors and textures of my food and the sensations of chewing fully to better nourish my body. I also observed the absence of the constant pressure we all feel at our core to show up a certain way. Do you know how well you sleep when you experience living through such liberation?

Debra LeClair Psy.D. is the co-founder of Full Spectrum Wellness and a spiritual retreat enthusiast, both attending and providing.