Rest. Relax.

Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I just returned from a wonderful, wonderful weekend.  I went with one of my daughters to a Rest and Relaxation Weekend Retreat at a Wellness Center. I’ve never done anything like that before. I was a little nervous about how I would fit into the wellness lifestyle and wondered if I would know how to participate fully. But, once we got there, my fears were quickly put aside. We had such an amazing time.  Let me tell you, I believe I might try to do it again some day.

The Wellness Center was about 5 hours from our home outside Atlanta, Georgia.  I was excited that our destination was in North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Read: cooler temperatures than the sweltering heat of Georgia during the month of August.  The Wellness Center was on top of a mountain in Boone, NC. The campus was large, with buildings spread far and wide. There was not a single air conditioner in sight. But, with open windows, fans, and cool mountain air, day and night temperatures were absolutely lovely. No complaints whatsoever. In fact, it was glorious.

Here is a pic of the mountain view from the balcony of our dining hall.

Our schedule was jam-packed, often making us chuckle at the thought of “relaxation.” We were constantly on the go, checking where we were supposed to be, and what gear we needed to take with us or leave behind. We were forever walking or hopping the transportation shuttle from here to there and back again.

What did we do on this Rest and Relaxation Retreat?  Our days and nights were filled with:

• Guided Meditation, Mind and Meditation, Breathing Exercises
• Yoga
• Sound Bath Frequencies with Singing Bowls
• Meditative Chants
• Sessions on Optimizing Gut Health, Cooking with Seasonings, & Discovering Your Soul’s Purpose
• Warm Oil Massage
• Wellness Spa
• Walking the Labyrinth
• Bonfire
• Stargazing

And, did I mention the scenery? Here’s another look at the mountains.

The food was delicious, all vegetarian or vegan. There were so many options of herbal teas all hours of the day and night —right up my alley. The staff was wonderful. The other patrons were friendly, and everyone was cooperative and encouraging. Many of our fellow ‘campers’ were repeat customers, but there were many newbies, as well. There were a few who seemed even more fish-out-of-water than me. But, my goal for the weekend was to be open and go with the flow, no matter where it took me. I learned a lot, and I tucked away even more to think about and consider later.

See, a younger me would have been wary of attending a retreat like this, because it was rooted in Ayurveda. According to John Hopkins Medicine, “Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine, originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. Ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle interventions and natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment.” In the halls of traditional Western medicine, to some, Ayurveda ranks as a pseudoscience, to others, it complements Western medicine by using oils and spices and by focusing on stress reduction techniques. While medicinal, it has spiritual undertones. Years ago, I would have been dismissive of the practice of Ayurveda, thinking that it was something that was not relevant to me at all. But, oh, how times have changed.

These days I am more open-minded. I don’t think that I or “my people”, whoever they may be, have all the answers. I think there is much wisdom and advice to be learned from other cultures, from other lifestyles, and from people who don’t think like me. During some of our retreat presentations, I felt that some of the ideas were kind of “out there.” But, here’s the thing, the staff were not pushing their beliefs on any of us. ‘Campers’ who were invested in Ayurveda fully dived into that part of the curriculum, but those of us who were ‘just visiting’ were allowed to experience all the benefits of the body and soul exercises and techniques without feeling pressure of any kind. The staff explained the terminology they were using and told us where we could get more information, if we were interested. There were other retreats on campus that were designed for more concentrated exploration of Ayurveda. But, our retreat, simply put, was designed to give us an opportunity to unwind, relax, and lay groundwork for a healthier lifestyle. No indoctrination. No lectures.

What I found interesting was that the topics that were discussed during presentation sessions were often things that I knew from other sources, but they were referred to in Ayurveda terms. Just a different label for the same thing. Like I said, a younger me might have shied away from listening, because it would have sounded like far-out phrases and unrecognizable terms to me. Nowadays, I can listen and then peel away the labels to understand the concepts. If that makes sense.

Two big take-aways for me, not in their words, but paraphrased by me:

1. We spend a lot of time thinking about the past and planning for the future. It’s good to learn from the past and to prepare for the future. But, it is just as important to be in the here and now. To fully experience where you are and what is happening to you. To get the most out of each day without looking backward or forward. Savor the moments. Pay attention.
2. As we consider our purpose in life, we can discover how to be of service to others through our unique gifts. In other words, as we assess our skills and interests, we can find, not just a way to be happy, but a way to make a difference in the world. To be our best selves. And to contribute to the well-being of others. Furthermore, our abilities, talents, and interests may shift over the years as we experience life.

How's that sound to you?

'Bout time for another mountain picture. This was the morning that we got up early to catch the sunrise.

We didn't get to see a meaningful sunset, but we did stargaze at night. It was the most spectacular sky I have seen in years. It was incredibly clear, and the stars were twinkling away. First time I’ve seen the Milky Way since I was a teenager. Still trying to figure out what object we saw traveling fully across the sky overhead. Way too high to be an airplane. I checked the International Space Station flight pattern, but it was visible in Argentina at the time, not North Carolina, USA. Maybe it was a manmade satellite. Of course, my daughter insists it was an alien UFO.

I am rejuvenated physically and mentally after our Rest and Relaxation Retreat. It cost a pretty penny, but I consider it well worth the cost. I’m pretty good at relaxing on my own, but I can’t say that it’s always productive time. Participating in guided relaxation helped me focus and do things intentionally to improve my concentration, my awareness, and my spirit. It remains to be seen if I can incorporate some of the wellness habits into my daily life. I’m already behind on writing my 5-minute daily Gratitude Journal. But, there is hope for me. I continue to learn and try, and learn and try, and learn and try. Maybe I’ll get my best life figured out yet. I hope you will too.

Namaste.