5 Ways to Experience a Life Changing Yoga Retreat

5 Ways to Experience a Life Changing Yoga Retreat

When you change your perspective, it reveals new possibilities and opens up new doors. We are normally so immersed in the details of our lives that we focus only on that which is in front of us or what happened to us last week or the fear of what may happen in the future.

Going on a yoga or wellness retreat is a great way to give you a different perspective, break away from your daily routine and get you out of your comfort zone.

Here are 5 tips to ensure you leave the retreat with a whole new perspective.

1. Set an intention before you go

Everything that happens in the universe begins with intention. An intention is a directed impulse of consciousness that contains the seed form of that which you aim to create. A working definition for intention is: “to have in mind a purpose or plan, to direct the mind, to aim.”

Lacking intention, we sometimes stray without meaning or direction. But with it, all the forces of the universe can align to make even the most impossible, possible. Is there anything particular that you would like to gain a new perspective on? This may be on something that has recently happened to you that you’ve been struggling to deal with and let go of. Or it may be you want a new perspective on how you respond to events in general, creating a new mindset and reality.

Write your intention down on a piece of paper, in your diary or on a sticky note that you stick on your mirror. Talk in the first person, for example: ”On this retreat, I’m intending to gain a fresh perspective. I’ll open my eyes, my mind, and my heart to new experiences, taking each one in with open arms.”

2. Keep a gratitude diary

It’s easy to lose sight and take for granted all that we have right now. Keeping a gratitude diary and writing down all that you are thankful for each day can really shift our consciousness and raise our vibration as we put ourselves in a state of appreciation. This high vibrational state attracts more abundance our way. Gratitude can be life-changing because it can help you gain valuable perspective and helps you realise that you really do have much to be grateful for. Taking time to meditate or think about those things that you have to be grateful for can give you an entirely new perspective and outlook on your life.

Eighteen years ago, Oprah Winfrey started a gratitude journal and began writing down five things she was grateful for daily and she believes keeping this journal was the single most important thing she’s ever done.

3. Take photos of nature

We are all connected and part of nature. However, this is easy to forget in the modern disconnected world. Being in nature has a very healing and therapeutic effect and can induce a flow of inspiration and creativity. Spend some time observing your retreat’s surroundings, walking in nature if you can and taking photos of plants, trees, animals and whatever else you feel drawn to. This helps us to get present and be in a state of wonder and awe as we notice the beauty of a flower, the graceful movements of a butterfly or the details in a spider’s web.

Lie down next to a tree and look up at the sky through the leaves. Watch the night sky and reflect on your place in the universe. Look at the patterns in clouds. Watch the sunrise or sunset and notice the colours, the patterns of shadows, the sounds and the intensity of the light. Think about how it makes you feel.

Print out the photos and put them in your journal or create a board on Pinterest. You can refer back to the images whenever you are feeling disconnected again.

4. Embrace Change

Many people choose to go on a retreat as they are going through a period of change or wanting to create changes in their lives. With change comes the opportunity to gain a new perspective. When you understand the nature of reality, it becomes very obvious that change is the only constant. Everything is in the process of becoming something else. Embracing change begins by accepting that life is a journey of discovery and that change is part of that journey.

Each event that happens to you has the ability to move you forward or backward. The way you choose to view a situation determines your experience. If you keep doing things in the same way you have been doing, expect the same result. Use your retreat as an opportunity to do things differently and shake things up, create a new healthy routine for yourself and try something you’ve never done before.

You can make whatever changes you want in your life. Life likes changes. Life is change.

As Charles Darwin said, ”It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

5. Get in touch with who you are

Whilst on retreat, use this time for inner reflection and getting in touch with your true self. You must look beneath the “surface” of yourself into your way of thinking (your beliefs) in order to understand why your life is going (and has been going) in a particular direction. It is your belief system that can either enhance or weaken your chances of leading a happy, prosperous, fulfilled life.

Spend some time alone or in meditation. At times, life can feel like a treadmill. With meditation, you step off life’s treadmill and connect with your true self. Your focus clears. You gain clarity of intention and purpose. You align with your inner power. You return to the world refreshed and ready to share your gifts. You live with a sense of meaning and purpose for your existence. In this time of inner reflection, consider what’s important to you in your life and what is no longer serving you that you can let go of. If you want to live an extraordinary life, you first must know who you truly are, and to get to that place, you must find out who you truly are.

Ask yourself important questions, such as ‘Am I living the life I envisioned?’ If not, what changes can you make? Think about the kind of future you want.

Looking for a retreat to explore in 2016? Visit Soul Seed Travel for inspiration and special offers on Yoga and Wellness retreats around the world.

One Comment

  1. Ana B.
    Ana B.

    Yoga retreats are the perfect place for changing your life for the better. You will have all the time in the world to focus only on yourself and your well being. Setting your yoga retreat goal is a great way to start since you will know right away what your intentions are.
    Also, I love your advice on keeping a gratitude journal and taking photos of nature. Gratitude journal can really help you stay on the right path and make you appreciate what you have. The majority of us are not aware of the small things in our life and we are constantly focusing on far future. Writing everything on a piece of paper will make us stay in the moment.
    Photography on itself have a calming effect on me. Especially spending time with my camera in nature. I can totally see why you find it to be useful.
    All in all, this was a great read, thank you!

    Ana

    March 9, 2016 at 6:40 am Reply

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