Retreats are good for Natural Health
Too many of us are living in a world full of noise and chaos. We’ve discussed the benefits of taking a time out for peace and quiet (see previous post – Q is for Quiet Contemplation), and while I wholeheartedly recommend meditating each day for a while to quiet the mind and gain clarity, sometimes 20 minutes is just not enough.
Sometimes a person needs to get away. Get away from the hustle and bustle. Get away from the kids and the job and the pressures and responsibilities. Get away from the outside noise and stop and listen to the inner silence. Many authors have extolled the virtues of quiet contemplation in a spiritual retreat setting, a pause in the everyday life to seek a more meaningful rest and respite. “By practicing silence, you nurture your listening skills. You find your true self. You hear the quiet voice of God.”
Retreats can be found all over the world. There are retreat centers where you can learn with great teachers, like the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY or Esalen in Big Sur, California. There are spas where you can go to nurture and pamper your body as well as your mind. You can go to monasteries or on pilgrimages to find your divine spirit (check out Find the Divine, a resource for spiritual retreats – http://www.findthedivine.com/spiritualretreats.html).
Or if you simply can’t get away, you can go within for 20 minutes, and find rest and rejuvenation as you shut out the noise and Retreat from the world. It’s the most important way you can improve your natural health!
