What Happens On A Wellness Retreat That I Wouldn’t Get On Vacation?

Mental Health TreatmentYoga & MindfulnessWellness Retreats

Jul 5

What is a Wellness Retreat? Why should I consider one?

You may have seen ads or posts from friends recently about something called a Wellness Retreat. They are growing in popularity as more people look for more than just an escape from reality while on vacation. But what can they offer you? Why should you spend your hard earned time and money on this experience?

Imagine you are in a tranquil and beautiful location outside of your typical busy or chaotic environment. One where there is someone to help guide you in addressing an element of mental health and wellbeing that you are struggling to tend to in your day-to-day life. Imagine that you get to join with others who are also looking to take care of themselves and who you can learn with, empathize with, and encourage in one another’s wellness journey. A wellness retreat provides a space for all these things and much more.

In daily life, you may attend 1:1 therapy sessions, try out a movement class, or speak to friends about issues you’re struggling with, all of which are beneficial! But these experiences are typically not fully immersive. These types of experiences occur for maybe an hour or so out of your week or month and may create an impact slowly over time. However, a wellness retreat is a unique environment where you are more deeply living and interacting with others to engage in collective healing, which is extremely powerful and transformative.

Wellness retreats are meant to be an escape from your environment to allow you adequate space to rest, recharge, focus on yourself, learn and grow alongside others, and hopefully learn how to carry some of these elements home with you as you continue on your journey.

What are the top benefits for attending a Wellness Retreat? How is a Wellness Retreat different from a vacation?

A retreat leader who is qualified in a wellness field to guide you. A quality retreat leader can really help you get the most out of a retreat. Left to your our own devices, we can easily become distracted by worries, thoughts about the future, and rushing through our “time off” rather than slowing down and being mindful. A good leader will help guide you in staying present and grounded through thoughtful practices, exercises, and conversations to get the most out of the retreat.
A holistic and balanced approach to scheduled activities and rest. A good retreat leader will also ensure you are engaged in activities for your mind, body, and soul. Activities that help you learn something, feel something, move your body, and help create memories. Additionally, we all need time to recharge and time away from work and other adult responsibilities. A wellness retreat should address the need for rest and quality down time, away from responsibilities and the constant “doing mode” we tend to stay in for most of daily life.
A safe environment. This can apply to the specific space you are staying (such as comfortable, clean, and secure accommodations), but it is also important that you feel emotionally safe with the other participants on the retreat. A retreat leader who is trained in a wellness field and sensitive to other’s needs will prioritize each group members’ safety and wellbeing. They will get to know and interact with each group member who plans to attend the retreat to ensure that each person agrees to whatever the boundaries are, and is invested in the retreat’s theme. When there is group cohesion and comfort, then there is more opportunity for productive rest, healing, and growth.
The opportunity for someone else to make the decisions and plans. You likely have many decisions to make, people to care for, and details to manage in your daily life. A quality retreat leader and host will have thought through most of the logistics, planning, and itinerary for you. This includes finding a lovely, tranquil, and comfortable place to stay; quality and nourishing food is provided, and activities are coordinated. All you have to do is get yourself to the chosen location, be a willing participant, and enjoy the ride!
The possibility for collective healing. On a wellness retreat, you get the opportunity to live in community for a time with others who are looking to invest in themselves, work through a similar struggle, and grow together. You may come from different backgrounds and have vastly different lives and past experiences, but you will also share experiences, share heartache, share insecurities. These differences and similarities are what connects us all together as humans. You will listen and share about personal struggles and feelings in a way that you might not have the opportunity to in your daily life. This vulnerability can be difficult but incredibly rewarding when shared in a safe environment as mentioned above.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of what is included in a wellness retreat. But sometimes the biggest barrier to an individual attending one of these retreats is doubt and uncertainty. You may still have some doubts that you deserve to attend one of these retreats or you may have reservations about the others attending the retreat. I want to address those concerns here to help soothe fears and instill confidence that you are worthy of this experience.

Ways to challenge the questions, fears, or doubts you may be having about a Wellness Retreat:

Do I deserve to go to a wellness retreat? You might be thinking, “other people probably need it more than me.” It can be very easy to compare your needs to others. Everyone has needs in this world and those needs are worth attending to! Everyone deserves to care for themselves not just those who seem to, “need it more.” Yes, others could use some time away for themselves, but that does not take away from or somehow reduce your own needs and personal wellbeing. Your needs and desires have value. Choosing to do something like this for yourself is a way of instilling value in yourself and those needs. You deserve this!

What if others judge me? I’m nervous about being around others I don’t know. This is completely understandable. It can be difficult to open up with others and spend time with those you aren’t familiar with. This is why having a retreat leader you can trust who will vet all retreat guests, create and help maintain a code of conduct to ensure all retreat guests feel safe and supported throughout the experience. Additionally, while vulnerability and meeting new people can be nerve-wracking, it can also provide an opportunity for the collective healing that occurs especially in retreats. Leaning into it could help you feel more connected rather than alone.

What if my family/coworkers can’t handle me being gone? You likely do so much to care for others and manage many responsibilities in your life. You may feel guilt at the thought of leaving those responsibilities in other’s hands. Asking for help can be difficult, but remember that responsibilities in your life can likely be distributed and handled by multiple others. You can set others up for success when you leave and it will become easier for you to do so as needed in the future. Additionally, allowing others to help take care of you and share the load is a way of showing and receiving love. Finally, you cannot give from an empty cup. Taking time away from daily responsibilities can provide a recharge and refreshment in order to sustainably do your job, love on friends and family, and take care of your daily needs.
Are you sure I deserve it? Yes! You are worth every bit of self-care, luxury, growth, exploration, and fun you can find in life. Allow yourself to go for it!

I hope that this article peaked your curiosity and even increased your excitement for the possibility of attending a wellness retreat. I encourage you to research a retreat like this that might meet your needs and desires at this time. While it is wise to plan out a prudent time to take time off, there will never be a “perfect time.” I encourage you to take action, do some research, grab a friend even to make this happen. You will not regret it!