We all know the feeling of being sucked into the tornado of chaos—ever-expanding to-do lists, activities, work demands, phone calls, traffic, and negative thought patterns. So how do we remove ourselves from it and access the peace we all have within ourselves?
For me, I’ve found that in order to touch this deep, inward place, I have to be in nature (preferably in the sunshine). Others say that a vacation or day at the spa can do the trick. And a lucky few say they can tap their inner divine in any calm and focused environment.
Recently I’d heard that spiritual retreats were rising in popularity, so when I was invited to the intimate Bodhi Wellness Retreat, I jumped on the opportunity. The theme of the weekend was “Re-awaken”—tapping into our inner spirit, eating raw foods, re-centering with calming mind-breathe activities, and re-grounding through the basics in nature.
Tucked away at Hidden Villa, a hostel in Northern California’s Los Altos Hills, ten of us (mostly twenty to forty-something free spirits from all over the U.S.) gathered along with Cara Barr, the naturally beautiful Retreat Founder and Leader. It was back to basics for sure—no television, no minibar, no alcohol, no fancy decorations. We socialized and ate in the main house, then later slipped off to sleep in our own individual cabins. The cool air and absence of traffic or noisy neighbors instantly put me to sleep.
A 6 a.m. we arose to prepare for the Yogic sunrise salutation at 6:31 a.m. I wasn’t chipper, but I wasn’t as groggy as I expected I’d be. The yoga instructor guided us through movements that stimulated our circulation and awoke our tight hamstrings and quads. I appreciated that he made us laugh a few times and kept the atmosphere light-hearted.
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