Updated: May 13, 2024
By Robyn Parets, founder of Pretzel Kids
I couldn’t have picked a worse time to go on a yoga retreat.
Say what? Since when is going on a yoga retreat a bad thing?
Since never.
But let me back up a bit here. I’m not saying I shouldn’t have gone on the retreat. I’m saying it wasn’t a good time to go.
That’s right. Pretzel Kids is super busy wrapping up school year programs and classes, and moving into the summer camp season. Plus, I’ve got lots of personal things to attend to, and I won’t bore you with these details.
So, if I could have picked a time to get away, prioritize my self-care and unplug, it would NOT have been now. But this brings me to my next point: Is there ever a good time to escape work pressure and turn inward?
Is there ever an ideal time to shut off your phone and ignore a slew of emails for a week?
Nope.
Getting away is hard, regardless of whether you’re taking a European vacation or going to Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health for a few days of rest and relaxation. At the same time, taking time off from work is necessary for your own mental and physical well-being. It helps prevent burnout, which can be seriously detrimental to your health, according to Thrive Global.
And don’t kid yourself. If you’re a kids yoga teacher or in the wellness field, you can’t neglect your own self-care.
Not now. Not ever.
With that, I’m going to leave you with my top five reasons to go on a yoga retreat. Better yet, go it alone:
1. You need time to recharge, even in the midst of chaos
Time off from work to go on a yoga retreat helps you slow down and take essential time to take care of yourself.
2. You’ll return with more focus
When you do #1, you’ll return to work invigorated and ready to charge forward with more energy and focus.
3. Your best ideas are hatched when you get away from your daily grind.
Ok, maybe this doesn’t happen for you, but it certainly happens for me. When I’m away from home, I can more readily take the time to meditate, practice yoga, go for long walks alone, and kayak on a still lake. I often come away with the answers I have been seeking.
4. When you go on a solo retreat, you don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself.
For me, this is liberating. I get to do what I want, when I want. But not only that, I also have time to become more mindful and contemplate my next steps.
5. You can create
What does this mean? It means you get to be your own creative genius, at least while you’re away (and better yet, you can take it home with you). If you want to write, bring along a journal (yes, leave your computer behind). If you want to photograph nature, have at it. Like to paint? Just do it. This is your time to let your creative juices flow and trust me, this will help you move forward when you return home.
Pick a Retreat Center and Go
I typically go to Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Ma. twice a year. Sometimes I pick an interesting program, sometimes I just take a few days of R&R.
Sometimes the timing feels right.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
Regardless, I go. And I come home refreshed, recharged and ready to seize the day.
About Robyn
Robyn Parets is the founder and CEO of Pretzel Kids.
