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Going on a retreat

I have just finished a Nonviolent Communication retreat in India with 40 people of different ages, genders and backgrounds. The sessions were presented in English and translated into Hindi. I was fascinated by how enriching I found the teaching, meditation and space for reflection. My heart still feels nourished and warm with this deep experience of connection with self and others. 

Do you wonder what happened? Well, after a few days we began to get to know each other. In one of our sessions grief and pain came up in relation to social pressure in society. We all felt safe enough to share honestly our feelings and needs with another. With this openness we were able to connect with each other in our common humanity – it was really heart-warming!

The idea of going on a retreat

I never heard of the idea of going on retreat until I met my partner Shantigarbha, who is a Buddhist 🙂 I looked it up online and found this definition: Retreat is the act of giving up and withdrawing, or a time away in a quiet and secluded place where you can relax. Sounds like having a holiday. 😉

Some time later, Shantigarbha and I went on a winter holiday and I asked him if we could have a retreat programme. I have to admit that after three days I was struggling to follow the daily routine. I found maintaining consistency a challenge, and in the end I gave up. 

Attending an NVC retreat

Later still, I had the opportunity to attend one of Shantigarbha’s NVC retreats at a Buddhist retreat centre. To my surprise I loved it and became intrigued. It was so much fun to do things together with people I shared values with. Being part of a group also gave me the support I needed to stay in a daily retreat routine. Maybe it was this kind of accountability I needed. What I really appreciated was a sense of spaciousness: 

  • being in the countryside, close to nature.
  • time for myself – for rest, self-reflection, integration.
  • time with others – for learning, play, support, reflection, and togetherness.

I came back from the retreat rejuvenated, and with new friendships. I felt a sense of inner peace and my heart expanding in all directions. For me it was more than a holiday – it was a connecting and meaningful getaway from my busy daily life. 

Elements of a retreat

What makes it so special to go on a retreat? There are retreats with different motives and topics, for example a yoga retreat or a meditation retreat. However, I would say that there are some elements they have in common, such as: 

  • A peaceful environment to relax and find time to integrate your learning.
  • Slowing down from your daily life.
  • An opportunity to take a pause from screen time.
  • Meeting and bonding with like-minded people over a few days.
  • Exploring the topic of the retreat together and working on one or more specific goals. 

A retreat is for me an invitation to go on a journey of self-discovery and healing! Does it make sense? Have you ever experienced anything like this?

If this all speaks to you and you would like to join us, click on the links below and book your place.

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