🌱 Wellbeing: Invitation to Retreat with Ro (postponed)
An invitation to join me on retreat in Spring 2024 in the Spanish Pyrenees
Woah lovely readers, I for one am delighted to be on #10 post for Nomad November, a third of the way there! Thanks for all the positive feedback on the series. Full list of articles is below:
Nomad November Summary: #1 Nomad Skills > #2 DNS Origin Story (Free) > #3 Three Prompts for Better Nomad Living > #4 Liberland Representative, Samuela > #5 Fast Nomadism is unsustainable > #6 Audio Exercise, get ready to take a Better Break > #7 Remote Work could solve global poverty > #8 The Entrepreneurs cashing in on Nomads > #9 My Travel Transit Mobile Office Setup
🍃 Invitation: 🍃 Creative Rural Retreat, Spring 2024 in the Spanish Pyrenees
In recent days I have been organising my first retreat, pre-registration is above. So I have updated and made free my popular article on why I love retreats, enjoy!
Psychology and the subconscious have always fascinated me, so in the early 90’s I qualified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, which introduced me to meditation. Since then, I have been fascinated by the “alternative”, from astrology to reiki energetic practices to alternative medicine, sound therapy to ancestral healing. So why do I believe, one of the best ways to treat yourself is to attend a retreat, let me explain my why’s >>
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🍃 Invitation: 🍃 Creative Rural Retreat, Spring 2024 in the Spanish Pyrenees
Many travel experiences, can be enhanced by spiritual exploration, from attending a Buddhist retreat centre on the North Island of New Zealand, to visiting temples in Vietnam, Taiwan and Thailand and to one of my other “homes”, a place of profound spiritual energy and healing, the island of Bali. We are often most present at a retreat, with a focus on healing, connection and community. So whilst travelling, retreats can be an excellent way to reconnect with your spiritual side and also to discover another layer of a countries culture. Below (apologies for the picture quality, 5 years ago, mobile camera quality was bad!) I am pictured in 2018, getting blessed by a high priest in Bali, Indonesia.
Yoga and meditation are common themes for my retreats and I have been blessed to enjoy yoga holidays and retreats in Goa, Bulgaria, Ireland, Scotland and in my home base of Spain. I even have a retreat buddy, she is one of my most special friends in Spain, we first met whilst on a retreat in Moncayo, near Zaragoza. Worth saying here, that was first all-Spanish retreat in Spain and I actually understood about 20% of the instruction and conversations. However, as many of those who have explored spirituality know, verbal language is only one way to connect. When I first met with my special buddy, we connected on all sorts of levels without the use of much language, cementing a strong bond of more than 4 years now.
This is a lesson in how when you want to find community and deep connection, retreats are a magical way to do that. Often the words and language used to describe retreats: rejuvenate, revive, rebalance, reset, remember (or be reminded) all ring true.
Retreat (and retract) from your daily routine, to reset and reconnect with your inner self. Most retreats and alternative workshops, take place in either a dedicated space or location, with many being rural in nature. Some locations even specialise in hosting retreat groups, with facilities and food tailored especially. Let me introduce you to one of the most beautiful and carefully curated locations I have every discovered, “the rural houses of Zapatierno” in Bielsa, in the Spanish Pyrenees, not far from the French border. Everything about this place sings and emanates “special”, from the most precious prayer and yoga room, with the most stunning views of the mountains, to the comfortable accommodation, but especially – for me – the hosts. The atmosphere Carmen (an experienced Kundalini yoga teacher) and Tómas (a local mountain guide), have created is awe inspiring. I can honestly say, that this is one of my favourite places in the world. I attended my first retreat there in 2019 and I left, knowing I was in love with the place and I would return.
In February, my retreat buddy told me that there was another yoga weekend planned there. In fact, my husband had offered to pay for a special trip for the two of us, as part of my 50th birthday present (see, everyone knows I love retreats!), for this big celebration, I had asked for experiences as gifts, relishing in the chance to spend more time with those I cherish and love.
I did not need to know the exact details, once I know the location, I was sold - so after checking my diary was free, we booked. Because the very act of booking and going on retreat, for me as a mother, is a gift to myself and my wellbeing, I was in a good mood straight away.
All the elements of a perfect retreat.
That recent February 2023 Weekend Yoga Retreat with Ruth was perfect. Here’s why:
Gentle mindful meditation and soothing flow yoga, underpinned the weekend, carefully facilitated and lead by the glowing yoga teacher and guide Ruth
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Likeminded and open-hearted retreaters, who were all open to new experiences with warm and friendly attitudes, but also with so much fun! See below for an example of the fun in the snow had by all.
Snow time joy, Zapatierno, Bielsa, Aragon, Spain Sacred space for healing and connection, this one is hard to explain in words and is something that hopefully the photos included here will illustrate. A note, we had a wonderful photographer with us during the weekend, the talented Laura Medina who photo documented the weekend with grace and love.
Healing, nourishing and mainly fresh plant-based food – prepared by a beautiful chef. Who ended our last meal by offering a hot cacao ritual ceremony for all present, symbolic of the love, care and safe space created for all over the weekend.
These are the elements, I believe are important in any retreats I have enjoyed however, it is also pertinent to add that the surroundings and location themselves are often the most vital component. In Zapatierno, the place itself is stunning, a beauty which at times, I found breath-taking and overwhelming - illustrated by this night sky!
For this precious experience I am very grateful 🙏
If you want to read more about Retreats, my pal Chris has attended over 80 (is that a world record!), you can read his reviews and recommendations here.
Nomad November Summary: #1 Nomad Skills > #2 DNS Origin Story (Free) > #3 Three Prompts for Better Nomad Living > #4 Liberland Representative, Samuela > #5 Fast Nomadism is unsustainable > #6 Audio Exercise, get ready to take a Better Break > #7 Remote Work could solve global poverty > #8 The Entrepreneurs cashing in on Nomads > #9 My Travel Transit Mobile Office Setup
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May the road rise to meet you,
love n light,
💚 Ro
🍃 Invitation: 🍃 Creative Rural Retreat, Spring 2024 in the Spanish Pyrenees
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