How Meditation Retreat Can Transform Your Life

If you imagine meditation retreat as sitting all day long on a mountain top and waiting for enlightenment, then what you are about to read will change your opinion.

Of course, you can do that if you wish, but there are many more activities that such retreat can offer.

Spiritual retreat doesn't even have to include meditation, although this is definitely the main activity pursued during such retreats.

You can have a very active meditation retreat if that's how you tend to relax.

People go on meditation retreats for the purposes of de-stressing and relaxation, so whatever de-stresses you is perfect to include in your meditation retreat.

There are many companies organising meditation retreats with hundreds of workshops, seminars and courses. Such companies are called spiritual or meditation centers. If you are planning to use a meditation center to plan your retreat, you should read about 20 best meditation retreats.

Most accommodation in meditation centers is very modest and with minimal accessories. So such retreat is not the same as your usual holiday – here the comfort comes second. The philosophy of many spiritual centers is that the less you will be in contact with the unnatural objects (like TVs, mobiles and microwaves) the more rest you will get and the more stress you will get rid of.

The food in such centers is usually organic and almost always vegetarian (I've never seen a retreat where meat is allowed, but I cannot guarantee that that's the case everywhere). Some retreat centers grow their own fruit and vegetables therefore in such centers the food is always fresh and healthy.

You can, of course, organise a retreat all by yourself. All you need to do is decide where you want to have your spiritual retreat and plan your activities. You don't have to go there alone, as it seems so to some. If you want to spend time meditating or you want to get involved in some serious spiritual development, then, of course, being alone is the best way to achieve such goals.

Meditation retreats usually take place in natural places which are near mountains, rivers, seas or forests. Usually large areas of plain fields are found in retreats because people like to have “space” where they can reflect on the issues they currently face.

Activities during meditation retreats

Most people pursue spiritual retreats for the sole purpose of meditation. They either meditate in a group or alone. There are special places for people who choose to meditate alone, such as forests or vast fields.

Apart from meditation, you can indulge in many other activities too, some of them less active and some quite demanding. Whatever relaxes you can be done during a retreat, especially when you are the one organising it. However most spiritual centers have extensive lists of activities so it's very likely that you will find something you like.

The second largest activity apart from meditation is yoga. There are all types of yoga available in spiritual centers, ranging from very active ones to the ones that only slightly stretch your muscles or deepen your breathing.

Another popular activity is hiking. Because in such retreats the landscape is really beautiful and you are usually surrounded by mountains, parks and lakes, it is really fun to take a long walk whilst reflecting on your life.

There are many activities you can pursue on your retreat that involve a group of people. Such activities include dancing, team games and discussion of some topics. Spiritual retreats are also great to meet like-minded people. Usually people in meditation retreats are very friendly and positive so it's easy to make new friends and have a great time.

Other activities include being involved in all sorts of crafts, singing, learning about health, Feng Shui, acupuncture, astrology, numerology or even beekeeping. In general, everything that interests you and relaxes you can be pursued whilst being on a meditation retreat.

Some people go on retreats to spend time completely passively, indulging in massages, body wraps and facial improvement procedures. Others prefer to learn something new and therefore attend courses or workshops on all kinds of subjects.

Organising everything yourself vs. buying holiday retreat package

If you're worrying about the cost of the spiritual center mediation retreat, you need not to. Some of them can be very reasonable, you can even find some centers offering $30 a night stay or even a free stay (donation is appreciated).

Free accommodation is sometimes available in monasteries which organise retreats. I'm sure you can even contact the monasteries of your interest and ask if it would be possible for you to stay for a couple of days.

Meditation centers organise all the activities without you having to worry about how to fill your day. You can choose from different spiritual retreats' packages to suit your needs.

Some people, however, choose to organise everything themselves. Usually such people want to stay completely alone and in the non-commercial type of environment. Some spiritual centers are extremely natural, but the presence of a company is still felt. So if you want to have a completely natural retreat, organising everything yourself might be the best option.

Some spiritual centers have strict schedules and limited activities. Therefore if you cannot stand regimes and want to choose activities yourself, then again organising a retreat yourself might be a better choice.

You should keep in mind, however, that it may be quite time-consuming to organise the mediation retreat all by yourself. You will need to book flight tickets, accommodation and plan your activities. You will also need to find out the location of restaurants and other amenities.

So if you like to organise everything alone, want to spend your time in solitude and want to choose your own activities, you should plan the mediation retreat by yourself. However if you want to meet like-minded people, want everything to be organised for you and you don't mind basic accommodation, then a packaged retreat will suit you better.

Conclusion

Although meditation retreats are mainly pursued by people interested in meditation, it doesn't have to be only meditation involved. There are many things you can do whilst being on the retreat including hiking, dancing, learning something new or spending your time in a spa.

Usually meditation retreats are located in places of exquisite beauty, be it near parks, rivers, lakes or mountains. Such places are excellent for soul searching and reflection on your life.

You can either organise a spiritual retreat alone or buy a package in a meditation center. Depending on your interests and lifestyle one of these two options will be more suitable for you.

I hope that this article has helped you to better understand what meditation retreats are and what you can do whilst being there.