A retreat may be the answer you've been looking for if you feel tired, stressed, or just a little run down from the stresses of everyday life.  Read on to find out more about retreats and how to choose the right one for you.

What is a Retreat?

A retreat is a way to escape from the pressures of everyday life and get back in touch with yourself again. Modern day life can be very overwhelming, especially with the "always on" mentality – always receiving emails, phone calls, having to do something for someone and so on.  Once you escape from this "noise" you are able to relax fully and deeply, perhaps for the first time in a long time.  Retreats are specially designed for relaxation, rejuvenation, reawakening spirituality, or for improving your health.  You can retreat alone, in silence, or in groups of people.

Why Retreat?

There are several reasons why you might choose to go on retreat.  These include:

• Deep relaxation
• Reflecting – on yourself, your life, things that have happened etc
• Rejuvenation of all aspects of yourself – the body, mind, and spirit
• Self healing
• To find a deeper meaning in your life
• To clarify an issue that has been troubling you or the direction you should take
• Contemplation
• To connect with all aspects of yourself
• To feel and use the universal energy around us
• Greater self awareness
• Immersing yourself in prayer

Types of Retreats

Because there are so many different types of retreats, you are sure to find one that meets your needs. A retreat can be held anywhere with some venues including spas, cabins, religious centres, hot springs, and specialised retreat centres, just to name a few.  Depending on if you are having a structured or unstructured retreat, you can even go camping for a few days!  What type of retreat you choose will depend on what you need at this particular stage of your life.

There are many different types of retreats.  Some of the most common include:

• Directed retreats - this is where the retreat is guided by a "director" who sets activities such as meditation and visualisation in order to help the person feel fulfilled by their retreat.
  
  
• Guided retreats - these are done with smaller groups of people with a conference once a day, and a director that gives you personal guidance.
  
  
• Hosted retreats - great for workshops or business-oriented retreats (such as seminars etc).
  
  
• Individual retreats - this where you are by yourself and free to retreat how you want. You could use activities such as meditation, walking, reading in your retreat...whatever works to rejuvenate you.
  
  
• Silent retreats - you remain silent for the majority of the retreat.  Most silent retreats have a designated "talking period".
  
  
• Solitude retreat - like a silent retreat but you have no interaction with other people.
  
  
• Structured retreat - this is a retreat where all activities happen to a schedule. The schedule can be set by yourself or a retreat director, or a tradition (such as one in religion).
  
  
• Unstructured retreat - in this type of retreat, you are free to do what you want when you want.
  
  
• Fasting retreat - during the retreat period, you are abstaining from something, either activities or food.  You can fast from all foods or just a certain type of food. Activities you fast from are up to you but some suggestions include television, sex, and so on.