Design A Day-Long Retreat

February is a good time to check in with yourself. How do you feel about your daily routine? Are you living the life you want? Today, I will share an experience I had last fall that helped me regain the serenity I was seeking. This simple idea may help you reframe, refocus, and refresh to live the life you want and, in the process, provide a joyful day for yourself and a few others.

I have a friend who teaches yoga, and she invited me to an in-home retreat. The retreat was free to attendees; it started at 10 am, ended at 4 pm, and included six women. I equate it to a playdate for adults. The event showed me that I didn’t have to spend much time and money to feel refreshed. There were a couple of crucial ingredients that made the day successful.

Successful Tips

• Other family members were not home.
• Furniture cleared to provide open areas to facilitate the activities.
• A hosted lunch.
• The retreat activities stretched from the home to the neighborhood.
• Various participants of the retreat led different events.
• The host had a plan for the day.
• It was a mix of people, some acquaintances, but primarily new.

The day-long retreat is a perfect way to re-center. My budget is tight, and time is at a premium. As a result, I outlined activities for my own day-long retreat. Maybe you can plan a similar event for yourself and a few friends to help you reframe, refocus, and refresh to bring more joy.

Reframing Activities

Physical movement improves the way I feel. I work out regularly, but often alone. I get more joy from my workout when I experience it with other people. I recently read an article on synchronized movement, and how moving with others can positively affect your self-esteem. Improving my self-esteem is a great reason to include exercise in my day-long retreat. In addition to movement, meditation is more effortless for me if I have others attempting this task. Therefore, below are some group activities.

Synchronized Movement and Meditation

• An in-person one-hour yoga session. If at all possible, find an in-person yoga instructor. Do you have a friend who teaches yoga and participate in the retreat for free, otherwise look for a cost effective way to share the costs among attendees.
• Share a video. I have a subscription to Beachbody.com; their 3-week yoga retreat is an excellent program. Another free option is Yoga with Adriene. Remember, to pick a program that will work for various fitness levels.
• A 20-minute guided meditation. Yoga instructors can often lead a meditation as well. A second route would be to conduct the meditation yourself. Positive Psychology is a great resource.
• Share an Ap. If the first two suggestions don’t work, consider a mediation Ap such as Calm or Insightimer. I like both for meditation.

Refocusing Activities

Replenish and Reflection. Movement and meditation sessions awaken my body and soul. This awakening takes energy. After the movement session, replenish the body with food. In this instance, slow down and enjoy the good things that fuel you. Concurrently, refocus your mindset to believe in the possibilities of life. Some simple ideas for this section include:

Healthy Food

• Clean Foods: vegetables, fruits, proteins, and light dressings. Try zucchini lasagna. An alternative to cooking is to order catering from a local grocery market.
• A special dessert. I always turn to Sally’s Baking Addiction. To keep it clean, go with a flourless chocolate cake. An alternative is a local bakery.

Positive Talk

• A sharing session. While everyone is sitting down and enjoying a replenishing lunch, it is an excellent time to share thoughts on the morning session. This casual interchange can provide perspective and lead to answers you had not explored.
• A new topic for discussion. Over dessert, is a good time for one of the participants to share a question with the group. Ask participants to bring a small notepad and a writing utensil to a journal during this time. At the retreat I attended last fall, the question was, “if you were a car, how full is your gas tank?” Are you running on empty, or is your tank full? What do you do to fill yourself up? What could you do to fill yourself up if your tank is empty? Otherwise, look for a topic to spark a positive conversation.

Refreshing Activities

Being in nature is one of my favorite things and a perfect activity once the group has replenished. I live in the city, but nature is all around. I see the beauty in my surroundings, and I will take the group outside to refresh. If you decide to incorporate outdoor activities, consider options.

Nature and Energy

• A walk in the neighborhood. Plan a group walk and the opportunity for folks to venture independently. Provide a few maps with routes individuals can manage on their own if they choose.
• A sunbath in the backyard. Set up a few seating areas outside. No matter the temperature, it can feel unique and energizing if the sun is out. I could certainly use some more vitamin D these days.
• Share your experience in gardening. I am a gardening novice, but a few plants in my garden bring me joy. Are there things that you learned from planting and caring for them? I love to learn from others, and I hope my guests will share. This topic can be a conversation starter and a way to learn from each other while lounging or walking in nature.

Art and Expression

Whether painting, crafting, or writing, creative activities allow me to express myself physically. My work is not of a master, but it brings me joy. Encouraging participants to express themselves is a beautiful way to conclude the day. These expressions are an individual’s gift. This session can refresh you and your guests as you finish the day. Below are some options I plan to incorporate.

• Sketching and Painting. Watercolor is an accessible medium for almost anyone. I like to purchase postcard size blocks of watercolor paper and a watercolor paint tray. Is there someone in your group who has this talent? Maybe they would be willing to share. Another idea is to purchase kits. We have a lovely art studio in town, ARTrageous, with zodiac kits. If I go this route, I will ask participants to contribute to the costs.
• Journaling. Everyone is busy; I suspect a short time to sit and journal would be welcome.
• Scrabble or charades. Some people express themselves through games. Scrabble is a creative game for witty people. Set up a game at a small table to invite play. Another idea is Charades. That game always makes me laugh, and it is impossible not to express yourself when playing charades.

A day-long retreat can be a great way to bring back balance to your life. It can provide time to reframe through movement and mediation, refocus through replenishment of the body and reflection of the soul, and refresh through engagement in nature and expression of individual gifts. These simple steps and the investment of one day can allow you and a few friends to bring greater joy to your lives.