In this high stress time of material over consumption and hectic deadlines that never seem to end, there is a chance to get burned out and turn to depression. We fill our lives with countless activities, bouncing from one thing to another without even the slightest bit of mindfulness or stop to think about why we even do the things we do.
The flip side
This results to a never ending cycle of chaos that Buddhists would refer to as Samsara. For Christians, Samsara is probably called hell on earth but the good news is that there is no need for this.
Within each and everyone of us is the latent potential to live peacefully and fully, and not at the expense of other people’s suffering.
Gray area
If you’re a materialist and have lived your life this way for quite some time, this concept may just go over your head and be termed as a bunch of mystical mumbo jumbo. In reality, there is a science to it and the key to unlocking the mystery is in understanding what lies between the ears.
The human brain is one of the greatest assets of a human. Like any other asset, if misused, can result to catastrophic states. The brain is an extremely powerful tool that affects how we perceive our environment and inadvertently influences the way we act and live our lives.
From the bottom up
To be able to truly understand these principles, one must undergo a deconstruction to result in a paradigm shift towards a healthier, happier you that won’t go away at the next stressful event. However, to be able to do this, one must have the proper tools needed because no one should ever go to any battle unprepared.
Prepare for battle
In this instance, the battle you will wage will be against yourself and the years of conditioning society has dictated upon you that you have decided is the absolute truth.
Like the book the Zen of War says, one must know how to retreat and reassess your enemy. It is important to go on a retreat to be able to physically take yourself away from your comfort zone and be more open to the idea of change.
Yogi in the making
A yoga retreat will let you reap the benefits of a whole mind. It is ideal for starters to go away for a weekend to some idyllic spot where you can be close to nature and experience the beauty of your surroundings.
All tied up
How can twisting yourself up in seemingly next to impossible knots benefit your mind? At a yoga retreat, you won’t only be tying yourself up in knots. The activities that will constitute your retreat from the world that you know will be filled with meditative activities, active poses, relaxing stretches and healthy eating. This way, you will then be able to balance your mind and your body and be fully aware of yourself.
Voluntary surrender
In any endeavour, you must at least posses a modicum amount of willingness to accept change because without this, you will just be wasting your time. A lot of the yoga activities at a yoga retreat will boggle the mind as these simple acts may seem pointless. The whole idea, however, is to not think and just do it without judgement to be able to truly be in what yogis would term as being in the moment. This moment, when experienced fully, will open up your mind, body and spirit to the concept of what is truly lasting and eternal.
Filed under: Yoga