There’s no denying that Wellness Retreats are the of-the-moment vacation. From extreme yoga retreats to bicycle tours we’re now trading sunbathing and extreme sports for more focused dedication to our personal health and wellness. Instead of focusing on just physical activities, these gatherings are more about the magic of bringing women together, with the goal being female connection and empowerment.
As a 57 year old, successful business woman that was burnt out, disconnected and desperately needed some self care, I understood the need for women to come together in a way that was safe, nurturing and provided some tools for self care. I got busy creating a wellness retreat that spoke to other women like myself. The response has been overwhelming!
Realizations…
I’ve just completed another 8 day retreat in Bali with a group of 10 amazing women. Many of us have been or are currently married, divorced, raised families, lost loved ones, have successful careers and continue to take care of those around us at the expense of our own wellbeing. As women we seem to have lost sight of a few things... How to reconnect with our needs, bodies & hearts. How to connect with other women (Especially if you’ve been in the corporate world a long time). How to be quiet & breathe. To embrace our femininity. Ultimately I think we are all just looking to let go of our fears and insecurities and replace them with self worth and love. Throughout all of my experiences working with women I have found that no matter what age, race, religion, financial status or education, we all have the same fears and insecurities.
Lessons…
Bravery is beautiful
Retreats tend to bring us face to face with things we fear, whether those obstacles are mental or physical. (Case in point: swinging out over the jungle on an extremely high swing, wearing a long flowy dress, was just as scary as sharing your fears during circle time.) But being surrounded by women that are rooting for you creates an immense safety net. Not only was it liberating to shed my own fears but to witness the bravery of the other women–-not to mention the excitement they felt–was a reminder to not shy away from the things that scare us. Courage leads to confidence!
We thrive in community
After more than a week of listening to the 10 other women in the group who so generously shared their stories, we all couldn't help but want to soak up the life lessons and wisdom in the room. Women understand other women. It’s the women who make ‘women's retreats’ so special, providing comfort, support, and serious girl time fun. We laughed, danced, cried, hugged, explored, grew, opened our hearts, made new sisters, and the best part? Those relationships are not contained to the time spent at the retreat. We have formed deep bonds and will continue to support and connect with each other going forward.
We have the power to change our thoughts
With lots of time built in for rest and silence, a retreat can create distraction free spaces in your day, which allows you to consciously take note of your thought patterns. Noticing the negative self talk that we barrage ourselves with daily can help us to start making changes to that narrative. Spending time in silence allows awareness to show us where we need to release and grow. Not surprisingly, I am a lot harder on
myself than I realized ( I was not alone in this discovery), but after sitting with the discovery of that self criticism, I actually had an opportunity to hear those thoughts and then choose to change them. This may sound obvious but we don't have to listen to our inner critic, rather it is ok–and pretty wonderful–to like ourselves!
I have 2 retreats in Bali 2023 Dates & prices coming soon! https://www.cheryldavenport.com/retreats We would love to welcome you to the Sisterhood!
You can also visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BaliGirlThreads & Instagram @baligirlretreats
I am also a Woman's Life Coach and specialize in helping women through life transitions. You can get more information or schedule a complimentary discovery call here: https://www.cheryldavenport.com/
In gratitude,
Cheryl