Why a retreat is not just a holiday
It’s so much more!
Holidays can be so therapeutic! Just you, the beach, a good book, a frozen daquiri and dinner at sunset to look forward to. Bliss.
I am not knocking holidays, they are wonderful, and great ways to enjoy rest, fun and adventure.
So what’s the difference between a holiday and a retreat? And, crucially, why pay more to go on a retreat when you could just book a hotel and do yoga/meditation by the pool yourself?
8 ways a retreat is different to a holiday:
Purpose, intention & accountability
When you book a retreat, it’s for a reason. Maybe the focus is to build confidence, to go deeper into a spiritual practice like yoga or to change your relationship with rest (see: The Full Recharge Retreat). You are dedicating time and energy to work on yourself and improve your wellbeing. Even if you book a holiday with that idea in mind, it’s likely that, left to your own devices, you’d just do what you usually do and not much would really change. On a retreat, you are kept gently on task by the hosts, the schedule and the rest of the group.
Support & expert guidance
A retreat host is there to share their expertise and experience with you over the duration of the retreat. The amount of insight, guidance and knowledge you can receive is worth many hours of one to one treatment so you can get a lot of value out of this aspect of the retreat. As a host, my main job is to make sure all the guests a safe and supported. Unlike on a solo trip, on a retreat you have someone you can turn to at any time and who has put a lot of thought and care into creating a schedule and experience that prioritises your wellbeing and growth. I co-host with my husband - our chef and driver - and our style is to support but not smother, so guests always feel taken care of but have space and time to do their own thing. We also have a lot of local knowledge and deep love of the island - unlike many retreats where the hosts fly in and hire a venue in a location they don’t have any connection to.
Trying new things
A retreat is an opportunity to discover new places and activities that you probably wouldn’t do on holiday. You always have a choice about if you want to join an activity or not, but the fact that a paddleboarding trip along the coast (see: The Gentle Adventure Retreat) is on the schedule, for example, might just encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, knowing that you’ll be fully supported. Our retreats offer a variety of wellbeing practices and experiences so it’s likely you’ll do something new and might discover a new hobby. We often find that guests love the morning qigong sessions and seek out classes when they get home, having never tried it prior to the retreat and it not being one of the main reasons they attended.
4. You can be in our gang
The beauty of being on a retreat is meeting new and like-minded people. Everyone is there for their own reasons, but there’s always so much in common. In a surprisingly short amount of time it feels like a little retreat family and bonds form, stories are shared along with laughter and tears. Authenticity is encouraged and different experiences and backgrounds are respected. You’re never forced or pushed to say or do more than you feel comfortable with, but a gentle challenge can do you good. Ideas, wisdom, jokes and encouragement are passed around the dinner table along with the baked feta and fresh pittas.
5. A special place
A retreat venue is special - it’s not just accommodation, it’s a sanctuary. Usually a retreat venue is not somewhere you can stay on holiday, it’s specifically a place for healing, peace and reflection. This is certainly true of our home Greek home; it’s a stunning villa on a quiet hillside surrounded by greenery. There’s space for dining, workshops, qigong, meditation, swimming and relaxation. There won’t be any loud kids splashing you in the pool or random blokes stealing your sun lounger. The villa acts as a secure base, a place of safety and rest, providing a feeling of being at home, but without any of the associated stresses and responsibilities.
6. The perfect balance of low responsibility and freedom of choice.
A simple but major draw for retreat guests is not having to decide what’s for dinner! And that there’s no washing up either! The. Dream. The food is a very important part of our Greek retreats and is integral to our wellbeing, mindfulness, longevity and nature connection themes. Having healthy meals planned, cooked to perfection, presented with care and enjoyed with gusto together is just one way retreat guests get a much needed break from responsibility and decision making. This frees up space in you mind to focus on yourself and your health. We carefully create a schedule that provides a flexible structure to help you feel held and supported without being restricted or rushed. Guests always have freedom to choose and there’s free time built in so you never feel overwhelmed or obligated. This is ideal for those who can get bored on holiday or get stressed with too much choice. On retreat we banish decision fatigue and prioritise pleasure and peace!
7. A unique perspective
On retreat, you’re taken out of your usual routine and provided with the perfect environment for reflection and contemplation. Through meditation, journaling, and group discussions you’ll learn new mindsets and perspectives that likely wouldn’t fall into your lap during an all inclusive stay at a typical holiday resort or airbnb visit. It can be hard to get perspective on your life from within the day to day; being on retreat takes you out of your patterns so you can get a good look at them and consider things in a fresh light. Through the holistic wellbeing practices and interactions with your host and other guests you might be reminded of what’s important, have new ideas or feel a sense of hope/excitement about life. Typically on holiday we ‘forget’ about life at home, and wanting a break from that is valid, but it doesn’t change anything when you get back, in fact it sets you up for the dreaded post holiday blues.
8. Lasting impact
A holiday hopefully gives you some lovely memories of quality moments in beautiful places. A retreat does this too, and more. The aim is not to leave as a different person, but in fact as more yourself; having had the opportunity to be authentic and get to know yourself better. You will likely have had mindset shifts and new insights that improve your life after the retreat, as well as integrated new practices such as journaling, somatic movement or qigong into your routine. A retreat isn’t about creating drastic change (though some people do have that experience), but inspiring and empowering you to make small, meaningful shifts that are sustainable in your life and cultivate emotional intelligence, resilience and self knowledge over time. In short: retreats can change your life!
To find out more about our Greek retreats click here. Or to discover smaller, more local day retreats and events click here. You can email me any questions at: natalierossiterwellbeing@gmail.com
