Retreats of all kinds have become increasingly popular in the last years, as people have been learning to navigate an ever-changing world. If we think about what we were doing ten years ago, we can see how much we have grown and changed as individuals and as a collective. Among many of the changes that we have undergone, is the shift in focus from just wanting to be thin to wanting something more and to be truly healthy. We understand that when we are healthy and permanently live a healthy lifestyle that we can have a natural, consistent body weight, which is correct for each of us as individuals as we are learning that the one-size-fits-all approach is no longer relevant.
What is becoming clearer is that we are a whole being made up of so much more than just our body and that each of us is unique on every level. So, while a healthy diet supports our overall wellbeing, it is not enough in this fast paced world just to eat right. We also need to exercise properly, get enough rest and relaxation, we need some form of contemplation or meditation practise leading to self development as well as time spent with loved ones and immersing ourselves in nature. There is a lot of work to do on ourselves even before we step out into the world to offer our particular contribution that harnesses our deeper gifts, natural talents and abilities. Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga, deals with the individual. Instead of prescribing a diet, it works with the whole person as a unique expression of the universe. We introduce our guests to the concepts held in this ancient science to give a deeper understanding how we are unique in the makeup of our body, mind and emotional life.
We understand that we ultimately want to grow, evolve and move forward in our lives and it is clear that if we are not to become stagnant, aged, diseased, stuck in old habits and patterns, and that we must also move with the times. And the times are demanding a deeper understanding of our ourselves, a greater clarity of mind and a robust person, with little or no emotional baggage, as well as a far grander picture of our individual and collective futures. We have a lot of work to do.
Our retreats focus is on the whole person. The starting point is a deep cleansing detox which really is a fast. This is a type of fast that uses nutrient dense plant based ingredients in freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices as well as, Ayurvedic teas, plant based milks with Ayurvedic spices, super foods and nurturing vegan broths to supply the body with maximum vitamins and minerals. The juices and nutrient dense drinks are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds that boost the immune system and increase energy levels. The process also flushes toxins from the body, cleanses the colon thereby improving digestion, introducing enzymes that balance gut health and rejuvenate every cell in the body. All solid foods are removed in order to give the digestive system a rest. When the digestive system is not using energy normally reserved for digestion, the energy is redirected to the healing of the body. The results are numerous and include weight loss, a healthy glowing skin, clear eyes, shining hair, vitality, emotional release and a clear and capable mind.
Consider for a moment; you want to start a new healthy eating program or you have been eating well for some time but find that you are not achieving the results that you had hoped for. Perhaps you changed your diet and at first had wonderful results, you were losing weight and feeling better, only to plateau. Although our diet goes a long way to assisting in our recovery after not taking the proper care of our bodies, it is not possible to achieve the deep level of healing that is required merely with a diet. If one is to truly make a transformational change, one must first cleanse the entire organism to clear the pathway for the body, mind and emotional being to make the shift. It would be like never changing the oil in your car and expecting it to run well on premium oil. That simply cannot be. So, first we cleanse, heal, work on ourselves, and then transformation happens.
To support the process during our retreats on every level; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, we practise Hatha yoga, which is the classic Indian style yoga and includes physical postures as well as pranayama or breathing practises. Yoga and pranayama increase our general health by improving the function of our organs including the skin, digestion, circulatory system, endocrine system as well as balancing the nervous system. It also improves our stamina, reduces stress, strengthens and tones the muscles, boosts the immune system, strengthens the lungs, improves the quality of sleep and balances all parts of the body whilst giving us a healthy glow and feelings of calm and peace.
Daily walking on our retreats increases heart and lung fitness. It gets the body moving which is fantastic for the digestive system in helping to move compacted waist from the colon. Walking, especially in nature, which is the most natural form of exercise and arguably the most beneficial for humans, is wonderful for oxygenating the blood, reducing hypertension, high cholesterol, improving stiffness, helps with diabetes, improves bone density and balances and reduces body fat. Walking is especially good in the environment of our retreats where we are approaching the detox holistically and from so many different parts of ourselves.
Having therapists on hand to help remove old emotions that no longer serve us, as well as bodywork therapies like Shiatsu, is a marvellous support for this whole process. Often, as we begin the healing work, energies that are blocked in the body in the form of disease whether that illness is just beginning, is acute or chronic, and stuck energies at the emotional level that also cause disease, need a gentle supportive nudge. Our society is busy and there are many things going on in our lives and often instead of dealing with emotion or the subtle messages from our body that tells us to stop, take notice, do some inner work…we push aside these feelings in order to cope. I cannot stress the importance of dealing with and releasing these emotions enough in the context of our whole being.
Fasting, yoga and pranayama, meditation, Ayurveda, walking and bodywork are practises that are as ancient as the great mountains and have been used by many diverse groups as tools for spiritual development. Because of the healing and cleansing effects on the body, an alignment takes place between our body, our emotional self, our psychological self, mental self and our own inner being, and it is here where clarity that begins to shine. We begin to have a clearer picture of life where we are more able to observe the patterns of nature and how they relate to us as human beings. We are better able to see our part in the great adventure. In this way we are able to move forward, live the life we have always dreamed of or indeed begin a new dream. Our Deep Cleansing Juice Detox Retreat has the potential to truly transform your life.