I am sitting in a beautiful space in Shropshire having just led a weekend retreat. I stayed over to have supper with friends and talk about life and the retreat. In a conversation with my host a few weeks ago, we talked about holding a retreat lightly. This was a new concept to me. What would that look like? Something opened in me, this was the attitude I wanted when leading retreats but hadn’t been able to realise. The word lightly was the key. When I started to lead retreats at Sycamores, this is my third using the space, I wanted them to be spacious. This weekend I committed to an attitude of lightness and it was the first retreat where I felt spacious and allowed myself to witness the development of a retreat created by the retreatees as they settled in, made connections and explored the stunning Carding Mill Valley and surrounding hills.
In my preparation for the weekend, I chose one thing to share with the group, to give focus for contemplation and discussion. No paperwork, no handouts. Just a whiteboard with the central theme. As we journeyed through we edited and added to our focus so it was relevant and useful to our time together and beyond.
I had an added incentive to keep it simple. Something that at first I didn’t see as support. Last week I flirted with the idea of being unwell. Sore throat and heat in the system – great timing a few days before the retreat. Wednesday is a no client day so I took things slowly and continued to prepare for the weekend. My clients on Thursday suggested I take another day to myself – thank you! I embraced a second day of gentle preparation ending with some yoga teaching and Friday I journeyed up to Shropshire.
I knew I needed to look after myself. The valley harboured a cold wind which would not be helpful so I stayed inside most of the weekend even though the hills were calling. I focused on providing the container for others, enjoying their stories of walking, talking, thinking and resting; enjoying the extra time to prepare the food and really nourish this lovely group of people who were trusting of me and the space; and in the times when I wasn’t required, I was able to read, reflect, continue with my own yoga practice.
So here I am on Monday morning realising the power of self care. Not only has it meant that my system is not overwhelmed by whatever virus I am hosting but also I could continue to be present and available to others. Life did not have to stop. The discipline and reflection of patience and compassion really is essential to looking after myself and allows me to be present and available for others.
There it is, a demonstration of our weekend focus: practice, study and openness.
I’ve been facilitating retreats since 2010. It’s taken all this time to have the confidence to not prepare for every minute and eventuality. In trusting the space, myself and the retreatees and practising self care, I have been offered a boon: my own compassionate and nourishing retreat.
I am full of gratitude – thank you
Next retreat at Sycamores: 27 – 29 September – Retreats 2024