Be Your Own Date is a safe space to focus on yourself: your wellbeing, goals, interests, personal development and self-care.

In this post, I share my experience of the power of embracing a yoga retreat and taking the time out to revive and invest in my self-care, at a time when I was feeling particularly bogged down with work. My dream trip (I've had a few of these) became a reality when I booked a one-week retreat and my return flight to Portugal at the very last minute; I only told a few people that I was going away. This is one of the best things that I have ever done; there is something truly empowering about travelling independently. I certainly advocate for 'experiences over things!'

My yoga retreat experience: Resilience + Relaxation

At first, this may seem a strange combination, impossible even. However, I'm still reaping the benefits from my Sweet Yoga retreat earlier this month and was gifted the space to build on my resilience and relaxation. I say 'gifted' because I truly believe that this experience was an important part of my self-care this year and was a treat for my mind, body and soul. My first time on this retreat was back in 2014, and I feel as though I benefited, even more, this time around. I was less anxious about the fellow yogis attending - you never know until you get there as I go alone. I trust Justine (who runs the retreat) and more importantly I trust the process.

On this occasion, I spent six nights in a picturesque village near Góis in central Portugal, practicing yoga twice a day tailored to our needs, and living in a beautiful villa complete with delicious homemade meals - a vegetarian's dream - well for me at least - and even the meat-eaters were satisfied! It was as magical as it sounds! Eating dinner al fresco at night, great conversation and company, and lots of laughter!

Back to my resilience building. One of the activities we engaged in was using a tennis ball to help alleviate tension in our bodies, some points were particularly tender and uncomfortable, but we were encouraged to breathe through the discomfort and even now when packed on the tube like a sardine on my new commute to London, I think about these positive moments tinged with discomfort and it puts me back on track and helps me to keep focused. Admittedly, during my tennis ball practice, I had moments of 'what on earth am I doing???' However, it was all worth it!

Another action that I am able to practice since the retreat, is feeling grounded through my feet. Simple things like spreading your toes to feel rooted and steady! These are the little things that I have taken away with me and can hold on to. I'm so grateful. Relaxation-wise, away from London and work, I was able to chill out; gaze out at the beautiful scenery; simply spend some time with nature; breathe in the fresh air; hang out at the local river beach and not have to worry about my next task or email! When I chill, I really chill! It just so happened that I had some major life events to follow and the timing was perfect in terms of having this time to myself. Yes, some "me" time!

For me, yoga is not so much about fitness, but about connecting my emotions with my body and taking the time to meditate, think, and switch off and not feel guilty about it. I also like what it does for my core and posture, and my sense of being. I guess the common thread here is self-awareness. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that it is important to write about such experiences to remind myself that I should continue to make a commitment to doing things that inspire and nurture me. Whatever 'it’ is that works for you, do it! 

2021 update: Learning how to relax and become more resilient 

It is clear that my yoga retreat experience in Portugal gave me the opportunity to build resilience and enjoy a week of relaxation; a much-needed break from city life. Being able to relax, in particular, didn't always come naturally to me, but it is something that I have learned to do and build into my busy week - this is non-negotiable now! Learning how to relax and become more resilient really can be life-changing. These skills have helped me get through the tough times, including the pandemic and various lockdowns. Give yourself permission to do so too.

It's been a few years since I last went on a yoga retreat, but I have been able to join yoga classes online and utilise YouTube to my advantage; sometimes I find it useful to complete short routines in my own time at night, which can help me to get ready for bed, although, to be honest, I haven’t practised recently. Perhaps it is something that I can pick up again soon. In my post and podcast, A Good Night's Sleep, I share what works for me and the simple steps that have become a part of my bedtime routine.  

Let's learn how to relax

How do you relax?

Aside from yoga, creating Be Your Own Date and blogging on a regular basis is something that I look forward to each week and is both therapeutic and relaxing for me. Tell me, what do you do to relax? How do you develop your resilience? Let me know in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials.

This post first appeared on my Haiti blog and I have since made a few tweaks. It all started when I travelled to Leogane in 2011 to support disaster response efforts following the earthquake in 2010.

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