Are Half Day Retreats Worth it?

In our busy lives its hard to take a whole weekend or even a whole day to retreat for our health and self-care. I remember feeling very burned out and saying to myself, “I need a vacation.” A vacation wasn’t going to happen for a while. What could I do in the meantime? A wise friend told me to take breaks during the day and breath in a little vacation each time. It didn’t take the place of a much-needed break, but it helped me bide the time until I could actually get away. A half day retreat can do the same thing.

Our Half Day Retreat covered restorative yoga, mindfulness with horses, and a SoulCollage time for 9 people. We started the day with breakfast snacks and drinks and took breaks between each offering to snack, talk, and keep hydrated. Not everybody knew each other but by the end of the day they were exchanging emails and contact info. There is nothing like a relaxing yoga outdoor practice to tap into our healing savasanas. Marlene Linkheart led the group through our theme of listening beginning with our bodies and our breath.

Moving from that grounded space we meditated with Jada and Roma, the two Equine assistants. Some had never been this close to such a large animal. The horses came with their large gentle and quiet presence to sooth the jitters of first timers. Some experienced the quiet connection through a lead rope or a soft brush. We talked about how we can enter new situations unsure of how we are being perceived until we step back and observe. Horses read our nervousness or calmness. Since this is their place and they are confident in their work they were able to create calmness in our clients.

We flowed to the last workshop where we explored Seena Frost’s SoulCollage process. I led the group with a meditation on the day followed by instructions on how to make a collage. In no time the magazine images were being passed around. I heard happy snipping, cutting, and chatter as we settled into make a collage. After the creative time the participants wrote in a journal about their card, why did these images show up today and what did they have to say to them? The group individually shared their insights and blessed the entire group with wisdom from their own lives.

A theme of listening was felt and experienced the entire day. First we listened to our bodies at yoga then we listened to our surroundings with the help of the horses. And finally, we listened to our body, mind, and soul with the SoulCollage experience.

We closed our retreat together with one last nibble, a goodbye pat to the horses and goodbyes to newfound friends. We were finished in time for everyone to go to lunch if they were still hungry. Was it worth it? I think so.

What's next at Northfield Farms? We are planning another half-day retreat on October 28 with a full moon theme starting in the afternoon and going into the early evening (complete with a Happy Hour to watch the moon come up over the horizon). If you're interested in attending, please email me at franklin.jacque@gmail.com.

Peace, Jacque