Embrace seasonal wellness: The transformative benefits of a winter retreat
Many of us know that feeling as the days become shorter, the light illusive and felt sense of cold seeping inward. The desire to escape to a warmer climate and leave behind the winter blues is a common experience. Perhaps you’ve never considered the benefits of the “cave like” warmth of a winter retreat?
As nature’s vibrant and dynamic summer pace slows and begins its descent toward stillness during winter, life may still feel like it’s demanding so much time and energy from us. Winter is a time of slowing down internally and the desire to rest more, eat more, and find times of silence and introspection start to arise. A winter retreat isn’t about hibernation; it’s about aligning ourselves with nature’s natural rhythm. A winter retreat can be the perfect answer to this internal call, offering a multitude of benefits that nourish body, mind, and spirit.
Winter retreats can provide opportunities to welcome the benefits of:
Rejuvenating Rest for a Balanced Nervous System: Winter's quieter pace mirrors our natural inclination to slow down. A winter retreat provides a haven where you can prioritise rest, allowing your nervous system to unwind from the constant stimulation of daily life. Imagine sinking into deep sleep lulled by the soft hum of a crackling fire, your body finally catching up and rebuilding its resilience. The beauty of early morning outdoor immersions to take in the benefits of the cool morning air and the majesty of winter’s presence.
Embracing Winter's Majesty: Early Morning Immersion in Nature's Embrace: The crisp bite of winter air can be invigorating. Winter retreats often offer opportunities for early morning walks, allowing you to experience the stark beauty of the frosted landscape. The silence, broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot, creates a sense of peace and allows for quiet reflection on the enduring strength of nature even in its dormant state.
Transforming Winter Blues into Wisdom: The introspection naturally brought on by winter can sometimes lead to feelings of melancholy. A winter retreat provides a safe space to unpack these emotions with the guidance of our team. Through journaling, group discussions, and mindfulness practices, you can gain valuable insights into yourself, fostering emotional healing and a deeper understanding of your inner landscape.
Slower, Deeper Dives: Cultivating Creativity and Connection: Stepping away from the frenetic pace of everyday life allows for a more deliberate approach to activities. Winter retreats often incorporate creative workshops, yoga sessions, and mindfulness exercises. These slower, more focused immersions can spark curiosity and ignite your creative spark. You'll also have time to connect with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
The Sanctuary of Silence: Exploring the Inner Landscape with Support: The quietude of a winter retreat allows for a deeper exploration of your inner experience. Facilitators and therapists can provide a supportive framework for mindfulness practices and meditation, helping you navigate the quieter spaces within yourself and gain valuable insights into your thoughts and emotions.
Harnessing Energy Through Movement: Winter retreats often incorporate movement practices specifically tailored to the season's needs. Expect sessions focusing on gentle stretching, restorative yoga poses, and mindful movement. These practices can help you release tension, improve flexibility, and cultivate a sense of inner strength, leaving you feeling revitalised.
Nourishing the Body for Winter Wellness: Seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine often takes centre stage at winter retreats. Imagine indulging in hearty stews simmered with winter vegetables, warm, comforting soups, and fresh, local fruits. These delicious meals provide the dense nutrients your body craves during the colder months, boosting your energy levels, strengthening your immune system, and reducing inflammation.
Unveiling Intuition Through Journaling and Restful Space: Winter retreats offer dedicated time for journaling and quiet reflection. Imagine waking up before dawn, sipping a warm beverage while penning your thoughts and dreams in the stillness of the morning. This dedicated space allows you to problem-solve creatively, dig deeper into your subconscious, and foster a connection with your intuition, leading to soulful insights and personal growth.
The opportunity to create a new template for winter awaits as you enter a cooler months retreat. Not only will you be more attuned to your body, thoughts and emotions, you may also begin to savour and integrate the softer, quieter tones of winter into your self care. You’ll be left ready to face the year ahead with renewed clarity and purpose. Here are some further insights and evidence based reflections on the benefits of winter retreats:
Research also shows that more rest in dark, quiet places can have a profound impact on your sleep. Queuing to the naturally shorter times of sunlight and increased darkness can offer us an opportunity to wind down our days earlier and invite more quiet rest in the evening to support better sleep.
Immersing in waking rest The Sleep Research Society Journal describes Waking rest "as a period of quiet, reflective thought that allows the brain time to consider and process whatever arises spontaneously”. A winter retreat has longer slower transitions to support the implementation of waking rest - which can ameliorate chronic stress, anxiety and support better sleep.
Nutrient-dense food made from scratch (i.e., nothing processed) using seasonal ingredients can reduce inflammation and a laundry list of diseases and chronic conditions. Winter is a great time to support gut health and to learn more about harnessing the power of food.
Did you know that one in five people face “winter blues” or winter-related (SAD) depression. Winter is an important time to immerse in restorative practices to harness and gather our internal energy reserves in a more sustainable way. Practices such as breathwork, pranayama, mindful movement and restorative yoga all regulate the nervous system which has a direct correlation to your immunity, gut health, emotional regulation and energy levels.
Winter from a TCM perspective invites us to nourish our Qi (Kidney energy). As the Kidneys are the storehouse for energy reserves and winter is often the time when the feeling of being “burnt out” and depleted can arise. A nourishing retreat can provide opportunities such as self pacing, energy conservation, therapeutic touch, warming foods and gentle practices such as Qigong, can support your Kidneys and Adrenals.
Nature and Forest Bathing can offer a wide array of health benefits during winter and alleviate symptoms of SAD. Being bathed in wintery sun supports the uptake of Vitamin D and serotonin levels that can improve our mood. Inviting the sights, sounds, smells, sounds and experience of nature reduces anxiety and stress levels and invites a sense of belonging.
Perhaps these days of less sunlight are opportunities for more contemplative time, more looking deeply to see what can only be seen in the dark. As Katherine May, the author of Wintering writes:
"My winter. It's an open invitation to transition into a more sustainable life and to wrest back control over the chaos I've created.”
We invite you to the warm and cosy experience of Rest & Restore’s Winter Retreat Immersions. Think slow, experiential learning and sensing, nurturing, reconnecting, creative and soulful journeys. We hope to see you there.