Permission to Retreat: 5 Reasons to Get Away

Five years ago I chose to take a leap from a personal trainer helping my clients from the “outside-in,” to a wellness coach, guiding my clients toward positive change from the “inside-out.”

I enjoyed working on “shaping” my midlife clients’ bodies for 15 years as a trainer, but I knew they needed more from me.

An “external” transformation was not enough; they were also searching for an “internal” transformation – reinvention, self-discovery, and a community of like-minded and like-hearted women with whom they could experience a “shared understanding” at this stage of life.

What’s more, I always wanted to have retreats for my clients, but my first one didn’t come until last year.

We had an incredible retreat in 2017 in the Redwoods in Northern California.

I remember experiencing an overwhelming joy on the plane ride home – like my heart was beaming and exploding with gratitude and satisfaction.

This was confirmation to me that I must have a retreat every year, so we recently had our 2018 Summer Redwoods Retreat, and once again we had an amazing time together.

Whether it be my next 2019 Summer Retreat in Vancouver, BC (yes, Canada!) or simply a few days away by yourself or with a girlfriend or two, I hope you give yourself “Permission to Retreat” sooner, rather than later.

Here are 5 reasons why I think it’s important you get away.

Reason to Retreat #5: Get a new perspective

It’s interesting how a change in scenery can bring a sense of clarity about something we’re dealing with.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been wrestling with something and I decide to go “on retreat,” and that’s where I discover the answer.

There are few things that can provide a change of perspective from everyday life and the distractions that go with it than getting away for a couple of days.

Reason to Retreat #4: See how other people live

Sometimes we can get stuck in our own bubble and forget there’s a big world out there where people live and think differently.

I think it’s important to explore other parts of your state, country, or world to experience how other women work and live their lives.

Do they take their weekends off?
Have more leisure time?
Go on regular vacations?
Ride their bikes to work?
Get together with their girlfriends more?

Then, you can consider how you might want to shape your environment at home to one that’s healthier, less stressful, and ultimately happier!

Reason to Retreat #3: Self-discovery

I’m not talking about spending your entire retreat meditating and journaling for self-discovery, but when you spend time away (especially if it’s by yourself), you learn more about what YOU like with no “influencers” around – What would YOU eat/do/spend your time, etc. when you don’t have to accommodate other people?

There’s less room for “shoulds” when it’s just you: What do I want to do? Where do I want to go? What do I want to eat?

Your answers to those questions (or not knowing what those answers are because they’re usually based on what others want) can tell you a lot about yourself and begin to shape your own identity as you continue to build on the question “Who am I now? I’m more than a mom/daughter/grandma/friend/wife. I also enjoy doing/being …”

Reason to Retreat #2: Time to just “BE”

Not that they have to be (or even should be) equally balanced, but you probably spend a lot of time “doing,” and not nearly enough time just “being.”

When you get away to take time for yourself, you (hopefully) leave your “To-Do List” at home (where it belongs) and you spend time just “being,” whatever that means to you – reading a good book, relaxing by the pool, taking a walk in nature, visiting a museum, or exploring the town.

It can be a scary thing to just “be” sometimes, because a lot of us use “doing” as a distraction to avoid the hard inner work that arises when we’re just “being.”

We know this, so we subconsciously “stay busy.”

I know. I was “being busy” being in a safe, secure, well-known profession of personal training, but I knew there was something more for me to explore that would bring greater meaning to my work and more value to my clients’ lives.

When I realized I could be doing more with my skills and helping my clients live healthier and happier lives, I had to take the exciting, yet scary “leap” to start my own wellness coaching practice exclusively for women in midlife.

Every day it’s still both exciting and scary, but also SO right. I love this work and it’s been so worth it.

What might you be putting off because it’s scary, but you know it’s time for you to take the next step (or leap)?

Reason to Retreat #1: It’s a message to yourself that you’re WORTH IT

Probably the most important “reason to retreat” is because any time you do something for yourself (big or small), you send a message to yourself that you’re worth it.

“I’m worth a solo getaway.”
“I’m worth taking time for myself.”
“I’m worth this time/money investment.”

And that last one is really the hardest for a lot of us women, but it’s also the most powerful.

When you focus less on how much “time” or “money” something is going to be, and more on seeing it as an “investment in yourself,” your perspective begins to change.

Plus, you really can’t put a price tag on whatever life-changing experiences you might have on your getaway.

Right now is usually the time when you might feel like coming up with excuses like, “It’s not the right time for ________ reason(s),” but that’s usually not it; there’s typically other fears going on underneath.

What could those be?

Consider exploring those underlying fears and realize that there’s no “perfect” time for anything.

If it’s not one thing, it’ll be another reason you can find that makes it not the right time.

Again, you’ll never find the “perfect” time; you just have to make the commitment that you’re worth it.

When you believe this, you’ll find that you can and will make it work.

Below is a Slideshow from our 2018 Summer Redwoods Retreat – ladies who “made” it the right time to take care of themselves.

I hope it inspires you to give yourself permission to retreat sooner, rather than later.

It’s your turn to take care of you,

 

 

 

Here’s what a few recent attendees of my 2018 Summer Redwoods Retreat had to say:

“2018 Summer Redwoods Retreat, where do I start?

I was very excited to go on this retreat for so many reasons. The destination was all me, California Redwoods, a place I could drive to (another of my favorite things) and a small group of ladies willing and open to go on this journey too!

Every thing I’ve done with Kim over the last couple of years hasn’t disappointed so I didn’t expect this was going to either. I tried not to dwell on having any specific expectations and simply be open to whatever happened that weekend.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this retreat! Things were well planned and we had some downtime to reflect and hang out. Our meals were amazing, Laurie fed us well! The ladies that attended were so nice and it seems like it was meant to be that we all met up at this time in our lives. I would do this again in a heartbeat!

Thank you Kim, it was an amazing time, insightful, comfortable and a great thing to do for me!!! Please let me know when the next one is planned.”
-Mary M.

 

“The 2018 Redwoods Summer Retreat provided the perfect mix of time in nature, self-awareness activities, and down time for self-care and reflection in a magnificent setting with a supportive community of women in midlife.

Kim was an excellent leader and highly skilled in creating a supportive community.  She empowered us to let our true selves shine and enabled us to see ourselves through the eyes of those around us.  We laughed, we cried, we shared ideas but most importantly we connected with and supported each other. Kim led us to play in nature and take time out for reflection.  She pampered us, challenged us, and guided each of us on our journey for health and well-being.

I came home from this retreat with a rested and energized body, a full heart, new friends, and a renewed sense of what’s most important to me and what I need to do to make this time in my life the absolutely best yet.

Thank you Kim for a wonderful and empowering retreat!”
-Patty S.

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about my 2019 Vancouver Summer Retreat, click HERE.

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