Retreats! Wellness Vacations! Get-aways!

How many times have you gone on vacation only to come back more stressed because you over did everything- food, booze, late nights and craziness?

What if you could take a vacation that centered around your wellness, offered chef prepared meals and returned you more rejuvenated than when you left, yet still allowed you to experience the local culture and offered free time to do whatever you wanted?

Did that description conjure of the idea of a retreat for you? I’m betting it didn’t.

Many people that ask me about my retreats have images of 6am workouts, icky green juices and strict afternoons spent isolated in a journal. Maybe some are like that.

Delicious Nutritious Vacation

That’s why I’m more apt to use the word ‘wellness vacation’ over ‘retreat’. Basically, I wanted to create time away in the manner that felt good to me. That allowed me to explore and have fun but not undo all I’ve achieved. Waking up to aroma of fresh brewed coffee and tea is delicious no matter where I wake up. And I’m much more apt to do my morning workout/yoga when there are others joining me and I can do it in my pj’s. AND especially when I know a scrumptious, home-cooked meal is following.

Each retreat offers some form of movement, usually 2x per day.

The retreats I do with my fabulous yoga partner Jennifer Goodman are yoga specific, meaning 2 yoga classes are offered each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge and many different forms of yoga. Even my luke-warm-on-the-yoga-aspect guest have found a new love for yoga.

I have an upcoming retreat with pain and movement specialist Stacey Stone. I’m particularly fond of anyone with a focus on pain as my own chronic pain challenges is what lead me down this path some years ago. Stacey brings a more classic workout to the mornings with a new approach to learning how to live in your body in the afternoons.

There’s excursions every day. Hiking, shopping, sunrises, sunsets, fishing, boating…. just depends on the location, weather and interests.

How could I forget to mention the rest of the food? Lunches, snacks and dinner. It’s all MONIQUE FOOD, as my friend Karen calls it. Nourishing, delicious and gorgeous.

Everything is optional. Some people skip the morning session to sleep in. Some skip the prepared dinner to go to a local restaurant while others buy wine for dinner, pool lounging and hot tubing. Honestly, I view this as YOUR vacation; you should do want you want.

…I wanted to create time away in the manner that felt good to me….that allowed me to explore and have fun, but not undo all I’ve worked to achieve.

Of course, you get out of it what you want. I’ve have a multitude of clients who found my retreats transformational. Some used this time to get a handle on their morning routines and there are many others took the opportunity to reset, recharge and rejuvenate. Always there is laughter. Sometimes there are tears, camaraderie, release and compassion. There are definitely daily hugs!

What every single attendee has always said is that they learn about themselves, they learn more about how food affects them and they make a special bond with fellow retreater’s in days versus what typically takes years to do.

The most important is what to you want do get out of your time away? Do you want to lay like a slug and drink sugary drinks by the pool for 10 straight hours? (no judgement here- I’ve done it and it’s appropriate at certain times 😉 You be you!