Meditation Retreat
Meditation is the habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts and its popularity is rapidly increasing due to the many health benefits. Meditation can be used to increase awareness of ourselves and our surroundings, helping reduce stress and develop concentration. But meditation has many other benefits aside from reducing stress and developing concentration:
BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
Controls Anxiety: Only eight weeks of mindfulness meditation or an intense week at a meditation retreat, helps reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder as well as improves depression and chronic pain.
Promotes Emotional Health: Some forms of meditation offered at a meditation retreat can lead to improved self-image and a more positive outlook on life.
Enhances Self-Awareness: Meditation at a meditation retreat may help you develop a stronger understanding of yourself, helping you grow to be the best possible version of yourself. For example, self-inquiry meditation explicitly aims to help you develop a greater understanding of yourself and how you relate to those around you. Other forms teach you to recognize thoughts that may be harmful or self-defeating. The idea is that as you gain greater awareness of your thought habits, you can steer them toward more constructive patterns.
May Reduce Age-Related Memory Loss
Kirtan Kriya is a method of meditation that combines a mantra or chant with repetitive motion of the fingers to focus your thoughts. Studies in people with age-related memory loss have shown it improves performance on neuropsychological tests.
Can Generate Kindness
Some types of meditation offered at meditation retreat may particularly increase positive feelings and actions toward yourself and others. Metta, a type of meditation also known as loving-kindness meditation, begins with developing kind thoughts and feelings toward yourself. Through practice, people learn to extend this kindness and forgiveness externally, first to friends, then acquaintances, and ultimately enemies.
May Help Fight Addictions
The mental discipline you can develop through meditation may help you break dependencies by increasing your self-control and awareness of triggers for addictive behaviours.
BEST MEDITATION RETREATS USA
More people are looking for a good meditation retreat as our world becomes increasingly hectic and busy. These retreats can offer you the guidance and inspiration you may be looking for to unplug, decompress, and find peace and harmony. But because they are becoming very popular, very fast, it’s hard to know what best option will suit you better.
Kripalu Center For Yoga & Health (Stockbridge, Massachusetts)
Kripalu Center For Yoga & Health situated on 100 peaceful acres in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in the middle of the stunning Yokun Ridge. You can sign up for a course or presenter-led program including Spiritual Practice and Meditation. The centre offers day passes so you can arrive super early and stay until dusk or sign up for their accommodations that are simple and comfortable in keeping with the tradition of retreat-style housing.
Esalen Institute (Big Sur, California)
Guests can choose from several, three-day workshops including mindfulness retreats for lawyers, meditation in nature, self-love, and kindness that benefits all, mindful self-compassion intensive training, and mindfulness meditation. There are other options like modern life, and music, mediation, and technology. Longer retreats, lasting five to seven days, take on a more focused approach to helping participants integrate meditation into their daily lives. In addition to guided meditations and silent practices, you can spend hours of the day exploring the 27 acres surrounded by the Big Sur coastline.
Kadampa Meditation Center (New York)
Individuals looking to gain a fresh perspective through quiet relaxation will find peace and calm with one of their personal Rest & Reflect retreats. And, if you’re new to meditation or looking for a group experience, you might want to try one of the group retreats to help you find ways to integrate the practice into your daily life. A quick, weekend away includes guided activities and individual time, Friday through Sunday, with meditation workshops, hikes in the 82 acres of natural woodlands, delicious food, and more. The Kadampa Meditation Center also offers in-depth silent retreats that focus on the teachings of meditation, along with silent meditation.
Shambhala Mountain Center (Colorado)
Participants can choose from guided meditations, hiking, yoga, and kayaking, among other indoor and outdoor activities. While the variety of activities is set up to accommodate all levels, what sets Shambhala apart from other retreats is their programs focused, specifically on beginners. Their “Learn to Meditate” retreats are designed for people that are curious about the teachings and practice of meditation. Shambhala Mountain Center also offers week-long family retreats that centre on community, creating a culture of kindness, wholeness, and strength. The teachings are done through play, outdoor time, and guided meditation. These family retreats involve group time, as well as individual time spent in separate spaces.
Alaska Stillpoint Lodge (Alaska)
The Alaska Stillpoint Lodge, Halibut Cove, near Homer, offers wellness retreats that focus on guided reflection and rejuvenation to nurture your soul. Wellness retreats are available in three, four, and five-day packages that include wilderness hikes, feasting on local, organic cuisine, silent meditation spaces, and yoga. Plus, you can participate in guided kayak tours, boating, guided meditation, massage, mindfulness classes, and journaling. You also have the option to ditch the technology and make this retreat a digital detox. Request limited or no access to phone, TV, and Wi-Fi in your meditation cabin, and you will really experience the true meaning of silent meditation.
BEST MEDITATION RETREATS WORLDWIDE
Wat Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage (Thailand)
Wat Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage offers a ten-day silent meditation retreat on the first of each month. All talks and instructions are given in English, and registration is in person only. If this schedule doesn’t work for you, it’s possible to visit the main monastery at Suan Mokkh between retreats and do your own practice.
Bali Eco Stay (Bali, Indonesia)
Over the years Bali has become a favourite destination for travellers looking to unwind and surround themselves in paradise off the beaten path. Bali Eco Stay is a green sanctuary located in the heart of Bali where you can truly connect with nature. There are stunning open-air overwater bungalows with views of rice paddies, mountains, and stunning forests.
Shamballah Yoga Retreat (Portugal)
If you have always wanted to combine meditation with surfing you need to visit Shamballah Yoga Retreat in Sintra, Portugal. The Surf, Yoga and Meditation Retreat includes surf lessons, yoga classes, guided meditations, and delicious healthy meals. Their meditation sessions are aimed at anyone who is seeking balance, peace, clarity, and happiness. Accommodations are included and located just a short walk from the exquisite coastline in Sintra’s National Park. Guided walks, forest therapy, sound journeys and Pilates are also available.
Tushita Meditation Centre (India)
India is of course a natural fit for meditation and Tushita Meditation Center is perfect for the study and practice of Buddhism. The philosophies originate from the Tibetan Mahayana tradition. If you want to learn the teachings of the Buddha and put them into practice, courses here aim to set you on this path. The centre also offers group retreats and drop-in sessions. Tushita Meditation Centre is located on a mountain slope surrounded by forest and the Dhauladhar range near the town of McLeod Ganj.
Vipassana Hawai’i (Hawaii)
The Buddha teachings at Vipassana Hawai’i stem from the Pali Canon of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The aim is total happiness and peace through mindful presence as it relates to your life. The retreat is located on 30 acres in the district of beautiful North Kohala, which is at the northern tip of the island. They offer several programs in accordance with Buddhist Theravadic teachings including Sunday meditation sittings in North Kohala where all are welcome, just bring a cushion.
