I’ve been reflecting upon the meaning of retreat. What am I retreating from, and what am I re-treating myself to?
To go on retreat means to separate ourselves from the duties, commitments and habits of every day life. Freed from the obligations of work and family, we are immersed deeply into spiritual practice, taking ourselves further on the journey inward and on the path toward wholeness and healing. While I love my work and the rhythms of my life, it’s wonderful to be temporarily freed from lesson planning, meal preparation, errands, and all the tasks of running a business. I have been taking a fast from reading the news, and that has been a very good thing!
So there are those things that we step away from, and there are also those things that we step toward. Here at Feathered Pipe Ranch, I have time to walk, swim, practice yoga, and connect with like-minded individuals. The vibration of the environment is very conducive to practice. For 50 years people have been coming to this sacred land to do spiritual retreat. I am deeply grateful to be here, soaking in this healing energy.
Being on a retreat also allows us to connect deeply with the tradition that we have chosen to embrace. My wonderful teachers Elise Miller and Susan Elena Esquivel are firmly rooted in the Iyengar method. They transmit the teachings of this profound lineage with grace, knowledge, patience, and joy. Both as a practitioner and as a teacher, I am learning so much from them. I am humbled by their wisdom and inspired to continue on my path to practice and share Iyengar Yoga.
Namaste,
Karen