5 Healing aspects of Yoga Retreats
Most of us know by now that Downward Doggy isn’t some fabulous 80’s after party nightcap or that its not really going to bring us into contact with our soul.
That on the way down we might learn something. But, more likely it’s that we need to stretch more, that it helps us move energy in our body, it builds strength and well-being to our physical selves; that it makes us feel good.
Then suddenly, somehow we’ve landed in Sivasana (no dogs allowed), we begin to relax; and low and behold we are in a public room and tears are rolling down our face.
Oh dear, You’ve found your soul.
Your Yoga Instructor is lovely
But she hasn’t read Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. He hasn’t done the 101 counseling tips diploma. She’s in a hurry for her next class that starts in 2 hours and quite frankly feels a bit uncomfortable with this overt display of emotions.
Her 100 hours of teacher instruction didn’t even mention Buddha’s Compassionate Lotus Sutra. But, you’re sure you heard her say Lotus at the beginning of the class..
Too late, your soul is now roaring from the pit of your gut and your sobbing uncontrollably. That’s your heart chakra opening.
We see here, an all too common, local yoga session conundrum, as well as a snapshot of how important the psychological and healing aspect of Yoga is. Not such a long stretch from the Essence of Yoga itself.
Which brings me to…
5 Good Reasons Healing has become the focus of Yoga Retreats
It’s a part of the Yoga Journey
“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” — Rolf Gates
Like everything in our lives Yoga is about the trinity. The balance of the three aspects that make up who and what we are. The body, mind and spirit. It’s a simple trinity. There’s a bit more to it, but its good to keep it simple, relaxed.
Our psychological well-being is as vital as our physical well-being. In fact, its integral. From the original ancient teaching of the Rishis (The upanishads etc), to Patanjali’s Yoga to basic Tantra, it is the qualities of the mind which are central to the teachings and practices of Yoga.
There is an implicit, intrinsic psychological foundation to who and what we are, and there’s no escaping it on our self development path.
Meditation is essential
If you’ve been introduced to Yoga at some point you will come across meditation, (remember that soul invoking Sivasana that got us into this trouble in the first place?). It’s the very core of Yoga, so it’s hard to avoid.
Meditation is the practice of quieting the mind to help us move closer to our true nature. As we begin to meditate we start to witness our thoughts and/or our feelings, it’s inevitable.
When we begin to become conscious of our thoughts or our feelings, they become intense… well that’s when the healing becomes obvious to us. It becomes our focus.
Healing is vital to growth
And the World is in a healing crisis
Memories are held in our Body, It’s inevitable that when we do body work of any kind we will at some point meet with a repressed memory, an unhealed psychological pain and/or unconscious trauma.
Yoga poses or asanas by there very nature are healing movements. It is what they do; move the chi or energy related to specific areas they focus on. Each part of our body holds different memories or energies; remember everything is energy, even a memory.
There is a psychological or mindful component to healing. We have all had one event or another in our lives that has caused us suffering, pain or hurt. Even if our childhood was happy or loving.
Life events like death and loss, betrayal or negative attachments happen on different levels of our life and often these are left unmanaged or not dealt with. They become a part of our subconscious operating system.
Also, We develop beliefs that are inconsistent with reality (truth).
We must heal these, for us to move into a more fulfilling life or they continue to effect us, or even dictate our lives; often unconsciously.
Even if we have mastered the child’s pose or climbed the mountain in Tadasana these wounds must be met and released.
Yoga, in it’s completeness teaches us to heal and transform these old beliefs and hurts. That’s her magic
Healthy Connections
An essential part of healing comes from within our relationships. As we begin to meditate and heal, our relationships often come up for inspection. It’s an integral part of Yoga.
How we relate, who we relate with and the deeper intentions and feelings around our relating rise up like a Urdhva Mukha Svanasana or a Rising Dog, as it were.
This part of our life will go through a major transformation and be a fundamental and often painful process.
An important part of this healing will be to be in healthy company, with warm and compassionate teachers, friends and acquaintances. Nothing less will suit for a long period and in many stages of your journey to healing. And, there will be many phases.
Women’s circles run be trauma sensitive and conscious, compassionate guides are an awesome and safe way to learn new skills to communicating, meeting what needs healing and processing wounds and/or your inner yearnings. which leads us to..
Our Souls Need it
Who is Atman? What’s he got to do with my revolving triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana) anyway?
Atman is the soul of Yoga, the aim, the goal, the truth. Atman is the soul.
Meditation, healing our heart, our mind our body, it’s all really our soul. It’s our soul that led us to the Half moon (Ardha Chandrasana), that was crying as we lay down after ‘puppy dog on chair’, that was healing us as we let go of false identity and misguided truths about reality.
It was your soul that wanted to find joy and sisterhood and well.. go on retreat! To fall in love again..
Megan
Megan Jackson runs meditation and yoga retreats for women. She has been immersed in spiritual practice and study for 15 years, living it fully, with humility and compassion as her backbones for progress. She lives a quiet life reflecting on the dharma, being with nature and helping others who are wanting change, transformation or spiritual wisdom.
Join her on the Women’s Healing & Yoga Retreats Bali
or Tarot and Yoga retreat Bali
It’s a part of the Yoga Journey
Meditation is essential
Healing is vital to growth
Healthy Connections
Our Souls Need it