The last few years have been crazy awesome and also crazy busy. I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off creating merchandise, writing songs, planning tours, performing said tours and managing my own brand and blog. Whew! It has been a lot. Although I met my goals and did some incredible things on my last few tours, I lost myself somewhere along the way.
After receiving a celiac diagnosis and feeling sick almost every day, exercise became a pipe dream and low energy/malaise took a front seat. I would find myself mindlessly scrolling on social media every hour of every day. It felt like I wasn’t doing anything with my life. Netflix turned into the daily norm and proved that unlimited entertainment really CAN be too much a good thing!
Definitely not one of my proudest moments…
I was in a rut.
I forgot who I was, what my purpose was all about, and what truly makes me happy.
A Turning Point:
After digging deep, I remembered the times in my life where I really felt whole and perfect. It’s the times when I was completely surrounded in nature, making friends with wild chickens, talking to creepy looking spiders. It was times when I would climb trees (and not succeed LOL), getting scrapes and bruises, swimming in icy cold water and challenging myself to find my inner calm no matter what activity I was pursuing. It was the times when I would fall and get back up again, that made me feel truly alive.
What really made me feel whole in all of these experiences was when I was 100% connected with my inner soul: At peace no matter how scared or uncomfortable I felt in the moment. So, I set off to find a way to reconnect my inner pieces that got disconnected along the way.
That’s when I decided to splurge and go on a solo yoga & meditation retreat in Brazil. My boyfriend Greg and I had already planned a 20 day trip to three different cities to explore and visit with old friends from my rotary youth exchange, but I stayed an extra week to indulge in a lone experience to get away from it all. For the entire week, I barely looked at my phone. I didn’t even allow myself to have Brazilian sim card or an international phone plan, because I wanted to meet new people, navigate by memory and trust the locals along the journey, rather than rely on google for everything.
It was so delightful!!!!
The Experience:
Waking up every morning to sunshine and a peaceful yoga class near a stream in Lumiar, RJ was the first best thing about it. Not only did stretching out my body feel good, but focussing on my heart beat, and taking in BIG deep breaths for an entire hour every morning was very helpful in my self healing journey. Second best thing: I’d be treated to a freshly cooked GF, vegetarian meals daily by the most lovely house keeper. Off we’d go afterwards, for an excursion to swim in waterfalls and take in the jungle air.
The last half of the day would be for chilling, resting, cross words, listening to music, and literally just sitting and be in the sun. Then, a final meditation to top off the evening was the third fave thing of the entire experience.
Remember, this was a solo trip, so all of these yoga, meditation classes and excursions were private. ALL to myself! And while at first I was kind of weirded out that all the attention was on me, those feelings quickly faded as I learned to LOVE being completely alone and be completely taken care of by my guides for those beautiful 6 days.
My Solo Yoga Retreat:
So, this yoga retreat thing…
Yeah now I see why people do it. I am 100% committed now. My second yoga retreat is already coming up in Joshua Tree in June. There is something just so magical and healing about being around kind, mindful, healers, and people who are all there to support one another through this journey called life. This week was everything I needed, and it affected me so positively SO much, that I have even been thinking of ways to organize my own yoga retreat in 2020.
😱😍❤️
Let’s make it happen!?!?!
**The disclosure is that this is just a concept right now, but I would truly love nothing more than to host my own healing music & yoga retreat experience. I believe it would be life changing not just for me, but for all retreat-goers as well. The vision is to host a music & yoga retreat in Colorado sometime in 2020. Said yoga retreat would include intimate concerts, guided meditations, song writing circles, healthy cooked meals, daily yoga and all around support and well being for everyone involved.
The first step always starts with a dream
The retreat I attended affected my well being so immensely….I learned to be more kind to myself, to let my creativity flow and to find peace in life experiences. Most importantly, I learned to invest in my healing journey in ways that speak to my soul.
Please let me know in the comments if this would ever be something you’d consider. If I get enough interest, I could start planning for a date in early 2020. I’ve never hosted something like this before, but I would really really love to try.
We all face storms. Some storms are more turbulent than others. Taking part in a peaceful retreat could be a powerful first step, and gateway, to find an inner calm in your own life experiences.
We are in this together. I am with you.
xoxo
PS. Greg & I went on our first vacation as a couple! I made a vlog during our trip in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Recife/Olinda. **Spoiler alert, an engagement proposal took place in Rio! OMG! But not ours LOL don’t worry, you’d be the FIRST to know! Watch the adventure below:
