Why Retreat?

Retreats of one kind or another have been happening for centuries.  Often designed with a religious or spiritual focus, all retreats are designed to allow oneself to step away from the day to day obligations we might have so we can go deeper into ourselves and perhaps our life’s meaning. 

I have attended retreats both as a participant and as a facilitator.  I love both.  My introduction to ayurveda came from a weekend conference with Depak Chopra back int he early 80’s.  My introduction to Buddhist practices came from a retreat with Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn, also in the 80’s.  I attended a weekend t=retreat on Friendship Island in Maine, also in the 80’s, and several retreats at Ferry Beach in Maine.  All of them had great value.  

As a retreat facilitator I have led both day long and weekend retreats.  Each offers its unique advantages, the daily one being a lesser amount of time to be away from people and things that are accustomed to your presence, while a weekend, or longer, retreat obviously gives you a more intense experience of getting away from it all.  

 Single Day or More?

I only recommend retreats that are longer than one day if you can completely release yourself from your daily obligations, If the time is not right to do that you may not be able to fully immerse yourself in the experience. But if you do have the time, even one weekend will feel like a long vacation if you are at a retreat that is right for you. 

  Women’s Retreats

A retreat exclusively for women has its own energy.  Whether working, at home or retired, women share many similar experiences that often call for accommodation and flexibility, not to mention multi-tasking.  Being freed up from these obligations shows up as a source of shared delight in a retreat for women. It creates space for looking at oneself as an individual, and opens thoughts about who exactly this individual really is. 

  Retreat Essentials

To benefit from a retreat and to be considerate of everyone in attendance, everyone needs to unplug physically, mentally and emotionally so each person can be fully present.  Retreats are about silence, speaking and listening.  All are important elements of a successful retreat. 

Additional elements may draw you to certain retreats. There are retreats associated with a hobby, with career development, with spiritual development, with weight loss, with yoga and hiking, to name a few. The facilitator will guide participants through the elements of the retreat and typically prepares participants by providing a general outline of what will be included in the experience. 

   Wellness and You Women’s Retreat 2015

Wellness and You will be hosting a retreat on Sunday, October 18th at the Center at Westwoods in Westwood Massachusetts. It will include the elements of silence, speaking and sharing, as well as some outdoor movement and gentle yoga. For a full description of this event press here. 

My FAME formula

How many times have you said  “I want to eat better - I know it’s important but I just can’t seem to get there”?  It’s a thought that can keep you stuck for weeks, months and even years, sometimes until you have a serious health scare. 

Well, I have a formula for you that is simple, straightforward and manageable.  
It’s called  F-A-M-E, and here's how to make it happen. 

F - focused plan - you need to have an idea of what you want to accomplish and how you’ll get there. If you want to eat better or healthier, how will you go about making it happen?  What would be your desired outcomes? When you give thought to these issues you have a much greater chance of achieving success and actually eating better/healthier. When you are clear about your plan, write it down and refer to it daily. 

A - action and Accountability.  Once you develop your focused plan, you need to move from there into action.  You can have the best plan in the world but if you continue with old habits - eating out, grazing, low nutrient foods, etc., nothing will change.  The other half of the A is accountability.  Highly successful people seek out a coach or mentor or someone who holds them accountable.  Having someone to hold you accountable will make things happen. That’s what I find with my clients - they say it makes all the difference checking in with me because they want to be proud of themselves. They want to share what’s new and good since we last meet, and they want to think out loud about what might be getting in the way of their goals and how that can change. I never shame or demean anyone, no matter how poorly they may have been eating - when they are not meeting their goals I simply work with them to analyze why - what got in the way - and we move on from there. 

M - models that work. You want to eat better so you dive into the latest diet plan.  History shows that doesn’t work. Research shows 85% of people engaging in diet plans fail. I say the people don’t fail - the diets do.  You need to know about and choose high nutrient foods that you like. They will keep you satisfied, energized, and won’t leave you hungry and deprived. Eating well isn’t punishing - it’s nourishing. But you need to know what foods are best for you and how to prepare them in ways that work with your busy lifestyle. 

E - execute.  Yes you need the focused plan, you need to take action and have accountability and you need a model that works for you. Once you have these things in place, you need to execute the plan on a consistent basis. This only happens when you stay conscious of your goals and devote the time it needs to let you accomplish it. 

One of the motivators for many of my clients is knowing that when they are nourished they have more energy and feel better about themselves.   Who doesn’t want that?  If you’ve been thinking it’s selfish of you to devote time to this because your work/family/friends need you, think about what I just said about my clients.  They have more energy and feel better about themselves.  When that happens, you can’t help but have more to give to everyone, including yourself. Your head will be clearer, you will be healthier, and you won’t be serving others at your own expense. 

Strawberries Are Coming!

June Is Strawberry Month

Like all fruits, strawberries have a season in which they are most abundant, and in Massachusetts  that begins in mid-June.  Local strawberries are juicy and tender and quite different from the berries you can buy year round from California. 

Buying the Best Berries

Strawberries are a fruit that should be purchased organically or from Massachusetts farms that limit the use of chemicals. For organic farms refer to http://www.baystateorganic.org/MA/MA-STRAWBERRIES.html for your strawberries. 

Go Organic for California Berries

If you buy California strawberries at any time of year, choose organic.  California non-organic strawberries have high concentrations of pesticides that can do more harm than good.