Imagine basking in the embrace of the Tuscan countryside, where rolling hills and vineyards create an idyllic backdrop for relaxation and introspection. The serenity of this region invites deep connection with nature, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the present moment, finding tranquility in the rustling leaves and gentle breezes that caress their skin.

Or picture a retreat nestled within the enchanting Italian lakes region, with its crystal-clear waters and majestic mountains. This setting evokes a sense of awe and reverence, offering an opportunity for profound reflection and personal growth. The tranquil lakeside atmosphere fosters a profound connection with one’s inner self, enabling attendees to delve into their yoga practice and discover newfound clarity amidst the serene surroundings.

With the in mind we’ve made a list of the finest destinations yoga retreat centers and retreat venues in Italy , that perfectly embody the ambiance you desire for your upcoming yoga retreat or group retreats !

Palazzo BelVedere

Location: Montecatini Terme, Tuscany

Feel: Sophisticated. Cultural. Wellness Focused. Located in the spa town of Tuscany. It’s a luxury hotel retreat with elegant stylish interiors, manicured botanical gardens, tranquil common spaces, top notch facilities focusing on holistic wellbeing.

Ideal for luxury corporate retreats with 60 rooms and suites. There’s also a lounge bistro and gourmet restaurant, 2,000 sqm home spa. The multiple spaces for group activities such as the Sanctuary, a brightly-lit yoga studio, and a zen circular garden makes this conducive for company retreats. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

Tara Nature Retreat

Location: Perugia, Italy

Feel: Tranquil, nature, cozy. A sanctuary amidst the Umbrian lush hills with easy access to a charming medieval historic town. Just 1.5 hours from Rome. 

Ideal for moderate to large gatherings, the space can sleep 8-22 people. Multiple yoga and meditation spaces include a 110m2 outdoor deck in the middle of nature and an indoor shala. Outside, enjoy the 15m2 pool and quiet nooks in the property’s lush 7 acres of space. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

Villa Cecilia Trabia

Location: Sicily, Italy

Feel: Extravagant, exciting, luxury Italian retreat venue. Guests will feel a sense of care and excited energy. The property is colorful in every sense of the word. Surrounded by tropical plants and ocean views, it has a resort vacation feel that will leave guests feeling pampered. Perfect for a luxury yoga retreat, the following services are included: full board food service, tour guides, private transportation, concierge services, housekeeping, child care, and private boat complete with a skipper. 

The property includes one main house and three separate cottages that can accommodate 8-22 guests total. Also includes 3 pools, stacked for added privacy and noise control, and an outside kitchen. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

Oliveto Estate

Location: Macerata, Italy

Feel: Reflective, peaceful, calm. Enjoy rest and relaxation at the Oliveto Estate. Clean, neutral design elements evoke a calming sensation for your yoga or meditation retreat. Guests can enjoy a walk through the 9 acre olive grove and stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the home bring a sense of nature indoors – perfect to host retreat in Italy. White Glove service allows for a customized retreat experience such as organizing a cooking class, private chef experience, on-site massage services, and guided villa tours.

Relax at the in-villa spa or one of the pools. Also includes a fire pit, outdoor barbeque, outdoor yoga studio, tennis court, and a personal concierge to ensure an enjoyable stay. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

Ancora del Chianti Art Yoga

Location: Tuscany, Italy

Feeling: Warm, communal, inviting. An ideal setting if the purpose of your yoga retreat is to create a sense of community. Guests will feel at ease gathering in the warm dining space, seating areas, and outside garden of this bed and breakfast. The grand spaces paired with small seating areas create a cozy setting ideal for intimate conversations and connection. With sustainability in mind, the property uses rainwater recycling, biomass heating, herbal waste water purification, and organic farming, to just name a few of the eco-friendly practices. They also value educating sustainability practices to younger generations by hosting educational tours on the property. 

Complete with 8 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, the home can accommodate up to 17 guests. The yoga studio features large windows with panoramic garden views. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

Terzo di Danciano

Location: Tuscany, Italy

Feeling: Tranquil, grand, peaceful. Unwind and connect to a forgotten sense of self. Water is said to bring clarity and peace. With the spa, pool, and gorgeous indoor fountain, clarity and peace abound in this gorgeous home. Perfect for a retreat that intends to be transformative and invite new perspective on one’s life or circumstance. Family owned and operated, the owners are devoted to the art of hosting and guests will feel like family. 

This home can accommodate 12-24 people. Catering options include full or half-board services, with a variety of menu options. The home is spacious for larger groups, including a large dining space, open yoga studio, and beautiful outdoor gathering areas. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

Masseria Del Bosco Apulia

Location: Lecce, Italy

Feel: Stylish, authentic countryside charm. This restored 17th century masseria is nestled in Salento’s beauty and lush woodland, which is ideal for huge groups up to 85 guests.

Including 5 suites and 28 rooms, each equipped with private gardens or spacious terraces. The estate sits on a 25 acres of land, surrounded by nature and tranquil walking paths. It also features covered outdoor areas and a multifunctional indoor hall suitable for meditation, team-building sessions, and yoga. As an agriturismo, guests can enjoy top-notch cuisine made from local organic ingredients. For more details and to send an enquiry please click here.

With so many beautiful retreat venues , villas for hire , and company offsites Italy options, there is something for every type of gathering. Knowing the purpose and “feeling” you hope to evoke is essential when choosing a retreat venue. Whether the purpose of your yoga retreat is to connect with others, self-reflect, relax, or transform, there is a perfect retreat venues Italy for every retreat. Enjoy your next retreat in Italy!

The post Top Retreat Venues For Hire in Italy in 2026 | Host Your Retreat in Italy appeared first on RetreatHub.

But how do you find them in nature and use them for this purpose?

In this guide, we teach you where to look and how to use the shapes and symbols in sacred geometry to search for and fulfill your life’s purpose.

Sacred Geometry and its Meaning

The meaning of sacred geometry goes beyond its literal definition and encompasses various aspects depending on cultural, spiritual, and philosophical perspectives. Here are some key meanings associated with sacred geometry:

1. Universal Order: Sacred geometry suggests that there is an underlying order and harmony to the universe. It posits that specific geometric patterns and ratios are fundamental to the fabric of existence, from the macrocosmic scale of galaxies down to the microcosmic scale of atoms.

2. Symbolism: Sacred geometry is rich in symbolism. Different geometric shapes and patterns are believed to represent specific qualities or concepts. For example, the circle is often associated with unity and wholeness, while the triangle may symbolize balance or the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.

3. Spiritual Connection: Sacred geometry is seen as a bridge between the physical and the spiritual realms. By contemplating and meditating on sacred geometric shapes, individuals seek to connect with higher states of consciousness, divine energies, or spiritual truths.

4. Divine Proportions: Certain proportions and ratios, such as the golden ratio or Fibonacci sequence, are considered divine or sacred in nature. These proportions are believed to manifest aesthetically pleasing and harmonious forms found in nature, art, and architecture.

5. Transformation and Manifestation: Sacred geometry is sometimes associated with transformative processes and manifestation. By working with specific geometric patterns, individuals may seek to align themselves with certain energies or intentions, aiming to manifest desired outcomes in their lives.

6. Energetic Alignment: Some spiritual traditions suggest that sacred geometry can influence and balance the subtle energy systems within the body, such as the chakras or meridians. It is believed that harmonizing these energetic centers through sacred geometric patterns can lead to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

It’s important to note that the interpretations and meanings of sacred geometry can vary among different cultures, traditions, and individuals. While some view it through a mystical or esoteric lens, others may approach it from a more scientific or mathematical perspective. Ultimately, the meaning of sacred geometry is deeply personal and can hold unique significance for each individual exploring its principles and symbolism.

Sacred Geometry Throughout History

Throughout history, sacred geometry has played a significant role in various cultures and civilizations.

In Ancient Egypt, sacred geometry was deeply intertwined with religious beliefs and architectural design. The Egyptians believed that certain geometric shapes possessed divine qualities and used them in the construction of temples and pyramids. The pyramids themselves, with their precise alignments and geometric proportions, are considered a remarkable testament to the application of sacred geometry.

In Ancient Greece, the philosopher Pythagoras and his followers placed great importance on geometric principles and believed that the universe was governed by mathematical ratios. Pythagoras’ theorem, which relates the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle, is one of the fundamental principles of sacred geometry that bears his name.

During the Islamic Golden Age, scholars explored the intricate patterns of sacred geometry in architecture and art. Islamic geometric patterns, characterized by intricate interlocking shapes and symmetries, were used to decorate mosques, palaces, and manuscripts. These patterns were believed to reflect the underlying order and unity of the cosmos.

Common Shapes and Symbols in Sacred Geometry

Triangle

The triangle in sacred geometry symbolizes balance and harmony. The upward-rising shape indicates the elevation of one’s mind to a higher state of consciousness. When turned upside down, it represents feminine energy and reproduction.

It is one of the fundamental shapes in sacred geometry, as it also underlies all other symbols.

Circle

The circle symbolizes cycles of life, change, perfection, wholeness, boundaries, and oneness. It is considered the eternal constant in nature.

Square

Squares symbolize solidity, stability, dependability, grounding, and safety. The equal sides represent the four elements in nature and the four cardinal directions.

Spiral

The spiral symbolizes the flow of energy through the chakras when they spin in a circle. It is reflected in the shape of the DNA, the Earth’s movement around the sun, and many other universal elements.

Flower of Life

The Flower of Life sacred geometry symbol comprises multiple overlapping circles placed equidistant to each other. These circles are arranged in a circle so they form a flower-like pattern. It also incorporates the Seed of Life sacred geometry symbol into the structure.

It is a popular symbol in contemporary architecture, art, and philosophy. It represents the interconnected nature of all living things in the universe and is said to hold the blueprint for the creation of the universe. It has appeared in many manuscripts, temples, and cultures around the globe.

Star of David

The Star of David combines all the main shapes in sacred geometry. It is also one of the few symbols that appears in almost every religion.

The unique combination of the shapes symbolizes the connection between humans and their Creator.

The tree of Life

The Tree of Life is a combination of 10 circles and 22 lines and symbolizes the path of creation to spiritual ascension. The Tree of Life sacred geometry is a fundamental symbol in many religions worldwide.

Mandalas and Sacred Geometry

Mandalas are circular designs used in various spiritual practices, including Buddhism and Hinduism. They often incorporate intricate sacred geometric patterns. Mandalas are used as a tool for meditation and are believed to represent the universe, unity, and the journey towards self-realization.

Sacred Geometry in Art

Many artists throughout history, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Salvador Dalí, incorporated principles of sacred geometry into their works. The use of geometric shapes and proportions can be seen in paintings, sculptures, and architecture, adding a sense of harmony and balance to the artwork.

How to Find Sacred Geometry in Nature?

From natural organisms and trees to music and feng shui, nature’s sacred geometry can be found everywhere. It can be observed in the structure of snowflakes, the center of sunflowers, a sheep’s horn, a spider’s web, crystal formations, harmonious musical notes, beehives, migrating birds, and so many more.

These naturally-occurring symbols can be used to assist us in the journey of life. They connect our inner and outer essences, which will help us achieve higher consciousness and bring about profound soul awakening.

In the next section, we further explore the many ways in which you can use sacred geometry.

5 Ways You Can Use Sacred Geometry in Everyday Life

Observing and thinking about sacred geometric symbols, shapes, and patterns can help you reap the benefits of sacred geometry.

Here are some common ways to integrate these shapes into your everyday life to heal, find wisdom, and achieve empowerment.

1.    Drawing or Coloring Mandalas

The mandala is a common sight in sacred geometry art and meditative practices, and it originates from sacred geometry. To the one who draws it, the mandala is a geometric configuration that can bring mindfulness and calm while revealing the inner workings of the soul.

The mandala incorporates multiple circles, spirals, squares, and a flower of life symbol. Drawing these healing sacred geometry symbols is said to have a soothing and meditative effect on the body, which is especially useful for someone feeling stressed and anxious.

There’s no right or wrong way to go about drawing a mandala. All you need to do is start with a circle and fill it with some common shapes of sacred geometry to create patterns all around it.

If creating your own mandala seems intimidating, you can begin with coloring books and fill in pre-made patterns.

2.    Crystal Grid Meditation

Crystals have long been used in meditation practices to channel positive energy and improve focus. They lend the same benefits when used with the wisdom of sacred geometry.

If you have some crystals at home, you can use them to create sacred geometry shapes to meditate upon. Simply arrange the crystals in a circle, square, or triangle, and focus on the shape as you focus your energy to bring healing, grounding, or other purposes.

Here are some examples of shapes and the energy they provide:

• Circle – to create better boundaries and maintain a feeling of safety and security
• Square – to encourage groundedness
• Triangle – to build balance and harmony, achieving a higher consciousness

3.    Using Feng Shui While Decorating

If you look closely, you’ll find many applications of sacred geometry in home decoration practices like feng shui. From configuring each room’s layout to choosing where to place furniture and other objects in your space, feng shui is another way you can use sacred geometry.

The concept of feng shui centers on bringing balance to your interiors. And by doing so, you can bring balance to your life.

Here are some ways to introduce sacred geometry at home:

• Place a rectangle in the southeast and east corners to attract health
• Place a metal tray in the northwest to attract helpful mentors
• Place a triangle in the south to attract recognition and fame
• Place a square in the southwest to attract love and success in relationships

4.    Wearing Sacred Geometry Adornments

Adornments like jewelry, clothing, and tattoos with sacred geometric symbols can also amplify your intentions in life.

You can use these accessories in your yoga or meditative practices to bring more focus to your thoughts.

5.    Integrating Sacred Geometry into Yoga

Using sacred geometry to practice yoga involves geometrical yoga asanas while focusing on sacred geometry shapes. It is said to help healing and release while encouraging overall harmony.

Some of the best examples of yoga asanas that mimic sacred geometry shapes include the following:

• Arm balance scorpion pose (golden ratio)
• Lotus pose (interlocking triangle)
• Triangle pose (triangle)

The Takeaway

Once you’ve learned how to identify and recreate sacred geometry patterns, using them for your benefit through yoga and art will become easier.

Whether you’re trying to improve your art or heal yourself, this guide will help you apply sacred geometry to your daily life.

The post Using Sacred Geometry in Your Everyday Life appeared first on RetreatHub.

As babies, we could only express ourselves through crying. Surely, we all somehow can recognize how stressful the communication process can be at times, because we were all babies once! After growing, we continue to integrate new dimensions that transcend the verbal forms of expression …The good thing is that it’s no longer necessary to cry about it!
Unlike the root chakra and sacral chakra that connect us with the earthly and the sexual, Vishuddha links us with the wisdom and expression of all dimensions of our being.

Blockage or Imbalance of the Throat Chakra

Many times, listening to ourselves and being clear about what is going on internally can be a big challenge! That is why the real act of learning to communicate starts within us. It is from there that we can express ourselves clearly and connect with everything around us.

If we cannot understand ourselves, it is a clear expression that our throat chakra is blocked or unbalanced. How can we know this is happening?

• You do not have mental or emotional clarity.
• What you want is not consistent with what you think, feel or do.
• You do not know how to express yourself assertively.
• Physically, your body can express imbalance in the thyroids, vocal system, mouth, arms, neck, shoulders, larynx, jaw, neck, nape of neck, esophagus, ears, lungs, trachea or cervical vertebrae.

Throat Chakra Affirmations to Balance and Heal It

You attract everything that is in your same frequency, for this reason, affirmations are an extremely powerful tool: Thoughts, change your energy and therefore, moderate your frequency, in this manner, you can heal the ways in which your body expresses itself and not only that, but you can consciously transform your reality as you begin to attract that which resonates with you!

Below, we share with you 37 affirmations that will help unblock, heal and will allow energy to flow in a balanced way in your throat chakra:

1. I am capable of expressing my own truth.
2. I am free of judgment before my own truth and the truth of others.
3. I am capable to integrate the interpretations of others.
4. Nothing binds me to an absolute truth; I am able to explore and integrate the universe that I am with every truth.
5. I receive every possibility of expression from love and I express myself in every possibility of expression from love.
6. I am free of all limitation in the presence of the power of love that I am.
7. I breathe the infinity that I am.
8. I embrace all expression as the possibility of that which expands my reality.
9. I allow myself to express the potential that I am.
10. I am part, as everything is part.
11. I communicate through love, wisdom and compassion.
12. I release all doubt of what I contain, I am capable of sharing myself with the world that surrounds me.
13. I am capable to share what my being contains, free of all internal and external judgment.
14. I am conscious of what I wish to deliver through my words, intention and action.
15. I communicate lovingly and compassionately, listening to others in the same way.
16. I am aware of the power and strength contained in my words.
17. I enjoy interacting and nurturing with the universe that I am in others.
18. I recognize myself in everything that allows me to integrate from what is different a wider truth.
19. I am one with the universe, from this space, I am able to communicate with everything that surrounds me.
20. I live a human experience; I allow myself to discover and transform myself without judging myself.
21. Everything that I conceive can change, my truth is not absolute.
22. I can express myself freely while respecting all that is different.
23. I love the adventure of discovering and transforming my own truth.
24. I am free to be my own art.
25. I allow my being to express itself from the joy of the adventure that I am in discovering myself in it.
26. I allow myself to be free to fully express my being.
27. I honor myself and all that surrounds me.
28. I integrate everything expressed as a master experience.
29. I allow myself to receive and listen to my guides, masters and the beloved being that I am.
30. I believe in the infinite potential that I contain.
31. I allow myself to express the joy of the adventure I am.
32. I believe in me.
33. I am perfect on each imperfection that allows me to grow and to discover myself.
34. I am capable of communicating myself assertively.
35. I am human, I grow from my mistakes.
36. Everything I share from me has value in creation.
37. I believe it in every projection of wisdom from my being.

The Throat Chakra Crystals

There is not just one throat chakra stone, there are several acting as great allies when working with Vishuddha, either to unblock or balance them. These chakra stones help us to enhance the work we want to do.

To work with throat chakra crystals and stones you should know something about Vishuddha:
The color of this chakra is Blue.

The ideal minerals to work this energy center, are the ones of the same color frequency. Here are some of the crystals for throat chakra and stones you can use, based on their function.

To work on communication, listening and intuition you can use light blue crystals such as:

Blue Agate
Blue Aventurine
Celestine
Lapis Lazuli
Aquamarine
Chalcedony
Cyanite
Larimar
Blue Topaz
Opal with blue iridescence
Blue Fluorite
Blue Calcite
Angelite

To work the energetic blockages, you can use blue-green and turquoise blue crystals like:

Turquoise
Chrysocolla
Amazonite
Hemimorphite
Danburite

How to Use Crystals

CHAKRA DE LA GARGANTA – VISHUDDHA
Color: Blue
Frequency: 741 Hz
Sacred Sound in Sanskrit: HAM
Integrating these elements that represent the chakra and are related to the frequency forms in which it expresses itself, you can do the following practice:
– Listen to an audio with the frequency 741 Hz you can get several on YouTube like this one:

– Place yourself in a comfortable position lying on your back.
– Place the crystal or stone on top of your throat.
– Imagine in your throat a blue light.
– Mentally repeat the mantra: “HAM”.
– Observe how as you repeat the mantra, the blue light becomes brighter and expands as you repeat the mantra mentally.

Remember that each path is a personal discovery, so the best suggestion is to release all expectations and let the magic happen by itself!

Are you ready to work on your Vishuddha chakra? I hope all these tools serve as a guide and impulse to harmonize this important energy center in you!

Remember, you will be able to see the change in you, as you continue to work on yourself. Lovingly and compassionately is a personal mantra that you can integrate when doing personal work, after all, we are divine beings living in a beautiful human experience!

Author: Mercedes Herrera

From Venezuelan lands, explorer of the world and the cosmos since birth, graduated in Communications Studies but trained in the school of human experience.

In the course of my life, I always attended that inner call that allows me to discover my path at every step. I started to integrate trainings and practices of Reiki, Pendulum, CRP and Yoga 13 years ago. As I deepened in the path of life, I was initiated in a school of Vedic studies of Shiva Kriya Yoga, which I was part of, for 11 years.

The post 37 Powerful Throat Chakra Affirmations to Balance and Heal Your Throat Chakra appeared first on RetreatHub.

A majority of individuals likely believe that wisdom comes with age. Youth is the time in a person’s life when they are meant to experiment and discover themselves. Mistakes are often more acceptable when you’re a teenager than you’re an adult for this very reason.

And when it comes to “spiritual awakening”, people don’t typically associate it with youth. It’s more of an occurrence when you’re an adult, as your life’s journey has in some way led you down a spiritual road.

However, the youth can, of course, be spiritually awakened. And when they are, their life’s journey can change completely.

To Be Young and Spiritually Awakened: Living by Your Dharma

First, it’s important to answer the question:

What is dharma?

Very broadly, dharma is an integral part of many spiritual teachings which essentially refers to a law governing the Universe and all things in existence. Living out one’s dharma or in accordance with your dharma simply means following this law.

In a way, dharma can refer to your mission or purpose in life. Whether this law is pre-determined by a Higher Power or revealed in the process of spiritual awakening, those who live out their dharma experience a harmonious life.

This is because your dharma is, essentially, your true calling. When you know your dharma, each decision made throughout your entire life will likely be made with this essential truth in mind.

When a person’s dharma is to give love to others, for instance, they may not be so easily consumed by feelings of anger and frustration. They will be less likely to retaliate against others, to seek to harm or avenge. Their “purpose” is to give love to others, so this will be their guiding force throughout life.

How Can This Spiritual Awakening Change Your Life?

Spiritual awakening and living by your own dharma have massive implications for every aspect of your life. Through self-reflection and meditation, those who discover their personal dharma can essentially reach a different way of living.

If the youth is often associated with one’s search for meaning, a desire to experiment in order to understand who you are, living by your dharma can offer you a sense of direction. It’s essentially your guide throughout your life’s journey.

Perhaps this is the biggest benefit a young person can have when they become spiritually awakened. Their life quest stops being motivated by the desire for self-discovery, and they instead become motivated to live in accordance with their higher purpose.

Those who know their dharma and are spiritually awakened will often have completely different perspectives
on life itself:

• They are often less stressed and anxious regarding their future
• They guide themselves by love, compassion, and understanding
• They seek peace and harmony
• They have knowledge that extends outside the material world, for they are connected to God

Your purpose in love is often felt intuitively. Even before you are spiritually awakened, at any age, people are inherently driven to live in accordance with their dharma.

A mother that cares for her child lives following her Dharma. She is guided by her unending love for her child, and not the desire to prove to the world she is a good mother.

When guided by dharma, you are guided by sincerity, joy, and compassion. You act not because it is in your own interest of self-preservation or to acquire something, but because you know it is what you must do, for others and yourself.

How Can You Find Your Dharma?

This journey to discovering your higher purpose is incredibly personal, and each person can have a different experience.

In general, it’s important to peel back the different layers of the Self and reveal the core values you have. Beyond the surface of who you are, as perceived by others, and even by yourself, you can discover your true nature.

Some ways to do it can include:

• Seek the happiness in your soul. Dharma offers an incredible feeling of satisfaction and joy each time
  you live by it. Reflect on moments of joy in your life to see what your personal dharma might be;
• Learn, and improve your mind. The mind and the soul are deeply connected. One cannot be
  enlightenment by the other, so by learning more about your spiritual nature and seeking answers, you
  can also reveal the truth that lies within your soul;
• Let go of the things that serve you no purpose. Life is full of distractions. Often, they deter people
  from growing spiritually. Yet with some reflections, you can realize that many of these distractions can
  be easily removed from your life’s journey, allowing you to stay focused on your path to spiritual
  awakening.

The journey can be long, but it is full of joyous and rewarding moments that can motivate you to keep moving forward.

If you need any help finding the best retreat center hire or venue hire for your next retreat, please check our handpicked selection of venues.

The post What Good Does Being Spiritually Awakened Give During Youth? appeared first on RetreatHub.

Life is full of quests, whether an individual realizes it or not. Oftentimes, the modern rhythm of life sees a person seek out gratifications at different stages of their life.

A student seeks to receive a degree and begin their journey as a professional. A career-driven person will seek to overcome their limitations and move further along with their expertise. A family driven person will seek to build such relationships and even create life.

But some quests can be more difficult to achieve or even grasps. Such are the quests for joy and abundance, two concepts that go far beyond what the material world can offer someone. And for these quests, one needs first to seek spiritual enlightenment.

What Is a Joyous and Abundant Life?

To know how to reach the destination, one must first understand what it is they are looking for. The concepts of “joy” and “abundance”, while not entirely foreign to most people, can be easily misunderstood.

After all, joy can be found anywhere, at any time. One can find joy in a fleeting moment of pleasure and contentment and have their heart filled with this unique warmth. People find joy in different activities, even in different people.

The same goes for the concept of abundance. Most often, abundance is connected to material gains, and individuals can have greatly different definitions as to what they think of abundance: the number of friends, their monthly salary, the house they live in, etc. However, both “joy” and “abundance” are concepts that should never be limited to momentary experiences or material objects. In their purest forms, they transcend what the eye can see, and what the mind can even experience. And this is where yoga can play an essential role.

How Can Yoga Help One Reach True Joy and Abundance?

Yoga is a practice through which one seeks enlightenment and higher knowledge about the self and even the world.

When a person is enlightened, and truly understands the order of the world, the concepts of “joy” and “abundance” become understood at last.

An enlightened person understands joy is not found in the fleeting moments of day-to-day life. Joy, in the true sense, is everlasting and comes from the person who has awakened. It is a reflection of their own consciousness, and not created by outside means.

Abundance is not connected to material things. In its true sense, it means to live a full life, to feel life and all its sensations. To live abundantly means to live in harmony, as the mind, body, and spirit connect to reveal an entirely new dimension of human existence.

A joy-filled and abundant life is reached when one finds a sense of accomplishment at a spiritual level. While many philosophies and practices can help a person achieve this, one practice, in particular, focuses tremendously on spiritual awakening:

What Is Kriya Yoga?

Kriya Yoga is a practice that takes one through a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth in order to reach enlightenment.

While it’s a rather complex system of beliefs and practices, in Kriya Yoga the journey towards enlightenment is inward. Spiritual growth is not to be found in the outside world, but rather practitioners must reconnect with the Self in the true sense in order to become awakened.

This can be a rather strange concept to grasp, especially since most of life’s quests are filled with challenges one might find from “others” – other people, places, situations, etc.

But the journey that Kriya Yoga helps people embark on promises much higher rewards than any other quests a person can have in their life. By returning to the Self and reconnecting with one’s soul, a person essentially reconnects with God.

Each person is a representation of the Divine. God should not be searched for in any other place that the self. Through deep reflection and meditation, kriya yoga helps people walk the path to God, and unlock life’s most essential gifts.

Gifts such as joy and abundance, in the true sense of the word. When a person reaches a level of spiritual enlightenment, they are living in accordance with God and His word.

They are knowledgeable of the Truth and the true order of life and begin to remove the distractions that threaten to pull them away from the path of spiritual fullness.

Who Can Practice Kriya Yoga?

Everyone has the potential to reconnect with God and live their life filled with joy and abundance. The practice of Kriya Yoga welcomes all who seek spiritual awakening and become free from the material world’s pressures.

However, it is important to note that enlightenment is not achieved easily. Kriya Yoga provides the means, but it is the practitioner who must approach this practice with an open heart and a strong desire to awaken their soul.

If you need any help finding the best retreat center hire or venue hire for your next retreat, please check our handpicked selection of venues.

The post How Can Yoga Give a Joy-Filled and Abundant Life? appeared first on RetreatHub.

In this article, we will discuss how to practice mindfulness meditation and how it can help us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Why is Self-Awareness Important?

Self-awareness is a key component of emotional intelligence. It allows us to understand our own emotions and how they are impacting our thoughts and behaviours. When we are aware of our feelings, we can better manage them and stay in control during challenging situations.

Increased self-awareness can also lead to improved mental health.

The importance of mental health awareness can hardly be overstated. We become more accepting of ourselves and others because we understand where our behaviour comes from. This leads to less stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions that can cause mental health problems over time if left unchecked.

Also, skin may feel more sensitive when you’re sick, and that applies as well to mental illnesses like anxiety or depression. Working on your self-awareness can help you to manage the symptoms of those illnesses and feel more in control.

How does Mindful Meditation help Increase Self-Awareness?

Mindfulness meditation is a way to pay attention to the present moment, without any judgment or expectation. You don’t need to have access to retreat centres to practice mindful meditation. You can meditate anywhere and anytime, whether you’re at home or out in public—of course, it will be easier in designated retreat locations but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it elsewhere.

The goal is not about controlling your thoughts or feelings, but rather observing them as an outsider would observe clouds floating by on a clear day without letting what’s happening in your head affect how you act now.

This helps us to become more aware of our feelings, thoughts, and behaviours so we can better understand them. We also learn how these things affect other people.

Mindful meditation does not have any specific rules for how long or how often you should practice it. Some people choose to meditate for 20 minutes twice a day, while others may do so only once per week but with longer sessions lasting up to an hour at a time!

The key is finding what works best for your schedule and lifestyle as well as what feels most comfortable when you’re doing it. If you’re having a difficult time carving out time for yourself, we suggest looking into a meditation retreat where they will guide you through meditating as well as provide some space for self-reflection. Often held in meditation centres, these can also be run in yoga studios or at home if you want something more private.

What are the Benefits?

There are many benefits—physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual—to practicing mindful meditation and increasing self-awareness.

When you are more aware of your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, it becomes easier to manage them. You will be able to identify the sources of those things so that they don’t control how you act in any given situation. This leads not only towards better mental health but also helps improve physical wellness too!

Additionally, if one is more mindful of what they eat and how much exercise they get, then their life will be better because it doesn’t just focus on one thing but all aspects that make up who we are as human beings.

When you become self-aware, you can also reduce stress levels in your body which leads to several different health benefits including lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and improved cardiovascular health. Finally, increased self-awareness can also lead to a greater sense of spiritual connectedness, if you are so inclined.

So How Can I Get Started?

As we’ve mentioned, mindfulness meditation is something that you can do anywhere at any time!

If you want some guidance on how to start or need a little more direction, we suggest looking into a meditation retreat. There are many different types of these out there and you don’t need to go very far from home to find one that will work for you.

If attending a physical location is not your thing or if funds are tight, check out some online courses or guided meditations that can be found with a quick internet search. Many apps can help you to get started with mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness is not a cure-all, but it can help you become more aware of your feelings and thoughts so that they don’t control how act in any given situation. This type of meditation has many benefits—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—to those who practice regularly!

The next time you feel stressed or anxious, try sitting down for five minutes and focusing on your breath. Notice how it enters through your nose and out through your mouth as if there were an invisible string tied between these two points pulling them together while keeping everything else still around you. This will help calm any negative feelings that might be bubbling up inside of us here at present moment!

Mindful meditation is a great way to increase self-awareness, but it is important not only to practice this technique regularly but also to make sure that you’re doing so with an open mind and heart. Whatever way you choose to go about it, make sure that you find time for yourself every day to do something that brings you peace and calm. The world is a noisy place and we could all use a little more peace in our lives!

Credit: Aussy Aportadera

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And all those feels come to be experienced when we allow ourselves SPACE and space is the big retreat commodity!

Space to relax, space to breathe, space to process, space to remember, space to grow, space to flow and space to connect.

Space to FEEL all the feelings that exist in between the sometimes non-stop tidal wave of life in these times. We’re in the information age when we are so bombarded by the constant tick-tock of technology distracting us from BEING, where we are constantly on call and available and more and more of us are burning out.

I’m about to begin teaching my twelth kundalini yoga and meditation retreat of 2019 and I’m also planning the adventure to join my second retreat experience of 2019 as a participant so I’m right there with you in understanding why we need to retreat in the first place.

Personally I need the space to replenish and that’s what I believe we all need.

We need a  space that is outside of the matrix of modern life where the world stands still for a moment, where we have the time to be introspective and where we have the time to say hello to our SOUL.

I am honoured to welcome you here to retreat in a space I have created to connect to your soul and to remember your true self and grow.

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About the author:

Trish Whelan is a Kundalini yoga teacher, Reiki master and shamanic practitioner. Trish runs Soul Adventures healing and transformational retreats from her home in Ibiza as well as in Goa, Scotland and Ireland.

The post Why We Need to Retreat appeared first on RetreatHub.

How will self-care help me achieve more of what I want?

Serving others from an empty cup is difficult, would you agree? If you’re a working mother, you will know exactly my point. Carving out space in your schedule for me-time, is something you might think is selfish or simply not possible. However, I see it very differently. I believe it’s an investment in your physical and mental clarity which in return will give you more energy and presence to make the right decisions – and ultimately generate more business for you too!

Wearing ourselves down is thankless, but when we take care of ourselves our body and mind will thank us plenty. The body gifts us the feeling of calm and focus, because our nervous system is more relaxed and our immune system have better work conditions too, which therefore keeps us strong. Taking care of ourselves ensures our batteries are running at full capacity, so we can go out there and take over the world. If we continuously yo-yo our energy, working hard 10-12 hours straight and then crash on the sofa day in and day out, it will inevitably take its toll on our physical and mental wellbeing.

Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive and time-consuming. Not having time or money for bi-monthly retreats, eating only organic or daily massages, doesn’t mean that you can’t do self-care. It just requires a bit of realistic planning and a good talk with your loved ones, managing your respective expectations and calendars. If you have children, this is even more important, because you are setting an example of how to take good care of themselves too. You’re teaching them how to be successful in life, by taking your own mental and physical well-being seriously.

Consider what simple things bring you joy. Maybe it’s signing up for a sailing course or taking a long candlelit, soak in the bathtub, a foot-bath with a good book can be super relaxing or for you, it could be that dancing to your favourite music alone in the living room helps you relax. Alone-time on your yoga mat, buying flowers or doing some breathing exercises could be a way to have a mental break. 

Some people love to write a journal, it could be a little grooming in the garden, or drawing or colouring, making yourself a tasty smoothie, taking a walk out in the park in-between meetings or simply taking a 10 minute break with no phone just enjoying your coffee. These are just a few examples of non-electronic, easy activities that can give you a life-boost and reconnect to yourself again.

Really, it doesn’t matter what it is, what does matter is getting those breaks from the hamster-wheel of life. Taking a step back, so that you can see more clearly how you’ve chosen to prioritise your life and to start saying NO to the things that are not energising you. Take back the reigns and give yourself a break from time to time, it’ll make you more effective at work and home.

I suggest to make a self-care list that can be used in two ways:

1. Choose certain activities and plan them in your calendar at a certain time of day or week. I suggest you physically carve out the time slot in your calendar for this activity, so that you show yourself how much you take it seriously. It’s not just a side activity anymore, it’s part of your schedule.
2. If at times, you feel stressed out and need to take a time out, you take out your list and choose one activity that calls to you in the moment.

“Remember regular self-care is your road to success.”

Let’s make a self-care list…

• Consider which simple things bring you happiness
• Write down 5-10 things along with the time they each require
• Split the list into two columns, one with short 5-10 min activities and one with more lengthy activities
• Remove any activities that don’t put a smile on your face
• Remove any activities that require electronics… they’ll just drain your system!
• Take a photo of your list and make it your phone wallpaper

If you forget to prioritise your self-care any time, don’t worry – just get back on the horse as soon as you can! It’s perfectly normal to self-sabotage or forget in the beginning.

Now, let’s create some space in your schedule

• Revise your current schedule. What activities drain you of energy that you could either outsource or consider dropping altogether?
• Talk with your family on how to give you space for some planned ‘me-time’. Share with them why it’s important to you and how it makes you feel when you don’t have time for yourself.
• List the chores you want to have outsourced to your children, partner, grandparents or a third party. Remember, it’s important for children of all ages to have chores, it builds stamina and self-esteem.
• Schedule your ‘me-time’ in your diary. Give importance to it, just as you would anything else, scheduling other things around it and saying no to anything that collides.

Tip: Do you rush to get from meeting to meeting? Ensure to create space between your meetings, so you get time to unwind before getting into a new setting.

When we don’t prioritise our energy well, it can manifest into stress, feelings of overwhelm, outbursts of anger, feeling disconnected or numb and even weight-gain or loss. None of these things will help you on your road to success, so it’s important to remember that what you choose to invest your time in will have a tremendous impact on your energy levels.

PS: Drop Netflix and Instagram too! They simply steal your time!

About the Author – www.balancedpeople.com

Sandra is a Kundalini Yoga & Meditation teacher with focus on destressing via breathwork. She has made it her life mission to help others thrive in life instead of surviving life. This she helps facilitate by restoring the connection to self through her online coaching and Optimum Vitality and Empowered Women Retreats, held in select places in Ibiza and Scandinavia.

On top of sourcing great content, we are also experts in finding the best retreat locations from around the world that you can search by category, location and capacity.  So, If you need any help finding the best retreat venue for hire for your next retreat, please contact our team at Retreat Hub and we’ll be more than happy to help!

The post Could Self-Care Be The Key To Success? appeared first on RetreatHub.

Have you ever found yourself volunteering to make a three course meal from scratch for a casual – “I’ve got it all together, so let’s have 10 people over” – kind of dinner or organising your best friend’s birthday party with a giant guest list, when in reality you feel super stressed and behind on all major points in your life? This kind of behaviour is likely to have you feeling incredibly uncomfortable, because what’s going on, on the inside, isn’t matching up to what’s happening on the outside!

When we are honest about who we are, we are honouring our inner world and nourishing our connection to ourselves, because we know that we are not playing a game. By being who we are, we are given peace of mind and contentment. You can’t live happily, being a people pleaser.

Reprogramming ourselves to be more vulnerable and authentic

If I were being honest about who I am, this subject is a bit of a sore point for me, even with all the amounts of self-work, therapy and spiritual healing I still find myself sometimes wanting to control other people’s reaction and even how other people perceive me. It’s really rather exhausting, not to mention time consuming, however it’s also actually a very natural behaviour for many of us.

If you find you can relate, it’s time to re-program that social conduct to be more vulnerable and authentic, to show that you don’t always have it all together and that its okay not to be okay.

What’s the medicine? Well first and foremost, it is important to remember that we as humans need to connect, otherwise we wither, just like a flower without water. The only way to truly connect to others is by showing them our real-selves. We need to let other people know what is going on, on the inside, otherwise we are just a pack of zombies roaming about.

Trust that everything happens for a reason

Knowing why it’s important to let ourselves be seen is one thing, but knowing how to go about this truth-business is another, right? Well, trust is the key here. You have to trust that you are okay no matter what and that you can forget any bag-lady fear. Trust that nobody, no matter how mad they get, can take away your health, your kids and most importantly your relationship with yourself.

For me, knowing that everything happens for a reason and that I am just a tiny piece of the puzzle of what we call life is grounding. There are also many tools you can use to feel more connected, such as yoga, therapy, coaching, meditation, breath-work, each helping us to feel more safe and to trust that we are ok no matter what happens. When things are happening that aren’t ‘great’, being honest with ourselves by daring to tell others and share what we are feeling can bring such relief.

Drop the mask, it’s such a freeing feeling!

Try dropping the mask and showing your vulnerable side, your humanity and let others know that you don’t have it all together or you’re having a bad day. Being willing to take the first step and be honest about things will have ripple effects. It will organically inspire others to do the same, which in turn can also provide relief in that you aren’t alone. I promise you!

Of course, you should consider who you run things by and make sure they are worthy of your trust. Not everybody will know how to handle your vulnerability, especially if they haven’t learned this life skill themselves. They’re not wrong for it and hopefully they will also learn to drop the mask too someday, when they are ready.

Try dropping the mask, its such a freeing feeling. I know all too well, how scary it can be, so no doubt it’ll take some practice, baby steps! Once you are able to be completely honest comfortably, you will be gifted with life feeling that little bit less complicated, because you’ll have one less thing to worry about!

“It can be so exhausting trying to be the captain of not only your own ship but also everybody else’s, it’s a FULL time job, and you don’t even get paid for it!”

Here’s the best bit… The real gift from this new behaviour, is the feeling of connection to yourself, you begin to feel more in alignment because you know that other people’s reaction is really not up to you, so you don’t have a choice but to let go of it.

Don’t be afraid of losing people, be afraid of losing yourself while trying to please them.

About the Author – www.balancedpeople.com

Sandra is a Kundalini Yoga & Meditation teacher with focus on destressing via breathwork. She has made it her life mission to help others thrive in life instead of surviving life. This she helps facilitate by restoring the connection to self through her online coaching and Optimum Vitality and Empowered Women Retreats, held in select places in Ibiza and Scandinavia.

On top of sourcing great content, we are also experts in finding the best retreat locations from around the world that you can search by category, location and capacity.  So, If you need any help finding the best retreat venue for hire for your next retreat, please contact our team at Retreat Hub and we’ll be more than happy to help!

The post Vulnerability Is a Kick-Ass Strength, Not a Weakness! appeared first on RetreatHub.

Well, you aren’t alone! Well, certainly not in having these feelings anyway. It’s a common trait that us humans have, to want to please others. The problem is that by doing so, we can often lose touch with ourselves, our real-selves. If you are tailoring your personality in order to be liked, however great you may be at it, it will hurt. At some stage you may find that you’ve put down your own needs and wants for so long, that you don’t even know what you actually want in life anymore. And that’s hard place to be in, believe me!

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Its actually a bit funny in sort of a sad way, but most of my life, since I was a child, I have acted the way I thought others wanted me to be. My parents are very loving people, no doubt about it, but for various reasons, I decided at a very young age, to make sure that everybody had to like me. From doing so for so long, I lost myself. I didn’t know what I liked or disliked, or what actually made me happy anymore.

I spent 5 years studying law, when I actually really wanted to do social science but I thought that there wasn’t enough money or prestige in it and that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with my friends. I ignored my inner voice for so long, it really began to take its tole on me. I began to experience stress, burn out, anger bouts and physical challenges. To be honest, I just felt like a fraud in my own life.

What really makes you happy?

Think about what makes you happy. No, I’m not talking about, what you want in the material sense of the word. A new car, a big house, a new Louis Vuitton bag, NO, not that, though it can definitely sweeten your life, but it definitely won’t make you happy. Im talking about what really makes you happy. What gets you running out of bed in the morning? Which of your friends truly inspire you? Who supports you and believes in you?

It’s not easy, nothing worth doing ever is, but walking away from negative conversations and people on the “social ladder”, will help you find your way back towards achieving more of what really makes you happy! Who wants to live in one big charade? Not me. You?

Instead focus your energy on what or who feels meaningful and fun. When someone asks you what you want, take the time to check in with yourself… “What do I really want?” “Is ‘X’ in alignment with the real me?” And, if you don’t really want to do it, don’t! It doesn’t matter if it will get you more money, more clients or more so called “friends” because the price-tag is too high in the end.

What is the price of pretending to be happy?

The price of pretending to be happy when you’re not or saying yes to doing something that actually makes you depressed, is VERY high! The effects, could end up weaving themselves into your whole life, manifesting into all kinds of mental or physical ailments. In my case it got me feeling somewhat numb and rather lost.

If you are feeling somewhat lost, read my recent post ‘What is true happiness’. Learn to pinpoint your values and design your own personal GPS to help you navigate through making decisions for yourself. Take on the challenge of being more ‘you’ and not just what you think others want you to be. Find a deeper connection with yourself, because you are just not willing to pay the price.

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About the author:

Sandra is a personal development junkie and has made it her life mission to help others thrive in life instead of surviving life. This helps facilitate by restoring the connection to self through her coaching, workshops, retreats & Kundalini Yoga classes. Coach, a Kundalini Yoga, meditation and breathwork teacher and a qualified fitness instructor. With a Master degree in law and extensive experience as an entrepreneur, Sandra knows from experience what the rewards, the challenges and the pitfalls of a high-profile lifestyle can be. She has been successful in setting up and running a recruitment firm and several digital start-ups, the latter in cooperation with her best friend and former husband. In this process, she has grown both as a professional and as an individual. She has also successfully dealt with the need to transform unhealthy lifestyle choices and the need for recovery from burn-out. Re-connecting to her body through yoga & meditation played a crucial part in finding her way back to an authentic and balanced way of living. www.balancedpeople.com

The post Am I Being Myself Or Am I Just Being Who I Think I Should Be? appeared first on RetreatHub.