In last month’s blog, I wrote about how bookings have been rapidly increasing for our retreats and how wonderful it is to be back in business again. But…. it is not back to “business as usual” as, understandably, a lot has changed in the past two years. Now that we are back running retreats again, I wanted to share some of my reflections in case you’re thinking about booking a retreat.

Plenty has been written about a ‘Traveller’s Mindset’ in the past. I particularly like this article and recommend you give it a read before you continue with this blog! I believe that these days, this way of thinking and travelling is needed more than ever.

Before you travel – dealing with the admin. challenges!

Being able to travel safely again is absolutely wonderful. It really is… But, it must be said that travel is not as carefree as it once was – there are different entry requirements to get your head around, extra paperwork and forms to fill in(known these days as Covid admin!) and airlines sometimes change their flight times as they juggle rapid changes in global demand.

It can seem like a bit much, especially the first time you travel again, but if you get your Traveller Mindset in gear, you’ll be able to calmly deal with these pre-travel challenges!  An adaptable mindset is everything at this stage of your trip and we have noticed that preparing for your journey is the hardest bit these days. Once you’ve checked in and got on the plane it’s all plane sailing (pun intended!). And when you arrive at your destination the bliss of being there is better than it ever was.

Arriving on retreat – did your long awaited dreams come true?

So, you’ve arrived on retreat, and it feels amazing. Maybe you’ve been looking at photos of your retreat for a while, day dreaming of escape and waiting patiently for it to happen and finally you are here and it is even better than you thought it would be. Or… perhaps it’s not quite how you imagined it.

Remember that our local hosts have most likely had no income for a while. They may not have been able to invest in your retreat location recently, or their experienced long-term staff may have moved on, so maybe something isn’t working quite right or things aren’t as running as smooth as you’d like.

A little bit of patience and understanding can really help in these situations. We know you’ve been waiting a while for your trip and we all want it to be as amazing as it possibly can be. So let us know if something isn’t right and let us fix it for you if we can. Meanwhile, having a Traveller’s Mindset will help you keep your peace of mind, even if things are not quite how you imagined when you arrive. Let go of your expectations and embrace what you find…

Its good to talk!

We work with small family-owned places that, like us, have been pretty isolated for the past 2 years. Retreats can be quite an intense experience for us all at times, so please take a moment to think about our hosts. Part of a Traveller’s Mindset is to be an open minded and humble guest, so why not take a moment to chat to our hosts and see how they are too?

Sharing stories and connecting with people from different parts of the world can be a wonderful healing and comforting experience for everyone, especially after a pandemic. Connecting is powerful, so why not spend a bit of time getting to know our hosts and understand what they have been experiencing too.

Be kind to each other and yourself

Sometimes emotions run high on retreats. We are all full of excitement, joy, connection and laughter – especially now as it just feels SO GOOD to get away and meet new people again!

But then there are times when you might want to share something about a loss and upset you’ve experienced. In the pandemic everyone’s lives have changed in some way, so we all have something to process. If you’ve had a tough time these past couple of years, you may feel angry, upset or negative at some point on your retreat. Retreats are a great space to work through your emotions, in the safe and experienced hands of our team – and we are here for you. Remember to be kind to us too though, we are big fans of respectful communication!

Retreats are a group experience too, so please be compassionate and kind to your fellow travellers and offer some support if you see someone is struggling a bit. We all have a part to play in creating a safe space for each other.

All in all, let’s support each other through this transitional time. There’s so much of the world waiting out there for us to explore again. Get your Traveller’s Mindset in full gear and come and embrace all the magic and joy of retreat.

What do you think?  Are you up for the challenges and rewards of travelling these days? Check out our calendar here if you are.