| Today in my retreat coaching class we talked about | | | | intention and arrange for any support you may need |
| virtual retreats. You may ask, "What is a virtual | | | | for the day. The next 1-2 calls are for checking in, |
| retreat?" And others may ask, "What is a retreat?" | | | | posing questions, getting support, accountability and |
| The one thing I can assure you is that it is based on | | | | celebration of goals and experiences already showing |
| peace, not a place. And, all it involves is your | | | | up. The last call of the day is to acknowledge that |
| commitment-to-self, a few hours and a phone. Time to | | | | wherever you are is OK. Time to celebrate and see |
| get you and your life back in balance. | | | | what you can do to take the positive experiences into |
| A retreat is personal and defined by each of us. For | | | | your day, your life. Chat about how you can take the |
| many, it's a time to reflect, renew and restore. A time | | | | renewed-self and practices into your daily experiences. |
| to treat oneself to time outside of the routine. Time | | | | On each call your coach offers support, suggestions |
| away from home or work. In essence, time we take | | | | and tools for organization, self-care and nourishment. |
| for ourselves to use as we define. By definition, it | | | | Like exercise, it usually works better and is more FUN |
| means "a movement away from danger or a | | | | with a partner or group. |
| confrontation, back along the original route." | | | | WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A VIRTUAL RETREAT |
| When I say virtual, you may get visions of computers | | | | - Anyone who can only carve out a few hours in a |
| and other tech media. But I ask you to consider some | | | | day (stay-at-home moms, mom-preneurs, executives) |
| of the synonyms, e.g., practical, effective, fundamental | | | | - People in overwhelm, needing the support of |
| and essential ... "being something in practice." The only | | | | structure and a coach |
| tech involved is a phone. | | | | - Those needing "permission" to actually set aside time |
| So, a virtual retreat can be described as a practice of | | | | for self or a goal |
| essential time away from the usual, along an original | | | | - Those appreciating the transformational power of |
| route. I'd like to suggest the original route is time that | | | | collective (group) energy |
| takes you back to the authentic you. Time out of | | | | - Those wanting to learn the benefits of retreat |
| overwhelm and into neutral flow. Time away from | | | | without the cost of gas or airfare |
| stress and into peace of mind. Time for You to just | | | | - Those wanting to taste group coaching without a |
| Be. | | | | long-term commitment |
| Are you still with me? Are you beginning to understand | | | | SOME BENEFITS OF A VIRTUAL RETREAT? |
| that a retreat is less about the place and more about | | | | - Spa day - create my at-home spa |
| the space inside you, that peace of mind? As such, | | | | - Sacred Space - create my sacred space in and |
| one does not have to go anywhere to enjoy a retreat. | | | | around my home |
| One just needs to give themselves permission to take | | | | - Me Time, Be Time - remembering what brings you |
| the time for self-care, self-love. | | | | joy, your authentic self and creating the means to |
| Sometimes the permission to give oneself the time to | | | | have it |
| retreat is the hardest part of taking a retreat. It's great | | | | - De-clutter days - clear a closet, email off my |
| to take time for oneself, read a book, take a walk and | | | | computer, the attic or garage ... or your mind to allow |
| just Be. A virtual retreat works very well when we | | | | for greater creativity. Receive the structure and tools |
| want more than a walk or a nap. Sometimes putting | | | | to help you make space. |
| down the daily burdens and sharing in collective energy | | | | - Creativity Day - write, draw, paint, sew, play ... with |
| is the life-changing, self-renewal experience we need. | | | | purpose |
| And, a coach-lead retreat with like-minded, like-hearted | | | | - Journal Journey - explore the benefits and power of |
| people can offer the mind-less structure and | | | | journaling while enjoying a day for YOU! |
| accountability we need when our little voices tell us we | | | | - New Year's Resolutions - work best with support |
| don't have the time to take time for ourselves. | | | | (quarterly gathering to keep you on track) |
| HOW DOES A VIRTUAL RETREAT WORK? | | | | - The 'New Me' Retreat - these are great for weight |
| The essence of this mini-retreat takes the | | | | loss or getting back into exercise |
| commitment of a day and a phone line. One commits | | | | - Finally get some home repair or creation completed - |
| to 3-4 hours on a given day, e.g., 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. | | | | from making curtains to redecorating a room |
| The focus for the day may be individual or pre-defined | | | | Now, begin to imagine a day designed just for you. A |
| by the coach or group. At the start of the retreat | | | | day without computers, with all of your favorite things - |
| everyone calls into a bridge (conference) line for the | | | | the music of your choice, your favorite (healthy) foods, |
| first of 3- 4 calls. Then every hour, on the hour you call | | | | book or audio book, a bath instead of a shower, |
| in again for another 10-15 minutes to touch base with | | | | sunshine or time on a chaise lounge. Or, maybe those |
| the coach and the members of your retreat group. | | | | hours you needed to clean a closet so that you feel |
| Some retreats are set up as a one-day experience | | | | lighter at the end of the day. Most importantly, imagine |
| and others occur regularly on a monthly or quarterly | | | | how you will be transformed at the end of those 3-4 |
| basis. | | | | hours that you have given yourself permission to |
| The first call is usually a welcome call to welcome | | | | dedicate to YOU!!. |
| everyone to the retreat, explain how it works, set the | | | | |