Think a Meditation Retreat Can’t Help You? 5 Benefits You May Not Know About

Many people might think that a meditation retreat is sitting on top of a mountain alone, waiting for spiritual enlightenment.

Or, they may think it’s a bunch of “woo-woo” people dressed in robes or funky clothes.

While some meditation retreats may occur in the mountains, and you may find people dressed in various styles, there is so much more to meditation retreats these days.

Retreats geared toward meditation occur all over the world. From small retreat centers in nature to large retreat settings in a big city, many people feel led to retreat from the world for a time to get quiet and go within.

Contemplation & Meditation

Many retreats involve contemplation and meditation.

The purpose of this type of retreat is for relaxing and reducing physical and mental stress, as well as growing spiritually. The best environment for such a spiritual retreat is one that is surrounded by peaceful, raw nature. However, there are many beautiful, serene retreat centers in cities too.

A meditation retreat is important for spiritual growth. It gives people the chance to calm their minds. As you can probably relate, our minds can get pretty busy with incessant thoughts. And sometimes they can be so busy that it’s hard to concentrate, fall asleep, or find any peace at all.

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Engaging in the Meditation Practice

Meditation retreats can help you grow spiritually, giving you space for what isn't always achievable in your daily, busy routines.

A retreat can also help you overcome obstacles in meditation. One of the toughest things about meditating is actually stopping your life and doing it.

Whether it’s five or thirty minutes, making yourself stop, sit down, and meditate is easier said than done. This is why many seasoned meditators state that it’s a “practice”. You actually have to experience it over and over to get better at quieting your mind.

When you commit to attending a meditation retreat, you're making the time to practice consistently because that’s the whole goal. By doing so, you open yourself up to enjoying a quieter mind and more spiritual insight.

5 Meditation Retreat Benefits

Several benefits can be reaped from attending a meditation retreat.

It can certainly foster your spiritual growth. You tend to feel more peaceful and happier after the experience. You may also have the opportunity to engage in other activities at the retreat, such as yoga, qi gong, breathing techniques, and more. 

Learning techniques and practices like these can help you mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

1. Spiritual Insight

Most retreats will have a spiritual teacher who will offer valuable lessons too. After all, meditation goes hand in hand with spirituality and learning how to navigate life in a way that affords you more peace, joy, inner insight, and contentment.

2. Beautiful Scenery

Meditation retreats are usually located in places that are known for their natural beauty, such as near mountains, lakes or rivers.

Being in nature can be quite therapeutic in and of itself. This can provide the best environment for soul-searching and for reflecting on the more important aspects of life.

3. A Greater Spiritual Journey

A meditation retreat can also help people with their inner spiritual journey.

It is quite different from a regular holiday where you just enjoy yourself and relax. In a retreat, you will be able to find a sense of peace which you can hold onto even after you return to your normal schedule.

You become more aware of yourself as a spiritual being, and less preoccupied with your mind that tends to be chock-full of thoughts. And, a spiritual retreat that focuses on meditation can help you learn how to view your problems and life from a new, higher perspective.

4. Direction For Your Life

After you come back from such a retreat, you may be able to better cope with the stressful world and hectic lifestyle.

Deeper introspection is also possible and you will be able to silence your turbulent mind in a more effective way. You may find many negative emotions, such as jealousy, greed and anger decreasing after such a spiritual retreat.

Your tired body and senses can be recharged and rejuvenated.

5. Gain Wonderful Friends

You can also benefit from the programs, demonstrations or other discussions that are held on the important and spiritual aspects of life.

Oftentimes, you will make some wonderful friends who have the same spiritual interests and goals as yourself. It is always helpful to engage with others who are on the same path. Who knows, people you meet on your meditation retreat could become lifelong friends.

Plan Your Meditation Retreat

Start doing some research on meditation retreats.

Look for one that resonates with your goals and make plans on attending. You might even want to ask a loved one or friend to attend with you. There are retreats all over the world. 

The best way to get started is by searching for:

• what type you want (Silent meditation? Group meditation? Guided? Etc.)
• how long you want to go
• a specific location (Are you looking for one near you or do you want to travel somewhere?)

Some are in gorgeous remote places that you may enjoy visiting, such as in Bali, India, Costa Rica, and more. Others may be right in your local area. Seek out those that speak to you and are in your budget range.

You can certainly benefit from attending a meditation retreat – benefits that could carry on a lifetime. You deserve a life where you experience more peace and joy. Meditation and or a meditation retreat is simply one avenue that can get you there.

Photo by Min An

Editor's note: This article was originally published Dec 10, 2020 and has been updated to improve our reader's experience.