A First Retreat at house of Aska i vuk – Rest is Resistance
In the world of retreats, sometimes life has a way of throwing curveballs that defy all our meticulous planning. We'd kept the option open to cancel our retreat, but against the odds, it happened. However, it turned out to be nothing like we had envisioned. Out of the four people who registered, only one visitor made it in the end. And you know what? That was perfectly fine with us. We decided to stay the course, honoring our schedule and commitment.
Our retreat was a unique blend of yoga, culinary adventures, and exploration of the beautiful island that cradled us. Our dear friend, the lone participant in our retreat, left our place feeling not just relaxed but profoundly inspired. They departed knowing they had been truly seen, cared for, and loved. That's what we excel at – taking care of others.
To infuse our classes with fresh inspiration, we decided to extend our circle to our neighbors and visiting friends on the island. The result? Deep, challenging, and incredibly fun sessions that left us with no sense of incompleteness. There wasn't a single moment where we felt like something was missing from the experience. Well, except for one thing for me - sleep.
You see, life has its way of throwing us curveballs on a personal level too. For me, entering perimenopause has meant that my sleep patterns have become as unpredictable as the wind. This particular week felt like a heavy weight on my shoulders. I wore many hats - yoga teacher, cook, open ear, friend, and tourist guide, all while running on minimal hours of sleep and precious little rest.
It's a peculiar feeling when you're successfully teaching others how to regulate their nervous systems while your own feels like a rollercoaster in a thunderstorm. Rest is resistance, they say, but my body was putting up a mighty resistance to rest. No tricks in the book seemed to work – not yoga nidra for sleep, not breathing exercises, not even the soothing embrace of essential oils, and certainly not massages. I found myself lying awake at night, unable to surrender to slumber's embrace.
The dichotomy was striking - guiding others towards relaxation while wrestling with my own restless nights. But through it all, I realized something profound: sometimes, it's when we're pushed to our limits that we truly understand the value of rest. It's in those sleepless nights that we learn the importance of self-care and the resilience of the human body and spirit.
Our first retreat at House of Aska i Vuk may not have gone according to plan, but it taught us an invaluable lesson – that rest, even in the face of resistance, is a vital part of our journey. It's a reminder that life doesn't always follow our script, but with an open heart and a commitment to caring for ourselves and others, we can find beauty in the unexpected twists and turns.