Sleep is inevitable – we can’t survive without it. Rest must be intentional. We were fortunate to practice intentional rest in so many beautiful ways this past weekend at Sweet Spirit Yoga’s second winter yoga retreat in Minnesota! Learn more about the 7 types of rest here.
What a weekend- and what a way to break through some of the winter doldrums! We returned to the ARC for another winter yoga retreat here in MN! Everyone agreed it’s just far enough to feel like a getaway without being too far to drive during a Minnesota winter.
I love seeing how different each retreat group is from the last! We had an interesting mix of returning faces and new ones but somehow everyone felt like old friends by the time this retreat came to a close.
We laughed, we cried, we rested, we snowshoed, we ate some great meals, we connected. And may I say- it’s all yoga! One of my highest values when I started Sweet Spirit Yoga was to create wellness spaces where people didn’t just have a great time. Anyone can put together a fun weekend! I wanted guests to actually bring ideas and practices home with them to not only improve their own lives but also make the world a better, brighter, softer place to land.
By practicing true rest(oration) in so many different ways, my hope and prayer is that we were able to send women home with new tools for the journey ahead. I personally walked away from this beautiful retreat experience re-committed to my own journey of healing and restoration.
Many hands make light work. My heartfelt thanks to the following:
- staff & volunteers of the ARC for providing a sacred space for us to commune
- JennieRuth Warren & Brittany Meyers (a.k.a. the “heart monitor” and “vibes manager,” respectively) for sharing their gifts and talents with us, and working hard to help me bring this vision to life
- Amy Miller-Strand for being a rockstar and providing massage at all 6 Sweet Spirit Yoga retreats so far!
- Sarah Fitzgerald for jumping in somewhat last minute to share her massage skills
- Jeremy Gruber for sharing his incredible Thai Yoga bodywork talents
- Matthew Phillippi for capturing some of the magic that happens here
- You, dear reader, for making it this far…
- Last but not least, God through whom all things are possible and blessings flow, and all the little love notes that are issued when we need them the most.
I am forever changed and humbled by yet another opportunity to do what I love. May you find what lights you up, because the world needs more of that.
