I’m not just selling, I’m a buyer too (and I contend that most retreats are needlessly overpriced). By my own admission, I am a “retreat junkie”. My total days-in-retreat count is about 300 and I will be upping that number about 10% in the near future!

Between now and Mexico (Feb 19-26) I will be attending two separate yoga retreats: 4 days in Napa with Stephanie Snyder (late October); 4 WEEKS in India with Tribe Yoga (Jan 9 – Feb 6).

Why do I go on retreat? For the same reasons I cite when promoting them: Deepening my practice, challenging myself to learn new aspects of yoga (and self), immersing myself in natural beauty, getting away from my “norm” and giving myself space for new growth. Most of my periods of significant growth and clarity are linked directly to retreat.

I chose Stephanie’s retreat because I know her to be an amazing teacher, but her regular classes are not conveniently located or timed for my schedule. Why struggle to make any one class when I can join her retreat and get six?

The India adventure is a whole ‘nother story. I will be in Goa completing my 500 hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification. My teaching practice has come a long way in the last eight years. Why not give it a boost? There are always more aspects and asanas to be explored.

I hear so many “justifications” for why people don’t attend retreats. Any worthwhile adventure provides hurdles and challenges our comfort zone. I understand completely. Neither of these retreats fit nicely into my busy calendar or my meagre budget. I will be giving up 10% of my annual earnings, missing my loving wife and having to find substitutes for about 85 classes. I will be traveling and spending my birthday alone. I won’t know anyone attending either retreat and look forward to an 8-hour overnight layover in the Mumbai airport. I happily choose the experiences over the excuses.

“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom”…Anais Nin

It never ceases to amaze me that wonderful things happen whenever I challenge myself. Of course there were doubts (The winery was too far; The redwood grove wasn’t flat enough; There was a chance of rain; Yoga and wine?). That just made it more rewarding to look up and see 30+ people practicing yoga together in the beautiful redwoods!

Speaking of challenges…

You may have noticed I have been personally challenged when it comes to keeping up with my blog. This is the first entry in a long time. Who knows, it might be the start of a trend.

Speaking of trends…

Most of my blogging (and earlier chronicling) involved travels. Maybe there is travel news in the near future. Please stay tuned…

…Keith

To make the site more accessible to the html challenged (me), the site has been migrated from textpattern to wordpress. That process was slow and tedious because quite frankly, I am a web designer’s worst nightmare (slow to respond, unfocused, asking too many of the wrong questions).

Now that it has migrated, I have slowly figured out how to add slideshow for previously un-represented events such as Yoga on The River 2009 and Random Acts of Outdoor Yoga (both accessible from the “Events” tab). I have also gone back to many of my earlier blog entries (primarily from India) and added pictures (and links to other slideshows). Let’s just say I tried to get caught up to the present.

Oh yeah, I also got married (but that deserves it’s own post).

Photos by
“Nicolo Sertori”:http://www.photonicolo.com/
“Cathy Gregory”:http://cathylens.com/

Other Yoga Teachers/Retreats
“Ashiyana (Goa, India)”:http://www.ashiyana-yoga-goa.com/retreats-india-goa.shtml

Vipassana Meditation
“Insight Meditation Center (Redwood City)”:http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/
“Spirit Rock (Marin County)”:http://spiritrock.org/
“Bodh Gaya Retreats (India)”:http://www.bodhgayaretreats.org/