Silent meditation retreats are gradually becoming popular today as they give people that break from the noise and the hustle and bustle of their daily schedules. Imagine spending a week in a tranquil hotel with other people, but unlike a usual vacation, you don’t say a word to each other.
The basic ideology behind a meditation retreat is that giving you that silence for a prolonged period gives you time and strength to channel all the energy that would’ve otherwise been spent interacting, talking, and dealing with others, working for others, and now back inwards.
On the final day, you’ll walk out of the retreat with a calmer mind and a new-found sense of clarity to face all of life’s obligations in the outside world.
To give you a better picture, these are some things you should expect during a meditation retreat in Miami.
Meditation Practices Could Be Introduced
Because you are going to a meditation retreat, it’s fitting to expect meditation practices to be introduced. Some retreats will have plenty, while others could only have a few, giving you more room to focus on what you have to learn as you apply them during the retreat.
For meditation practices that require more instruction, you should also expect a few sessions during the first day or two that is focused on getting you familiar with how to perform that specific meditation practice.
Certain Belongings May Be Restricted During Your Stay
After signing up for a meditation retreat, you might be given a guide and an information sheet on what materials and amenities are included and what items you’ll need to bring. As early as now, you should be aware that certain things you depend on daily could be restricted. One of these is your mobile phone.
Meditation retreats are also supposed to be a digital detox, so it’s not surprising that you won’t be allowed to use such. Instead of a mobile phone, you could be asked to bring your notebook or journal.
You’ll Be On Your Own
Technically speaking, you won’t be alone. You’ll be with others who have also signed up for the meditation retreat. But, you’ll all be asked to observe your personal spaces and silence, which means talking with each other could be limited but not prohibited at all. The only one doing the talking would be your instructor, and even that is limited only to when they give meditation instructions and nightly talks.
Therefore, this means you’ll be on your own. After a series of hectic days back at home, you will have all that alone time you longed for.
There Are Activities To Enjoy
Now that you know you’ll probably be silent the whole week, you could wonder, what is there to do during the meditation retreat? The prospect of doing nothing and being quiet for an entire week already seems daunting. But you should also know that there are other activities to enjoy. You won’t just be left on your own, sitting, writing in a journal, although there’d be time for that as well.
What a typical schedule is like during a meditation retreat can differ, but generally, it could include activities like these:
- Meditation philosophy which covers lessons on philosophies, a background on the art of meditation, and answers to common questions;
- Meditation practices like breathing and stretching exercises, yoga, and guided meditations;
- Lively activities like local travel excursions;
- Nature activities like sitting in the garden, swimming by the lake, hiking, and biking.
Check out the itinerary of activities in the meditation retreats you intend to sign up for, so you can have those attuned to what you desire to achieve at the end of the retreat.
You’ll Have That Safe Space To Be Yourself
While the home is your most comfortable zone, it’s still challenging to ‘be yourself’ when you have children to care for all the time. Even when you’re down or stressed, you still have to mask all those emotions, pretend and smile once you face everyone else in the family.
A meditation retreat is a safe space to really be yourself. There are no distractions, chores, or obligations, even if it’s only for a few days. Think of this as a sanctuary or a refuge from any harm and judgment from yourself and those around you.
Final Thoughts
The list above isn’t absolute, but it gives you an idea of what you can expect on a meditation retreat in Miami. It can even have more unique activities, depending on what the meditation retreat team and center have in store for their attendees. It’s up to you to narrow down your options based on activities you’d want to do and achieve after the retreat. The most important thing is that the retreat should feel like a safe space for you to have your much-awaited peace and quiet finally.