Guides
Which retreat should I choose based on my energy?
People often choose a retreat for its destination or its practice. Yet one criterion matters just as much, if not more: your energy right now. The same stay can be a breath of fresh air for someone bursting with drive and an ordeal for someone who mostly needs to sleep. Before comparing what's on offer, take a moment to notice where you are. This guide offers a few simple pointers, with no diagnosis and no promises, to help you choose.
Take stock before choosing
Ask yourself a few honest questions:
- How are you sleeping at the moment?
- Do you feel like moving, or rather settling down?
- Do you need calm, or company and stimulation?
- What would do you good, right here, right now?
The answers aren't set in stone: your energy changes with the seasons, busy periods at work and your personal life. A retreat that was perfect last year isn't necessarily the right one today.
If you feel tired
What you need
Rest above all. A light programme, long nights, simple meals, nature. Avoid stays that start at dawn and pack in one activity after another.
Formats to look at
- Nature and rest retreats, with few sessions.
- Gentle yoga, yin or relaxation, rather than dynamic practices.
- Weekends without a busy programme, somewhere close to limit travel.
What to check on the listing
The amount of free time, the wake-up time, the comfort of the accommodation. When you are tired, a quiet room matters a lot.
If you feel tense or scattered
What you need
To turn the volume down. Fewer demands, fewer screens, more inner space.
Formats to look at
- Meditation retreats, guided by a teacher.
- Silent retreats, partial or total, if the idea appeals to you.
- Digital detox stays, which provide a framework for your break from the phone.
What to check on the listing
The level of silence expected, the place of meditation in the day, how the digital break is organised. If you have never tried silence, a partial or short format is often easier to start with.
If you are bursting with energy
What you need
A challenge, fresh air, effort. Sitting still all day is likely to frustrate you.
Formats to look at
- Trekking, hiking or trail running.
- Surfing, kayaking, climbing.
- Expeditions and bivouacs, if you love adventure.
- Dynamic yoga, such as vinyasa, combined with outdoor activities.
What to check on the listing
The level indicated, distances, elevation gain or duration of effort when specified, and the equipment needed. Be honest about your fitness and, if in doubt, ask the organiser.
If you are searching for meaning or at a turning point
What you need
Time to reflect, write and take stock. A setting that lets you step back without cutting yourself off completely.
Formats to look at
- Retreats that combine practice, nature and time for introspection.
- Silent retreats, for anyone who wants to go further.
- Small-group stays, where you can share if you wish.
What to check on the listing
Whether there are sharing circles or workshops, the group size, the organiser's approach.
If you're not quite sure
That's common, and it isn't a problem. In that case, a balanced format is often the safest choice: a short retreat with a gentle practice in the morning, a nature activity in the afternoon and some free time. You can adjust next time based on how you felt.
A few principles for everyone
- Listen to your body: if you have a particular health condition, talk to a health professional before choosing a physical activity.
- Don't overestimate your fitness: a stay that is a little too gentle is better than an exhausting one.
- Limit the journey when your energy is low.
- Leave room for the unexpected: your energy may change during the stay, and that's normal.
In short
The right retreat is the one that responds to your energy right now: rest if you are tired, calm if you are tense, adventure if you are bursting with drive, time for yourself if you are at a turning point. Take stock, then browse the retreats and expeditions, and click "View activity" to discover the ones that suit you.