It’s that time of year again when parents are booking campsites, summer holidays, and sorting through local resources for kids’ camps while school is out. Do you remember how much fun summer camp was when you were a kid? Playing outdoors all day. Getting dirty and wet. Trying new activities and facing fears. Meeting new friends and creating long lasting relationships. All that fun doesn’t have to be reserved for children only. I think it’s about time us adults got in on this too. And that is why last year I organized the first YOGA ADVENTURE RETREAT in Long Point, Ontario. Over and over I kept hearing participants at the retreat say “This is like summer camp for adults….only with wine!”. So here are my 5 reasons why YOU need to come to “Adult Summer Camp”.
#1 – Time to unwind, relax and reconnect with yourself!
We all lead busy lives and often when we do schedule a family vacation we are so busy preparing meals, cleaning up and organizing activities, it doesn’t actually feel like much of a holiday. Maybe you feel guilty about taking time just for you, let’s face it most parents do. However, when you take time to recharge, you come back to the people you love ready to give them all of you.
Last year my family purchased a home early in the year and it turned out our closing date was one day after the retreat, which I had organized long before we bought our house. Everyone thought I was crazy to still go on the retreat and then move the next day. It ended up being the best possible scenario because I returned home energized and calm, ready to take on the stress that moving brings.
When on retreat your meals are lovingly prepared for you. No clean up either. Your activities are taken care of and spaced out so there is lots of time to take in the peaceful surroundings. The accommodations are as close to sleeping outside, and a five star hotel at the same time, as you can get. I don’t remember the last time I slept so soundly. The only thing that woke me one night was the “hooot” of an owl!
#2 – Get out of your comfort zone and face some fears!
I always remember doing activities at camp that were outside my comfort zone. It was an adrenaline rush and brought a sense of accomplishment and confidence that isn’t often felt in adulthood. Remember how you grew as a person, how it changed you? That doesn’t have to end once you have a mortgage and parental responsibilities. So if the thrill of zip lining through the Carolinian forest gives you butterflies, it’s time!
#3 – Get out in nature
There’s nothing like fresh air and the lovely songs of birds all around you to bring you back to yourself and what matters most in life. It’s not even a feeling that can be put into words. Long Point is a World Biosphere Reserve and home to Bird Studies Canada. You are bound to spot some amazing wildlife.
I believe food, wine and exercise is 1000 times better when you are in nature. I remember arriving at Long Point Eco Adventures last year and immediately sharing a bottle of Burning Kiln red wine under the canopy and just looking out over the marsh, unwinding and chatting. It was the perfect way to transition to the weekend. We spotted all kids of birds and was my first time seeing an Oriole!
#4 – Make new friends and enjoy the “old” ones
Whenever my kids attend camps they come home and tell me about their awesome new BFF. It seems that kids can easily make new friends. I remember summer camp being a time where we would be put into groups, at first I felt shy about these new faces and then in a short amount of time we were interacting and laughing together, creating long lasting friendships. It was amazing last year to see how everyone meshed. There was such an eclectic group and we bonded over who as the first to fall in the lake while SUP’ing or who helped who portage the kayaks over the fallen trees. This human connection is irreplaceable and lacking in our day to day. Many people came with friends that they hadn’t spent more than a couple of hours with in a long time. It was great to see them taking their friendships to a new level and made me wish I had brought a friend along with me.
#5 – YOU deserve to have some fun too!
Why should FUN be reserved for kids only?! It’s tough to find fun activities as an adult. And maybe it’s time we took back our fun. It’s time to let go of the responsibilities, the rigid schedules and “To-Do” lists. This is your weekend to focus on you, to let loose and belly laugh at yourself and with others. I guarantee you will NOT want to leave come Sunday!
Three days and two nights on the Yoga Adventure Retreat will leave you feeling brand new and energized. Check out EVENTS and reserve your room today!
Namaste & ZIP ON!
-Angela