It's Hard Getting Back

Dear Friends,

This past weekend I had the deep privilege of leading a yoga retreat at one of my favorite places, Blue Mountain Retreat Center near Harpers Ferry. 

I love retreats.  I love retreats deep in my bones.  They are one of my very favorite things to do.  They combine all of my favorite things...human connection, adventure, yoga and movement, belly laughs and fun, delicious food, relaxation, nature, self-love and acceptance.  They are just my jam.  I cannot express to you the love I have for these times and spaces.  I love creating a space that feels warm and welcoming.  I love watching connections being made.  I love the sound of all my people talking during that first dinner, and the feeling of deep relaxation and joy after our first practice together.  I love seeing some folks sit and read and others go on adventures on Saturday afternoon without anywhere to be, without anything to do, without any requirements.  I love everything about our weekends away.

And this past weekend was all that and more.  It was just a joyous time of deep connection, laughter, lightness, nature, adventure and all the delicious food and wine.  We had an amazing weekend, one for the books.

In spite of all that, I fully didn’t internalize until I was coming home from the retreat how much anxiety I had carried the weeks leading up to our retreat.  This was my first retreat since the start of the global pandemic.  We had taken every precaution.  All participants were vaccinated, and, because of the delta variant, I also had everyone take a Covid-19 test prior to our retreat so we could all be present and relaxed knowing we were being as safe as possible.

But, it turns out, the first time back to anything is just hard....we’re going to feel it...and I was definitely feeling it in my body and mind without recognizing what I was feeling until after the fact.

My dear friends, can we see the way our lives have changed and recognize that we will be affected by that change?  Can we be easy and gentle with ourselves.  Can we be a little more understanding when we are inevitably anxious over areas in life we might not have been anxious about before?  Can we find a little more love, and a little less irritation with ourselves this week.

I hope you have a lovely week my dear friends.  I look forward to connecting with you.

Love
Krista
​