Lisa Ray Instagram – A lot of friends and people I know wonder about the purpose of a retreat. The experience of travelling to an isolated location or wellness/meditation centre to live a pared down existence, leaving behind not only city life, but all of the distractions which fill our days might seem rather pointless in our fanatically goal oriented culture. Try facing your deepest fears by hanging with only yourself instead of losing yourself in a blur of socialising? Nah! Those who know me well would call me a semi-professional ‘retreater’ as I slip in a visit to a wellness centre every few months. On the surface my reasons for attending retreats are connected to my health gremlin. I have no doubt that it was years of stress, negative emotional patterns and neglecting my body that led to a diagnosis of the big ‘C’ a few years ago. My new normal means being ‘married’ to healing lifestyle choices that promote balance. But on another level, going on a retreat is an experiment in surrender. Surrendering the ego, the pressure to conform, the illusion of control, surrendering all the voices that keep you scared and stuck. I’ve discovered my strength in my difference when they say fit in; my strength in allowing vulnerability, when they say be hard; strength through acknowledging the beauty of my flaws and imperfections, when they say, ‘but we need you to look flawless, darling.’ I’ve found by regularly stepping into silence that all those voices lose their power. From a place of stillness, it’s easier to recognise those opinions, judgements, criticisms and eerily one sided arguments as sound clouds drifting through your mind with no real substance – it’s your choice to listen to them or not. Then saying no becomes as easy as saying yes. And the pleasure of meeting yourself is only matched by that of starting to see the world as it really is. There’s so much we take seriously – especially the monologue in our head – that’s completely meaningless, like the constant drone on tv these days. Tune out to tune in otherwise we live, as Buddha put it, like the spoon that doesn’t know the taste of soup. And I’m not one to pass up a tasty bowl of anything @satva_india @deiveeofficial @atmantan Mulshi