In my May blog “mothering ourselves” I stressed the tendency of society to applaud overworking and the high cost we pay when we live trying to meet the expectations of work and our relationships. According to recent research, most individuals in the USA work a minimum of 55 hours a week. And we need to consider that most also endure a long work commute before getting back home to continue working on household and family responsibilities.
Here are some interesting statistics regarding the impact of living up to others’ expectations in our lives. For instance, research has shown that working more than 55 hours a week can lead to increased risk of stroke, coronary heart disease and premature death. The mental health cost is even higher. According to a 2020 report from the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, 1 in 4 Americans have a diagnosed mental health disorder.
Conversely, research has shown that people who take time off live longer, are happier and their work is more productive and of a higher quality. As health care costs increase exponentially, we are beginning to see a shift towards preventing ill-health.
Out of the need to balance the pursuit of wellness and the need to work, a new trend called wellness sabbatical retreats has been born. The modern use of the word “sabbatical” is used to describe time away from the traditional work environment that is used to recharge and pursue personal passions.
Initially, most sabbatical retreats were reserved for elite clientele, and now there are options to fit most budgets. A sabbatical wellness retreat is ideally a 21-day experience in the right environment that will help you to focus on nurturing yourself and finding balance for long enough to help you change your patterns.
What sabbatical retreats offer is a combination of some of the elements below, which have been proven to help restore your physical, mental and emotional balance and health:
Returning to nature (retreats are most often conducted in beautiful natural settings)
Movement and exercise options such as yoga
Alternative healing methods such as Shamanic Healing
Body massages
Settings that induce healthy sleep
Healthy food
Meditation
My good friend Vivienne O’Keeffe created a self-directed wellness retreat, called Tofino Hummingbird Cottage, in the beautiful coastal marine landscape of Tofino, Canada. Tofino Hummingbird Cottage’s grounds are ideal for meditation, listening to the sound of the surf, the whisper of wind through the cedars and the sounds of eagles, ospreys, and songbirds.
The healing energies of Tofino Hummingbird Cottage are intensified by lapis lazuli and smoky quartz, which have been embedded into the foundation and interior walls, as they give off soothing, calming and rejuvenating energies. The bedrooms were designed with black-out draperies to support the body’s circadian rhythm in providing deep and restorative sleep. One of the bedrooms turns into a working office with excellent Wi-Fi.
Although Tofino Hummingbird Cottage does not directly provide wellness therapies, Vivienne sourced local talented service providers of traditional therapies such as massage therapy, yoga, meditation and hypnotherapy. These specialists’ contact information is provided to guests, so that services are just a phone call away.
Vivienne also procures nonconventional healing methods options for her guests. I provide online healing shamanic sessions and, if what you are looking for is a deep transformative experience, I will create a virtual individualized shamanic healing journey for us to work on together over three to seven days. I highly recommend a seven-day experience for you to have the full benefit.
For more information about Tofino Hummingbird Cottage https://tofinohummingbirdcottage.ca/ and for pricing and availability https://tofinohummingbirdcottage.ca/booking/
With my deepest love,
Elizabeth Alanis
