Life seems to get ever more hectic and holidays can do too. It’s all too easy to spend your time rushing from place to place sightseeing, shopping and eating. The result is that you are glad to get back to work for a rest!

As a result “Alternative”, “Holistic” Holidays and retreats are becoming a popular way to have a real break which allows you to rest, reflect and recuperate from the pressures of 21st century life.

The choice of retreats is still fairly limited compared with more traditional holidays but it can still be a challenge to find the right type of experience for you so this article has been written to help you decide what it is that you want. Armed with this you can ask the right questions and find the right holiday.

Holiday Program:
You probably want to start by considering what sort of retreat you want. Do you want to be able to fill your time learning new information or skills through a variety of workshops? Would you rather sit in the sun and do your own thing? Or would you prefer a mixture of both, perhaps one or two optional group sessions with lots of free time to relax, sunbathe, swim or pamper yourself with additional therapies.

Location:
Do you want to be beside the sea or would a quiet mountain location be preferable? Do you want a self contained complex or would you enjoy the freedom to go for walks into nature or into a nearby village.

Accommodation:
What standard of accommodation would you be happy with? Some places offer luxurious 4 star accommodation whilst others offer much more basic rooms with communal facilities. Are you prepared to share? In our experience, many new and lasting friendships are made through room sharing on these types of holidays.

Group Size:
On some holistic holidays you may be joining a group of up to 80 people whilst at the other end of the spectrum you may be one of only six. What sort of group size would you prefer? Small groups offer the advantage of being able to get to know everybody well over the course of a week whilst large groups offer the ability to avoid people with whom you just don’t get on. When we first went on this type of holiday we deliberately chose a big group for this very reason but now we find that small groups are preferable.

Holiday Themes:
The bigger holistic centers often offer multiple workshops on numerous themes including physical activities such as sailing, windsurfing or walking whilst others focus on one theme for the whole week. Be aware that the ones which offer the wide choice with multiple activities every day can, unless you are very single minded and decisive, lead to the same sort of rushing around, stress and choice fatigue that you are trying to avoid in the first place.

Flexibility:
Whatever type of holiday you choose, we recommend that you make sure that you are allowed to “opt out” if you find it is all getting too intense, after all it is first and foremost a holiday! And if you do choose this path, you need to ensure that there are other things to do that are compatible with the themes of relaxation and renewal that you are seeking. Is there a swimming pool? Are there gardens to walk in freely? Can you get out into the surrounding countryside easily? Is there space to sit and just be? Can you spend a little extra and pamper yourself with treatments like massage, reflexology or reiki without having to travel for miles?

Food?
You should be aware that most retreats offer healthy and nutritious local food and may be mostly if not totally vegetarian. If you are vegetarian this may be one of the main reasons for booking such a holiday but if you are not don’t worry. I have discovered that I can survive quite happily for a week at a time with little or no meat as long as the food is tasty and well presented. Vegetarian based food can be surprisingly filling and enjoyable even to non vegetarians and the associated health and detoxification benefits should not be ignored.

Conclusion:
As long as you think through what you want in advance and ask appropriate questions, you will have a wonderful holiday that will leave you feeling happy healthy and ready to re engage with the “real world”.

To learn more about holistic retreats visit our website http://www.spanish-reflections.co.uk

Gavin Meikle

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