Jennie's Retreat to Your Root Experience: Moments of Realness and Acceptance

For those of you who haven’t heard, Dustienne Miller of Your Pace Yoga and I have officially opened sign-ups for our spring and fall retreats: Retreat to Your Root: An Immersion into Pelvic Health.   

As I start talking to more and more people about the retreat I’ve found myself sharing fun retreat stories as a way to convey the mood and the experience of what Retreat to Your Root actually is. Through these conversations I’ve realized that people like to know what they’re getting into so I decided to do a series of interviews from my lovely 2016 retreaters. Today's blog features Jennie's experience which she has graciously offered to share as a glimpse into the retreat experience. 

How did you hear of the retreat and what made you want to sign up?

Jennie: As luck would have it (or really, all the stars aligning), my roommate shared a Facebook event with me called ‘Yoga for Pelvic Health Retreat’ because she knew I was dealing with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. She met Casie when they both lived in Chicago, but now all three of us Midwest transplants were out in sunny LA...yay! I had been wanting to go on a retreat, so this seemed to be a perfect combination of yoga, health and female connection. Plus, it wasn't too far away and was only one weekend, which made it manageable with my schedule.  

I honestly couldn't wait to start, so I called up Casie to inquire about PT sessions and felt instantly at ease speaking with her. She understood the mind-body component of my physical struggles, which I valued and believed would help me progress.  I began to work with Casie and saw instant results that continued to grow. The retreat was like icing on the cake, and I knew it would be pivotal in creating lasting change within me.

What was your favorite yoga pose you learned on the retreat, and why?

Jennie: My favorite yoga posture from the retreat was the supported bridge. I was someone who never wanted to use any support (in yoga and probably also in life) because I didn’t want to appear weak or like I wasn’t trying hard enough. The yoga from the retreat taught me how to be gentle with my body through purposeful postures that would benefit me far more than forcing any pose. Because I carry a lot of tension in my hips (also affecting my pelvic floor dysfunction), the supported bridge allowed me to let go and create space, both physically and emotionally, and I felt SO much better after it!

What was your most memorable moment of the retreat?

Jennie: Wow, this is a hard one because there were so many moments I cherished, from group dinners to sitting around the fire, vigorously shaking our entire bodies in the yoga studio, trying acroyoga and even quiet time on the swing. I think my most memorable moment was sitting on cushions, outside in a circle, taking turns reflecting on what different concepts meant to us, like womanhood. It was such a beautiful moment of realness, openness and acceptance. There was laughter and tears and growth. Sort of a shedding of the old to invite in the new, and I loved it.

How did participating in the retreat affect your life back home?

Jennie: This retreat turned out to be another big turning point in my life. It gave me time and inspiration to reflect on my inner desires and what my heart truly wanted. It also gave me the courage to overcome any fears blocking my path. Following the retreat, I decided to do what I had always wanted, which was to give up almost everything I owned, to travel and be free. And so I did just that, moving out of my apartment a few months later, road-tripping cross country and then backpacking solo around Europe for four months. It has been an incredible experience so far and continues to progress more in alignment with who I am at my core. My root. My pelvic bowl.

Sounds amazing, right?  Early bird registration runs through March 15, 2017. Visit the retreats page for more details and to sign up.

Still have more questions?  Feel free to contact me. Also, be sure to sign up for my newsletter and follow Retreat to Your Root on Facebook for more live updates.  

See you in San Luis Obispo or Boston in 2017!