Three retreats that can change your life

Retreats are not just a break from daily life—they can be a chance to radically change your life. Very rarely do we get the opportunity to escape our capitalist world and our daily routines to see life from a different perspective. While there is value in a sunbathing hotel vacation, it mostly serves as a rest until we return. A retreat, however, is a proactive chance to grow as a person and chase unique, often profound, experiences.

Ayahuasca retreat, Spain

If you’re looking for Ayahuasca retreats near the UK, Spain is a popular destination, home to several trusted, high-quality sanctuaries where you can reconnect with your inner self through sacred ancestral medicine. This plant medicine-based holistic therapy isn’t just about altering your consciousness recreationally; the retreats are carefully designed to push you in the right direction toward self-reflection and spirituality.

Accommodation ranges from shared rooms to private suites. Importantly, you’re going to be surrounded by like-minded people who are there to open their minds and face up to themselves unapologetically. These retreats often leave participants in a changed state, where they’ve had extreme experiences and a significant shift in their worldview.

Mindfulness retreat, Scottish Highlands

For those seeking mindfulness, the Scottish Highlands presents opportunities to indulge in the stunning mountains and nature while connecting to nature. 

Participants engage in mindful hiking through the otherworldly landscapes around Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye. This guided meditation session is tailored for all experience levels, with journaling exercises bespokely designed for self-reflection along the way. Group discussions also create a shared experience that helps build meaningful connections. Each activity is thoughtfully structured, ultimately with the aim to help attendees disconnect from modern life’s distractions.

Accommodation in the luxurious Dionard Guest is in a calm setting beside Inverness Castle. Evening activities include sound baths, fire circles, and cacao ceremonies for intention-setting.

Personal growth retreat in Tulum, Mexico

Tulum’s tropical paradise is the backdrop to a six-day “Personal Growth Retreat” that is dedicated entirely towards holistic transformation. This is done through yoga practice, journaling exercises, goal-setting workshops, mindfulness practices, and various adventure excursions. 

The retreat begins with an enjoyable welcoming ceremony that has a fire show to ease you into things, before getting stuck into diverse yoga styles like sunset beach yoga. Beyond yoga, participants will see the beaches, lagoons, sinkholes and even benefit from cooking classes, meaning they have practical skills, not just mindful ones, to take away from the retreat.

What distinguishes this retreat is its structured approach to personal development. It’s not just a mindful escape, but a purposeful, actionable period of time that is carefully curated towards achieving your goals. By the end of it, you will have likely made lifelong, like-minded friends too.

Final word

Choosing one of these retreats isn’t an easy decision, but fortunately, they all bring something powerful to the table. There is no better way than to spend a week of vacation time when it comes to personal growth and rejuvenation. How you get there, be it through a plant, exercise, or activities, isn’t all that important.