Me and my fascination for the etymology of words – – this time, the word is ‘retreat’..

Up until a few years back, the meaning (Meaning 1) of this word that I was aware of, was –

– to move backwards in order to leave a battle or in order not to become involved in a battle. This battle could be a real battle battle or an emotional or verbal battle with someone.

– to move backwards; to go to a safe or private place.

When we read about this word from a historical context, it meant that the army that was retreating was backing down, but now I understand that sometimes it is wise to move back or move to a safe place. To get stronger and be back at the battle or withdraw from the battle – well, not the right time and place for the battle perhaps?? And this is for all battles – the real battle battle or the emotional battle 🙂

The last few years, the word ‘retreat’ has got a different meaning (Meaning 2)

– a private place where you can go when you want to be quiet or to rest

– a period of time used to pray and study quietly or to think, away from our usual  activities and duties

Me being me, I have a different meaning (Meaning 3) for this word ‘retreat’ – treating yourself again 🙂 – re-treat it is :-).

Oh well, when I had the opportunity to attend a Yoga retreat, Meaning 2 and 3 were on my mind. Meaning 1 also perhaps, more from the perspective of experiencing emotional battles within me, not always, but sometimes 🙂 (the candid me expressing!!).

The Yoga retreat I went for recently, is conducted by two passionate Yoga Teachers (Details about them at the end of this blog). I had attended one of their retreats a year back. I loved it and I was very sure that I wanted to attend more of these retreats by them.

This recent Yoga retreat was certainly calling me and the place where it was to be conducted in, was calling me more!!! McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala – the place where His Holiness the Dalai Lama resides. If the place was calling me more, the possibility of a deep desire coming to reality, called me more and more and more – to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama – a very slim chance though it was.

I did no research on whether he was in McLeod Ganj or he was travelling or anything else. I just wanted to go for the Yoga retreat and to McLeod Ganj and to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama; and I did!!

Bengaluru, here we leave and Amritsar, here we come (to see ‘The Golden Temple’ and for a night’s stop over). Golden Temple seen and what a beauty the temple was, all lit up. The reflection of the temple on the water, was a sight to behold!!

If Golden Temple is an experience to cherish, the food is truly a feast for the eyes and the tongue.. Tsk, Tsk, we don’t talk of the calories from the dollops of butter in the parathas and the cream in the lassi.. That needs to be just absorbed whole guttedly :-)..

It was time to leave Amritsar, and greet McLeod Ganj. A nip in the air, winding roads of the hills, the lovely sight of mighty nature and the eagerness to experience the various sessions of the retreat – what a heady combination!!

Waking up to the chirping of birds and a dawn that signals a beautiful day, is something to be experienced. Happiness cannot but make its presence felt!! At that moment, the one feeling that is paramount was gratitude!! Gratitude for being in nature, for being absorbed in it, for loving it for what it is..

What followed in the next couple of days was a much needed rejuvenation and healing for the body and the mind, thru Yogasanas, Sound Healing, Yoga Nidra to the live play of the Violin. There were moments when one dozed away so organically, with the live music being played in the background. There were times when the asanas seemed a tad difficult to do; but with the help of the teachers, the play of the violin and the photographer moving so unobtrusively as though with the flow, the level of difficulty seemed  lesser :-).. Gratitude once again marked its attendance – for the opportunity to attend the retreat and for being guided in Yoga and Healing by these two teachers, teaching it.

So much  planning, organising and co-ordinating by both these Yoga teachers, taking a group of adults on a retreat to a different place that required travel and stay for a certain number of days – So many aspects to be looked into while packing an itinerary and ensuring that all that needs to be done is done, with a smile, a laugh and dollops of kindness!! Taking a bow to both of them and to those who are with them, in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is always fascinating to observe how each of us bond with a group of all unknown or mostly unknown people. If it is a gregarious group like this one was, there is no dearth of laughter. Small and big things would send us into peals of loud laughter. Even the quietest one of the lot (was there one, I wonder!!) had a wide smile.

The mix of men and women posed no hindrance to the sharing and caring; and neither to the flow of laughter. Did the fact that we didn’t know most, make a difference? Perhaps it did. As humans, we do wear layers of masks. However, when we are with a group of unknown people with whom a rapport and comfort is established, we tend to lower the masks or peel off some layers of it, for good. That’s what I presume happened, with us in this group. So much of a feeling of lightness this brought in!! Gratitude once again, made its presence felt – gratitude for the opportunity to meet people who are different and yet similar, for all the smiles and laughter, for the feeling of genuine comfort, for being able to take off the masks and be the person we are etc etc etc.

With the body and the mind being taken care by various sessions in the retreat, the social side was beaming with joy. The spiritual side also got its share.

Check physical quotient.. check emotional quotient.. check social quotient.. check spiritual quotient..

The meditation centres and the monastries lent serenity and calmness. There was  silence despite the footfall and as one walks in the monastry space, one can’t but imbibe the peace and energy.

If being in the monastry space lent much serenity, calmness, peace and energy, what to say of those few seconds of seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama, within a distance of about a couple of feet.

A chance enquiry to know if he was in McLeod Ganj led to an opportunity to see him from the distance of a few feet. So many things fell so beautifully in place in the span of an evening, to make the desire to see him, become reality. How the universe made it happen, even now gives me the goosebumps and a sense of immense joy. Surreal moments!!

I have heard a lot about one manifesting one’s desires but haven’t thought much about it. This seems to be it though!!

As I end this blog, I think of how true the meaning of the word ‘retreat’ is – a period of time to think. The mind is chugging away in thought – going back to the past, being in the moment and thinking of the changes to bring about in the future. All this happens so seamlessley, giving rise to many an emotion and a smile and a lost in thought look.

Rejuvenation.. Recharge.. Memories.. Happiness.. Joy.. Breaking into a smile every so often, thinking of a memory.. If this is what a retreat does, why not re-treat, every now and then?

If we can’t re-treat ourselves, who else will?

If not now, when? 

Note: Details about those organising the retreat

Malhar Yoga

Founders and Yoga teachers – Padma Srinivas and Rupali Gangrade

Website: malharyoga.in

Instagram: malhar.yoga.retreats

Live Violin play in this retreat was by Aniket and photography by Nilesh