Getting Away to the Inner You
By Barbara Mathias-Riegel
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, April 6, 1999; Page C04
Retreat. That word alone stirs a woman's soul. A time away from work. A
time to think of no one but yourself. No meals to cook, errands to run. No phones, faxes or e-mails. No family demands. No need to worry about
hair, makeup, clothes. Is this a dream?
No, it's a wonderful Washington trend of weekend retreats that attract
women from all points and crossroads of life. ("Men don't usually come to
these things, unless their wives drive them right up to the door," notes one
retreat director.)
Whether they pay hundreds of dollars to drive to the nearby countryside
for a weekend, or thousands to leave the country for 10 days, women
gather under the care of trained leaders to share their thoughts and
experiences with other women, or they simply soak up the silence, scenery
and a healthful meal.
Whatever kind of retreat meets a woman's fancy, the purpose is the same
-- a revitalization of the body, mind and spirit -- a true caring of the soul.
Inward Journey
Retreats also give the power to stop and just breathe easy. That's why
each year, for the past four years, Jeanie Ryan leaves her family in Great
Falls and her busy job with America Online and goes to the Osa Peninsula
in Costa Rica for a week-long retreat under the holistic care of Inward
Bound. There, on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Ryan stays in a hut
with no electricity, no hot water, just a soft sea breeze to soothe her
nerves.
"I have to know how to stay centered and keep my energy," says the
36-year-old Ryan, who has been drawn toward the ocean for inspiration
since her early childhood in New Hampshire. "Each year I feel that much
stronger. This year we climbed the steep rocks of a volcano and got to
where we could look down and watch it rumble.
"At night we camped at its base and could see the lava flowing down the
hills. It restored in me the whole idea that nature has its rhythms. I slept the
best I ever have that night: If it blows, it blows, just like my business life
every day, I have to find peace among chaos."
Inward Bound is headquartered in Washington and offers domestic and
international retreats from historic Harpers Ferry, W.Va., to the Provence
region of France. A typical day begins with an early rise and meditation,
yoga, then a healthy breakfast, more time to relax alone with others, then
an aerobic workout that is a combination of tai chi, karate, dance and
yoga. That's just in the morning.
In the afternoon the women (usually only 10 percent of the group are men)
may choose to do whatever they wish -- hike a hill or go kayaking, swim in
an ocean or stream, or just lazily watch the birds and monkeys in the trees.
There are no lectures, no workshops, and yet the atmosphere is one of
reflection and rejuvenation, which often results in life-changing or
reaffirming decisions. "We emphasize tools to make spirituality an
embodiment," says Jane Fryer, Inward Bound's director and yoga
instructor. "So we go to places that are pulse points on the planet; the
energy we receive just by being there is profound."
That energy keeps up all year for Jeanie Ryan, but it always needs
maintenance, she says, which is why she faithfully attends yoga classes and
takes summer trips to the seashore with her young son.
Will she go back to Costa Rica next year? Absolutely, says Ryan: "My
friends and family know the retreat is critical to me."
