The pace of modern life, combined with the isolating effects of modern technology and the high cost of living in a modern urban environment have put a great deal of strain on a lot of couples. Once upon a time, couples were able to call upon an extended family, neighbors, and friends for emotional and financial support, as well as help with the rigors of child care and housekeeping. Nowadays, more and more couples are depending entirely on each other for these things, and with a growing percentage of couples working 2 full-time jobs, it doesn’t leave much space for keeping the spark of love alive.
If your relationship has hit a rocky patch, a couples retreat in India may not seem like the traditional way to break out of your rut, but hear us out. It may be just the thing you need to inject some passion into your partnership.
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Why a Couples Retreat?
A few years back, the website YourTango conducted a survey of 100 mental health professionals asking them what they thought the #1 reason is that married couples get divorced. The answer was simple: Communication. If couples can’t communicate with each other respectfully, honestly and regularly then chances are it’s rough seas ahead. The 2nd most common reason was an inability to resolve conflict, which is really just a more complex way of saying the same thing. Clearly, communication is key.
A couples retreat is basically a communication boot camp.
The traditional couples retreat is basically a quiet vacation in a relaxing, natural location that includes daily workshops, one-on-one counseling and lots of fun relationship-building activities to do together. Groups can vary in size from dozens of participants to just you and your spouse.
The workshops and counseling sessions generally involve discussion, role-play and communication exercises and retreats can either be generalized or focus on specific problems. For a lot of couples simply having time to hang out with each other without the pressures of jobs, kids and daily chores can be more than enough to reflect and reconnect.
It should be noted that, though retreats usually include plenty of time for recreation, they can sometimes be a lot of hard work, and might reveal old wounds or past traumas that can be quite painful. It’s very important that both couples participate in good faith with a desire to support one another and improve the relationship. Couples that are currently dealing with family crises or issues of physical or emotional abuse are probably not good candidates for a couple retreat and are advised to seek other forms of professional help.
Why India?
So what makes a couples retreat in India different from couples retreat somewhere else?
There are a few answers to this question but the most important one is simple: Yoga.
India is the home of a living tradition of physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being that dates back thousands of years. Traditionally, Yoga is not merely the practice of the physical postures now commonplace in the West, but a holistic lifestyle of ethical and contemplative disciplines that is intended to lead people out of patterns of reaction and into patterns of compassion and understanding.
A couples retreat in India will almost always incorporate the practice of yogic techniques into the usual program of counseling and bonding activities. Couples will not only have the opportunity to learn valuable communication skills but will be able to work on their own physical and emotional stresses through physical exercise, breathing techniques, and meditation.
India has been doing the retreat thing for a long time. Monastic communities called ashrams have long been an important part of Hindu spiritual life. In ancient times many of these were intended for spiritual renunciants of the priestly class, but in the past 100 years more and more Indians from all walks of life have taken to spending periods on retreat for purposes of spiritual growth.
Since the 1960’s there has been an explosion of interest in Yoga throughout the western world, and hundreds of thousands are flocking to India every year to get training in yoga from the source. Some of these training’s are in traditional ashram settings but many are starting to offer a bit more comfort and vacation experience along with the training.
But isn’t getting to India Expensive?
Considering how popular they’ve become, a retreat in India is still remarkably good value, especially compared to the cost of similar programs in the West, and with so many Indians now living in Europe and North America the cost of a flight is lower than ever. This is particularly true if you’re traveling from hubs like Toronto, New York or London.
In a lot of cases, the money you save on the retreat itself can more than makeup for the cost of the plane ticket. Plus, once you arrive in India the cost of food and transportation, including domestic flights, is a fraction of what it would be outside of Asia.
It’s still a long way to travel, but in most cases, a yoga vacation in India is more affordable than anywhere else in the world.
There are retreats, schools, and ashrams all over the country but by far the most popular location for a transformative yoga vacation in India is the spiritual haven of Rishikesh, nestled in the Himalayan foothills on the banks of the sacred river Ganga.
A Couples Retreat in Rishikesh
The magic of Rishikesh is hard to put into words. It has long been revered as one of the most sacred places in India, and a trip there is sure to leave an effect. It is a place where ancient mythology and religion collide with modernity. Where Hindu holy men mingle with European Vinyasa Yogi’s, and Delhi businessmen take selfies with American monks.
Holidays and festivals see the temples thronged with pilgrims paying homage before gigantic murtis, or statues, of various avatars of God like Krishna, Hanuman, and Shiva. Sacred cows ply the narrow back alleys and mischievous monkeys swing through the trees. Peacocks are easily spotted on a quick walk through the nearby hills.
The cold waters of Mother Ganga are the spiritual heart of this place and she emits serene and loving energy that is impossible to deny.
It is, in short, the vacation destination of a lifetime and sharing this experience with your partner is a bonding opportunity you will cherish.
Why wait? Rekindle the romance! The time is now!
Couples retreat in India is a unique experience you won’t soon forget. It might just be the jumpstart your relationship needs!
Contact us directly and we’ll make sure you’re taken care of!
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