A menopause retreat sounds amazing - so what’s stopping you?

Embarking on a menopause retreat sounds amazing, right? However, when it comes to actually following it through, there tend to be two categories of women. There are those who see a retreat as the perfect investment in their wellbeing at this stage of life booking almost instantly with no fear or hesitation. Then, there are the procrastinators who 'um and ah' so much that they become paralysed by fear and end up missing out altogether. Procrastination in menopause is common, especially when you're faced with stepping outside of your comfort zone, but normally there tends to be one major roadblock that's stopping you from enjoying a menopause retreat whether it's residential or a day retreat, so let's find out which one is yours.

Worried you won’t get on with others?

It’s totally normal to worry if you’ll get on with others when going to a new place and meeting new people. However, we guarantee that you'll get on with the people at a menopause retreat simply because you'll be surrounded by women who are all in the throes of menopause and all on the same journey as yourself. At Yourself Yoga’s wellness retreats, we promise a comfortable, friendly, and supportive environment where you can really bond with others. You may meet as strangers, but we guarantee you'll leave as friends.

Apprehensive that you won’t know anyone?

Naturally, some women are scared to attend a retreat on their own as they’re worried that they may feel left out and isolated. But the beauty of a menopause retreat is that most attendees are in the same boat and feeling the exact same feelings.

As soon as you arrive and we’ve given you a warm welcome, your anxiety and tension will melt away and you’ll look back and be so proud that you took that step outside of your comfort zone. Plus, even before the retreat begins, you’ll have the chance to connect with the other women, so at the very least you’ll know names and faces in advance.

Too nervous to travel alone?

Some women miss out on the whole retreat experience as the mere thought of travelling by themselves gives them anxiety. Which is why at our wellness eetreats, we give you the opportunity to connect with other attendees in advance so you can meet locally or travel together. We will always do our best to ensure that you don’t have to travel alone, plus we even try to be there to meet and greet you at the train station / airport when you arrive. At our last UK retreat, we had women travel from Portugal and Australia – so no distance is ever too far.

Don’t want to share a room with strangers?

Even though there are private rooms available, we always recommend sharing a room at a retreat simply because it's the best way to make friends and it evokes childhood sleepovers whispering when the lights have been turned out. ‘Roomies’ tend to be the ones whose friendships become lifelong, and we’ve had many people who were originally apprehensive about sharing a room then go on to book future retreats together with the person they last shared with. Amazing!

But it doesn't have to be residential retreat, why not dip your toe in the water with a day retreat and enjoy all the benefits without the worries of staying away from home.

Worried your yoga isn’t good enough for a menopause retreat?

Most women worry that they aren’t flexible or strong enough due to common misconceptions around the differences between a yoga retreat and a menopause retreat. 

Whilst yoga is a daily activity at our retreats, it's not the be all and end all. However, if you’re a complete beginner and attending one of our retreats, it’s actually the best way to start your yoga practice. Not only will you learn the basics of the practice under the close guidance of a supportive teacher, you’ll feel motivated by practicing alongside others who may be beginners too, and you’ll go home with an abundance of knowledge and confidence to kick-start a home yoga practice. Remember, everyone is good enough, and everyone is welcome at our menopause retreats.

Worried you can’t afford a menopause retreat?

The continued rise in living costs was a common response when conducting our recent research, which is why we promote our retreats well in advance so that you can budget ahead and spread the cost across as many monthly payments as possible, all at no extra charge. Plus, when you arrive at your retreat destination, all of your food, activities, and even most drinks are included too, so you don’t have to worry about hidden expenses.

Frightened that a wellness retreat might be too healthy for you?

Hands up if you think a wellness retreat means waking up at 5am, eating only salads and smoothies, and doing non-stop exercise? Our retreats are not boot camps, far from it. So, what can you expect at one of our retreats?

You can expect morning and evening yoga, indoor and outdoor meditations, a relaxing massage, a private wellness consultation, several workshops, together with nourishing meals (and even alcohol should you want to bring your own). PLUS, there are daytime and evening activities galore, and you’ll have ample free time every day to make the most of the luxury accommodation and facilities, or simply rest and recharge. Also, there’s no shortage of supply of fun and laughter too. 

Conclusion:

So, did you spot the reason why you may be procrastinating? Maybe you still are, but we get it and it's only natural to have some fears. However, we can tell you hand on heart that every single person who has attended our retreats has felt at least one of these same fears, but it didn’t stop them. And, if you were to ask them now, they’ll tell you that saying ‘yes’ and taking that leap of faith was one of the best decisions they ever made. As the old saying goes ‘what if I fall? Oh, but my darling what if you fly?’  Say yes to a menopause retreat, spread your wings and soar above your fears – you’ve got this!

Check out our overseas residential retreats and our UK day retreat for 2024 that are all exclusively designed for women in menopause. We promise you won't be disappointed. 

Can't find what you're looking for? Join the waitlist and be the first to be notified of all forthcoming retreats. 

Meet your Menopause Retreat leader:

Julie Ann Garrido first qualified as a yoga teacher following her own experience in menopause. Unhappy with a medical approach to menopause, she turned to yoga to alleviate her struggles, and at the age of 53, she found the natural solution she'd been searching for. Realising the power of yoga in helping alleviate menopause symptoms, she became a certified menopause yoga teacher (one of only 600 worldwide) and now specialises in helping menopausal women take their first steps on the mat by creating an effective home yoga practice courtesy of online yoga memberships for women that provide accessible and affordable, beginner-friendly menopause yoga.

Being an avid fan of yoga retreats herself, Julie soon rolled out her very own menopause retreats so that women could step off the hamster's wheel of symptoms to rest, recharge, and rediscover themselves. Today, via her UK and European retreats, she brings together women from all over the globe to bond, learn, and laugh, and to leave the misery of menopause behind.

“Nothing makes me happier than seeing the transformation that occurs at my menopause retreats. It really is like waving a magic wand."

~ Julie Ann Garrido