You’re Off on Retreat
The yin and yang of packing
Every retreat begins the same way. A suitcase open on the bed, and a familiar pause.
Have I forgotten something?
I’ve watched women arrive on retreat beautifully prepared on the outside, and quietly unsure on the inside. I’ve been that woman myself. And what I’ve come to understand is that preparing for retreat has two sides.
There is the yang of packing, the practical essentials that help you feel safe, comfortable and held. And there is the yin, the quieter process of mental unpacking that allows the experience to truly land.
Both matter.
The yang: practical packing
1. The non-negotiables
Passport, travel insurance, any medication you need, and copies of important documents. Having these organised early allows your nervous system to soften before you even leave home.
2. Some local currency
This is one I learned the hard way. In June 2025, I was stranded in Portugal during a widely reported power outage that affected parts of Spain and Portugal. Cash machines stopped working, card payments were useless, the lights quite literally went out and suddenly the simplest things became difficult. Having a small amount of local cash brings real peace of mind. It’s also useful for tips, small purchases, or moments where you want to acknowledge good service.
3. Comfortable layers
Retreat days move between movement, rest, warmth and cool. Choose soft layers you can add or remove easily. Clothes that feel kind on your body and don’t ask you to perform.
4. A swimming costume
Even if you’re not a pool person. Water has a way of softening edges and inviting rest, whether that’s a swim, a float, or simply sitting nearby.
5. Sensible footwear, sunglasses and grip socks
You’ll likely walk more than usual, even if it’s just between rooms or along a path. Comfortable shoes matter far more than stylish ones. Sunglasses help you settle into outdoor spaces with ease. If you’re attending a reformer Pilates retreat, grip socks are required to support stability and safe movement on the apparatus.
And then, if you can, stop.
Pack less than you think you need.
The yin: mental unpacking
1. Permission to arrive exactly as you are
You don’t need to be calmer, fitter, more flexible or more open. Retreat meets you where you are, not where you think you should be.
2. Letting go of the habit of pushing through
This is not the place for proving or performing. If your body asks for rest, listen. If it asks to move, move. There is no prize for doing more.
3. Curiosity rather than expectation
Try to arrive without a fixed idea of what should happen. The most meaningful shifts are often subtle and unexpected.
4. Space away from your usual roles
Work, caregiving, decision-making and responsibility don’t disappear, but they can soften. You are allowed to let someone else hold the structure for a while.
5. Gentleness with what you meet
When distractions fall away, you may meet parts of yourself that have been waiting quietly. Nothing needs fixing. Noticing is enough.
Packing for more than a suitcase
When you pack for retreat, you are doing more than preparing for a trip. You are creating the conditions for rest, insight and integration.
The yang supports the yin. The practical supports the personal. Together, they allow you to step away from the pace of everyday life and return with a little more steadiness and clarity.
That balance, for me, is what retreat is really about.
And if you’re reading this thinking, actually, I just want a weekend away with a friend and a glass of wine, that’s absolutely fine too. There’s no judgement here. Rest looks different for all of us, and sometimes what we need most is simply time, ease and good company.
If retreat in this sense resonates, you’re very welcome to explore the website for upcoming retreat dates and destinations. You can also join my newsletter if you’d like to be among the first to hear when booking opens, and to have a say in where we go next.
