A Structured Retreat is the Best Place to Learn to Meditate
Posted on December 22, 2009
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John Porter, an ad executive from San Francisco, had been around the globe to exotic locations and often stayed in posh resorts. Yet, while he was gearing up for his 2005 trip, he felt a strong desire to experience something different — something more meaningful. His deeper journey led him on a week-long sojourn to a meditation retreat on Scotland’s Holy Isle. There, John took courses to help him learn meditation practice, which he still uses almost five years later.
Travel and Leisure Magazine recently ranked their top 10 internationalretreats for learning meditation. Topping their list was the Himalayan Ananda, a stunning 100-acre property in Uttaranchal, India, which provides broad views of the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, the temple villages of Hardiwar and Rishikesh, and the Ganges River. Facilities consist of a yoga and meditation pavilions, a 21,000 square foot spa, an antique billiards room, a maharajah’s palace, and a tea lounge.
Here, individuals will receive one-on-one guided meditation tailor made to their individual needs. Stretching, Buddhist meditation teachings, yoga and breathing exercises are taught in one-hour classes throughout the day. This center draws in all kinds of people, including many luxury travelers who have never visited a spiritual hideaway previously.
The Shambhala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado may look a little garish for the United States at first, but this complex is fashioned after traditional Buddhist shrines. The 600-acre retreat center is situated in the Rocky Mountain Valley and contains botanical gardens, a bird sanctuary, meditation halls and shrines. While staying in one of their 65 elegant single or double rooms, you will learn meditation (various forms of Buddhist meditation, specifically) through workshops, week-long immersive programs and specialized courses for artists. You may even find yourself meditating on a hike in the woods or floating languidly in a canoe down the river. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can take a pilgrimage to Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia or Bhutan.
The Holy Isle on the Isle of Arran, Scotland is situated on a private two-mile island. At the north end, you’ll find the Centre for World Peace and Health, which takes you along rugged paths to the green interior, where you’ll learn meditation in the Tibetan Kagyu tradition. Long-term residents can be found living in isolation on the south end of the island, where they’re furthering their studies. The rooms are very minimal, with shared baths. The grounds hold rare wildlife, such as Eriskay ponies and Saanen goats, as well as many indigenous plants.
There are so many benefits to learning some easy meditation techniques that it’s surprising more people don’t take up this rewarding pastime. It certainly doesn’t have to be difficult, either, because there are lots of easy meditation exercises you can learn.
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