Vol. 20, Issue 8, Oct. 27, 2022
It’s been a long haul since we all got sequestered and cut-off from friends, family, and our normal activities and lives.
One of my favorite things to do for myself, is to gather together with other like-minded women at a Women’s Retreat. That’s exactly what I did earlier this month, and while it felt long overdue, it was exactly the relax, re-boot, and re-energize I needed.
There’s something about removing oneself from one’s daily surroundings and activities that frees up the mind, body, spirit, and emotions to wander, re-frame, and even eventually re-align. It helps to have a skilled facilitator guiding, prompting, and allowing it all to unfold, and that was exactly the case as singer-songwriter, speaker, and retreat leader Karen Drucker led our small group.
Karen Drucker
A WORLD AWAY
A great retreat starts with a great location, and we had that. The Alderbrook Resort and Spa felt like a little bit of heaven. Stepping out of my room by myself into an atrium filled with greenery and a Zen-inspired waterfall, was a nourishing experience in itself. Sitting on the expansive lawn and staring at the views of the Olympic Mountains over the water calmed my nervous system. I felt a world away from the turmoil that bombards us every day. To enhance that feeling, I didn’t turn my TV on all weekend!
The retreat ran from Thursday evening to Sunday noon, and for me it was just an easy 2 ½-hour drive. The resort is in Union, Washington, on the Hood Canal, which is actually a salt-water inlet that runs roughly parallel to Puget Sound along the Olympic Peninsula. The resort looks down from its setting in an old-growth evergreen forest to the beautiful expanse of water stretching below out to the mountains in Olympic National Park.
We met for group sessions every morning and evening and had our afternoons free for “me” time — that could mean a hike, a nap, a massage or facial, a conversation, a water activity on the lake, or the decadent indulgence of reading a book for fun in the middle of the afternoon.
The first afternoon during free time I opted for a hike into the forest, taking what the Japanese call a “forest bath.” The second day, I got out my watercolor paints and took a stab at capturing the peaceful scene of water and mountains in front of me using a new technique I had just learned the week before. It was a treat to spend that time on pleasure alone with no guilt. I think that’s what “me” time is all about, right?
Another thing that I’m sure has to do with being relaxed and tuned in, is being served beautiful, delicious, healthy meals without lifting a finger, let alone spending a single brain cell on planning or a smidgen of energy on grocery shopping. All that, and the camaraderie of engaging conversations, and attentive service, too.
All of this combined to set the stage for Karen Drucker to weave her magic. She would likely say that the attendees created the magic themselves, and maybe she would be right. But I believe that in turn it was Karen’s sensitivity and attentiveness to our needs that set the stage for each of us to tune in to ourselves and each other.
As we sang Karen’s mesmerizing chants together, meditated, and shared in small group exercises, I felt myself opening. Were there a few tears? Yes, of course. Never mind when I fell off my chair, creating a major bruise on my leg, and everyone rushed to my aid.
And humor? Oh my, Karen’s programs are always loaded with lots of humor.
“If I can get people laughing along with me by using comedy songs or my stories,” she says, “then I can feel their hearts open up, and there is room for dropping down to a deeper level of truth. I have found that the combination of music, humor, and stories allows me to deliver a message that hopefully will leave people feeling more connected to themselves and to others.”
In addition to getting a re-boot, the best part of the retreat for me was the laughter. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time. I found myself sitting in the group with a big grin on my face. That’s what a few days away in a beautiful location, with wonderful meals, new friends and stimulating company can do for a weary soul.
Karen sums it up:
“When women come together with great food, comfortable accommodations, a relaxing schedule, and divine connections, magic can happen. It’s my job to create a safe container to allow women to feel comfortable to express who they really are. We do this with lots of singing, small group work, exercises, meditation, relaxation, pampering, and lots of laughter. When these elements come together, I get to witness beautiful transformations and these women go back into their lives with renewed aliveness and inspiration.”
I came home with a new habit of playing Karen’s CDs in my bedroom in the morning so that instead of listening to the dreary news program on the radio, I start my day with positive lyrics (and reassuring ear worms to carry me through the day!).
In addition to filling her retreats with inspiration, Karen’s empowering music and message makes her a impactful keynote speaker for women’s conferences. Her uplifting lyrics and message are also applicable for cancer conferences and many other types of health and wellness-oriented events as well. Her themes typically include empowerment, self-expression, self-care, creativity, loving yourself, and listening to what your Spirit is calling you to do. She also creates and facilitates virtual retreats and workshops.
To learn more or to book Karen, give me a call at 503-699-5031 or email me barbara@speakwellbeing.com.
Until next time, please take care of yourself for your well being and those you love.
Yours truly,
Barbara
The Speak Well Being Group is a specialized speakers bureau, focusing on health and wellness for all types of organizations that want to foster health and well being for their employees, members, clients, and in their communities. Our speakers are hand-selected. They are not only experts in their fields, they connect with their audiences while bringing them life-changing information, smiles of recognition and ultimately a sense of well being and hope.Finding the perfect keynote speaker for your special event or conference is my personal passion, not just once, but year after year. It brings me great joy to know that your audience was delighted and moved by the speaker we selected together. I’m committed to making the process easy, pleasant and fun.
