Courtesy of Judy Koutsky
- I was not sleeping well, overweight, overeating, and generally not physically or mentally well.
- I told my family I needed time away. I chose a wellness retreat for a week in the mountains.
- The retreat cost $6,900 and was worth every penny. I'm still seeing the benefits months later.
A $6,900 wellness retreat for a week in the mountains of British Columbia sounded indulgent, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something had to give.
I was burned out, foggy-headed, overweight, and feeling a little unmoored.
I'd recently had surgery, and while my doctor had given me the green light to return to all activities, including exercise, I was completely unmotivated to work out.
My sleep was also off, and my eating habits needed an overhaul. I generally eat healthily, but I'd slumped into a bad habit of overeating.
Adding to that, I'm a mom to two high-energy teen boys and had reached a point where I felt maxed out in the parenting department. I didn't hide it, though.
I was honest with my family and told them I needed a reset, that I wasn't feeling my best physically or mentally, and that this retreat was something I was doing for my health. They were supportive.
It's been over two months since the retreat, and I'm completely transformed. I don't have immediate plans to return, but the benefits were so amazing that I would consider going back. It was worth every penny.
Why this retreat was worth it for me
While the $6,900 price tag for Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat is considerable, it covered everything: guided hikes, yoga, spa treatments, educational talks, and meals.
I learned about the retreat from a friend. It's caffeine- and alcohol-free, with limited sugar/carbs, and focuses on lots of activity, including hiking several hours each day.
I looked at other places, but what really sold me on Mountain Trek was the combination of physical activity, healthy eating, and expert-led classes on topics like sleep.
As a middle-aged mom, this sounded like exactly what I needed.
The retreat taught me how to improve my mental health back home
I have to say, there was something nice about not having to take care of my family and instead having someone take care of me.
I didn't have to plan meals or schedules each day, so the decision fatigue I was feeling at home was gone, and my mind could be more present.
Of course, when I returned home, decision-making turned back on, but I found a way to better manage it.
I now meal-plan on Sundays, which has significantly improved my mental health, and my mind is calmer during the week.
I also learned the phrase micro-dosing happiness. It's about creating happy moments throughout the day.
I never thought of happiness as a practice, but the more I sought out and focused on those small microdosing moments, the better it made me feel.
The biggest surprise of the whole retreat
The hiking is what attracted me to the program, initially, and turned out to be the biggest surprise of the whole retreat.
Hiking is my happy place: I've hiked the Inca Trail in Peru and trekked through Patagonia in Chile.
So, when we were told they divided hiking groups into four categories (1-4, fastest to slowest), I figured I'd fall into group 2, given my recent surgery and weight gain.
It was a huge wake-up call (and a hit to my ego) to find out I had to fall behind to group 4, the slowest. Turns out, group 4 was fabulous.
Because we hiked slower, I was able to take in the beautiful flowers, frogs, deer, and other wildlife while the women and I bonded over our various life struggles.
I grew to accept — and appreciate — the slower pace. And the connections I made with those women, as well as the rest of the people at the retreat (there were 13 of us, three men and ten women; Mountain Trek limits it to 16 total), were one of the best parts of that week.
My week in the mountains was the perfect reset I needed
Back home, I'm still seeing the benefits.
I've rediscovered my motivation to move and am committed to the gym five days a week, walking with a friend three to four times a week, and sitting less overall.
I break up my day with movement breaks, even if it's just going up and down the stairs for five minutes.
I also finally curbed my overeating habit. The retreat offered six small meals a day without second servings. I was hungry the first couple of days, but my body adapted after that, and I've kept my portion sizes smaller at home, too.
The new routine makes me feel more energized and less stressed. It's largely thanks to the retreat and admitting to myself that I needed a break, and being brave enough to take it.
I met several people on the retreat who were regulars, and I could see myself going back. I missed my husband and kids, but to spend a full week really working on myself — emotionally, physically, mentally — was a gift.