Seeking winter respite (friluftsliv retreat recap)

My current state is one of cycling through stress, and sometimes finding pockets of normalcy.  I listen to the news and experience sadness, grief, fear… and then it’s time to make my kids breakfast and “put on a brave face”.  They are so young.  The world is so harsh.  The juxtaposition washes waves of horror over me. 

And then I walk outside and find another pocket of normalcy.  I admire the snow, and the quiet of winter.  I ponder how I can be a positive and helpful neighbor, community member, and Minnesotan.  I’m reminded of this season, and the lessons it has for me, as so well-stated in Kari Leibowitz’s book How to Winter: 

“How we approach winter is a pretty good litmus test for how we approach other dark, difficult seasons in our lives.  How do we respond to situations out of our control?  How do we react to circumstances we did not choose?  Do we shrink and wither, or do we turn inward with intention and cultivate moments of joy? Do we focus on frustration, or do we seek wonder and connection to get us through? And, most important, which mindsets are motivating us, consciously or unconsciously? Are our mindsets holding us back or propelling us forward? Winter isn’t just a season in nature.  Winters - times of challenge, struggle, or grief - can come into our communities, our homes, and our lives in unexpected ways and at unexpected times.”  

I’m coming off the heels of our most recent retreat.  Nestled near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, we retreated at Camp du Nord in Ely, MN.  We gathered together just one day after the tragic and heartbreaking killing of Renee Good.

On Thursday, we all arrived in various states of unrest.  Many traveled from Minneapolis and the metro area, as well as from the Park Rapids & Walker area, Duluth, Detroit Lakes, Mankato, and even from California.  How do we proceed with a weekend we’ve looked forward to for months and months, even as it directly follows devastation?

We were reminded in no small way that nature, and the helpful skillsets of mindfulness, breathing, and yoga are here for us.  Through adversity, challenges, grief, stress…. Nature provides a safe space for rest. We invited our retreaters to engage in a full nervous system reset. To utilize the tools and space available during this time. 

With loving intention, and quite frankly in a state of despair, we sought respite in the boreal forest.  We set down our phones and connection to the outside world.  We committed to truly making this opportunity to recharge count. 

We moved our bodies in nourishing ways.  Through intentional yoga classes, winter hikes, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and sauna + cold plunges. 

We ate delicious food, planned and prepared for us. (The mental unloading that this alone provides is always so shockingly needed.) We held conversations at meals with one another in a spirit of kindness. 

We engaged in stress-relieving art and creativity outlets. We explored “low arousal” contentment winter-time activities in the pursuit of peace.

We gathered in all the different pockets in and around Camp du Nord.  Some even hiked into the Boundary Waters to stand in awe of the pristine and preserved natural world. Snow angels hit different in the Boundary Waters. 

We enjoyed a winter campfire together, equipped with fika (sweet treats), a dance routine on the ice, and a show of hidden talents.  So much laughter was much needed medicine. 

We laughed in many ways. Nora taught a Caribou Yoga Class (environmental educator meets yoga teacher), and surprised her students when they came out of savasana with this reinderr onesie. :) I can’t emphasize enough how much I needed this laughter.

We absorbed yoga, meditation, journaling, and breathing. We set our New Year’s Sankalpa, and brought tangible intention to it home with the creation of simmer pots. We listened to live music with Katie, paired with yoga and sound bowls. We surrendered to the call to rest deeply.

Thank you so much to all of you who attended this retreat this weekend. Thank you to Camp du Nord staff for caring for this welcoming, restful place. And thank you so much to our team for delivering an incredible yoga retreat winter weekend.

We all know that holding onto prolonged stress is not sustainable.  It’s important to invite pockets of rest where we can.  We needed to fully recharge our batteries in order to be present and helpful neighbors, community members, and Minnesotans. 

Sending a lot of love out to you right now as you read this.  Sincerely, Bryana