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When we were kids, creativity was part of everyday life. I remember spending hours at our kitchen table, elbow-deep in Play-Doh, or building a doll house from shoeboxes, sponges and other found objects around our house. As busy mid-life women, creative pursuits often take a backseat to work, family obligations and “life admin.”
What if you had a chance to carve out dedicated playtime without distractions? That’s where creative retreats come in. They can offer relief from burnout, help you tap into your inner artist and maybe even help you discover a new creative pursuit. Even better? Studies have shown that even 45 minutes of creative expression, such as painting, writing and music, can significantly reduce anxiety, and who doesn’t want that these days?
Here are a few creative retreats to consider:
Find Your Voice in the Berkshires
Unleash your inner songbird at the “Sing the Body Electric” workshop at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshire Mountains. The two-day immersive weekend offers a chance to “help you reclaim the power, freedom and healing potential of your voice.” Sound therapy pioneer Eileen McKusick will guide you, as will voice leaders and international recording artists, the Brothers Koren. Learn to express emotions through song, free your voice and play with sound and vibrations. Purported benefits of the workshop include a calmer nervous system, more energy, confidence, and “a newfound ability to cope with life’s challenging seasons.”
Creative and Cultural Immersion in Southwest France
Tucked away in the stunning Cognac region of Charente, France, Château Charente hosts retreats designed for women who want to reconnect with their artistic side, whether through painting, writing, photography or cooking, while immersing themselves in the beauty of southwest France. Each six-night retreat focuses on a different creative medium, from painting en plein air and writing to photography and culinary arts. In addition to creative activities, the retreats incorporate wellness practices such as tai chi, restorative yoga, apothecary workshops and cultural immersion like brocante visits, market explorations, historic tours and nature walks.
Botanical Ink Painting in California
Let your imagination run wild at Esalen, a gorgeous learning and retreat center in Big Sur on California’s central coast. Guests can sign up for all types of creative workshops, including the “Botanical Ink Painting workshop,” where you’ll forage for plants to use in a palette of botanical inks. You’ll also learn to make natural brushes, create plein-air paintings and find inspiration in the breathtaking environment. Other offerings include personal essay writing, ceramics, mandala making, art therapy and more.
A Mountain Haven for the Arts in Utah
Nestled in the Utah mountains, Sundance Resort’s art studio offers the tools and space to work with your hands — whether mixing custom fragrances, making soap, molding clay or experimenting with printmaking. When you’re not busy creating, you can check into Sundance’s luxurious on-site spa and unwind with an assortment of treatments for the face and body or enjoy a yoga class or sound bath healing session. Founded by Robert Redford (yes, the Sundance Kid himself) with the idea that art and nature should exist in harmony, Sundance provides a setting where creativity is part of the landscape.
A Posh Women’s Retreat in the Cotswolds
Treat yourself to a peaceful escape in the heart of the Cotswolds at Papilio House, a new luxury country retreat in the British countryside. Each five-night stay starts with a motivational group session with the Papilio House Life Coach, setting the tone for an inspiring and transformative visit. Guests can immerse themselves in curated therapies, workshops and activities, such as a calligraphy workshop, cheese and wine tasting, floristry, interior design masterclasses and local foraging. Another highlight? Meals are made from fresh local ingredients and prepared by local private chefs who host immersive cooking classes for guests.
Learning to Love Midlife in North Carolina
Chip Conley — author, entrepreneur and founder of the Modern Elder Academy — leads the “Learning to Love Midlife” retreat at the serene Art of Living Retreat Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The retreat is about “redefining aging as a time of opportunity, connection, and renewal,” and a time to connect with other like-minded souls. The weekend of interactive discussions, nature walks, reflective journaling and mindfulness practices will help you see midlife as a time of expansion and possibility.
Which of the above retreats would you want to go on? Let us know in the comments below.
