After a year of teaching during the pandemic, Jen Keller knew she needed one thing—rest.
Keller, a high school teacher who lives on Long Island, found the relief she was looking for with a Rest & Rejuvenation Retreat at Omega Institute, a center for holistic studies tucked in the rolling countryside outside the village of Rhinebeck.
"I had been going the staycation route," says Keller, "But being at home was also a place of work, so it was becoming less relaxing."
During her stay at Omega, Keller was not only able to rest, but take part in rejuvenating activities—such as meditation—that helped her release the pressures of work and become present to her own needs. "It was a pleasure to meditate for an extended period in Omega’s Sanctuary,” says Keller. "Meditation increases my resiliency during stressful times, helps me appreciate the impermanence of life, and helps me discover more about who I am.”
Keller also took advantage of Omega's daily yoga classes and scheduled massage and reiki at its on-site Wellness Center. “They were wonderful, calming, and increased my relaxation," she says. Walking Omega’s grounds and forest trails daily also provided her with the space to create a shift in her mindset. "Being at Omega allowed me to switch from doing to being," she says.
Whether you’ve been craving a peaceful solo retreat like Keller’s, a couple’s escape, or a trip with your mom or girlfriends, Omega’s retreats can help you truly get away from it all and find joy in the moment. Its new R&R packages include accommodations, three delicious farm-to-table meals a day, and 25 percent off massage and bodywork services. The center is also renowned for its workshops and retreats, where you can dive into self-inquiry, continue to learn, and discover new practices.
"The caring staff at Omega created a space where I could just allow myself to think about what was best for me at that moment,” says Keller. “I did not have to think about cooking, planning, or any caregiving of my own.”
To learn more about Omega’s R&R Retreats or book one of your own, visit eOmega.org/rest or call (800) 944-1001.
