Retreat (spiritual)

Retreat, retreat for English, refers to a planned spiritual respite or retreat from the usual environment. While the term is also commonly used in English for periods of relaxation or stress reduction, in the German-speaking world the importance of spiritual practice has prevailed. This corresponds originally Christian retreats and generalized: It is often associated with a concept of meditation, so at Buddhist events or other spiritual traditions from Asia, who have often settled on the United States coming in Europe.

In many schools, a retreat runs according to a fixed program that is tailored to the duration which can, for example, range from a week to several months. Here, the daily run is largely governed, which also includes eating, washing or phases of work may fall.

But even a longer stay in a temple or abroad, which is connected with spiritual practice and can take up to several years, is partially named figuratively retreat.

Recently, seminars and qualifications for therapists are under the keyword " relaxation therapy " has also offered, which have no reference to religion.

In science, the term retreat (often also called " Scientific Retreat " ) used as anglicism and describes a multi-day meeting of a scientific group in addition to the scientific exchange social activities play a role. The aim is to promote the knowledge and so the interaction in the scientific life in a different atmosphere.

In modern Yoga Retreat, the term is understood as a kind of vacation. Again, it 's about the retreat from everyday life for a few days ( Weekend Retreat ) to weeks, while the goal is to let go of the familiar, what with the concentration may be easier to practice yoga than with pure meditative exercises. Often retreats are offered as traveling with organized stay at home and abroad.