Our next fall yoga and meditation retreat is coming up soon: Sunday, November 2, 9a-5p at the Lakeview Room in Wilmette.  Here are ten reasons to reserve a spot today:

• Go offline. Take a break from headlines, messaging and social networking.  The world will be okay if you put away your phone for a day.
• Time for yourself. No need to make small talk (except with yourself). No family obligations.
• Savor the beauty of nature. A chance to really hang out with the lake.  How often do you really appreciate Lake Michigan?
• Staycation. Go on vacation without leaving Cook County.
• True rest.  Use your Sunday for its intended purpose.  No sports events, no chores, no events.
• Let your practice slow-cook. You know how stew is better if it's cooked for a long time? Same thing happens when you practice over a whole day. Richer flavors of insight develop.
• Build momentum.  A day of practice shifts our patterns more effectively than 90 minutes every other week.
• Get inspired.  On retreat, we are reminded of the power of yoga and reinspired to keep practicing.
• Go deeper with meditation.  It takes time for the mind to settle down.  Give yourself that time and the potency of meditation becomes clear.
• Know thyself.  Who are you?  What is there when you put down your responsibilities, your roles, your normal routines?  The tradition suggests that we must answer this question if we seek lasting peace.