Part of staying mentally healthy is retreating from the busy mind and listening to your heart.

A Paradise Valley yoga and Ayurveda instructor is hosting an intimate weekend retreat for those who would like to learn more about this and the ancient practices of yoga and Ayurveda, Friday, Sept. 20- Sunday, Sept. 22.

The retreat, hosted by Deborah Garland, includes yoga sessions, breathwork instructional sessions, Ayurvedic vegetarian meals and a personalized road map to follow after the retreat has finished. Participants will also receive copies of Garland’s three books about ayurvedic practices.

Garland highlights that the retreat is designed to help participants reconnect with themselves and create lasting positive changes.

“This retreat is designed to use the traditional Vedic methods for listening to your inner wisdom and how to apply that in the world,” Garland said. 

Ayurveda, an ancient system of natural healing that complements yoga, is deeply rooted in the same Vedic traditions that have been practiced in India for thousands of years. 

“It is the natural healthcare, the natural lifestyle process that comes from the same family tree as yoga and all the ancient Vedic sciences that originated in India thousands of years ago,” Garland said.

The retreat occurs during the fall equinox, which is the halfway point between the summer and winter solstices.

Garland explains that seasonal transitions are significant in Ayurveda, as they symbolize a time for renewal and adjustment. 

“The autumn equinox marks the change from the heat of summer into a new season. Anytime we shift from one season to another ayurvedically, we need to clear out the old and in with the new,” she said.

Garland believes this retreat offers a unique opportunity for participants to step back from their busy lives and focus on personal growth.

“I think it's no secret that our culture today, and even around the world, is being influenced by external information,” she said. “We are looking at our screens all the time, we’re scrolling our social media, and we often times don't take a minute, let alone a couple of days to disconnect from the tugs and pulls of the outer world and start to reacquaint ourselves with our inner wisdom and our inner guidance.”

With decades of experience in both fields, Garland brings extensive expertise to the retreat.

 “I have been studying Ayurveda for 30 years and I’ve also taught yoga for that length of time, and I still do both regularly,” she said.

Garland explains that her inspiration for holding these retreats is to help those who attend, “get out of their busy mind and listen to their calm heart”.