Health

Why Go on a Heatlth Retreat? An Expert Explains the FAQ’s

Yoga retreats, meditation retreats, wellness, detox and healing retreats – you often hear these terms andmight vaguely know that retreats are some kind of getaway that’s good for your wellbeing. But many might wonder – what actually happens on a retreat and why is it good for you to go?

Tania Ho, founder and owner of Museflower Retreat & Spa, Chiang Rai’s first all-inclusive holistic wellness retreat,went on some life-changing wellness retreats that helped her get through some difficult times in her life. It was her experiences during these retreats and their power to give emotional and mental healing that inspired her to set up Museflower Retreat & Spa in order to help other people who needed the kind of support she found at wellness retreats.

Trained in a number of holistic therapies including Flower Essence consultation and Hado Counseling, Tania believes that healing can take place when we start making changes from within – and this is what you can discover when you go on a retreat and get the time and professional guidance to look for answers inside yourself.

Here, Tania demystifies what a retreat holiday is, and why it’s good for you to go on one.

What is a wellness retreat holiday?

Retreat, by dictionary definition,, means “a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy”.To me, a wellness retreat is about getting away from the stresses, responsibilities and mad rush of daily life and letting the mind quiet down from its daily routine.It’s a time to connect with that inner silence and inner peace within.A wellness retreat provides a much needed safe space in our busy lives, to finally slow down, to relax and be with ourselves.

So what do people do on a wellness retreat?

There are so many types of wellness retreats out there, offering different types of activities, ranging from yoga, meditation, detox, spa to spiritual, self-discovery and couple’s retreats.Depending on the retreat topic, the retreat teacher or organizer will create a program around it.

For yoga retreats, you’ll be doing yoga classes. Some of the more dedicated yoga retreats also include meditationclasses, yoga philosophy lecturesand yoga documentaries. Some yoga retreats that are more geared towards relaxation may include spa treatments as well.

For spiritual and self-discovery type of retreats, you will be attending guided workshops or talks by the teacher most of the time. There will be free time to integrate all the information taught and time for reflection as well.

Will it be boring if the retreat program has a lot of free time?

From my experience, this seems to be a “problem” that a lot of city people face – they don’t know how to be with free time. They are used to scheduling appointments and meetings back to back on a daily basis. Have you ever had people say to you – “let me slot you in for dinner next week”? If there is an empty space in the schedule, they will find something to stuff in that time slot, because time must not be wasted, time is precious.

Since the concept of “time is money” is very prevalent in modern day culture, having “free” time is almost a luxury that is too much to have. A lot of people are not used to having “free” time in their schedule.Even when we have “free” time finally, most of the time we will be checking Facebook, watching YouTube videos, or scrolling down the instagram feed (me included). In fact, this is the same as not having “free” time, because we are still disconnected from ourselves.

However, in a retreat, “free” time is very important. Free time, essentially, is “me” time feeling completely connected yet without Wi-Fi.

We all need time to decompress, to integrate what we have learned from the retreat, to reflect and to listen to our inner voice – this is what retreats are for.

This is a scheduled “me” time where you do not have to feel guilty for not doing anything. This is a free time to do whatever you want, to sleep, to rest, to explore, to read, write, to draw. This is the time that you can finally sit down, and ask your inner teacher, “Okay now I’m here, tell me what’s going on?”

What’s the difference between a wellness retreat holiday and a typical holiday?

Have you been on a relaxing holiday, let’s say at a beach resort, and done nothing but sleep and eat and laze by the beach the whole day?

Have you been on a sightseeing type of holiday, where you are out from the hotel the whole day long exploring the area, taking buses, taxis or trains, and visiting famous landmarks and attractions?

Have you been on a shopping and eating holiday, where you are being a happy consumer, shopping and eating the whole day?

There is nothing wrong with any of the above holidays. Do you feel recharged and refreshed after these holidays? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Sometimes it’s really tiring to change hotel every night, to rush to the airport or the bus station or the train station to catch the next ride. Even sleeping the whole day doesn’t make you feel refreshed.You can even feel more tired afterwards.

That’s the difference between a retreat and a typical holiday. After a retreat, you will feel rejuvenated. You will feel recharged. And most importantly, you will feel different, because the experiences you gain and learn in a retreat change you as a person from the core.

How can a retreat change you from the core?

During the retreat, you will have plenty of space and time to rest. But you will also be engaged in certain exercises or activities that release stress and open repressed thoughts or feelings that may unconsciously make you exhausted. You will be engaged in reflections. You will gain insights. You will experience ‘a-ha’ moments. You may even have the “weirdest experience” in your entire life (according to one of my guests).

So how do you know when you need to go on a retreat?

It’s a good time to consider going on a retreat if you say yes to any one of the following phrases:

• I feel tired all the time.
• I feel completely overwhelmed and stressed from my life / job / relationship / family.
• I am thinking or have already quit my job but I don’t know what to do next
• I feel stuck with my life.
• I have just gone through a huge trauma in my life and I want some space.
• I am trying to find out what my life purpose is.
• I don’t know what my passion is and I’m trying to find that out.
• I want to get into shape and have healthier habits.
• I want to lose weight and have more energy.
• My life is at a transition point now and I don’t know what to do next.

What can a wellness retreat holiday do for you?

• Feel more energized and refreshed after the retreat
• Gain new insights about your purpose or direction in life
• Gain clarity about your past, present and future
• Release any blockages in your life, physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically
• Break your normal daily life habits (and break your need for coffee) and learn new and healthier habits
• Jumpstart on your physical health and gain that momentum to keep you going after you go back home
• Reconnect with your inner feelings and allow emotions to come through
• Gain a new perspective to look at things different in your life
• Prioritize your life so your actions speak self-love
• Find new ways to express your authentic self

Generally speaking, I’m guessing that most people in the world just want to be healthy. I’m not saying that going on a retreat will make you happy or healthy. As you should know by now (if not there are so many books out there about this), it’s that nothing outside of you can make you happy.Only you can make yourself happy. Happiness comes from inside yourself, not from outside.

Going on a retreat is like giving yourself a chance to look at the world in a different way, a gift to learn something new, to go on an adventure with your inner self.

Now, what should you bring for a retreat holiday?

An open mind, an open heart, a willingness to let go, and courage to face and embrace “All of you– all your curves and edges and perfect imperfections…”(thanks John Legend)!

So how about it? Next time you feel in need of support, try going on a wellness retreat – you may be surprised at what you find out ahout yourself and a new way to see the world.

By Minty Green
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For more information about wellness retreats in Chiang Rai, check our retreat schedule at http://www.musefloweretreat.com/retreat-packages/retreat-schedule/ or contact:

Museflower Retreat & Spa Chiang Rai, 159/1 Moo 1 Ban Samanmit, Donsila Sub-District, Wiang Chai District, Chiang Rai 57210
Office: +66-(0)52-029-823, +66(0)-93-137-0414
Email: retreat@museflower.com
Website: www.musefloweretreat.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musefloweretreat

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP