Liya’s Journey into Retreats

I recently watched a reel about kids having massive tantrums after being picked up from school. 

An angelic child all day long suddenly breaks down in front of you. It’s bewildering. 

But the reason is simple and natural, and I’ll get to that in just a moment.

First, let me share my story.

Last year, for the first time in years, I had the chance to escape my everyday life—family, work, endless tasks—and attend the Nurture Your Growth retreat organized by Jana and Wolfgang. 

On paper, it sounded like a light vacation: a beautiful location, new countries, exciting practices, and time just for me.

And I ended up crying. 

And not just a few tears here and there. I was crying constantly, massively, like a dam break.

But why?

In our day-to-day lives, we’re like soldiers. 

We’re mobilized—physically, mentally, emotionally. We stand ready to tackle challenges, to hold it together for everyone else, especially for those who aren’t as strong as we are. We’re strong because we have to be. And in doing so, we push down all the emotions, all the needs, and even all the pain that would make us feel less than invincible.

Then something happened that changed everything.

One morning, I was sharing a room with our Wim Hof trainer – Jana, and we woke up at 6:30 or 7:00. Snow was falling softly outside the window. We had our warm water and a quiet, chilled conversation, 

and then she said, “Let’s go into the lake.”

It was -3°C outside!

I asked, “Am I ready?”

She smiled and said, “Yes, you are.”

So we did it. 

At 7 a.m., we walked barefoot from the house to the lake, through the snow, in just our swimsuits. I plunged into the freezing water, and at that moment, something in me shifted.

For the first time, my mind calmed. The endless thoughts, emotions, and tension melted away in the icy embrace of the lake. It was like my entire being hit reset.

I didn’t fully understand what had happened until months later, when I looked back on the retreat and realized how much my life had changed. That experience—the crying, the cold, the quiet—was the start of something transformative.

So, about that child who has a meltdown after school

—do you know why they cry? 

It’s because, all day long, they’re mobilized. They’re keeping it together, managing their emotions in a structured, demanding environment. But the moment they step into their safe space—their home—they release it all.

It’s the same for us as adults. We think we’re “fine,” but that heaviness in our chest or that low hum of exhaustion we feel? It’s everything we’ve pushed down, waiting for a safe space to come out.

This is your sign. If you feel that heaviness, that “fine-but-not-really” feeling, it might be time to find your safe space. 

Whether it’s a retreat, a weekend to yourself away from home and people, take the time to let it all out. You might be surprised by what’s waiting for you on the other side.