Vacations That Can Change Your Life: Adventures, Retreats and Workshops for the Mind, Body and Spirit [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Ellen Lederman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Everyone dreams of taking a vacation that will completely rejuvenate them - one that will return them to work and family more relaxed, healthy, sane and confident. This ultimate vacation guide features over 200 life-changing destinations that go beyond the routine.

"For those who wish to add more meaning to their skimpy two weeks away from the rat race, Vacations That Can Change Your Life could prove to be a godsend." Chicago Tribune

Whether you want to indulge your sense of adventure or enrich your spiritual curiosity, give yourself the gift of the most rewarding vacation of your life. ~ Affordable for any budget
~ Healing programs for the body and mind
~ Vacations throughout North America from mountains and plains to
rivers, redwood forests and deserts
~ Empowerment weekends and meditational retreats for personal growth
~ Nature explorations, from backpack and kayak trips to ecology and
Native American focused programs
~ Spiritual retreats from Buddhist, Sufi, Islam, Christian and Jewish traditions
~ Over 200 great soul-enriching vacations

Treat Your Mind, Body and Spirit to the Most Enriching Vacation of Your Life!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
From the Introduction

What do you have to show for your last vacation?

If you're like most people: not much! The tan probably faded a few weeks after you came back. The relaxation you felt while you were away disappeared within a week or two of resuming your regular routine. All that remains of your investment (the time and money spent on the vacation) are the souvenirs you brought home.

T-shirts, ashtrays, and little plastic globes that "snow" when shaken may serve their purpose, but they don't have much of an impact on your life. Nothing is any different than it was before the vacation. You remain exactly as you were, thinking and feeling and doing the same old things.

But your next vacation can affect you in a meaningful and permanent way. Any of the possibilities in this book could transform your life. The skills learned or perspective gained will remain long after the actual experience has ended. Unlike standard travel which stresses passive sightseeing or sunbathing, these vacations demand active involvement of the mind/body/spirit. If you throw your whole self into one of these adventures, you can explore, discover, learn, heal, and grow.

There's no question that it's easier to continue your usual style of vacationing. Many people return to the same spot year after year for just this reason. Going back to a familiar beach or mountain resort eliminates the need for research and indepth planning. All that's required is a quick phone call to reserve your place. Or, if your chosen vacation is a little more complicated, a travel agent can provide advice and manage the details.

With the vacations in this book, you will need to expend a little more effort. Most travel agents haven't heard of the vast majority of the profiled vacations. You won't be able to pick up a travel magazine and see an ad for most of the retreats or workshops. Chances are your friends and neighbors haven't experienced these adventures and can't recommend any of them to you.

You'll also need to be prepared to venture past your normal comfort zone. Sticking with what you've always done in the past is much less risky than trying something new. It's safer and less stressful to know exactly what to expect. Even after reading about the vacations in this book and in any promotional material you may request, you still won't fully realize all that may occur or how the experience may affect you until you actually participate in one.

What you can expect is to be challenged in ways that aren't possible on standard vacations. In the place of a leisurely walk through a museum, you can choose to spend a week in more active pursuits that can expand your confidence and self-reliance such as kayaking through whitewater rapids. Instead of sitting on a beach, you can hike through a national forest as you learn backpacking and survival skills. Rather than just splashing around in the ocean, you can swim with the dolphins as part of a special program that enhances human creativity and communication.

On your previous vacations, probably the most intellectually challenging activity was flipping through a magazine or deciding on a restaurant for dinner. If you're ready to acquire skills and knowledge that last beyond your vacation, learning a foreign language or filmmaking can become your focus the next time you get away.

While you may have visited cathedrals on a European trip or even attended a religious service once or twice, it's likely that not a lot was asked of you spiritually on your last vacations. But the spiritual programs contained in this book actively promote spiritual/religious growth. Whether you're in need of a little renewal in your current faith or feel a compelling need to explore a new type of spirituality, you can get involved in a retreat that provides the environment and the support to explore the deepest parts of your soul.

Unlike your usual vacation which you spend entirely with family or friends (or sightsee among strangers with whom you never really interact), you'll need to extend yourself socially. Except for a few vacations where you meditate or participate in a solo backpacking vision quest in the desert, you'll encounter new people and share some intense experiences with them. While there are some vacations that are intended for you to share with a spouse, parent, or child, you may be participating in one on your own.

But don't let the demands and challenges scare you. You do have to invest yourself physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually, but you'll get much in return. The small amount of effort and time needed to learn more about the vacations which interest you is well worthwhile. It will ensure you of choosing the program that most meets your needs. The experiences you have will be transformational and will make a difference in the rest of your life.

And keep in mind that these experiences will also be enjoyable. You will not be giving up all the fun and relaxation of a more typical vacation. Even the most rigorous programs include some recreation. The majority of the centers, retreats, and adventures are held in very scenic locations by oceans, lakes, mountains, and farmland. You'll enjoy good food and make great new friends.

It's very possible that one of these programs will change your life in a very positive way. You might learn a new skill, develop a hobby, improve your health, or discover your spiritual side. Investigate and then enjoy what may be the vacation of a lifetime!

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks; 2nd edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157071391X
• ISBN-13: 978-1570713910
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #907,990 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a vacation guide for the socially conscious!, February 10, 1998

By	[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vacations That Can Change Your Life: Adventures, Retreats and Workshops for the Mind, Body and Spirit (Paperback)

I wrote this review for Tell-A-Woman, Philadelphia's monthly women's newsletter:

It's that time of year when I start to ask myself, "What can I look forward to after the holidays?" Well this year I've come across the perfect resource to answer that question. Ellen Lederman has compiled a comprehensive directory of more than 200 adventure opportunities "for the mind, body and spirit." Lederman's book has given me vacation ideas to fill my time-off for the next several years.

The book is organized by vacation types and includes Holistic, Spiritual, Healing and Health-Promoting, Self-Improvement and Learning chapters. There are easy to use state-by-state and international indices in the back to quickly search for adventures in particular areas. Since I'm always looking for that mid-winter, warm weather vacation I immediately searched under Florida and Mexico for my adventures. The general index is also very helpful for finding more specific offerings. I found 40 entries next to the "Women's programs" index and 30 for "Music programs."

The directory of adventures, retreats and workshops includes the seemingly content-free Disney Institute in Florida, and at the other extreme, a five-day intensive workshop for abuse survivors offered by Safe Harbours in California. There's a listing for you if you want to spend your vacation painting, learning to build houses, or cataloging fossils in Uganda. There's even one for those hungry for some intergenerational bonding at the Sagamore Institute's Grandparents Camp.

Of course there are also entries for the usual mud baths, tennis lessons and more yoga retreats than I ever expected -- but you can find those listings most anywhere. The real value in this book is the recognition that a vacation can offer more than just a great view and a seven-day lounge by the pool - admit it, leisure does get a little boring. Many of us have been hungry for a way to use our time off to rejuvenate but we also hope to get something more than a few nice pictures - we want to add to our lifeskills resource bank. Thanks to Lederman's book I think I'll be learning to build my own home in Massachusetts this Summer and within the next two years I'll finally get to see the changes going on in South Africa first hand.

Prices for the getaways vary. Lederman uses a coding for under $1500, $1500-$3000 and over $3000, but don't let that scare you off. Many of the health and healing programs may be partially or fully covered by your health insurance and quite a few of the other programs have scholarships available. I encourage you to pick up Ellen Lederman's book and find out all the things you can do on your next vacation.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, January 16, 2001

By	Tanya L. Reynolds "tanyacda" (Idaho, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I received this book as a gift. It is very informative on interesting places and workshops not only throughout the US, but other countries as well. Great ideas for get aways with my mother and a group of friends! I highly recommend it. Prices are not listed, but a general range is provided plus address, phone number and website info to get more info if needed.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good book!, November 10, 1998

By A Customer

If you're looking for a vacation that will change your life, this is your book. Clear chapters, where to write or call info with every destination. Definately worth the money!