Restival = Retreat + Festival
"Restival - the exclusive love child of a retreat and a festival - is held in a secret space for up to 90 people amidst the beauty of nature in the land of the Navajo"
““Restival takes wild wellness to another level with an an exclusive annual desert gathering in Arizona where eco-luxe means going off grid deep in nature on sacred Navajo land doing yoga, meditation, sweat lodges, art, music and astronomy. Plus there’s a spa. Accommodation is luxurious individual tipis with hot showers. For an intellectually and spiritually nourishing escape.””
I heard of Restival just last year. The festival/retreat hybridization appealed to me, and its founding mission spoke to me. Its secrecy piqued my interest; its focus on physical and spiritual well-being intrigued me. Naturally, I wanted to learn more, so I contacted Restival's founder, Caroline Jones, to learn more about Restival's mission.
Restival is an immersive experience that takes place outside of Flagstaff, Arizona (secret spot!). Its mission is two-fold: to present an antidote to modern living and the fast-paced world we live in; to help indigenous wisdom stay alive through education.
I learned that Restival is a forum for non-native and native people to come together to peace, harmony, and with the desire to reconnect with themselves and nature. The Navajo are invited to stay in camp, and guests shouldn't be surprised if they learn about the Four Sacred Directions over breakfast. By the end of the weekend, guests will also have the option of learning Navajo Peacemaking, Horsemanship, Art, Storytelling, Astronomy, as well as many greetings and words from the Navajo language. In addition to immersive cultural activities, attendees can enjoy daily yoga, spa, and wellness experiences while staying in luxury accommodations to rejuvenate the spirit, disconnect from distraction, and to connect to themselves.
The Basics:
- Restival takes place over two sessions: September 14-19 and September 21-26
- Choose from several Eco Luxe accommodations - all modeled after traditional Navajo tipis
- Each ticket is all inclusive and priced per person; tickets range from $1,800-$2,950
- Three nutritionally balanced meals/day; snacks, coffee, juices, water 24/7
- Yoga and meditation are included in the price, and there are several other add-ons to choose from, such as acupuncture, Navajo healing, craniosacral and shiatsu therapy, thai mssage, reiki healing, clairvoyant readings, reflexology, life coaching, transformational Navajo sweat lodges, and flotation tank experiences.
If you're interested in Restival, please visit www.restivalglobal.com. And, if you book tickets, please enter the code EVERTHRIVE at check out for a discount! The first 10 to book will receive 20% off their ticket price.
Experiences such as Restival can help us take a break from living in the moment. Choosing to attend Restival is just one of the ways we can consciously decide to "Take the Slow Way."
“In our hectic lives, we seem to move very quickly. We are constantly bombarded with information, tasks, and noise. If you’re like me, most days I strive to get as much done as possible. Before I realize it, mornings turn into evenings; my alarm clock seems to wake me up right after my head hits the pillow. And, during the night, I often experience anxiety dreams where I have to reach some kind of goal and I simply cannot accomplish it.
All these are results of pursuing what I like to call a “carpe diem” sort of life, where I try to accomplish so many things by “living in the moment,” a mantra for many. However, “seizing the day,” or rather, “capturing the day,” only helps us to conquer, subdue, and even kill our days instead of actually living them. Living in the moment offers nothing to alleviate stress, over-stimulation, and noise from our lives.
Sometimes it’s necessary to take a break from living in the moment. Sometimes it’s necessary to “take the slow way.””
Everthrive stands behind Restival's goal in connecting guests with themselves, nature, and traditional ways of life.