SAN FRANCISCO, June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- "Sometimes we need more than just another vacation, we need Inspiration," according to Melanie Grant, who is a new convert to Wellness Tours or Healthy Vacations. Like Melanie, many people are seeking something more when they go to book a holiday overseas or even in the US. Fortunately, there is a rising wellness travel industry that is giving people more of what they seek. It not only includes a tour to a unique destination but stress relieving activities like hiking and meditating in Nature, and spiritual discovery.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150622/224663
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150622/224664
According to a recent survey by Harris Interactive, unemployment may be down but 8 out of every 10 Americans say that they are more stressed out than ever, primarily by their work and lack of free time. In fact, 83% of the over one thousand people surveyed said they were working longer hours and had too much work to do. Stress is the number one cause of health problems like heart attacks, and can even raise the risk of diabetes. But beyond the serious consequences of being stressed and overworked, is the simple truth that people have less time to discover what's important to them.
"I work so hard and am so focused when I am at the office, it's hard to "unplug" and "unwind". Then when I finally do - I wonder what it's all about ...and what I'm doing with my life energy," says Grant. This is how she came to the decision to make "good use" of her time off by "going deeper" and seeking "more meaningful" ways to spend her holidays. Last year, Grant joined a small group of people on a spiritual nature quest to Orkney Scotland. The group not only spent time hiking and bird watching (puffins) and doing a "solo" in nature, they visited ancient archeological sites. Grant did more then take a few quick snapshots of these. With whimsical names like the Ring of Brodgar, the Ness of Brodgar, and the Stones of Stenness, the ancient stone circles and ancient temple are thousands of years older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge.
Grant and other Nature Questers did more then take a few quick snapshots and load back in a tour bus. They spent time at the site "soaking" up the Neolithic architecture, imagining what it would have been like to live at that time. They even meditated next to the stone monuments, after benefitting from a course in meditation, one of the many spiritually oriented activities offered. "The experience was literally a life changer for me" said Melanie. "I not only relaxed, but I was able to reach a part of myself that I have not connected with in years. Although I have been back now for eleven months, the trip was crucial in starting the dialogue about how I want to live the rest of my life. What I learned and came away with on that Quest is still benefitting me today."
Catriona MacGregor of Nature Quest Guru, and the Quest Leader for Grant's Orkney trip, says that her experience is typical of many of the people who come with her. "My goal is to provide participants with profound inner and outer journeys leading to renewal and transformation. These are life-changing experiences that people will be able to look back on, in years to come, and say – 'that was a turning point in my life' or 'that was a peak experience that still inspires me today.'" According to MacGregor, her Spirit and Nature Quests are perfect for people who want to spend more time out of doors, and are interested in going deep to explore their spiritual side.
MacGregor, the Founder of Nature Quest Guru, has been leading Spirit and Nature Quests as well as Vision Quests for over a decade, primarily in California, Scotland, & New Zealand but is presently expanding. She has a particular affinity with Scotland (and Orkney) since her ancestors, planted their roots there hundreds of years ago.
According to Catriona, "When you commune with the powerful energy of the land and ancient sites in Orkney, you can connect with the wisdom of a timeless realm."
To learn more or to inquire about an upcoming Quest - visit www.naturequestguru.org.
Media Contact:
David Green
415-747-1019
Email
SOURCE Nature Quest
Share this article