These days, many people travel. However, just because you've been somewhere doesn't mean you're recharged. After taking photos, waiting in line at popular restaurants, and checking the next schedule, you find yourself exhausted again. What we need might not be 'movement' but 'staying'.
The wellness brand SAYU is hosting a 1-night, 2-day wellness retreat in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk, on March 28-29. As the name suggests, it's 'a journey through the forest at my own pace'.
Why Yeongju — A Place Where Time Flows Slowly
Yeongju is particularly quiet among fast-paced cities. The ancient columns of Buseoksa Temple, which has stood for a thousand years, and Sosu Seowon, the first Confucian academy in Korea, are hidden among pine forests. The sky viewed from the hill of Gwanseolgol spreads out in a way that's hard to see in Seoul.
The reason this program chose Yeongju is not just because of its beautiful scenery. This city itself sends a signal to 'slow down'. The texture of Yeongju, where history and nature coexist, naturally adjusts the speed of our bodies that have been running busily.
Day 1 — Time for Emptiness and Reflection
The keyword for the first day is 'emptiness'.
Participants departing from Seoul Station arrive at Gwanseolgol at 10 AM to awaken their bodies with morning yoga. They slowly release the tension in their stiff bodies and gain a new perspective on the city of Yeongju through cultural explanations.
Lunch is a lunchbox made with ingredients from Yeongju. Eating a meal slowly is no different from meditation.
In the afternoon, they walk through Buseoksa Temple and Sosu Seowon. It's special because they are given time to find 'their own spot' while listening to the guide's explanations. Instead of certifying famous photo spots, they find scenes that resonate with them and stay there slowly.
In the evening, they move to Yeongju Forest Healing Center for dinner, and from 8 PM, the main Sound Therapy (Singing Bowl Session) begins. Participants say the sound of the singing bowls resonating in the forest reaches deeper than any words.
Day 2 — Time for Fulfillment and Connection
The second day begins with breakfast at the Forest Healing Center.
At 9:30 AM, a forest walk and hammock experience follow. Lying in a hammock strung between branches and looking up at the sky. There is a reason why those few minutes of doing nothing remain memorable for a long time.
At 11 AM, they conclude the two-day journey with a wrap-up session. Through analog journaling, they slowly write down what they felt during this trip and what kind of self they met. The act of engraving letters with their hands without digital devices is a closing ritual in itself.
When they board the bus heading to Seoul at noon, their bags remain the same, but something inside their hearts has definitely changed.
Why Wellness Retreats Are Needed Now
Wellness tourism is a rapidly growing travel trend worldwide. It is a travel method that aims for the recovery of body and mind, beyond simple sightseeing or relaxation. Especially for modern people who are accustomed to burnout and chronic fatigue, this type of retreat is becoming more of a necessity than a choice.
This SAYU retreat, which organically includes yoga, meditation, nature healing, sound therapy, and journaling in one schedule, is noteworthy because each program is not just a simple experience but contains questions directed inward.
Aligning my biological rhythm with the breath of the forest. The quiet experiment is quietly awaited by the forests of Yeongju.