NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers did a dark retreat – what’s that? Fans of the practice tell us about its benefits – ‘you don’t come back the same person’

When Aaron Rodgers, a National Football League player in the United States, spoke about his experience at a “dark retreat”, the internet lit up with searches for the term. The practice is rooted in ancient Tibetan and Indian culture and its name is self-explanatory: practitioners retreat into a space completely devoid of light to reconnect with themselves. While the idea of spending a prolonged amount of time in the dark often elicits panic, stress and anxiety for people, dark retreats are conducted so the practitioner can shed light on matters they are wrestling with internally. In Rodgers’ case, it was to meditate on whether to play as quarterback for the Green Bay Packers for another season or retire. Even for those who will not be ruminating on whether to continue an illustrious sports career, the point of a dark retreat is to disconnect completely from the outside world to reconnect with themselves. Again, it is counterintuitive to disconnect to connect, but that, according to American dharma teacher and Buddhist chaplain Justin von Bujdoss, is precisely the point. “You go into this to meet yourself,” he explains. “There’s a personal transformation that feels very palpable.” Meditation: a Silicon Valley executive’s secret to success Von Bujdoss is the former Buddhist head chaplain of Rikers Island – New York’s largest jail – and began incorporating dark retreats into his practice after the early days of the pandemic. “It was an incredibly stressful job and I was surrounded by all sorts of traumatic experiences,” he explains. “Whether the death of those in custody or the staff, after all we went through, I was carrying a lot of trauma. The experience allowed me to let go of a lot of things I was holding onto unconsciously.” The effects of the 49-day retreat I felt for about a year Justin von Bujdoss, dharma teacher Retreats usually last for several days, though experienced practitioners may stay for weeks or months, but von Bujdoss cautions that inexperienced practitioners should not jump into a lengthy retreat. “The possibility of a psychotic break for someone who doesn’t regularly meditate and train for this type of retreat is high,” he says. He also warns that dark retreats should not be lumped in with other holistic spa retreats people may be more familiar with. “This is an advanced practice for people who already meditate,” he cautions. Von Bujdoss has been on two seven-day retreats and one 49-day retreat. Just before this interview, he was preparing for another seven-day session. “The effects of the 49-day retreat I felt for about a year,” he says. “Things like a greater sense of ease in myself, an increased sense of being larger than just a job role or familial role or societal role. I was able to turn back to a carefree, healthy place of resilience.” Adora Winquist, a US-based practitioner and curator of dark retreats for those looking to experience them both domestically and abroad, echoes those sentiments. Your eyes are very sensitive after the retreat and you need to wear sunglasses even in low light until your eyes have adjusted back to normal Minnie Lane, personal development coach who did a dark retreat “Practitioners under medical supervision with certain psychotropic medications should definitely check with their physician before they undergo this type of experience,” Winquist says. “For every individual, the quest is unique. Whether it’s one of spiritual understanding, accessing mental states of peak performance or the desire to heal deeply, it’s all very personal.” Although psychosis and potential psychotic breaks are a potential side effect for non-experienced practitioners, one common side effect of a dark retreat is light sensitivity experienced when emerging from a space; it can take several hours to several days for the eyes to readjust to natural light after spending so much time in total darkness. “Your eyes are very sensitive after the retreat and you need to wear sunglasses even in low light until your eyes have adjusted back to normal, which takes a few days,” says Minnie Lane, a dating and personal development coach based in London, who attended a dark retreat in Guatemala for seven days. So what can people expect at a retreat? At Sky Caves, the retreat Rodgers attended in Oregon in the US, visitors can expect to be as undisturbed as possible by external noise and will have meals delivered in the dark. According to Winquist, dark retreat spaces are usually about 8 feet (2.4 metres) by 8 feet with a bed, a mat for intentional practices and yoga, as well as en suite or nearby bathrooms. The more sophisticated the retreat, the more elaborate the facilities, she adds. This also reflects the price tag of a retreat, which can range from a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars, depending on the location and amenities provided. He wants to live to 110: founder of The Ranch wellness spa on its regimen Von Bujdoss is developing a retreat in New York state and says one of the key issues of concern is the intake process of potential practitioners; he is cognisant of his responsibility to not to influence a person’s unique experience, yet still ensure they have a safe one. “This kind of retreat is akin to a rite of passage. Once this becomes thrown into capitalist models, one really needs to do due diligence to ensure the spirit doesn’t get lost,” he says. Though would-be practitioners need to do their homework before attending a dark retreat, von Bujdoss stresses that the experience is transformative. “Think of it as a reset,” he says. “You don’t come back the same person, because you’ve had an experience that’s radically shifted the way you relate to yourself.” Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.