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Planning a Wellness Retreat

A group of friends discusses and plans a short wellness retreat, exploring options for activities like yoga, hiking, healthy cooking classes, and spa treatments.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Sarah (Female)
Hey everyone! So glad we could finally connect about this wellness retreat. I'm really excited about it!
2
Michael (Male)
Me too, Sarah! It's much needed. I've been looking at a few places. What kind of activities are we all hoping for?
3
Emily (Female)
I'm definitely keen on some yoga sessions. Maybe something for all levels, since I'm a bit rusty. And some healthy cooking classes would be a bonus!
4
John (Male)
Yoga sounds great. I'd also love some outdoor activities. Are we thinking hiking, or something more relaxed like nature walks?
5
Sarah (Female)
Good point, John. I think a mix would be ideal. Maybe a challenging hike one day and a leisurely walk another. And what about spa treatments? A massage sounds heavenly.
6
Michael (Male)
A massage is a must! I also saw some places offer meditation or mindfulness sessions. That could be really grounding.
7
Emily (Female)
Oh, absolutely! Mindfulness is something I want to incorporate more into my routine. So, to recap, we're looking for places with yoga, hiking/nature walks, healthy cooking, spa treatments, and meditation?
8
John (Male)
That sounds like a perfect package for a short retreat. Let's aim for a three to four-day trip. I'll consolidate some options based on these criteria and share them with you all next week.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

wellness

Wellness means the state of being healthy in body and mind, often including activities like exercise and relaxation to improve overall well-being.

retreat

A retreat is a short trip or vacation focused on relaxation, learning, or personal growth, like a wellness retreat for health and peace.

yoga

Yoga is a physical and mental practice that involves poses, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve flexibility, strength, and calm the mind.

hiking

Hiking is walking in nature trails or mountains for exercise and enjoyment, often as an outdoor activity to stay fit and connect with the environment.

spa treatments

Spa treatments are relaxing services at a spa, such as massages or facials, designed to reduce stress and promote health and beauty.

meditation

Meditation is a practice of focusing the mind to achieve mental clarity and emotional calm, often done by sitting quietly and breathing deeply.

mindfulness

Mindfulness is being fully present and aware of the current moment without judgment, helping to reduce stress and improve focus in daily life.

incorporate

To incorporate means to include or add something into your regular routine or plan, like adding mindfulness to your daily habits.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

I'm really excited about it!

This sentence expresses strong enthusiasm or happiness about a plan. Use it when sharing positive feelings about an upcoming event. It's informal and common in conversations with friends. Grammar note: 'Excited about' is a preposition phrase showing the reason for the emotion.

What kind of activities are we all hoping for?

This is a question asking for preferences or wishes in a group discussion. It's useful for planning events. 'Hoping for' means desiring something to happen. Grammar: 'What kind of' asks for types or examples, and 'we all' includes everyone.

I'm definitely keen on some yoga sessions.

This states a strong interest in an activity. 'Keen on' means very interested or enthusiastic about something. Use it to express preferences clearly. It's great for intermediate learners to show certainty with 'definitely.'

A massage is a must!

This emphasizes that something is essential or very important. 'A must' is an idiom meaning absolutely necessary. Use it in casual talks to highlight priorities. It's short and impactful for planning discussions.

To recap, we're looking for places with yoga, hiking/nature walks, healthy cooking, spa treatments, and meditation?

This sentence summarizes key points from a discussion. 'To recap' means to briefly restate or review. It's useful for confirming understanding in group talks. Grammar: It uses a list with commas and 'and' before the last item, ending with a question for agreement.

I'll consolidate some options based on these criteria and share them with you all next week.

This offers to gather and organize information for a group. 'Consolidate' means to combine or summarize. Use it when volunteering to research. Grammar: Future tense 'I'll' for promises, and 'based on' shows the foundation for the action.