Preparation is essential for any spiritual retreat to support your ability to process the Shakti (spiritual energy) of the retreat, and will likely result in less processing of our emotional body, this means less painful processing, and more bliss!
The following forms of preparation are recommended for a week before the retreat:
Not drinking alcohol - recreational drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited during the retreat
Stop smoking* and recreational drugs
Pranayama (yogic breathing exercises, these are also great to do before meditating). Breathing in for 3 and out for 6 is also a good practice.
Reciting mantra that resonates with your heart and do at least one mala (108 repetitions) each day. If you are not familiar with mantra you can chant OM.
Sleep/rest
Salt and coffee bath to purify your energy and emotional bodies
Volunteer or provide service to others
*Note - If you are a smoker you may wish to consider not smoking during the retreat, and if so you may need to bring with you nicotine patches or something to help you manage the days of going without.