I went to a wellness glamping retreat and disconnected from technology. Here's why I would go back in a heartbeat.

If you're anything like me, modern technology has you wrapped around its finger. Whether listening to my favorite podcast or checking my latest email, I'm glued to my phone. So, in October, I wanted to find a way to take a break from work and disconnect from technology.

I chose to go to Green Rock Retreat after learning about the property from a friend who lives in the area who had visited and raved about it. Once I'd done some research online about the resort's offerings, I decided it would be an ideal weekend getaway, especially since it's only a two-hour drive from my home in Oregon's Willamette Valley.

I was especially interested in Green Rock because I'd read on the website that the property doesn't have WiFi for guests. In fact, the only WiFi available is in one building for facilitators to use while leading wellness sessions. So, I thought it would be a nice opportunity to show myself that I could disconnect for a few days and be alone with my thoughts. The entire property is also alcohol-free.

While I passed by a few private residences along the road to Green Rock, it was mostly just miles of land and trees, and the Crooked River, which is a river basin that winds through Central Oregon. Driving up to the property, I was already getting used to the idea of being away from the hectic pace of everyday life.

Still, I really didn't know what to expect, because I've been glamping many times and each experience has been different. There was one glamping site I visited last year where the accommodations were very luxurious, while another location I went to that said it was glamping wasn't even glamping, in my opinion, as it included just a tent and some outdoor furniture.

Junkin founded Green Rock just this year. While we walked, she told me that it's her mission to create a healing space where visitors can step away from their busy day-to-day lives, and focus entirely on their health and wellbeing.

As Junkin led me to my tent, I saw six other large tents situated on sturdy wooden platforms throughout the property. Each tent looked to me to be about a quarter of a mile away from the next, which I thought was a good distance to allow guests more privacy.

All of the tents had a small front deck that was decorated with a chair and rug, which is where Tory told me many guests like to sit and enjoy their morning coffee.

I thought Green Rock's layout was practical, because even though the different buildings and recreation areas were spread out, they were all within walking distance of each other.

Besides the seven tents where guests sleep, which had names like 'Star' and 'Sun,' there was a large building that houses a multi-use yoga and meditation room and an outdoor kitchen. Nearby, there were outdoor fire pits, a splash pool, and a tree garden, all connected by walking trails.

Near the property's entrance, there was a tipi, which Junkin told me is where some group events are held during retreats, including chanting and meditation sessions. I also saw a wooden deck next to the tipi that had two large lounge chairs.

My tent had a queen-sized bed with two side tables and a decorative trunk, which I used to hold my personal items and books. The bed had a comforter and a Pendleton blanket, and I was also given a bath towel, washcloth, and jar with purified drinking water.

Also inside my tent, there was a gas fireplace, a fan, string lights, and a cute seating area. There was also a stand for holding luggage, which I was happy to see because I think it's an efficient way to situate my belongings.

Near the entrance of the tent, there was a nice seating area with a comfortable chair, blanket, and a hot water bottle.

I also liked that the tent had 'windows' with bug screens that I could roll up and down, if I wanted to see outside or if I wanted some privacy.

While I chose the single queen-bed tent, there were also tents with double beds and an extra futon to accommodate larger groups.

I'm not much of a no-frills camper, so I was excited that Green Rock had an outdoor bathroom, located adjacent to my tent, with a shower and a flushing toilet. I've stayed at camping sites before that only had composting toilets, and while they're better than nothing, they're not my thing.

I was a little concerned at first about hot water access since the property runs on solar power, but was pleased to discover that the hot water was reliable and inviting.

When I showered, I could hear the birds chirping and see a lovely view of trees swaying in the wind. Junkin told me that while I should drink the provided filtered water instead of water from the tap, the tap water was safe to use to brush my teeth.

I was glad that Green Rock provided filtered drinking water, since some lodges where I've been glamping in the past don't.

There was the jug of filtered water in my tent that I could refill at the main building or the outdoor kitchen, but I mostly just refilled my trusty water bottle that I'd brought from home.

Before my trip, I knew I should probably bring a lot of books because I get bored easily, and I wouldn't have access to the internet. I thought about meditating, but I wasn't sure how much of that I could sit still for, so I brought three easy reading books to fill my down time at the lodge.

Green Rock is mainly a retreat center for group gatherings, Junkin told me. One weekend there might be a yoga retreat, and the next a writers' retreat.

However, the property does allow individual guest stays, which is what I did, depending on availability. Junkin told me that individual couples or families typically visit in July and August. And even as a solo visitor who wasn't part of a retreat program, I still found plenty of things to do on the expansive property.

The Crooked River Gorge is approximately 500-feet deep and 155 miles long, and passes by Green Rock Retreat on the west side of the property.

From the gorge, I walked along a trail up to the Green Rock, which is a large rock ridge that the property is named after. Junkin told me that the property's name was inspired by the bright green lichen that grows on the rock ridge.

I enjoyed exploring the various walking trails each day, but since I visited in October, the outdoor splash pool was too cold to swim in. I also didn't use the fire pits during my stay, but I thought they'd be a fun hangout spot on colder nights if I were visiting with friends.

Each afternoon, I relaxed in one of the lounge chairs on the wooden deck to do some reading and writing.

I learned from Junkin that this tree is called the Prayer Tree. It's where guests can write their future hopes and goals on a strip of cloth, and tie the cloth around a branch of the tree.

The tree was on a steep cliff overlooking the Crooked River at the west end of the grounds. I enjoyed the view of the river and mountain range in the distance, but since I'm afraid of heights, I was extra cautious to not get too close to the edge.

Writing on a strip of cloth and tying it to the tree made me feel present and mindful, because I was taking the time to set an intention and put it out into the universe.

Nearby, there was also a tree garden called the Ancestor Tree Garden, which is where I went to reflect on my family members who have passed. Both of these exercises inspired self-reflection, and made me feel grateful for my decision to come to the retreat.

Sitting hidden in a rock hollow next to the Prayer Tree, there was a Buddha statue, which was so nondescript that I didn't notice it the first three times I passed by.

After Tory asked me if I'd seen the statue, which she said they call the Forgiveness Buddha, I went back to find it, and had a quiet moment asking the Buddha for forgiveness for things I might have done wrongly to others and myself.

Labyrinths, like the one at Green Rock, are winding paths following a design that has existed for thousands of years. The circle design has been found in many ancient cultures around the world, from Native Americans to India and medieval Europe, as well as Christian and Pagan religions, among others.

Junkin told me that the labyrinth is used as a meditation and prayer aid to help visitors meditate and reflect. She said she built it to honor and continue the practice from ancient cultures.

I'd never walked a labyrinth before, so I was really interested to see what it was like. I walked the labyrinth at a slow and mindful pace, being aware of my breath and any feelings that arose.

I love bringing my dog, Tonka, on vacation with me and try to bring him whenever I can. Green Rock isn't fully dog-friendly, however. Junkin told me that for guests at the property who are participating in a retreat, the rule is that no dogs are allowed.

However, if you're an individual traveler like I was, bringing your pet may be permitted and is decided on a case-by-case basis. I called ahead of time to ask, and over the phone Junkin asked what kind of dog I had and how big he was before saying I could bring him along.

Because the property is remote, with the nearest grocery store being a 20-minute drive away, Tory told me that the lodge typically provides three meals a day for guests who are on organized retreats.

But since I wasn't on a retreat, I was told to bring my own groceries and store them in the communal refrigerator, which was located in an outdoor pavilion where guests can gather to eat and lounge. The pavilion is next to the property's largest building that houses the kitchen and yoga and meditation room.

At first, I was surprised to learn that food wasn't allowed in the tents, but Junkin explained that this rule was necessary to keep the area clean and free from critters, which I thought made sense. Plus, the communal refrigerator and kitchen were just a short walk from my tent, so I could easily grab something to eat or drink when I wanted.

Before arriving, I thought I'd want to leave the property to get food, but in the end, I didn't need to. I was glad I brought enough groceries with me so that I could maximize my time on the grounds.

Junkin hosted a pizza party for former retreat guests on the last day I was at Green Rock, with a private chef making pizzas in the wood-fired pizza oven in the outdoor pavilion. Junkin invited me to join the group, and since I thought I'd be a fool to refuse pizza, I got to dine and meet new people, most of whom were former Green Rock guests.

Many of the guests were from separate retreats and had never met prior to the pizza party. But as I listened to them share stories about their time at Green Rock, I thought they sounded like friends who'd been on a retreat together, since all of their experiences were similarly glowing.

One attendee, a CEO of a local company, had been on a retreat with her husband earlier in the year, and talked about how they were both pleasantly surprised at how much the different activities like yoga and meditation boosted their moods and reduced stress. During the conversation, we all agreed that Green Rock showed us how we could engage more with nature and other people instead of constantly scrolling on our phones.

After hearing these positive experiences, I thought that next time I'd like to return to Green Rock on a retreat instead of as an individual visitor, both to try out a new experience and be able to bond with more like-minded guests.

By being off of my phone while at Green Rock, I was able to focus my attention on nature and being more mentally present in everything I did. Not having hours of screen time each day helped me feel refreshed and recharged, both mentally and physically.

When I was hiking, I focused on listening to the birds chirping and hearing the rush of the Crooked River, instead of distracting myself with music or a podcast. It was also nice to spend more outdoorsy, quality time with Tonka than I usually can at home.

I visited Green Rock Retreat with the intention of disconnecting from technology, and I found it rewarding to do so. Because I wasn't concerned about the next set of emails to respond to or texts to read, I was able to slow down and relax.

I loved my time reconnecting with nature and finding space to just 'be' instead of 'do.' Best of all, because I wasn't listening to podcasts, watching videos, or surfing my phone, I was able to quiet my mind and reset.

Aside from taking photos, I never looked at my phone, which was a huge accomplishment for me. I felt like I left Green Rock Retreat feeling much more balanced and less stressed, and for all of these reasons, I would return in a heartbeat.