Bodhisattva Yoga Summer Retreat 2010– Joy & Rest…
Retreat crew striking a pose in the garden where our food was produced!
Another summer, another fabulous BY Yoga Retreat at the Heathen Hill Retreat Center!
The weekend commenced with a good night’s rest in the crisp country air followed by a relaxed morning practice. It peaked with a garden fresh lunch followed by lazing around the pastoral property’s swim hole, jacuzzi and rolling green hills. Then went out with a bang having warmed up into Vivekan’s invigorating Inspired Flows including deep twists, back bends and challenging tri-pod headstand combinations. (Good calorie burning for the homemade and harvest-inspired pasta dishes, salads, garlic bread and pie/ice cream dessert!)
A nourishing lunch…
Tho I was fortunate to join the fun on my mat, I was pleased to sneak glimpses of everyone working at their own edge despite pregnant lapses in their practice, injuries (go Jennifer, go!), varying levels of practice experience and fatigue.
In fact, exhaustion was a common theme in our closing circle. Our astute practicioner Meredith admitted to not feeling as strong in her practice as she would have liked to be for this retreat. The retreat came, and all of a sudden she found herself physically whipped. I seconded her feelings. My tri-pod headstand tho feeling stronger than ever in the first morning’s practice, resembled something more like wobbly jello by the second day. A part of the journey, yes, but many of us agreed: we’re over-worked and over-stressed. We needed this retreat!
And body-nourishing asanas (poses).
These retreats are precisely what’s needed regardless of whether we are able or unable to fling ourselved into a fancy inversion or twist up into a pretzel pose because we can’t– or are tired. It’s great to break thru glass ceilings and make a break-thru accomplishment on the mat, not to mention on retreat–but the sincere yogin knows working within one’s limitations, finding the joy, the delicious physical releases and rest can keep us enthusiastic for the times we do have more energy. As the great yogi and Buddhist master Shantideva reminds us,
Thus in order to increase my enthusiasm, I should strive to abandon its opposing forces, To (amass the supports of) aspiration, self-confidence, joy and rest…
Bodhisattva Yoga retreats are the perfect place to put rest (yes, a foreign concept for many New Yorkers!) into practice.
Stay tuned for the next thru our monthly e-newsletter and Facebook page!
In peace, Jess
