I went on a Yoga & Vegetarian Cooking Retreat this weekend. It was a really fantastic experience. I wasn't quite sure what to expect - the retreat is located about 2.5 hours away from where I live - on an island in Lake Ontario that is connected by a causeway. I was familiar enough with the area to know it's very beautiful and is known for great cycling. So I took lots of books and put the mountain bike on the bike rack and off I went.
I was pretty well prepared to entertain myself. But what I wasn't prepared for - meeting 7 new friends and feeling so close and connected to the people there. I include the husband and wife team - Linda & Michael in that count. They sold up all their possessions and bought land on this island. They constructed a perfect house for this type of event. Michael is an amazing and extremely generous cook and handles the food. Linda is a giving and caring person and does the yoga. Basically it felt like going to visit close friends. So the setting was perfect. There were 6 of us women there as guests. A mother/daughter pair, two close friends and two of us who had come as singles. By a couple of hours into the retreat, we all just felt like friends. And that continued for the entire weekend. All of us were comfortable and we shared with each other. Linda and Michael even though hosts, were part of the group totally. None of us ended up going off on our own at all. And we had all come fully prepared to do that. This was the amazing part. Most of shed a few tears over the weekend - its hard not to share pretty deeply at times when the vibe is really working the way it did this weekend.
My tears came from an angel reading (don't laugh) that someone did on me - my cards turned up an angel associated with animals and the write up said all my animals in heaven and earth were fine - of course this just made me think of Teala (who is in heaven) and I had to have a little cry.
All of us this weekend have more things we want to share with the others - so we decided another weekend had to be organized. We - along with Michael & Linda - picked the weekend and have it booked off. We will all return to the retreat on the July 1 long weekend.
It was much easier saying goodbye knowing we would all see eachother again so soon. It took ages to say goodbye today - we lingered over breakfast. Went back to the yoga room for pictures, conversation and a few more yoga poses. Finally, we all hugged and hugged and were off to our cars. But the emails have started already.
All of us are avid vegetarians and love food/recipes. Two in the group are holistic nuitritionists. So the recipes are flying through the internet. I will certainly be sharing a few on the blog here with you all.
I am so happy I went on this weekend. I really felt I was meant to be there and that the people I met will be important to my life. I've learnt from them already. If anyone is tempted to go on a retreat - go. Meeting people in this type of environment and when you are open to the experience is a very powerful thing. I think it can change you. It can certainly unblock some energy in you.
If anyone wants more information on the specifics of the retreat I went to - email me and I'll pass details along.
Thank-YOU for sharing that adventure... I can see you there... I can myself there too within your words. I am looking forwrd to recipes, so I can taste the treats. I am so happy for you... ! :-}
Posted by: Salle | May 22, 2005 at 11:02 PM
Our older daughter would love a retreat like that! She is a vegetarian who is for the most part vegan and wants to take up yoga. I will be watching for recipes for her on your blog!(are most of them able to be modified to vegan?)
Posted by: Margaret | May 23, 2005 at 12:22 AM
sounds wonderful wendy...glad you had such a great experience and have a followup booked.
Posted by: lostgal | May 23, 2005 at 10:38 PM