For the last four years, I have been held in a very different kind of circle space... one that has left my body, mind, spirit and emotions clearer each time.
In this circle the day begins and ends with the same routine. I rise early; drink about 16 ozs. of water, then move into my personal morning meditation and journaling. Afterward, I walk to the juice room, find a machine and juice about 6 ozs. of wheat grass, which I drink immediately. You won't find lemon chasers here! I leisurely return to my room, but not for too long, as I prepare to arrive for morning exercises by 7:25 a.m. to get a good spot.
The whole community of 150 come together, some inside and others outside for movement, particularly created to eliminate toxins from the body. For the next hour, I breathe deeply taking very slow deliberate inhales and exhales; move my upper body; take a brisk walk of 1 mile; and then return to move my lower body. Many of the exercises are familiar like rotating my arms in large circles, flexing my wrist, sit ups, doing the HULA and bicycling. But others are new and different like the HA! Even though after 4 years, they all seem normal, that HA always gets me.
At the end of the class, the staff calls out "Circle Time" and everyone from the outside comes inside where we form a huge circle, taking up every space in the room. We receive a glance of the days activities and then we move into a period of being connected with Self and each other. My right hand is held about 4 inches from the left hand of the person next to me faced down, and my left hand is held about 4 inches from the right hand of the person on my left, faced up. Have you ever tried this? You can actually feel the energy of both persons, interwoven with your own and it's wonderful! In this gesture of connection, we listen to a random selection from a book called, "When God Spoke" by Eileen Caddy. At the conclusion of the reading, we hug ourself, and then the person on our left and right sides. You can just feel the energy and warm enthusiasm, as we begin to move to the area of receiving our morning meal....yum!
HOW'S YOUR BREATHING???
There are two types of meals - Regular (with natural sugar) and Hypo for those who want to eliminate sugar. It's a hard choice, because I know what's coming on Day 3 through 5, so turning down that watermelon for sprouts, celery and seed cheese is a hard decision. But I choose it anyway, because I know that my body is saying "thank you." I take my container of food, add a little kelp powder and find a lounge chair in the warm sun. I usually end up in conversation with someone else, and stay about 30 minutes chewing very s-l-o-w-l-y.
At 9:30 class begins. Since I've graduated already, I don't have to go to class, but it's a good idea to refresh myself every now and again. This time, I've decided to just relax - read, walk, take a nap, and have my daily colonic. This particular program is based on eating RAW and E's and I's. I won't go into details, but use your imagination. (smile) I return to my room, carrying another 48 ozs. of water and 32 ozs. of rejuvelax, which I will alternate drinking throughout the day.
Lunch begins at 12:30, and it's about the same meal as breakfast - more kelp and this time a little cheyenne pepper. Another lounge chair conversation, and relaxation. Each day at 3:30 the same morning exercise class is repeated, if you want to take it again. I usually don't. I return for another 6 ozs. of wheat grass. Do you ever get use to that taste! And then yoga, which I love. I'm not a YOGI, preferring walking as my exercise of choice (4 miles a day is not bad for someone my age). However, I must say, that as we move into the final pose of just being present and resting, I do feel an incredible peace and usually drift off into a tiny nap.
Evening meal begins at 6:00, more sprouts, seed cheese and way more cayenne pepper. After dinner, I usually have some type of treatment like massage, hot stone or reflexology or attend the class. Evenings classes are more attuned to feelings and emotions, where day time classes are more about learning how the body functions. Evening classes are toning, deep breathing and affirmations - we can never get enough of that!
On Day 3 everything stays the same, except we move into juicing (if you like). I ALWAYS juice, giving my body a vacation from all it's normal digestive routine. The HYPO juice is always green and the regular juice is red. It use to be watermelon, but somehow that all changed about a year ago. I think it was too much sugar. Now for 3 days, I drink juice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's not so bad except, when you're doing that HA exercise, bending down on one leg and then the other, pulling both arms down and your head...I almost get dizzy!
Friday through Sunday morning I'm back on solids, except we get oranges on Sat. morning. YEAH! Friday morning circle is storytelling, and graduation. People share their experiences of the weeks, months or years of being on the program and those that have attended for 3 weeks of class receive a certificate. The storytelling is quite profound, in that some people were diagnosed with terminal illnesses 5, 10 even 20 years ago and they are up front telling their story. All kinds of people come to this circle. I come to give this machine called My Body, a vacation! And over the years, I have changed my diet, though I am not a full time RAWER.
When I return home on Sunday, my frame of reference feels so powerful, electric and attuned. My heart is wide open and everything feels possible and intentional. My morning ritual of gratitude and visualization feel wonderfully prickly on my soft skin. AND I know that living in today's world, I will find myself back into this unusual circle in another 6 or 7 months. For now however, I feel good all over from the inside out!
Ronita,
thanks for this important reminder to make and take the time to tend to the care of our "human." While it is so easy to give "lip service" to this, the action can easily get lost for me. You are an inspiration.
With Love Susyn
Posted by: Susyn Reeve | February 02, 2007 at 08:24 AM
What a Beautiful & transporting story you've gifted here!
Which retreat center iz this?
thank You!
~Nut Tmu-Ankh
Posted by: Nut Butterfly | July 11, 2007 at 05:10 PM