letter from Sara and Peach
Dear Sisters,
I spent a hefty chunk of my late teens and early twenties in a battle with my body.
Rather than turning inward to discover what made me tick, and letting myself thrive as an individual, I attempted to mold my body based on external guidelines such as diet plans I found in magazines, the exercise programs my friends followed, or a desire to look like the celebrities I saw in magazines. As a result, I beat my body into submission and ended up spending several years in treatment for anorexia and exercise bulimia.
Now, I look back and can hardly remember my former self! Through a mindful yoga practice and various body awareness techniques, I’ve learned to cultivate a relationship with my female flesh and blood that is celebratory, sustainable, and balanced.
It’s revolutionary to love your body.
In a world obsessed with “fixing flaws” in order to achieve an impossibly “perfect” body, it’s commonplace to dislike our bodies, even hate them. How often do you hear your friends (yourself?) whine and worry about her shape:
“My butt is too big! I wish my hair looked like hers! I hate my nose; it’s crooked. I have ugly feet. I wish my eyes were bigger. My boobs are too small!”
And so on…
It’s no wonder eating disorders and low self esteem are so rampant amongst women. It’s no wonder if we were to hear someone declare, “I am so beautiful! I love the shape of my face, my tangly hair, the jiggle in my thighs. I think my hips are so round and perfect and my skinny ankles are just right!” we would certainly spin on our heels to look. We might even think she’s vain or self-centered to say such a thing. We might even look down on her for loving herself.
Yoga, meditation, and simply becoming AWARE of these inner voices can help!
When we practice yoga, we awaken the to subtle sensations in the body that many of us are numbed to throughout much of our lives. We start to weave a nurturing inner relationship between the body, emotions, and intellect through the intelligence of the breath. When this happens, magic transpires. Emotions find more room to move and be felt and released. Our bodies become more resilient, showing us their devotional service to our spirit. Our intellects and those voices of inner criticism become quiet in this new inner landscape.
Coupled with mindfulness practices from the Buddhist Tradition, our awareness expands to embrace a fuller experience of ourselves and our capacity for self love deepens. Through loving kindness meditation (metta or tonglen), mindfulness (of bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions), our heart capacity increases to embrace the vicissitudes of our lives with more ease and reliance. We stay open when we used to shut down before. We smile back at ourselves in the mirror when before we used to judge and nit-pick.
This retreat is for ALL WOMEN; because all of us, at some time or another, have felt self-hatred, self-doubt, and criticism of our bodies.
During this weekend getaway, we’ll not only couple yoga and meditation practices, but we’ll take it a step further to also interweave creative visualization, group sharing, and collaborative creative exercises.
Here are some of the benefits you’ll walk away with:
• The shedding of old skins of self-doubt and negativity.
• A deepened connection to your heart—the ultimate inner teacher and guide.
• An enlivened and invigorated body.
• The courage to stay open to yourself and others, during good times and bad.
• Greater comfort to let go into life, relinquish control, and allow yourself to take up more space in the world as YOU.
• Increased self confidence and access to your inner power.
Here’s a sample of what we’ll be doing during the retreat:
DAY 1: ENVISIONING A NEW YOU
Today you’ll settle in to your room, enjoy a delicious dinner, and then we’ll gather for an opening circle for sharing, introducing, and starting to craft a vision for your dream life—one that is guided from your wisest guide and highest spirit.
DAY 2: BEFRIENDING YOUR INNER SABOTEURS
In the morning Sara will lead a yoga practice to unwind the kinks of traveling and to start to solidify stronger and stronger links between your body, mind, emotions, and your heart. Soft, passive “yin” poses will cultivate receptivity and openness, while a dynamic “yang” practice will build stamina and a sense of personal power. She’ll conclude the morning’s practice with mindfulness meditation to start to relate to your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in a whole new way.
In the afternoon, Peach will lead your through creative visualization, journaling, and collaborative practices to start to identify the voices of your inner demons and what’s holding you back from living the life of your dreams and from befriending yourself in the way that you’ve always longed for.
After dinner, Sara will lead a guided relaxation to settle the different layers of your being that you’ve become acquainted with, before settling into sleep.
DAY 3: OWNING YOUR VISION
In the morning Sara will lead a yoga practice to build on yesterday’s explorations and discoveries. Today’s focus will be on learning to trust your body and be guided by its inner wisdom. Once again, she will offer both “yin” and “yang” components and will conclude with a meditation practice on forgiveness and loving kindness for oneself.
In the afternoon, Peach will lead your through creative visualization, journaling, story telling, creative movement, and collaborative practices to start to truly step into the fullest vision of yourself.
After dinner, Peach will lead a guided relaxation to settle the different layers of your being that you’ve become acquainted with, before settling into sleep.
DAY 4: STEPPING BACK INTO LIFE
This morning’s yoga and meditation practice will interweave all the tools that you have learned during the weekend so that you feel confident to step back into your life revived, inspired, and connected to yourself and life.
A closing circle, ceremony, and sharing will seal our journey together and fortify us as we move back into our individual lives.
We are so excited to be collaborating on this unique and transformative event and we hope that you can join us!
With love,
Sara and Peach
