Eight years into my Massage therapy career, I moved to a worker owned rustic hot springs retreat center, on 160 acres in Oregon's Cascade mountains.
The suggestions I gave my city clients for self care - eating mindfully, finding a movement practice, slowing DOWN, and drinking a bit more water were suddenly much easier to follow -for me as well!
Their biggest choice after their Qigong class, or 60-90 minute massage session was - whether to head to the Lodge for a meal (the bell would tell them when), walk to the tubs or sauna, to the library or their cabin for a nap, or maybe take a short hike on a trail through the old growth forest.....
If I saw guests in the dining hall for their last lunch (organic vegetarian fare, lovingly prepared) they would often sigh, saying, "well, back to the real world now..."
And I'd remind them - "No, THIS is the real world! This is how humans have lived, time out of mind! Take some of this with you - and come home, soon. "
My fellow massage therapist and friend Jamshed led morning circle and Dances of Universal Peace. He invited our guests to walk to the footbridge across the Breitenbush River soon after arrival, face downstream and 'dump' their burdens in the river... then turn upstream to face the mountains, and be refilled by the the mountains and river.
Our daily commute to the guest side and back to our small personal cabins was across a wooden foot bridge - this is a winter view.
The hot springs (called Altat Satosh) were sacred to the original people, who had a trading and reciprocity based society. They came from East and West, North and South, to visit this treasured land and the springs. The sacred wisdom of the land and blessings of the mineral rich healing waters continue to be honored and appreciated.
My mom and her brother drove up from Sisters in the early 30s, to see the then new rustic resort. My dad's older brother Bill was the first of us to work at the Springs, 30 years later. We visited Bill and Aunt Elise that summer, and I fell in love with the land and the springs.
My daughter came up, and worked with the cleaning crew my first summer, in 1991, before returning to college in the fall.
Last spring, Mary came with me for a personal retreat, while I took a Breema workshop. We soaked, ate good food, enjoyed the stars and mountain air. Like thousands of guests (~35,000 each year) we were welcomed home by the land and waters.
It's easier to remember our connections when life slows down, obligations are few, and the river sings you to sleep.
This captures so well how environment shapes our habits and well-being. A good nudge to bring small pieces of that calm into everyday life.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it resonates, Tamara!
DeleteJust thinking of my time there has exactly that effect - nudging me to invite balance
Nadya
Lovely to see you and your daughter, Nadya. I'm trying to slow down back into some practices of meditation and qi gong.
ReplyDelete