To Receive is to Give and to Give is to Love.
Avalon Hot Springs, 2013
From the moment you stepped out of your car, you softened. The
clear blue skies and sweet warm air calmed the nerves of first time retreaters,
while breathing fresh life and excitement into those happy to have returned
home. The wind chimes softly sang in the background as the trees that held them
danced in tune. Walking to the front door of a charming and impressionable barn-like
cottage building, we were welcomed to what would undeniably be a special
weekend. Smiling her big radiating smile, Stirling, the beautiful and energetic
face of Avalon Hot Springs, guided you through a tour of the grounds, enlightening
you with the magic of the six different hot springs sprinkled throughout. A
setting so special that only the sweetness of a starry sky in silence could
compare.
Sitting beside the front door were, in 3 different colored
water jugs: the mood enhancing Lithia in green, the iron-rich Boron in blue,
and the smooth spring Water in white… delicious compliments to our weekends
nourishment. Walking through the family room, the kitchen, the dining room,
through our weekend sanctuary was our studio, our playground, and our first class.
The beautiful hard wood floor aged with goodness and
scattered with pillows and yoga mats perfectly reflected the vibe of the space
– raw and real and open to whatever walked through its doors; our classroom for
the weekend. “What does trust mean to you?” he
asked as we sat in our non-symmetrical
circle. As the first in line to speak, and without a second to think
about a response, “confidence in a feeling” escaped my lips.
Not quite sure as to what that exact definition meant, yet
feeling content in the ease of my answer, those words stayed with me as the
weekend unraveled and eventually found their way into meaning: a connection so
true to who you are, that how you feel is the only truth you have. A depth of
knowingness of self resulting from a curiosity, an intention and an exploration
that is leading you exactly where you are meant to be. A sense of confidence
within yourself that allows you to indulge in experiences that speak to you,
not them. Your mind is full of
chatter, even your heart can be persuaded, but your gut… your gut knows best.
It is through the feeling of being, of trusting, that you
learn to fly. Beyond a weekend of yoga, playfulness, relaxation and enjoyment,
was a weekend of exposure, exploring and expanding. Within the structure of
acro-yoga lie the fundamentals of happiness – connection, vulnerability,
intimacy, and trust. Through each person in attendance, and under the guidance
of our teacher, did we begin to explore and expand. To receive is to give and
to give is to love.
The weekend closed with a circle and words just as beautiful
as our adventure began. “I didn’t know how much I needed this weekend,” she
said. We all agreed.
KA
