A Yoga Retreat with Ashley Turner...

I had an amazing opportunity to go to Ojai, California, and participate in a yoga retreat with Ashley Turner. Ashely is considered one of the top ten yoga teachers in the U.S., according to Yoga Journal. This experience was an exciting chance to practice yoga with a master teacher and become more familiar with developing a deeper spiritual practice, aside from the physical one.

A group of 25 people arrived at the lovely Casa Barranca on a pristine Friday afternoon. This home is a private estate situated on 54 acres that includes a creek, hiking trails, an organic vineyard, orchard, and a Craftsman-style home built in 1909 by the architectural firm, Greene + Greene. The setting alone sets the stage for contemplation and connection with self.

Our assignment before arriving was to dedicate ourselves to a weekend theme of Transformation...What are you currently releasing in your life, what would you like to draw into your life, what traumas or constrictions are you ready to resolve in your life, and what risks are you willing to take in your life? I felt a deep sense of gratitude to be a part of such an elegant weekend of self discovery.

Now, to back up for a moment...I will share with you a bit about the "Science of Yoga." Yes, it is a science. The East has been practicing this philosophy/science for thousands of years...so no matter how long you have practiced yoga...you will always be "new" to it. Relax, we all have to start somewhere...:)

Yoga (Sanskrit, is a sacred language of India), translated means union. The root word is yui, "to yoke," attach yourself with ox-like discipline. (I always say, if you want to be humbled, practice some yoga postures. ) The "science of yoga" is to find the union between the body and the mind...between the thought and the source of the thought. You may find "your God" through this scholarly practice of postures and meditation...

Additionally, I would like to clear up any misconception about the practice of yoga being "synonymous with Hinduism." Although it has it's origin in the East...it is practiced every day by people of every religion. You may use yoga as a disciplined practice for your own particular purposes. However, I might add, the East definitely understands the mind, that is what thousands of years of study will accomplish!

Our schedule followed along the lines of breathing exercises, morning meditation, breakfast, yoga practice, lecture, lunch, free time, yoga practice, lecture, dinner, and restorative yoga practice. One of my favorite aspects was watching Ashley and my fellow classmates as they all went about their day with thoughtful attention to all their actions. There was conscious intent to our lives that weekend. It creates such great beauty when each of us as individuals moves through our day with attention to whatever is the task at hand. We can all become a bit lost in "the mind" and forget that all we ever have is the present moment.

With feelings of gratitude, sharing, and love, our weekend came to a close and I felt a sense of transformation had taken place for me. Many thanks to Ashley and her "team" for creating the space to discover a bit more of who "we" are in this lifetime.

Namaste

Henri