Yoga and Walking Feb 2003
After a long trip from Heathrow, Kanu Priya, Narayani and myself arrived by taxi at our guest houses in fog and sleet. I prayed the weather had not set as it was a shock to the system. After greeting the group we sat down for some of Fi's delicious food which warmed us through. A early night as everyone was recovering from the travel.
I was excited about being back again in these beautiful mountains, this was my first trip in Feb. and as promised the almond trees were in full blossom. I was looking forward to sharing the yoga teaching with two friends Kanu Priya and Narayani. We had trained together through the Dharma Yoga Centre and this was the first time all three of us had worked closely on a week like this.
The Sunday was clearer weather with a mountain chill in the air. As all the houses in the area are designed to keep cool in the summer, in winter the only heating is log fires or electric heaters so it was a challenge to keep warm. My thanks to everyone for enduring the cold (and the delicate fuse trip switch) and not letting it ruin their holiday. We all now have a greater appreciation of our central heating!!!
After breakfast and introduction meeting we met for our first session of yoga. The group of 7 were a lovely bunch with an international flavour so it was interesting to have that mixture of American and European opinions whether discussing yoga or the possible war in Iraq.
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After lunch we walked from the house to explore our local area. This was the view looking back at the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada with the patches of sun racing across the hillsides. |
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Here we are sitting on a pillbox lookout post which was built in the Spanish civil war. It surveys the whole of the valley and it was sobering to think of the men who might have used it to spot gun running from the coast and movements in the valley below.
After dinner the skies were clear and the stars were amazing and so the weather looked fine for the Monday. After chanting, yoga and breakfast we headed out in the Landrovers up to the three mountain villages of Poqueira Valley. After a coffee we walked up above Capileria in a beautifully folded valley with the snow peaks above.
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We stopped for our picnic on a threshing circle in the warm bright sunshine. After our round walk we returned to Capileria where some walked down the mountain and others drove to eventually meet up again in the bottom village of Pampaneira where some retail therapy was carried out. |
After dinner on the Monday Narayani organised an evening of healing on each other. This is an enormous area of yoga which Narayani has spent the last couple of years exploring. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the room as we were giving and receiving
so peacefully.
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On Tuesday the weather changed completely with fog and low cloud it looked more like Wales than Spain! After our early morning session of chanting and yoga we had our well deserved breakfast. Jackie and Paola went to Granada to explore the Alhambra Palace. The rest of us did another session of yoga where we looked at Surya Namaskara, the sun salutation and saw how it related to our everyday lives. After lunch in time honoured tradition when the weather was wet, we sat around the dining table and did handicrafts. In our case colouring in The Sri Yantra and some of the work is shown below. |
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It was great to see people so absorbed in their work. It was interesting to see how different people responded to colouring, choosing colours and the patience required to pick out the intricate pattern. In my training in the Alexander Technique I have been made aware of the strong habits we all acquire as 5-6year old wrestling with drawing and writing. I tried to make people aware of some of their habits as they coloured. The amount of tension we all carry when we hold a pen is amazing and a bit scary! Despite being made aware of this tension it is not a simple task to be rid of it, it would be like shedding our second skin of habits! |
In the evening we needed some movement after all that concentrated sitting so Kanu Priya led us in a session of kundalini shaking, a moving meditation from Osho.
This simple procedure of randomly shaking the body for 15 mins, moving to music for 15 mins and then being still, sitting or lying down for 15 mins was very powerful. It was a good way of releasing our tensions whether we were aware of them or not!
The next day was again wet and cloudy. The chanting or devotional singing in the morning was beginning to sound very different. After a few days the worry around singing starts to disappear and the words become a little more familiar. The Gayatri Mantra was sounding beautiful. After morning yoga and breakfast there was a session on the breath. We looked how the breath could be sensed in different parts of the body, we broke down OM into 3 sounds aaaa, oooo, mmmm. We used hand positions (mudras) to activate different regions of the lungs and when combining our OM with a smile and sense of joy, it sounded very different.
During the day Brenda and Benita came to give aromatherapy and reflexology treatments which I know are very powerful. After lunch we settle down to more painting and yantra's whilst listening to a tape by a poet called David Whyte entitled Poems of Self Compassion. The first time I listened to this tape it opened a new world, it was a pleasure to share that with others. Have a look at his web site for more information www.davidwhyte.com
At 5pm Fiona led a session of 5 rhythms dancing which was a wonderful experience. To allow these rhythms to move our bodies and still our minds and give us an insight into the rhythms running in our own lives. For those interested in finding a regular 5 Rhythms sessions contact The Moving Centre My teacher in Tufnel Park is Sue Rickards her web site is www.acalltodance.com or Barry 0845 458 8251
After dinner we sat down and discussed with a neighbour what we want our future to hold. This is always interesting exercise, to look at what tumbles out of our mouths at such moments. Then armed with scissors and glue we attacked magazines to create our future by montage. Here are some pictures of industrious future-makers!
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The sun was shining on Thursday to everyone's delight. A lovely session of chanting and yoga left us hungry for our porridge breakfast. Afterwards we drove down into Orgiva to sample the local market. Orgiva market attracts all sorts of people, lots of fruit and veg, herbs, roasting chickens, clothes, toys and jewelry made by the wide range of people who have settled in the valley.
For me I loved sitting in a cafe and soaking up the sun.
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In the afternoon there was a session on pranayama, control of the breath.
We looked at kapalbhati, or the skull shining breath and we all experienced the silky smooth quality it creates in the breath. We tried alternate nostril breathing where we looked at the freedom of the breath to flow in one nostril and then the other and in this way bring balance to the system.
| In the late afternoon sun we walked over to see Julio and Uma in their wonderful medicinal herb garden. It was great to see Julio again although Uma could not be there. We walked round the land with Julio whlist he told us about the healing powers of the plants. It is so different each time I come here. |  |
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Julio is a self taught expert in medicinal herbs. His land was almost a desert when he arrived in the valley 20 years ago. After much work and much love his garden is an oasis of great healing power. Many different conditions can be cured with the plants - migraine, high blood pressure, PMT, depression, liver problems, kidney problems, broken bones, infections, lowering cholestrol, painful bleeding gums .....the list is endless as is Julio's inspiring enthusiasm. |
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That night was the last one for Jessica, she was leaving us Friday morning which was a shame. Jessica was great fun and full of enthusiasm and I hope she will take some good memories back to Boston. So to say farewell the group went up to the village of Bubion for a Moroccan meal, where the owner was kind enough to give us a demonstration of his exotic Arabic dancing!
So Friday our last day dawns and everyone is glad to see the sun come up. After our session of yoga we prepared for our walk in the mountains. A short drive up the mountains, we stopped and started walking, the scenery was beautiful and we could just make out the sea in the distance, or more accurately the oil tanker floating in the sky! As we got higher we walked in the snow and had wonderful views of the mountains all around.
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After lunch at a deserted house and a very welcome fire to keep us warm we walked down in silence to the Buddhist Retreat Centre of O Sel Ling.
For the silent walk we used a walking meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Breathing in I calm my body, breathing out I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.
O Sel Ling is perched high on a ridge with wonderful views, there is a small meditation room and a number of huts dotted over the mountainside for individual retreats.
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No trip would be complete without the group photo in front of the stupa.
On the last night over dinner we celebrated Lucy's birthday with Cava and strawberries and some beautiful singing and guitar from Fiona. We crashed to bed after all the mountain air with an early start for our return trip home.
Thanks to everyone for sharing the week and making it so memorable. A big thanks to Paul and Fi for creating such a cosy holiday for us, the delicious food, amazing walks and their ready smiles.
HARI OM
