WOW…Where to start after 10 days of retreat with a group of inspiring and very different people all joining forces and vibrations in the Alps for Yoga, Yoga Gaia and Hiking.  As an initial introduction to this post, I am present to a feeling of great connection to nature and to my good fortune in this life.  I was in the Alps for 2 straight weeks (with 1 day in the airport to gather the students) and feel that my vibration has shifted.  The natural beauty of the mountains, the flowers, the streams and the wildlife were enough to inspire a sense of joy and recognition that I truly am a part of this great story of the Planet and the varied personalities, abilities and life experiences of the participants inspired a deep seeded relief that I have found work that I am passionate about… and I can reach / teach / connect / inspire with them all.

The intention of this retreat was more about the experience of being in nature, with new community and opening up new channels for connection rather then developing the latest technique for trikonasana and cultivating a yogic discipline.  However, we got to experience both as the group was really enthusiastic about the asana practices and our nature experiences and daily chapters of Yoga Gaia deepened the connection.  The group ranged from ages 14 - 60 and had experienced yoga practitioners as well as first timers.  Seems to be a recurring theme with retreats these days!  But all worked out well. Most of them were American with Mexican and Dutch representatives for the students and our local Arc-Angel Support Guru Giancarlo holding the Italian flag proudly.

Our first two days had rain and not so friendly weather which allowed us to share morning yoga (in the tent we rented….thank God!….although our heating wasn’t so effective) and then breakfast, some free time, then lunch and afternoon Yoga and Yoga Gaia sessions. Our meals were full on Italian family style at a nice long table and served by a very attentive and super friendly family / staff from Hotel Panorama Al Bich.  The hotel serves lunch and dinner to the guests as part of the hotel package as the village of Cheneil is really nothing more then their hotel and a few private houses.  And since we were not the only ones at the hotel, we partook in the meals they planned and served the other guests…which was mostly meat, meat, potatoes and more meat.  There was a lot of letting go on my part to have a retreat with this diet as it literally was every lunch and dinner with a new animal on the plate.  They were very accommodating to the vegetarians in the group with nice alternative entrees and the food really was delicious….just very heavy for what we were doing!  Plus, with the family style service and group…we averaged 2 hours per meal which was a lot and felt like it took a bit away from ‘personal’ time.

On Monday, our first break in the weather…we gathered after Yoga and breakfast and took the group on our first short hike.  Hasita’s insight to the Flowers of the Alpine Meadows and the group’s desire to be out in the mountains together made for a great time to connect with each other and share personal stories and walk together.  We arrived at a meadow about 45 minutes later and gathered on the side of a mountain for some pranayama practice.  It was really great!!!  We did the 4 purifications that I became familiar with in my days at Greenpath (Nadi Shodhana, Khapala Bhati, Agni Suara Dhouti, Aswini Mudra) and were all left with a nice natural high from breathing the fresh mountain air!  We were also fairly hungry so we then we set out for our ‘dining room at the end of the world’ where we were treated to a break in the clouds, a sunlight lunch on a high mountain outcropping and our first group glimpse of Cervino (the Matterhorn).  After eating, many of the group walked back to the hotel while 4 of us stayed back taking Siesta in the sun.  After a very delicious nap, we awoke to the clear skies and made an Acro Yoga photo shoot as well as a whole Cervino series…it was magical!  A quick walk back for the continuation of ‘Our Story’ (I will refer to Yoga Gaia as this…and describe a bit more later) and then our dinner.  A great introduction to the link of Yoga and hiking in this setting.  Our afternoon Yoga session that day was in the yard in front of the tent as the sun was out and the nature was calling to our practice.  We were enjoying the stretching and breathing as well as the local passersby when the “Inter-species Romantic Couple” of Kiara the white Horse and Zeppo, her mountain sheep boyfriend, arrived to see what we were up to!  Kiara kept her distance for the most part enjoying the grass, but Zeppo was a bit more curious.  He came up to the group and decided it would be nice to help one of the participants with his poses!  It was a bit startling at first but we got a great laugh out of it….and Greg got a new friend!  When it was time for us to get Zeppo out of the way…Click this sentence to see for yourself the Italian ingenuity and very clever method of Giancarlo to lure him away from the group!!!!  OLE!

The following day, the weather cooperated even better for our next hiking day which was a much longer all day experience.  We had morning Yoga in the cold tent (I did my best to cultivate inner heat with the sequencing and practice, but it was still cold!) and then gathered for group walk.  We set out all together and soon were faced with the challenge of how a group of very different individuals with different health concerns, age-energies, and ideas of hiking would be in the group dynamic.  I found myself trying to walk slowly, present to my breath and every step….and still making great headway from others in the group, while we had even a few more going even faster.  It was a big ascent to begin with and eventually we all scattered and took our own paces.  It was very easy for us to re-gather at the top, it was the obvious place to re-group….and those of us that arrived first quickly set out to….yes, another Cervino Yoga Pose Shoot!  We made some cool shots there and eventually everyone arrived at the top.  Hasita came straight to me to express her concerns for group dynamic and the culture of hiking in the alps.  As she was doing so, I became very present to my deep rooted desire to have things ‘my way’ and to be able to justify ‘my way’ as much as I possibly could!  Seeing this emerge within myself, I quickly adopted a ‘hands behind’ stance, softened my gaze and opened my mind / heart to listen to her to really feel where she was coming from without being defensive.  When she finished sharing with me about the Alpine culture of staying together with the group in the hike, she asked for my thoughts.  I took a breath and told her I needed to rest in my feelings of defensiveness as I know she was not directing these things at me, but somehow, I took them as that….I was part of the ‘breakaway’ group that kept a steady, but conscious, pace up the mountain.  It was interesting as this was the first time I had ever felt like this with Hasita and we had been planning and organizing remotely for a year and in person for a week already and EVERYTHING was really easy and perfect while working together.  Fortunately, she is an angelic woman with such soft, refined and experienced energy that she held space for me to go through ‘my issues’ of resistance to authority (even though it was nothing like that!) and we decided that she would address the group and we would walk to our lunch destination (still another hour away) with Giancarlo at the front and all staying together to respect the group dynamic.  I’m not sure if it was consciously or not, but I allowed the entire rest of the group to start on the next portion of the hike and I took up the rear…behind Hasita and very quiet.  The quiet walking and breathing time was really helpful to allow my mind to settle, my heart to re-open and my peaceful leadership skills to return as we finally found the pond (which used to be a lake!) for our lunch spot.  I took the first 15 minutes to stretch with Katiana and Laura and the three of us had a great mini-yoga before eating.  That was also really helpful for me and also allowed the 3 of us to begin a nice connection that would span the social time of the retreat together.  It did help that they were in my age, social and personality range!

After lunch we continued on the walk and as we arrived back at the hotel in the evening for Our Story, we were all transformed by the group hike and time in nature…. there was an apparent shift after that walk in everyone as we began to resonate with the mountains more and more.

The next day (Wed) we had our morning yoga class again and then after breakfast had Field Trip Day!  We had rented a bus to take us to Cervinia and to take the Cable Car up the mountain to a glacier that was at the foot of Cervino (Matterhorn).   We had a quick stop at the Blue Lake which was a body of high mountain glacial water that is perfectly placed to reflect the entire Matterhorn in her crystal clear waters.  A quick photo shoot there (and desire to jump in…that would later be satisfied on the way home!)  and then back to our van and the the tram.  Once we arrived at the top (3,800 M) it was COLD and very bright.  We left the cable car stationed in Italy and within 30 seconds crossed the international border to Switzerland and stopped to put on our clothes.  Hasita had a special porch for us to go eat lunch admiring the massiveness of Cervino and high above the valley floor of Zermatt.  We shared lunch and then about an hour on the top of the mountain socializing and having fun.  There was enough snow for lots of skiers to be there and they had 2 T-bar chair lifts running for the skiers….I missed skiing and am committed to getting to the slopes at lease once this year (before I follow the Sun back to Brasil in January!).  We did a little photo shoot of one foot in Italy and the other in Switzerland and then took the cable cars back down.  The first part we were all together in a BIG tram, then had to switch to a small gondola for the second descent.  I ended up with Hasita and Katiana and there were 2 skiers and a father with 2 boys in the gondola as well.  I brought op the subject of ‘Laughter Yoga’ and that I wanted to start Saturday Morning’s class with it….I suggested 2 minutes.  Hasita said “That sounds great.   2 Minutes.  I did it before.  For 2 hours.  It was (pause)……OK!”  At that, Katiana, Hasita and I all erupted in very loud and hysterical laughter….and for literally the next 5 minutes in the Gondola could not stop laughing at each other, at life and who knows what else!  The 2 boys kept asking their father (I assume that’s who he was) what was so funny, and he could not explain…the skiers tried to avoid eye contact and by the time we exited…the 3 of us were in tears and sore stomachs from laughing so much!  It was a real highlight and opened up the rest of the retreat to lots of laughter and joy.

The next day (Thurs) was something truly special and very much was Green Yoga is all about.  Firstly, it was Kyra’s (Hasita’s granddaughter who was there with there) 14th birthday and was also the full moon.  we gathered for a light breakfast and then set out on a silent hike to a magical meadow.  It took about 45 minutes to reach the field and then we gathered in a big circle for a true Green Yoga Practice in the grass, surrounded by majestic mountains and deep in the inner place of silence while very connected as a group.  We shared about 45 minutes of Asana and then I took the group to a nearby outcropping of 2 BIG rocks.  I invited us to ‘feel’ and experience the energy of this rock….then to express ourselves as an extension of the rock through any movement while keeping physical contact with it.  It was a great exercise and we had about 4 rounds of ‘Move…..Freeze……Move…..Freeze” and finished with a 2 minute stillness in whatever pose we wanted.  It was powerful and very grounding for the whole group to participate like that.  There was one retreat participant who had been having some new health concerns and unfamiliar things happening to her body and she shared with me that her time with the rock was extremely powerful to her as she had been feeling disconnected to her body and needing something solid for her physical presence.   It was alchemy!  Then we came back down the hill for lunch and then gathered for our afternoon session and dinner….things were really transforming on a daily basis with everyone, and we could see it in our eyes, our skin, our connections and our energies.

After the Hiking episode of ’staying in the group,’ I talked to Hasita and requested that I take a group to a high peak on Friday on our own and that it be known that although we were very mindful in our walking….it was a vigorous hike and we would keep a good pace.  I invited the group for ‘open yoga’ in the tent from 7 - 9 and we would leave promptly at 9:30 for ‘Trecare’ peak (3300 M).  I arrived in the tent for my practice and was very pleasantly surprised to be joined by one of the participants who was brand new to yoga there to explore his own practice.  There was one other woman who joined us as well and the three of us, without any words, shared a nice practice time together.  Over breakfast, I checked in with Hasita ad Giancarlo about their trust of me leading the group to the peak and our intentions to respect the culture of the Alpine guides and hikers.  It was nice to clear that space with them and our group of 7 took off!  Our first major break was welcomed after 1 hr 20 min. and we shared water and some snacks….put on a few layers and hit the trail again.  We found a fresh mountain stream to refill our water bottles and found our way to the bottom of our Summit.  As we were preparing to check the route and get ready for final ascent, someone spotted a mountain Ibis (I think it’s what they’re called) and went in for a closer look.  As a few more of these beings appeared, we slowly gathered our things and walked around a knoll and were surprised by entire herd of these incredible creatures.  They were very strong and their mountain living muscles displayed their massive strength and the horns that grew from their heads commanded respect.  The herd had about 20 or so animals and we watched in awe at their lives in the high alpine tundra.  After about 20 minutes of just ‘being’ with them….we decided to summit our peak.  It was about another 40 minute climb to the top and we all reached together….3 hours and 25 minutes from leaving the hotel.  As we reached the top, the clouds broke all around us and we shared our lunch with Cervino, Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) and Monte Rosa….the God-like massive mountains of the alps.  Of course, there was lots of photo time and we spent about an hour on the summit.  We made a fairly quick descent of 2 1/2 hours with a few rest stops at mountain springs for water.  Back at home….more chapters of Our Story, dinner and a nice nights rest.

Saturday and Sunday, the last days of the retreat saw a but later starting Yoga classes where we skipped breakfast and enjoyed (what I feel are) full yoga classes of 2 - 2 1/2 hours.  The group was very interconnected by this point and our practices were great and there was some final ‘free’ time for the last weekend.  I also had a great Yogic First on Saturday morning.  After teaching a long class, everyone was very ready for a deep rest in Savasana….I ‘put the kids to bed’ in the pose and was on my way to open the tent for sun and fresh air and then take a bit of rest myself when all of a sudden a swarm of big flies came in.  I walked a but closer to the entry of the tent was was greeted by a big black bull and a herd of about 20 cows making their way towards the tent!  I quickly closed the tent door but realized that the cows were now beginning to surround the tent.  They were snorting and moooing and literally surrounding the tent, a few of them even bumping into the tent.  There were  few giggles from the students and I grabbed Giancarlo for some help.  He and I got up and did the best we could to shoo them away from the tent while inside was supposed to be a peaceful rest after a tough class!  Waving our shirts like flags and trying to be as quiet but as effective as possible….Giancarlo and Hasita and I were Italian Cowboys for the herd of 20 loud stinky cows.  I laughed at the very Krishna-like experience of attracting a herd of cattle with a juicy yoga class.  This retreat had several “wild-life” interruptions to the yoga classes and it was great!

On Saturday night we had a final group dinner as 5 of the group were leaving on Sunday afternoon and it really had a big family vibe!  We had a chance for everyone to share something from their experience and in addition to lots of personal work, may people used the word ‘family’ in describing their feelings from the week.  It was really special…and also made me miss my “real” family with all the travel that I do.  Thank God for Skype!  Saturday night also saw the closing party of the retreat which involved the Alpine ‘Grola’….WOW!  A giant friendship bowl drinking device that was filled with the Italian Alps version of Long Island Iced Tea.  I saw Gin, Brandy, Syrup, Grappa and sugar poured into this contraption….then the hosts topped it off with espresso and steamed the whole thing into a warm sticky concoction.  The ‘Grola’ itself is a flat bowl with about 15 spouts on it that we were to pass around and share between us.  And once it started, it was to be passed around until it was empty without putting it down.  Michele (one of the owners of Panorama Bich) covered the top of the bowl with sugar and Grappa and then lit it on fire before passing it on to us.  I was honored with the first drink…and we were off!  The first Grola went around the group 6 times and we were all visibly altered by it.  For me, it was not so much the alcohol, but the espresso that was really strong!  So that gave me lots of energy.  I put on my iPod party playlist and we danced in the tiny bar of the hotel….soon enough, another Grola was ordered and round two hit like a speed train.  As retreat participants started to fade away to sleep, several of us kept the party going…and at 12:30, a group of Italians who were camping nearby (and subsequently drinking their own Grola’s in the bar) invited us over with my guitar for a little campfire sing-a-long.  Laura, Katiana and I were pretty buzzed from the caffeine and went for it…. It was a lot of fun to get there and sing a few pop songs and then remember that most of the music I play, not many people know….so Katiana, who speaks fluent Italian, told them about Kirtan.  About 1/2 the group was really interested and the other half was completely drunk and didn’t pay much attention.  So we did it!  Singing Ganesha Sharinam around the campfire, under the almost full waning moon high in the alps.  It was really nice.  I segued into ‘We Are One Under The Sun / Moon’ which I sing in 5 different languages and got everyone singing it in Italian as well.  As I ran out of songs, Katiana played a few and then the three of us needed to get out of the scene of the group and left.   With my heart beating twice as fast as normal from the espresso, I suggested the 3 of us find a nice grassy place under the moon to settle down, sing a shanti mantra and prepare to sleep.  We found such a spot and shared a really nice winding down ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ until we were all a bit more grounded.

The last Yoga session of the retreat was another outdoor experience in front of the tent and was a pretty mellow class, but full of energy flowing between us.  After a nice long Savasana we gathered in a circle for a closing ceremony and then Hasita guided us through Joanna Macy’s ‘Elm Dance’ which is a dance to help purify and pray for the planet for the toxicity we are putting into it.  It is a very simple dance, but to have the group doing it in this setting almost brought me to tears.  I could see the same in Hasita.  The final piece was an old high school friend of Hasita’s from Roma, Italo, who had joined us with his son Giovanni for the last weekend, Yodeling the retreat into completion!  His voice, the setting and the energy of the whole week reverberated through our hearts and the highs and lows of the yodel expanded my threshold of feelings.  It was very authentic and very very cool!

So that’s about it for the re-cap of the retreat story….but I’d like to just list some of my highlights for me and those that were there to remember and you wonderful BLOG readers to get a taste and consider joining next year….It looks like July 10 - 20, 2009 is ON!

-Re-awakening my LOVE and JOY of the Pun with Katiana and Greg!
-My tiny little room that I could touch both sides with outstretched arms
-Brushing my teeth and milking my tongue every morning staring at Cervino / Matterhorn
-Laughing, Laughing and laughing
-Receiving and living out my nickname from Lisa; Peter Pan!
-Picking up a few important Italian words that made it seem like I speak Italian!
-Keeping our napkins in envelopes between the meals  so they didn’t need to wash them through the week
-the inter-species love affair of Kiara the horse (female) and Zeppo the Sheep (male)
-Having 5 men on the retreat!!!  And 4 of them brand new to Yoga!!!!
-The first Kirtan in the tent with Susan, Giancarlo, Kyra, Laura and Katiana….intimate, cold, and potent!
-Madelon’s last night Kirtan under the stars…..
-PUCINI!!!!! (when you see the cute dog in the photo’s, that’s her!  Madelon’s “child”)
-Ordering ‘Aqua Calda” (hot water) to drink and having the hotel staff completely baffled!
-Left Handed Chopsticks!! Yeah Kati!
-Finding mushrooms growing on cow paddies in the wild and thinking….dreaming….wondering…..
-Remembering to see myself reflected in others and seeing MY DARK AND SCARY PLACES played out in the lives of others
-Meeting my intention of maintaining my disciplined practice on a 10 day retreat
-BEing one with the ROCK!
-Only leaving Cheneil 3 times in 2 weeks
-www.fruitisnotdessert.com
-Photo shoots galore
-The deep and emotional sharing at the Saturday night closing circle
-”I was there….and You were there”….it is OUR STORY together….
-Long drawn out “ssssssss’s”
-Acro Yoga!  I flew 99% of the participants plus 2 locals!
-Cow-Savasana Saturday morning
-new friends / extended family
-Jumping in the Lago Blue!!!! COLD Glacial Water