One thing I do for my body and soul is to attend a spring and fall retreat every year. The ones I go on are usually thru church, not very expensive, last a weekend and they have always been a wonderful sense of renewal.
For my 40th birthday, tho, the retreat I chose was a BIG Splurge!!!
I amtrakked (of course!) to the Omega Holistic Retreat Center in Upstate New York for a week of Yoga, meditation, crafts, singing, dancing and concerts!!! It was an absolutely awesome week!! I am 42 now, STILL have the happy memories of my time there and can't wait to go back on my 50th!!!
Their web page, if anyone is interested, is: www.eomega.org
I have been on Koinonia weekends...these are very popular in The Illinois area, having started there 25 years ago. They are Catholic but open to all denominations. I have been to a couple retreat houses in Santa Barbara, Ca. I have also been on CHRP..."Christ Renews His Parish" weekend.
This fall I am going on a Cursillo weekend and in the spring I am looking into a retreat house in Northern Ca.
What do you do for YOUR body and Soul?
Also, are there any other retreat lovers out there?
peace,train
Under this same category of Body and Soul...does anyone do yoga?
I learned a little at the above mentioned Omega and,consequently, took a beginners class when I got home.
I loved how relaxed and peaceful it made me feel. I would love to take classes weekly but they are very expensive and we cannot afford them. I bought a yoga tape, have used it a couple times but just can't seem to get motivated on my own.
I need to try harder.
This is a GREAT thing to do for your body and Soul when you are having a birthday, most especially a milestone one!
On my fortieth birthday I wrote to all my friends and penpals spread throughout the 10 cities I have lived in. I asked them
to write me a "memory letter" of our friendship to be opened by me on my birthday!!!
What a fun, beautiful, heartwarming experience it was to read of all those friendships!!!
I keep the letters in a basket, in the bedroom to reread whenever the mood strikes me!!
I "Stole " my girlfriends address book for her 40th birthday and did the same thing, soliciting letters from eveyone in her address book whether I knew them or not!!!
I asked them to choose really pretty floral, feminine paper and to only write on one side as I would glue the lettres into a friendship scrapbook!!
On her birthday week I took her to tea and presented her with the gift...and we read it together right there at the table!!
Oh, the laughs and tears of joy...and all the other ladies in the teahouse just had to stop at our table on their way out to see what all the commotion was about!!!
For my parents 40th anniversary, I did the same thing, Making them a "Lovebook" with letters from friends and relatives from all over the US!!! A memory is a wonderful thing and very good for our body and spirit!!!
Trainlady, I loved your letter idea--my parents would love something like this! We did something similar for my MIL 80th birthday. It is great reading through what all the family members wrote to her--her love from their perspective. A great gift.
I haven't been fortunate enough to go on a retreat--so much in our life changed when God blessed up with Rob four years ago. Things we thought we would be doing now, just aren't going to happen.
Since I live in Kansas, that isn't that far from Illinois but I don't know anything about Koinonia. What is that?
As far as yoga goes, I am wanting to get more flexible and centered. One of the local hospitals is offering some intro courses in September for a small fee. I am thinking about trying that since the money and time away from home is minimal.
Hi Julie, Koinonia is a weekend retreat, held monthly, at the Villa Maria Retreat House in Springfield, Il.
It is Catholic, but open to any denomination. Fellowship, talks, crafts, singing, mass, along with the sacrament of reconciliation offered, prayer and lots of fun, food and friendship!!!
I will find the web sight and send it to you later. If you are interested I would definitely look for one in your own area rather than Illinois. The BEST part of Koinonia is the get togethers and friendships that continue afterwards!!!
Peace,train
I love to do yoga for my body and for my peace of mind and relaxation. I started out 3 yrs. ago by taking a class locally. But now I use either one of the 3 vcr tapes I bought or what I like is to turn on the Oxygen channel 61 at 8 a.m. (eastern time) and follow the yoga class on t.v.. It is so relaxing and exercises every muscle of my body. (almost better than sex !! ha ha )
Hi Mariska, I will have to check out the Oxygen channel. I have not gone to classes since they are so expensive...I am going to have to motivate myself to atleast do a video or yoga along with a TV show...I was really enjoying learning yoga at the retreat I was on.
Peace,train
As we approach the holiday season I know it can be a stressful time as far as trying to get everything done...gift buying, wrapping, mailing, baking, entertaining and the list goes on and on.
What do you do to take care of YOURSELVES during December as to not get overstressed?
How do you pamper yourself?
What are your time saving secrets to get everything done?
Do you prioritize or simplify activities?
How do you keep that peaceful feeling that Christmas is supposed to bring?
peace,train
