Yoga Retreat Day One

Wow, my three weeks is almost over - and my yoga weekend just ended.

The yoga retreat was awesome. I met some really neat people, learned more about Semperviva, where I have been going to yoga class, did 5 really good yoga classes, and had a very, very good time because the retreat was exactly what I thought it would be.

I went on the Gulf Islands ferry at 10 am Friday, Aug. 7, as a foot passenger. I hooked up with some of the yoga people and, especially, our leader, Gloria, whom I had not met but who is the owner of Semperviva. Her husband, Scott, gave me and another woman a ride from the ferry to the resort where we were staying: Bodega Ridge Resort.

Everyone was assigned a cabin (a bedroom each and 2 baths and one shower to share). The cabins were log, in a sort of barn design, very basic and utilitarian but with their own charm, part of which was the balcony off the main and the upstairs floors. I had the downstairs bedroom just across from the main bathroom (with tub and shower) and two other women, Jill and Linda, took the upstairs bedrooms, which had a bathroom with toilet and sink. The cabins are housekeeping units, so they had kitchenettes and living rooms, perfect for complete self-sufficiency if you wanted.

But we had a package deal, so we all met happily in the main lodge for a delicious vegetarian lunch. After that, we changed into hiking clothes/footwear and Scott (Gloria spent the day with their 2 daughters at their Galiano cottage and reappeared at dinner time) led us on a 2-hour hike right off the resort property. Galiano is a long, narrow island with a high ridge running along the centre of the island. We hiked from the resort (already a fair ways up from sea level) through the woods and up onto the ridge, which we followed south towards Sturdies Bay (the ferry terminal).

I was a little concerned at first because I was overheating: we were walking in the open, in the sunshine, and going up, and I was wearing my polyester capris. But once we got into the woods it was cooler, and my main worry was maintaining a good pace. I placed myself in the middle of the first of 2 groups, and was able to keep up to the people ahead of me reasonably well; nonetheless, it was yet another wake-up call that I have to work on my cardio the rest of this year.

We hiked on a well-defined trail over some rocks but mostly forest springy mossy ground, quite fresh and delightful, with that beautiful aroma from sun-on-conifers. Scott was a great guide, full of information about the area and where we were; he explained that the east side of the ridge had been logged, but the west side was too steep, and pointed out the old timber stumps. I was impressed by his knowledge of the history of Galiano and his obvious love of sharing it. When we got to the turn-around point (the trail continued southward), we had a fabulous view west and north to, directly west of us, Wallace Island, and Salt Spring and Thetis and so on. Great fun to know that I had been kayaking in the islands to the northwest just the weekend before!

After a break we hiked down again, and my right knee started its thing again. This takes the form of severe pain in the front and outside part of the knee joint which manifests itself after 1.5 to 2 hours of hiking/walking and, most excrutiatingly, when I go downhill. So I was limping fairly soon into the return trip; Scott advised Ibuprofen and ice, and provided an ice pack for me when we got back to the resort. Nonetheless and pain not withstanding, I was very pleased I had done so well and hiked so far!

After a period of icing my knee (actually quite an unpleasant experience, as the skin 'burns' upon contact with the ice) and reading, I made my way over to the lodge, where we had our yoga classes. At 7 pm Gloria led a Kundalini class, and my goodness, that was an eye-opener! Her Kundalini classes involve rap music, dance music, some recognizable yoga poses, and a lot of free movement and dancing! I was drenched in sweat by the end, and euphoric!

Dinner was great fun, and delicious, and I was able to start to get to know my fellow yoga retreatees. Large bottles of both red and white wine were provided, which was a pleasant surprise, and we all had a merry time visiting. But what with the hiking and the yoga 'workout', we all collapsed into bed fairly early.

Yoga no, walk yes

My idea was to go to the 7 am yoga class again for today and tomorrow, but I stayed in bed. Should have gone to yoga.

Did chore stuff today and, in spite of intentions to the contrary, did start a pile of clothes to take to my yoga weekend on Friday. I made a start because I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about what I should remember to take, so I thought it would just be easier to start the pile! Besides, there has been a drastic change in the weather in the past 24 hours, so that it was actually chilly (this being a comparative term) and I realized that if it stays like this for the next few days, I will need the cool-weather clothes that we were told about in the kayaking trip but didn't need.

The yoga weekend will include a couple of 2-hour hikes, so I need to be prepared for that, plus yoga and meditation, plus hanging about in a lodge, which is often a cool-ish activity.

I went to Capers and bought a bunch of fruits and vegetables so there is something healthy to eat here for the next few days and for John if he cares to use them. It was hard going by the deli section, as I skipped breakfast until I could get the fresh fruit.

After breakfast I worked on my computer in a much-need 'getting rid of clutter' exercise. It took almost 3 hours, and I got only a portion done, but I have at least started to clean up my email act. It felt good, and was certainly necessary.

This afternoon I went for a short walk, picked up some bread, and checked out the bookstores up on 10th. I walked 20 minutes, then 15 minutes, so not bad. It was a good temperature for walking, just warm with breezes.

I have spent today trying to eat only very healthy food, with a fruit smoothie for breakfast, and a salad for lunch. Consequently, I am very hungry right now! And I have a headache, but that is not necessarily related.

All in all, a pretty good day with not much done, but what was done, was on target for the improvement project.

Home again

I am home from my Island/kayaking holiday-within-a-holiday. Today was spent getting home (very glad I made a ferry reservation) and then unpacking and putting away bags, etc., and cleaning out the fridge....Finished off by cleaning myself up too, and reconnecting with JR. In a few minutes we are going to our favourite local restaurant for dinner, as I did not have the energy to go grocery shopping and cook.

I am now into my third week of vacation. Nothing has changed for me physically, in the sense that I haven't lost any weight or become obviously fitter, but I have changed: I have more confidence, and more belief in myself. Doing the yoga for 6 days in a row in the first week meant that I set myself a goal and achieved it PLUS I benefitted greatly as I became better at yoga - able to stretch with a greater range and be stronger in the poses. I was proud of myself for sticking to the intention of 6 days in a row, plus how much effort I put into the yoga.

And now, here I am the survivor of 3 days of intensive kayaking. I was able to go further and faster than I expected, plus I have way more confidence in the kayak and in myself having done the underwater self-rescue. I set the goal of doing the 3 days' kayaking and succeeded and flourished, so I am feeling very good about that.

Now, for the next 2 days, I need to go to yoga again (trying not only to get back to where I was a week ago, but also to get ready for my yoga weekend) and shed off the slightly 'hustle' feeling I always get when travelling, in preparation for my yoga retreat this coming weekend.

When I start thinking about how I have to be at the ferry at a certain time, and what I might need to take by way of clothing, etc., I stop myself. I need to ground myself for the next 2 days, and then prep for the weekend Thursday night.

So tonight - off to dinner with JR!

Kayak challenge

I am just back from 3 days of kayaking, sore, very stiff, aching all over, and enormously proud of having done the trip. My friend Bonnie did a similar trip in June, including the infamous 'wet exit' - having now done it, I think she understated her achievement greatly!

Later I will describe the trip in The Bee Diaries; for now, for the purpose of this venue, let me say that I set out to do a trip that I knew would be challenging given my level of fitness, and I did it! I am sunburned as hell, have a huge black and blue bruise on one leg and doubtless others I haven't found yet, but I paddled a kayak for many kilometres, successfully did a wet exit AND a tee rescue, survived a night camping (ok, that is not so formidable an accomplishment, I admit), and here I am, freshly showered and clutching a cold pale ale, going YAHOO!

Sailing away

Yesterday we chose sailing. I was wanting to see Rob's new furler gear in action, and the idea of sailing appealed to me more than the speed boat. As others agreed, we packed up sailing gear and went out in Rob's 27' Catalina. (Unfortunately, Therese wasn't interested in sailing, although she would have gone power-boating with us.)

It was not quite as hot on Friday as the previous day, and there was wind, so it was quite comfortable out on the water. The hazy overcast helped too. We left the house about 10 am, so probably got sailing about 10:45 or so. We motored out of Ladysmith Harbour and hoisted sails in a nice breeze - probably 8 knots or so. The new sails on Rob's boat are wonderful, and the furling gear is so easy to use!

Sailing is something I feel deeply in my soul. It is so much about the journey, rather than the destination. Even though much of my sailing experience has occurred in race conditions, where the outcome is important, sailing has always been, for me, about being in the moment. Where we are going is less important than how we are getting there: could the main be adjusted, is the headsail set for optimum speed, should the traveller be higher? etc. These are not huge issues when cruising, it's just fun to get the most out of the boat at that moment. And over all is the beautiful feeling of gliding through the waves and over the water, an affinity with nature that claims me on a sailboat, at any speed.

Yesterday we started out in low-medium wind, then had no wind and ended up motoring past Thetis towards Valdes, where we could see other boats had wind, whereupon we suddenly were close-hauled, traveller down, in 15 + knots of wind. Rob and I were enjoying it very much, but we decided instead of continuing to beat up around Thetis to go downwind, back the way we had come, to keep our passengers more comfortable - they didn't like the 15 degree heel. At the tip of Thetis we ran completely out of wind, managed to sail a little further on cats' paws, then were becalmed and forced to motor around Coffin Pt. and home.

A bonus for me in this sailing trip was that I was on the helm for most of the day, including bringing the boat into its slip (with the very necessary help of Rob on the engine, of course). I don't get to helm very often, so it was a real treat for me.

Today, Saturday, we are off, Nikki, Elsa and I, for our great adventure - a women-only weekend kayaking trip!