14th Wellness Retreat

Been a very busy month, oh my!!!!

Todays we completed our 14th wellness retreat for cancer patients/survivors at the Hyatt Windwatch in Hauppauge. Each retreat has its own personality and spirit...and although many have the similar lineup of activities the survivors make the magic happen.

Yesterday’s activities (with no rest - at all) began with breakfast meet and greet; a presentation by Dr. Siobhan of Inner Source Health, a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine - always enlightening. Dr. Siobhan could probably keep the survivors in awe for the entire morning - but we have an agenda.

Debbie and I hold our strength training class and we are always going with the flow and the accommodations provided. We gave them a snippet of what our exercise classes (held at 9 locations) are like.

We brought them back for lunch, then a yoga class....ala restorative/relaxing yoga with a wonderful friend Laura Binder. She was incredible and absolutely made each person feel positive about the movements even given their limitations. That’s powerful in itself! Thank you Laura!

Then Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui LI/Manhattan joined us for a mid-day lecture on how to ‘feng shui’ your home and living space for the best flow of energy and ‘healing’ energy. This is a hands on project with each survivor drawing their space and learning how best to utilize this age old practice. Laura has been joining our retreats for 5 years now and there is always another tweak we could make.

This class is followed up by a powerful Reiki Circle organized by our dearest friend and BOD member Rosemary Maginniss. Rosemary has also been with Strength for Life from the time she first time she volunteered her talent in 2009 for our first retreat. Since her first retreat she has corralled so many wonderful reiki practitioners to join these events - some retreats there are more than one practitioner for each survivor. In addition, on many retreats she has added the healing therapy of “sound” having additional practitioners bring their beautiful crystal bowls and add another vibrational element.

Sound relaxing enough?????......time for dinner and conversation.

Not finished - not be a long shot. Theresa Walsh of The Sacred Walk and our newest friend Donna Rieth brought their talents to the event. Theresa & Donna introduced their practice of healing through energy and soul guided work. Using cards, there was an interactive group ‘opening and awareness’ therapy that was so powerful and beautiful. Tears and belly laughs took over the room.

I am not doing justice to these practitioners - so I have included links for each - please read about the incredible work that each does and partake in some on your own.

Sunday morning after breakfast a nice 3 mile hike on the Greenbelt trail...who is the star of this trek....Ruth, 90 years old!!!! Ruth joined us for every class and the walk and even brought the girls down to the bar for a nightcap. My hero in more ways than one. God bless you Ruth!

One event - more to follow....