Return Mountain: Retreat in Berkeley Springs WVA

FRIDAY - MONDAY AUGUST 20 - 23, 2010

I am happy to report and extend to you this invitation to join me for the first Celebrating the Inner Healer Retreat in this uniquely restorative environment.

According to a Reuters Health News story, "Just five minutes of exercise a day in the great outdoors can improve mental health, according to study recently released, and policymakers should encourage more people to spend time in parks and gardens.

Researchers from the University of Essex found that as little as five minutes of a "green activity" such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming can boost mood and self esteem." Read more at:

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2010/05/03/eline/links/20100503elin010.html

How would your life be different with an entire week-end immersed in nature?

Of course as a BodyArts Therapeutics enthusiast I would add that this is true for - the 'green activities' of mindful breathing, fresh air yoga, QiGong and Tai Ji, soaking/ receiving an Acu-Aqua Massage in the mineral springs hot tub/pool, groovin' in the park to the concert with Down Home Roots, grillin' and munching plant-based delicious fare on the deck overlooking the Coolfont forest, window-shopping in town, and spirit drumming in the barn.

The retreat is being organically guided by the longings of the hearts and the local resources available this summer week-end.

We'll meet at the May Apple vacation home of Henry and Barbara Lynn in the Coolfont home-owners' estates, fifteen minutes from town (head for the castle -- yes the CASTLE!!) I've put together a special plant-based menu of some of my delish-nutrish signature dishes with a couple new recipes I just learned while at The Lighthouse Center July Retreat.

In the brief time we have to share together, I am excited to introduce some of my favorite gems -- in the town where George Washington bathed, where Native Americans from as far as Canada journeyed to the healing waters, and where many boomers migrated in the '60s onward...
Here's a sketch of the itinerary as of today:

Friday Evening: Our potluck plant-based supper will serve as our ice-breaker. Our opening welcome circle will include a guided practice with the Chi Gong and The Tai Ji Dance of the Five Elements on the deck facing the woods.These standing, ancient slow-motion easy-to-learn exercises are both refreshing and relaxing. With this Chinese Yoga we will connect in a new way to our inner nature while appreciatng the Eastern Panhandle Coolfont forest surrounding and grounding us.

Saturday: Greet the Day with my very own YeSSS! Method of Restorative Yoga and Guided Relaxation and enjoy a breakfast buffet before heading poolside -- where those who wish can experience the Aqua-Acu-massage with me in the hottub or enjoy a walk. We'll have a picnic lunch there - and after changing, head to town for a uniquely Berkeley Springs Fresh air concert with DOWN HOME ROOTS:
Led by noted musicians Tari Hampe and Sam & Joe Herrmann, this local roots music concert showcases several of the legendary musical families developed through the Morgan County Music Census. We'll hear everything from traditional bluegrass and country to gospel, people-watching all the while.

Concert runs from 5:30 - 6:30 pm so we'll have time to rest there some or walk in town some, visit some unique shops or visit The Ice House that features wonderful local artists work.

We have dinner reservations at Lot 12 around 8 pm ( and our teen guests may opt to go to The Star Theatre circa 1920's for Knight and Day and meet us for dessert) That tops off a very rich day in the country!

Sunday: Again, we greet the day with our two hour yoga practice and brunch. There will be some quiet, private time and a QiGong with Tai Ji practice on the deck before we serve an early supper on the deck. We'll head for The Barn for a special evening of Spirit Drumming (7:30pm) led by Bhagwan, Stan Sternberg from Michigan. We're opening the Drumming session to our whole community -- For details on all these modalities, please see my blog: Celebrating the Inner Healer

Please RSVP by phone or email for the Spirit Drumming Session (sliding fee scale for community friends and neighbors)

Monday: We pack up and Celebrate the Inner Healing Closing circle with our morning yoga and brunch departing about 1pm.


Check List - what to bring

Own pillow if you'd prefer; sleep mask if you want to insure full darkness
walking shoes
sandels/flipflops for poolside
layers -
bathing suit (2 - or use clothes dryer if need be)
robe
sunscreen/hat/sunglasses
casual comfy clothes
yoga mat
2 beach towels
You won't need bottled water, but you may want to bring empty gallons to take water home -- and a carry stainless steel water bottle (exception: there are lots of minerals in these spring waters - so if kidneys are vulnerable, you may want to go easy)
journal and pens for your self

All linens and towels are provided -- and we'll make up our own beds and bring the sheets and towels to the laundry area on Sunday.

NEXT STEPS: Please email me with any food limitations/concerns/any other questions.
Reservations will be confirmed upon receipt of your check received by August 1st.

Many Species...One Planet...One Future

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude, Vitality and Reverence for All Life,
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years

The Journey of the BodyArts

For me, Tai Ji, yoga and meditation are a wonder-filled lifelong inner adventure. My enthusiasm grows as the experience of pilgrimage within this dynamic bodymind temple continues to unfold. The gift of these BodyArts is to celebrate and to remember who we are in daily life.

I have been a yoga practitioner for almost forty years. In the 1970’s I was privileged to have studied with numerous world-renown yoga masters including Iyengar, Lilias Folan, Jyoti, Lee Chrystal and Pujashree Chitrabhanuji and just last March, with Amrit Desai and Chandrakant Heister aboard the Vegan Holistic Holiday at Sea.

I have taught both Tai Ji and yoga to populations with a wide range of capacities, ages, and nationalities. Over the years I developed one-on-one and couples BodyArts prescriptives usually presented in the clients’ own home as well as community classes in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Every corporate wellness program, wellness consult or massage/acupressure tablework session with individuals includes Chi Gong, Four Jewels Hatha yoga, aka The YeSSS Method of Restorative Yoga and pranayama (breathing techniques) with self-care homework.

Chi Gong, Hatha yoga, and Jain Meditation form the foundation of my career as a Certified Wellness Personal Trainer/Corporate Consultant, and guided me in the study of numerous body mind systems, often with the pioneering leaders of the fields. Each of my presentations of yoga and Tai Ji are informed by Energy medicine and psychology, Chi Gong (Chinese Yoga) as well as acupressure.

I was introduced to Tai Chi in the 1980’s after having studied Women’ s self-defense external martial arts. Working with yoga students opened me to more hands-on energy systems of massage, reflexology and polarity. Eventually, I was guided to study acupressure systems in the 1990’s while living in Berkeley Springs West Virginia. Much to my surprise, the integration of the two self-care systems I was personally discovering were already known in the world as a hybrid hatha practice called Acu-Yoga.

Soon, I was regularly practicing and teaching The Chi Gong Eight Silken Standing Exercises that were presented to me as a self-care centering system for Jin Shin Do acupressure practitioners and their clients. Along with acu-yoga poses I often end classes with a guided self-acupressure sequence to balance and harmonize all meridians (pathways of energy).

In midlife, my 21st Century BodyArts practice continues to evolve. Most recently, I have been studying in- depth practices of Energy Psychology, Medical Chi Gong and Tai Chi for Health systems including forms geared to arthritis, diabetes and kids. My most recent certifications as Tai Chi instructor are through Dr. Paul Lam. And with Medical Chi Gong, I am certified and mentored by Dr. Ted Cibik. In the 1980’s I was most inspired through my studies with George Young of NYC and Chungliang Al Huang.

As I described in the previous post, I currently incorporate Laughter Yoga in my Tai Ji programs as well as in the YeSSS Method of Restorative Yoga sessions. I continue to collect and share therapeutic music, song and chants that complement both practices. Now, more deeply than ever, I explore these ancient self-care systems as joyfilled moving meditation with the most gentle and effective postures suitable for every body. Often props are incorporated in the yoga classes to support the body so that participants comfortably maintain and rest in very subtle stretches . These postures are drawn from the system of Restorative Yoga.

Today, the entire moving meditation practice cultivates the state of yoga nidra: expanding the capacity of one-pointed concentration, cultivating, maintaining and returning to the present moment. This practice brings forth and strengthens the observer mind and the practice and blessing of letting go. The intuitive self grows, the joy of movement and experience of oneness – calm, unity and integration becomes readily accessible.

With the practice of The YeSSS Method of Restorative Yoga, and Chinese Yoga (Chi Gong with Tai Ji) the glimpses of tapping into the source of infinite potentialities builds our reserves of prana/chi/lifeforce, builds our healing capacity and capacity for discernment. Over time, becoming more and more at home with inner harmony and balance, we organically seek to resonate with harmony and balance in daily life, making life-affirming choices and reaping both immediate and long-term benefits.

This week-end students of Jain Meditation and the philosophy of reverence for all life are enjoying these guided practices with me at The Lighthouse Center in Whitmore Lake, Michigan where orders are being taken for the soon to be released CD series of the basics of Celebrating the Inner Healer Volume I. A photo album was already prepared: http://lighthousecenterblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/3rd-annual-lighthouse-center-retreat.html
Thank you, Mukta Dean!

Reservations for an August week-end retreat have also begun and already include a Mother-daughter + friend trio from Ann Arbor as well as folks from Baltimore and Pittsburgh -- all to congregate at my special Wellness Getaway home of Berkeley Springs West Virginia -- a few rooms are still available for this first Celebration of the Inner Healer -- and a very special Spirit Drumming guide has also indicated interest in joining us for our evening celebration.


Many Species...One Planet...One Future


Yours in Wellness, Gratitude, and Joyfull Reverence for All Life,
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years
Posted by Suzen Sharda Segall at 8:55 AM