prAna: Sustainable Clothing

Retreat with Shiva Rea at Esalen in Big Sur fueled my heart fire and fed my soul with nature, yummy organic food grown on the land, community of dear friends and new friends, rejuvenation in the hot spring baths, and entrainment to my inner rhythm. Radio Devi (Vir McCoy and Evan Fraser of Hamsa Lila) guided our experience with infectious instrumentals weaving thru electronic beats DJ’d by Shiva. They were right with us every step of the way in a dance with our collective energy leading us into epic moments of trance, flow, and quiet heart reflection.

I made the journey with my friend Michelle Bouvier of Hoop Nectar; we arrived at Esalen in the afternoon when the light was golden, shimmering on the land illuminating the gardens and inviting us to explore. Within moments we were adventuring and engaged in Bodacious Play. Michelle was spiraling in her hoops as I was loving nature yoga and cartwheels. We explored the gardens smelling the healing herbs, checking out the variety of colorful veggies, and tasting the yummy apples right from the trees.

On this first night together Shiva shared some valuable information and visual slides that outlined the importance of “Tending the Sacred Fire”. She explained that studies show that stress has a rhythmic brain wave state that creates a dissonant energy field often resulting in dis-ease in the body and in life. Dr. Sue Mortor also talks about this in her recent TEDx NASA segment. By learning to tend the fire within on all levels, physical, creative, emotional, and mental in varying degrees we contain the fire making it fully available to us. The reward is access to and expression of our innate creativity.

Primed with this new knowledge we proceeded to move into the experience. Shiva shared shaker eggs with us and the room filled with the entrancing rhythmic sound. Shiva and Radio Devi took us on a musical journey that morphed into a movement alchemy. Soon we were guided into deep rest and silence. Inspired by the brilliance of the stars a few of us went to the hot baths and settled into our new rhthym as it entrained to the crashing waves below.

Celebrating the last new moon of the solstice year we met the next morning to sit in inquiry and process composting the essence of the year. We composted these emotions and energies while riding the waves of prana flow asana that offered both strengthening structure and gentle freedom. Our afternoon and evening were free for connecting with nature and nurturing the soul. We met again under the new moon for a fire ceremony and celebration of the seeds we were planting for this next season. Soon we were moved again by an entrancing musical journey inspiring ecstatic free form movement.

Sunday morning, while most of our group was at the baths, I enjoyed the opportunity to practice Tai Ji with master Al Huang. Shiva, her dad, step-mom and I gathered with the Tai Ji group on the deck open to receive the fresh morning sunlight rising over the mountain. Al has been teaching on that deck for 50 years and happens to be one of Shiva’s cherished teachers. His teachings are simple and humorous yet packed with power. It was beautiful to witness Shiva’s connection with her family and deep affection for this teacher of hers. I caught a glimpse of the little girl inside and could see this beautiful affinity for spirituality and truth had grown from seeds planted by her father. Curious, I asked her dad what he had wanted Shiva to be when she grew up. He said with a smile on his face “ a warrior” of the light, a yoga master

After welcoming the sun and connecting with the earth we met for our last session together. This was an energized prana flow vinyasa and upbeat musical journey. Through the full range of yoga asana into free form movement we synched our breath, heart, and brain waves into a coherent field. We ventured out into nature for our final savasana meeting at the river to send gratitude and dreams into the flow of rushing water.

Thank you Shiva for leading the way on this journey to an experience in life that is full of creativity and vitality!

~Heather Keely, Bodacious Living Yoga and Lightworks Creative

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