GRATITUDE – We are blessed and honored to have met these inspiring and extraordinary women. Your stories have touched our hearts. May your light continue to shine as you shine unto others. The Latin verb aspirare, meaning “breathe,” is the source of several verbs. Aspirare means “breathe on.” The connotation is that one breathes heavily with the exertion of aspiring to a goal. The modern sense of aspire is “try to be or do something,” The Latin word for a breath, ‘spiritus,’ is not only the origin of the word SPIRIT but also the likes of CONSPIRE (literally a ‘breathing together’).
MALONG– Each woman wore “Malong,” a traditional Filipino tubular skirt that symbolizes royalty, respect, and connection. The colorfulness reprint and the fabric of lives.
WASHING OF THE FEET- Before the retreat begins, it is customary for all our retreats to wash their feet before entering the retreat. It symbolizes dusting off your feet, leaving behind worries, and entering a sacred space dedicated to oneself for the day. It is also an act of humility to serve others.
BALINESE FEET MASSAGE – Balinese feet massage, an ancient Eastern therapy based on stimulating reflex points of feet, improves blood circulation, normalizes blood pressure, helps you to get rid of insomnia and headaches, and is good for the general improvement of all organs.
PRAYER CIRCLE– Followed with a prayer circle, asking God to bless our day and set the day’s intention.
MEDITATIVE YOGA– Stephanie Raaschou of Collective Yoga led the women through meditative yoga. Her yoga session was gentle yet powerful, focusing on breath and life. Each yoga stance was intentional and symbolic but grounding, preparing the foundation for this life journey.
TELLING THEIR STORIES– Each participant was asked to bring a baby photo. It was an emotional sharing of spiritual and physical healing.
CREATIVITY- We believe that expressing oneself through art and creativity is part of healing.
NOURISHMENT FOR BODY AND SOUL- Honest Pastures, a registered RN, and dietician Renee Merchant prepared a curated healthy plant-based Moroccan theme lunch. Spinach, sun-dried tomato wrap, Moroccan stew soup, and a refreshing lavender lemonade.
SOUND HEALING– Soundbath with Reiki led by Anne Leanzo, sound healing therapist working with Theresa Lynn, who performed Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese form of energetic healing. The sound bath is an ancient practice that provides healing, and balance of the body’s chakras and energy pathways, using safe and pain-free techniques. Reiki is a natural, safe method of spiritual healing that channels and transfers life force energy from the hands of the Reiki practitioner to the subject’s energy field. Spiritual guidance enables the Reiki to flow into the client’s energy field from the practitioner’s hands.
DETAILS ABOUT THE RETREAT:WOMEN’S RETREAT, JUNE 17, TAKE A BREATH. CELEBRATE. Renew and recharge. This unique retreat allows one to explore amazing relaxation modalities such as Art therapy, Balinese feet massage, yoga/meditation, sound bath, reiki, and cacao ceremony. June 17, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Unity Church of Tidewater, 5580 Shell Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.