☸️ May we feel connected ☸️
2024 YOGA RETREATS
The first edition of the Namastrip retreats at Villa Epicurea was a success!
I met with 10 amazing French-speaking women of various ages and backgrounds, and together we enjoyed panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, with the ocean on the horizon, we practiced different types of yoga (Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin), meditation, intuitive writing and self-massage, we talked about Ayurveda, we walked on flower-lined paths, stepped into dinosaurs footprints and swam in the invigorating pool and ocean waters. We also enjoyed delicious and nourishing vegetarian food lovingly prepared by a local cheffe, and more importantly, we retreated, away from civilization and daily life for 5 days and 4 nights, in a peaceful sanctuary.
It was, to use a term I just came across and immediately adhered to, “woo-adjacent” (“woo-woo” refers to unconventional beliefs regarded as having little or no scientific basis, especially those relating to spirituality and mysticism). In other words, it was a spiritual journey, of reconnection with nature and with ourselves.
The 10 participating ladies fully enjoyed their time away from time, and for me, the whole experience was deeply enriching. I truly enjoyed all of it, the learnings and the shortcomings, and felt like I was exactly where I needed to be. I’m excited for the second one, scheduled later this month.
For a preview of the vibe of that first retreat, take a look here.
The next one is in 2 weeks, May 16-20 and then August 10-15, October 16-20 and November 7-11. If you’re interested in joining one, feel free to ask me any questions you may have! NB: These retreats are in French 🇫🇷.
A SHORT STORY
Drone photos by Guilherme Calves
As part of the program of that same retreat was a Yoga class on the beach. After a 45 minute walk in nature, together with my group of 10 wonderful yoginis, we reached the stunning Praia das Bicas. I figured it would be nice to place our mats in a circle. We started moving and then just a few minutes into our practice, a drone was flying right above us. How annoying, we all thought, so noisy, and nosy, to photograph us during a supposedly relaxing moment. We kept going with the flow and eventually the drone went away.
Later that day, Tania, our lovely cheffe, stumbled upon the above pictures online and realized it might be our group. And she was right! After all the cursing at the annoying drone, when we saw and received the images from the photographer, we were all so glad he had taken them. Their beauty captures the essence of that wonderful moment of practicing outside, together as a group, on an almost empty beach, breathing the fresh marine air, and listening to the sounds of the waves in Savasana. A good reminder that an annoyance can sometimes turn into a good surprise! Oh and Portugal, you know you can be a challenge but you’re also such a beauty…
WORDS OF YOGA
Chakras
I know this word sometimes scare people off. Some might even stop reading right here. I get it. I used to be that person! I’ve only recently started opening myself up to the concept of Chakras, and I’ve had a few epiphanies since. One of them was a few weeks ago, after I attended an Iyengar workshop here in Lisbon with master teacher Billy Konrad. The theme of the class revolved around clearing the chakras and setting intentions for the new year, spring. Upon practicing poses carefully selected in relation to each chakra and under the guidance of this longtime teacher, I experienced a sense of alignment that I’d never felt before. And the more I read about the chakras, the more it is starting to make sense to me.
Chakra means Wheel and there are 7 of them in the subtle body, mapped along the spinal cord. We usually list them from the bottom up and they are as follows: the Root Chakra, located under our seat, the Sacral Chakra between the pubic bone and the sacrum, the Solar Plexus Chakra, behind the navel, the Heart Chakra, behind the heart, the Throat Chakra, behind the throat, the Third-Eye Chakra, between the eyebrows and the Crown Chakra, on the crown of the head.
These 7 points of the subtle body are considered vital centers/wheels of energy, and each of them is associated with different functions, colors, meditative visualizations, flowers and mantras. NB: different traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) and schools of thoughts count and address the chakras differently. In Hatha Yoga we refer to 7 chakras as described above.
How do you feel about the Chakras? Are you familiar with this concept or is that too woo-woo for you? Would you like to learn more about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
A FEW THINGS I ENJOYED LATELY
This podcast where a great American Iyengar yoga teacher shares about her personal health journey, this article about phones & photos in yoga studios, this recipe (in French but translate it if needed, it’s worth it!), his letter to a young artist by iconic photographer Stephen Shore, and this IG post about 30 life hacks (I love lists).
And a quote, why not: “Never waste your mid-life crisis” originally from John Higgs, as relayed by Austin Kleon. I find this sentence funny and so relatable that I pinned it on my vision board. Along with my favorite ever sentence (especially since motherhood): This too shall pass. It helps me remember that hardships are temporary and also reminds me to remain fully present for all the perfect moments…
I’ve also finally taken the time to move my blog onto a Substack. All articles have both an English and a French version. If you’re not familiar with Substack, it’s a great platform for people who enjoy writing, and for people who enjoy reading :) Check it out, there is some great content out there, it’s more intimate and also more intentional than social media (which I’m personally starting to grow really tired of…).
GROUP CLASSES IN LISBON
Our theme for May is directly connected to our word of the month: we will explore the Root Chakra, the first one, at the base of the spine, and work on grounding poses. Expect to feel rooted!
🏄♀️🏄♂️ Yoga for Surfers
Every Wednesday 9h at Studio Organic Flow
🤰👩🍼 Baby & Me - Prenatal & Postnatal (babies welcome!)
Every Wednesday 11h at Studio Organic Flow
🧘♀️🧘 Mindful Flow - Open-Level Vinyasa
Friday 12h30 at Yoga no Bairro May 10th and 24th only
Each class is limited to 8 students, so remember to book your spot beforehand. I also teach Private classes in-person or online.
FROM LISBON, WITH LIGHT ✨
