The first point of call for me is my centre. This is an easy and simple technique and reference point that just requires a few minutes to yourself in a quiet spot. Lie in whatever position you like, whether that is in Sivasana (flat on your back, or variations of), or child pose which can also be a nurturing posture. Begin with some slow deep breaths to start calming the mind from the ongoing chatter. Now on each out-breath, as the contours of the body draw inward, imagine everything moving towards your spine. Use the breath to find your pace and don’t just stick to the spine behind your belly, imagine it all, even the bit behind your mouth and jaw! I like to start at the base of my spine on the first part of the out-breath and then work my way up, thinking of each area as the breath comes to a close.

For me this is a useful technique to use first thing in the morning, when feeling overwhelmed or even before sleep. It calms the nervous system and brings you in control of your capabilities for whatever situation. Oh, and if you don’t have a quiet spot to practice in, try it wherever you need it. This is a great meditation practice!

Spring is the most potent season for cleansing and detoxification and associated with the Wood Element in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the workshops we focused on rejuvenating and invigorating the Organs and Meridians (energy channels) of the Wood Element – the Liver and Gall Bladder – and the transformation of their negative emotional characteristics…Anger and Frustration to Acceptance and Kindness.

The Wood energy of Spring is an expression of life at its strongest. To balance the Yin nature of the gentle cleansing stretches and breathwork, we explored a variety of Tiger Qi Gong exercises. Tiger Energy is Yang – Expansive and Opening, Vigorous and Stimulating; embodying a surge of rising energy like the dandelion whose growing edge can burst through concrete if it must.

As the days become warmer and brighter, nature rouses from her winter slumber and looks ahead to the new growth of Spring. This is the season to plant seeds for a future harvest, to look ahead and make new plans, formulate new ideas, make decisions, and determine our direction for the coming year…and to take action. It enhances our ability to envision possibilities and weave dreams.

CONTENT…

Introduction
Energetic Qualities of Spring
The Wood Element + Organs & Meridian’s (Liver, Gall Bladder).
Qualities of the Liver and Gall Bladder – Physical: Cleansing, Filtration, Storage. Emotional – Anger, Kindness. Energetic – Visioning, Decision Making.
The nature of ‘intention’. Meditation for setting intentions for spring and the year ahead.
Colours – Green, 3rd chakra – yellow.
Sounds – Oh-Ah, ssssshhhhh (liver healing sound)

Yoga
Asana & Breath with softness and fluidity – exploring movement to open and support the Liver and Gall Bladder and Tendons and Ligaments. Moving from the fluid qualities of movement in the water element (winter) into the more grounding, stronger postures of the wood element. Focus on balance, applying the correct amount of ‘effort’, giving time for deeply held tension and resistance to dissolve, taking the body into deep stretches with an attitude of kindness and acceptance for all that the body reveals. Healing sounds used in the postures.
Yin yoga postures for the Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians.

Qi Gong
Cleansing, rejuvenating and energising the Liver/Gall Bladder organs + meridians.
Transformation of negative emotion – Anger and Frustration to Kindness and Compassion.
Yang Tiger Forms.

Meditations
Recapitulation of Life Force from binding past events involving Anger and Frustration.
Our colleague Gratia Churchill joined us to finish the day in Brighton with a wonderful Yoga Nidra.

SUMMER CLEANSING WORKSHOPS COMING SOON……

Why Retreats?

Levity Cuisine was conceived as a reality in the retreat environment.  We quickly realised that the alchemy and magic that was being created in the kitchen on our annual Levity retreats was something special, and an integral part of peoples experience on the retreat. Being practitioners/teachers of yoga and the healing arts we were able to quickly see what foods were enhancing and supporting the classes we offered and the process one goes through during periods of intensive practice. We saw that some foods were obstructing the flow of going deeper within, using too much energy for digestion and numbing sensation and clarity. Over the years we have refined our ability to tune in to these needs through our own journeys and consistently participating and working regularly on retreats.

Retreats provide the opportunity for extended periods of time outside of the framework of ones normal day to day reality, opening up space for deep rest, reflection and transformation. During this time the body and nervous system can begin to let go of the demands of daily life and the process of intensive practice can bring us insight, clarity and peace that ripples out into our lives sustaining us long after the retreat has finished.

After spending many years attending lots of retreats we began to observe the role of diet and the nourishment from the food that was provided, asking the question ‘how is this supporting my experience?’ Also evident were the conditioned patterns of behaviour around food and how these revealed themselves in the retreat environment. With no distractions to disguise them it was easy to see that habits of eating and our attitude to food is often so sub-conscious and deeply ingrained, and as the body, heart and mind opened more during the retreat process the need for comfort eating and indulgence grew stronger.

Even with a diet of wonderful and healthy vegetarian, organic produce grown in the garden and made with a lot of love there still seemed something missing, a deeper connection was lacking and with a little refinement and a more conscious approach could push the possibilities of the retreat to a new level.

We believe in, and through our experience have felt, the profound benefits that come from completely integrating the food aspect of a retreat as a conscious practice. It certainly isn’t about denial and exclusion, but much more about awakening to the innate intelligence and primal voice of the body, transcending our limitations and truly hearing the messages that the body gives us, responding with what it ‘really’ needs.

Whenever we are called on to cater for holistic events and retreats, we take into account elemental influences such as the current season, the time of day, the energy of the group, the type of practices on offer and the intensity of the programme. We will always source our produce as locally as possible to the venue and prepare all our dishes with presence, awareness, an open heart and lightness of spirit.