I first published this blog in 2014 following a yoga retreat in Pozancos in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It is not nature writing per say, but it contains elements of nature and I consider this to be my first piece writing that incorporates elements of nature.
The first thing we do is breathe. We don’t have to learn how to do this – it is the most basic and natural function of the body. At this point, for most of us, breathing is easy.
But as we get older, we start to catch our breath on the anxieties and stresses that emerge from various life experiences: relationships, demanding jobs and the limitations of society in general. As we grow, we are taught how things should be done, which labels we should fall under and learn to feel guilty or bad about ourselves if we (in our minds, or in the minds of others) fall short.
The first and most important point of the yoga retreat was to remember how to breathe properly and deeply. This is essential not just for relaxation, but for being able to practice yoga properly. And here is Casa Los Lilos, where said breathing took place:
As the group gathered together for the first time we got to know each other a little bit better and our yogi teacher, Teresa, asked us to tell her if any part of our bodies hurt. The reply of one Spanish man was: “My back and my heart.” I thought this was very brave as the rest of us had only mentioned physical aches, despite the fact that each of us were hurting in some way emotionally too.
The next day, as were all sat around the fire, I looked up from my book and saw that Teresa had one hand over his heart and another on his back. Both of their eyes were closed and they looked completely focused and in tune with one another. This was the most poignant moment of the trip for me.
Jaymee, a woman from the Philippines, was another member of the group I connected with straight away. We were going through very similar life experiences and soon found we had similar personalities too. Of course I also loved her because quite she described me as “exotic” – such is the life of being a Celt in Spain!
On the first night we practiced meditation before bed. One of the main reasons that I first began to practice yoga was to quieten my mind. In the past I have been guilty of not being able to enjoy the present because I am so caught up in anxieties about the past or the future. At first meditating without having the mind wander to places you would rather not venture is next to impossible – but it’s a case of training the mind. No one said it was going to be easy!
The next morning we had an incredible breakfast. Teresa had made a range of fresh jams ranging from pear to green pepper (this one was seriously delicious). Over the breakfast table we got to talking about the vivid dreams we had had the night before. Teresa had had a very affecting dream about her grandfather, while I had dreamt about a problem that had been bothering me for a while in my waking life, but hadn’t emerged at all in dreams so far.
Over the course of the trip we tasted lots of home-made food, the point being each of our senses were awoken and stimulated on this trip. A German loaf made by Teresa’s partly German mother was probably my favourite of all. In fact, I’m just finishing the last crumb as I type…
One part of eating which was very interesting was that Teresa asked us to sit somewhere different with every meal. Why? “Non-attachment”. This aligns with the Buddhist ideology that everything is impermanent and therefore we should aim to embrace change more readily. For the most part I agree with and aspire to this, but I am also torn. Isn’t life to some extent all about attachment and the bonds we form with others? Isn’t being unattached to be closed off in some way?
We went a walk through the countryside of Pozancos and I was partnered with Mateo, who I first had to lead blindfolded through the countryside, and who then had to lead me. The whole theme of this exercise was “trust”. Incidentally, he lead me straight into the river!
At the end we were asked what we preferred: leading or being lead. Without going into detail, I was pleasantly surprised at my result because it meant I was feeling more open than I had expected to feel.
On the walk back to the casa we came across an unusual field: rather than being flat, it was actually bouncy (I know, getting into hippy territory now). So we had found our natural sofa. And there we lay, stretched out under a hot sun for another bout of meditation.
Afterwards, we headed back to the casa for real and I collected logs for the fire alongside Mateo and Miguel. One of my favourite parts of this retreat was spending a considerable amount of time with Spaniards, learning about their culture and their language. I have learned more about both components in one weekend through meeting Teresa, Miguel and Mateo than I have in the two months I have been here. And that is something that I have to actively work on.
Probably my favourite activity of all was when, with eyes closed, we had to follow the movements of our partner to waltz-like music. Although this might sound chaotic, and at first we had to find our footing, some unexpected and fluid movements took place once we were synchronized with each other. This was actually my favourite experience of the whole trip.
The next morning begun with another 9am yoga session. We practiced the sun salutation just as the sun was rising. Here I was practicing yoga under a very hot sun in front of the Castilian countryside. Does life get better than this?
Before I came to Madrid I felt grounded. Once here I found the first 2 – 3 weeks moderately difficult in terms of settling in and feeling comfortable in a completely new place with completely new people. But it’s getting better and this experience definitely helped.
This weekend has opened a door. I can choose to walk through that door, which will take some work, or I can savour the exclusivity of a relaxing weekend and move on with my life. Let’s hope I can follow the braver choice.
burrowing 