Nuturing

When I last left off I was on my way to a Watsu (water massage) appointment.  This kicked off a week full of nurturing.  When you hear the word nurturing, what feelings or thoughts come to mind?  Comfort?  Peace?  Who makes you feel nurtured? Mom?  Friends?  Significant other? When was the last time you remember feeling nurtured?  Synonyms for nurture include advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, foster and promote. 

I had no idea what to expect from my Watsu session.   I got into the 4 foot deep, heated to body temperature pool with my Watsu therapist, Paul.  Here is a picture of the pool the day after my session.  (My session was in the evening and it was raining.  There was a tarp above the pool that blocked the rain during my session.  It blew off in the night due to some strong winds.)  Paul put floats on my legs and got me used to laying on my back, breathing in to a count of four and out to a count of four.  Nice even breaths.  Within minutes I was in another place, at peace and completely supported by the water and Paul.  Paul moved me around, stretching every bone, muscle and joint with a very soft, smooth and dancing touch.  Around halfway in, he put a nose plug on the tip of my nose and as we had discussed, as I breathed out of my mouth to a four count he would start to turn me so I would be submerged under water for a little while.  All I can say is that it is amazing how long your body can hold your breath without any stress or strain when at complete relaxation.  We spend the rest of my 90 minute session in and out of submerging sequences. 

At the end, as Paul was bringing me out of my meditative state, he mentioned that many people find Watsu to be very nurturing.  I don't know what happened, but something inside me was triggered by that word.  I was overcome with emotion.  It was the first time I have cried here at Kalani.  Paul warned me prior that sometimes people cry in the pool and to not be surprised by it.  Well, he was right because there I was just bawling in the pool.  Haha.  The session had been very nurturing and I believe I had forgotten what that feels like and how much I missed it.  I should take a minute here to thank all of you (you know who you are) that went out of your way to try and make me feel that way over the past year.  I love you all!

Well, if Watsu wasn't enough, the next day I had a 30 minute appt with a Shakti on energy healing.  (Hey, I'm at a Wellness Retreat, time to move out of vacation mode and jump into why I came!)  The meeting was pretty basic.  We mainly went through a worksheet exercise ranking different areas of my life and then envisioning the feelings around what I want more of in my life and why.  While it was a basic exercise, it's always interesting to have a visual of what you are thinking and to say those words allowed.  I cried again.  Haha.  But that was it.  The only times this week and the first two times in my first full month here! 

Later in the week I attended the Shakti's Meridian Tapping Circle.  We spent the first hour going through an interesting worksheet on how we view and feel about our finances and then tapping out any negative energy.  I'd never been to anything like this before.  It was very interesting and again nice to have a visual worksheet on something like finances that many people, including myself, have difficulty looking at it in a positive light and without stress/anxiety. 

I've also been to 4 yoga classes this week and have gotten down to the Point everyday.  Here are a couple pictures of one of my studios and the front door entrance to the studio overlooking the ocean.  I had a Restorative Yoga class there this morning.  At the end of practice, instead of finishing with the usual "OM", my cute instructor Caroline asked us to sing-along to, as she put it, "the great Prophet, Robert Marley's Three Little Birds".   I broke into big smiles at this.  Such a fun way to start the day...

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right! "

Rise up this mornin',
Smile with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Each by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou: ")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right! "

Finally, I ensured myself some playful nurturing this week too.  I did get out to watch the Packer playoff game last Sunday.  I went snorkeling down at some tide pools near by one day after work.  I also went down to the local open market, bar, band and food mini-festival that erupts every Wednesday night on some local grounds down on the lava rocks a few miles up the road.

So, as I say Aloha for now, I end asking did you feel nurtured this week?  I hope so!!!  I've had some extreme dosages of it lately! :)  Here is the view of the Red Road I cross going to the Point everyday!  Mahalo for reading!!!!