OmOcean

"What you do for yourself will affect how you experience your world. In fact, it will transform how you experience the world. What you do for yourself, you are doing for others. And what you do for others, you are doing for yourself" ~ Pema Chödrön

Tranquilo...means tranquil, calm and that is the feeling I had leaving the OmOcean yoga and surf retreat on Sunday, September 19th. A word that also comes to mind is connected. Two teachers at Escuela Americana - Beth and Jesse - began OmOcean yoga surf retreats http://www.omoceanyogasurf.com/index.html last year and I am the benefit of their passion and love of yoga n' surf with the desire to share it with others. Also, lucky for me they have a love of very good and healthy food (which includes coffee and wine!) ---- we had such thoughtful meals prepared by them with a lovely, nurturing atmosphere. I felt very well cared for at this retreat.

The retreat began Friday evening when Meg (an Executive Director of an NGO - non-governmental organization focused on family planning and HIV prevention) picked up myself and another complejo resident, Marissa, to make our way to the coast (without traffic it takes about 35-40 minutes to reach our destination) at a nice beach house called Lost Paradise. http://www.lostparadiselsalvador.com/ The house was wonderful - nice rooms with bathrooms (and hot water - a Peace Corps Volunteer never takes that for granted) that we shared; an open air dining and sitting area looking down onto a pool area; and lush surroundings. Beth and Jesse provided an inviting and relaxing atmosphere with good music, wine, food, flowers...and an "altar" (with beach rocks, flowers and beach wood) for convening at different times in the weekend, including our yoga. When we arrived, we got settled, relaxed and enjoyed a delicious meal of fresh sea bass, mango salsa and roasted, creamed yucca; and Jesse facilitated a relaxation and intention setting welcoming circle. Jesse began giving her Thai massage one-on-one sessions and Beth started the group in making a collaborative leaf painting ~ imprints of real leaves onto canvas layered throughout the weekend with some free-form painting. The other participants (four other women plus one assistant/instructor) in the retreat were from Guatemala City and work at an American school there (where Jesse has worked for the past 2 years before coming to the El Salvador American school).

The next day we began the morning with a long yoga session - outside with our mats (see picture below of where we did the yoga) - in a beautiful, natural setting with the sound of the birds and ocean in the background... I was out of practice and it was a different type of yoga than I did before, but they went at a good slow pace and were very encouraging to all of our levels. I really enjoyed being back into the poses and the space of yoga - I see lots of opportunities to make my practice more of a regular part of my life again. Breakfast was baked bananas, yogurt and granola...AND later on we had coconuts off the tree (drank the water and ate the meat). Then we got in the pool for some lessons on surfing (a couple of pics below, need to work on the knees and stance - must be similar to telemarking). I was able to get a feel for the board, paddling/balancing, and standing up in a quick second to grab a wave...The real waves in the ocean were too large/rough for us beginners (and others) that day...but I will get into the ocean at some point on a surf board! Jesse also taught us the connection of yoga and surfing - the breathing, balance, strength, consciousness and connectedness that yoga adds to surfing. We walked a few minutes to a beach to do synergy partner and group yoga and play around in the ocean --- it reminded me of some of the teambuilding or "initiatives" of outdoor courses, but with yoga poses and "moves". I always learn something from this type of venture, even though it is not always my cup o' tea. This time I learned the amazing things that can be done in partnership, connection and fluidity with our bodies. I appreciated the amazing "acrobatics" of our instructors to perform some incredible and beautiful poses together --- and their uninhibited nature and connection to their bodies and others.

Later on after a healthy, light lunch we headed to the nearby Playa del Tunco and Tekuani Kal for a temazcal (aztec sauna or sweat lodge) of Nahuat-Aztec design with use of medicinal plants and ancestral ritual. I have always wanted to take part in a sweat lodge, but have not in north america. The intense heat was something to get used to and allowed me (demanded of me) to go into meditative breathing; the aromas were different in each of the three rounds (new hot rocks and water) and greatly enhanced the overall experience. I used the ujjayi (ocean breath) that we practiced with Beth earlier that day in yoga; and continued to push myself to be open to stick with the experience, which paid off in the end. Afterwards we went into this pool of cool water that looks out onto the ocean...


The next day began with a yoga session --- how wonderful to practice yoga in the open air; a tasty breakfast; and then I experienced Thai massage. Jesse is trained in both Thai and Swedish massage. Thai massage seems to be based in movement of the body (a form of bodywork typically performed on the floor with no oils) in addition to the actual massage of the body. At one point Jesse "flew" me on her feet to better work with gravity and the manipulation or stretching of my body; it was a truly amazing, beautiful, healing experience... Our time as a group ended with a closing practice, group picture and selection of the collaborative leaf painting beneficiary - not me. I left feeling connected and transformed; and honored to be part of this weekend retreat.

Feliz dia dé la Independencia

Hard to believe that almost a month has gone by since I last posted - it is certainly not from lack of material... Life has been busier with energy focused on getting Cole settled into school and a routine and getting more into my work which has been interesting and enjoyable. I will write another posting talking more about life, work, school and excursions of the last month...but this one is dedicated to El Salvador's Independence Day.

El Salvador claimed its freedom after the Central American Independence Act was signed on September 15, 1821 ending the 300 years of Spanish rule. All five Cental American countries celebrate the same day of independence (and Mexico as well - which has an interesting history in relation to El Salvador). For more information on their independence and political history go to: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/el-salvador-independence-day/ OR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador



The celebrations started at 8am ish on Tuesday September 14th with a school-wide program at the gymnasium (students 4th grade and up) including marching of the flag by the top-in-their-class seniors, the national anthem and other songs (a band played), speeches, and traditional dances performed by the seniors and a performance by the 4th graders. In one of the pictures you will see Rich up on the stage, but he did not deliver a speech this day. At 10:30am that same day there was a parade at the Lower School for those kids Pre-K through 3rd grade with a band, flags and parading of the kids. Cole seemed to enjoy himself and holding a bandera (flag). And he is taking the "singing of the anthem" (in Spanish?) very seriously - ahh...que lindo! (...so cute!)



On the actual day of Independence (a holiday with no work/school) on Wednesday September 15th we went to a nearby area to have breakfast at San Martin (very good bakery and restaurant) and then stepped out on the sidewalk to enjoy the big parade. I expected there to be a little more variety and lighter fare (traditional dress, dances, large puppets...), but it was essentially a military parade. (I later found out that there was another parade of the schools that is more of the dances and floats; and then the two parades come together into the national stadium). There was just about every kind of uniform and part of the military you could think of and bands and aircraft (helicopters, various planes...) flying overhead. Cole had on his peace tie-dyed shirt...and he thoroughly enjoyed all the trappings of a military parade. In my pictures I chose to focus on the bands - who doesn't like a good marching band, right Dad? Afterwards someone told us that we were on the evenings news (too funny).

Afterwards we came home and enjoyed a quiet afternoon at home and Cole played with the neighbor kids. Nice to have a day off in the middle of the week! This weekend I will be going to the coastal area/beach for a weekend retreat of yoga, thai massage, synergy (partner and group yoga), and surfing (lessons). I am looking for an opportunity to get back into yoga and my goal for this year is to learn to surf, so this should be a wonderful weekend for me.