Saturday, July 19, 2008

Playgirl, Beach, Peaceful Within, Inspired






Hello there,

Photos: they are from places I went snorkeling, I went up in that big sail and jumped out into the ocean. In one place you can see the fish from before you dive in to go snorkeling, the one photos is from the octipus they got out there and inked everyone, fun fun, and then there is the ocean, the gorgeous ocean that speaks so beautifully!

How are you? How is life? I am good, I’m back in LA again and readjusting.

Just imagine, waking up from a great night sleep of 8 hours, it’s 6:30am. You stretch, from the tips of your fingers to the absolute ends of your toes. The soft cotton sheet surrounding you, in the perfect temperature of the room. Your first thought is, “life is amazing”…opening your eyes only to confirm that, with the white soft curtains surrounding the bed draping down and bound in each corner. You get up slowly, walk to the curtains that hold the sunlight out and pull them back. The warmth of the day that was held back even at 6:30am nudges in, you smell the warmth and it softens your sinus cavities and your shoulders relax even more. Pulling open the other drapes of the oval shaped window area that opens to the bathtub on the otherside that looks out over the ocean. Stepping to 3 feet to the window, opening the window and the screen, to unblock anything from really seeing the shocking view of the light blue to dark blue ocean, the gorgeous sky with a few white puffy clouds, the sun hasn’t quite made it up yet but it’s on it’s way, almost there…..looking down the clear blue swimming pool with it’s alley of water that goes to each ground floor room below, as I stand the 3rd floor looking at the whiteness of the resort glow from the sun coming up and showing it’s light onto it, awakening it to the day.

Seeing one or two couples starting to stir down there, reading in a chair, or the hanging lounge beds made for two. Smelling the soft ocean breaze, “Life is good”, yes it is, “all the time” as I hear Michael Beckwith in my head and the congregation. Sitting, breathing it all in through my nose, skin, eyes, mouth and even more peace flows over me, feeling ever so lucky to be here now. How fortunate. Just taking it all in, a clear mind, a passionate draw to be there now.

Taking up a book and reading on what ever your choice of the day it-health, Tantra, India, Love, etc. Then grabbing your durable sandals, short shorts, no shirt needed, your key, hat and sunglasses and off you are to your morning walk. You walk out of your room, “can I be nude here……? Yes, oh yes, I can”, such freedom, the sun shining on your skin and it warms to it with a little wetness coming to the surface, it illuminates, shines and shimmers in the light as you walk toward the beach. You skin that is already bronzed with the sun, used to the light of it all, the ocean breeze touching your breast and having you feel so alive, so awake and thrilled.

Walking over the coral beach and large sand pebbles, up over to the hard coral that is exposed, taking in that you are walking over shells that used to have living critters in them, some still do. Hermit crabs that jump back inside when you kneel down to them or the snails that are sucked up to a rock or another shell or smooth surface of some kind. Picking up a few gorgeous pieces of coral on your way, watching the waves come and splash upon the coral, high into the sky at times, the blue turning white in the sky and falling into the blue foamy ocean all over again.

The ocean taking taking away any worry you may have, cleaning your mind and allowing you to just be present with it. As if it was talking with you silently, collaborating with your soul and your desire to be here now, present. Your mind wants to kick in but then it lets go. Finding an amazing place to take in the view of the ocean, watching the sun come up, just taking in mother nature at her finest.

Walking back seeing the ocean in a completely more colorful view as you are looking in the direction of the sun this time around, seeing what the sun sees and you notice that the sun always sees the most colorful view of things as it shines light on everything. Wouldn’t that be nice to shine light on everything and everyone we look upon. Such beauty.

Going back, sitting down to a breakfast of fruit, granola, and yogurt looking out over the pool, the waiter bringing green tea and pineapple juice without even asking as they already know it’s what you love.

After breakfast, I’d teach 2 hours, then take some alone time or hang out with some of the guests and talk about their relationship or life it’s self. Then by that time it was lunch time and eating at the buffet of any kind of meat or fish on the grill, guacamole, homemade salsa, chips, salads, sushi on some days, and then some.

At two there was water volleyball-my favorite activity of the day. Wow that was a blast, it is such a group bonding thing. In the evening having dinner of salmon or lobster fettuccini, or a number of other things, with an avocado and crab salad and possibly some amazing soup.

At night there would be sometimes band that would play at dinner or after dinner in the “disco” an outside area that is covered, comfy couches, a Jacuzzi, fabric hanging from the ceiling blowing in the wind. Or there would be some Flamenco performance or Mexican performers, dancers, gymnasts, dance lessons or the perfect couple contest, all kinds of things offered.

So those were my days, they were gorgeous! The last Saturday I was there Playgirl sent a couple to interview me for their magazine. This couple was amazing, so full of love and life and so much fun. We talked for hours just really enjoying each others company. They came to my morning Body Awareness through Movement class. We had lunch together, then at 4pm I gave them a private session that was so heart-warming to witness and feel. Afterward they allowed me to take photos of them for my website and she realized she still hadn’t interviewed me so we met for dinner and had dinner and did the interview, it went great. Very simple and fun. We’ll be keeping in touch, having so much in common with food, receipts, etc. So look out for the Jan/February issue of Playgirl, I’ll be in there! Funny, they are putting me right next to an article on Guatemala-which is what I’m writing about.

All the couples I met this past month blew me away, opened my heart, inspired me to know love is so huge and so amazing. Working with couples that were married from anywhere from 15-39 years, still very much in love, and how they gave me so much hope to know there are couples out there that can still love after so many years together and know that some of them didn’t find their life partners until they were 40 years old. Also to know how much I helped them grow closer, that was pretty amazing, but they taught me a lot in just their beingness with each other. One couple in particular that I just loved said “friendship first then the relationship”, I could feel that, really feel it. There were the ones the most grounded, in love and felt the most healthy of all couples there. The inspired me the most, just the way they really liked each other, treated each other, interacted together and respected and accepted each other. Such touching beauty.

I have already been asked back by several guests and by the manager of the resort. Some guests are going to arrange their next trip to when I’ll be there. All that will need to be worked out. But it feels good to be asked to come back and wanted back there.

I’ll see where the journey leads me. I know this, as much as it was amazing and beautiful there, I missed home. Since I’ve traveled so much this past year and a half I am loving being home. Next time I hope to take someone with me. It would be great to have a friend to hang with on the off times and to share it with.

Last night I went to a dance performance, if you have never seen a performance of nude dancers doing contact dance, being lifted into the air you must see it. It pushed some peoples buttons to see that much of people, but I felt it was lovely, courageous and healing. On Monday night they are having a class for nude performing if I am back from an appointment I may go. It sounds incredible! If anyone in the Santa Monica area wants to go to the performance it’s still playing tonight and next weekend at Highways!
Much love to you all, many hugs, Heather

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