On my list of priorities, self-care often takes a backseat to family care. When the opportunity came up to attend a weekend at a nearby campground for an all women’s wellness retreat led by yoga instructors, I didn’t grab the opportunity. I texted Susan on the final call and signed up just for Saturday and only if I could find a friend to ride with. Then last week when my daughter told me she was taking her kids to the zoo in New Orleans “Surely you don’t want to miss a day with your grandchildren!” I sent another text. “Something has come up with my family. Can you find a replacement?” I was, as they say around here “Crawfishing my way out.”
On Thursday when I stayed home with some vertigo symptoms and took a Covid test convinced I would have a medical excuse to do none of it, I tested negative and my husband urged me to go on the retreat. “You deserve this.”
Here is a photo walk through the woods with 20 women tuning ourselves to the sounds and peace of nature. Mother earth was speaking, “Come home. Come home.”
Rewild Yourself
Inhale
Margaret Simon
Exhale
Tree hold me
balanced
calm
restored
to my
purpose
After a yoga flow session we headed into the forest for a “forest bath”. The instructor Tiffanie encouraged us to find a rainbow in nature. Green was all around. Not to mention poison ivy and signs warning of cottonmouth snakes. I powered through. I chose my colors from fiddle head fern to an unripe red blackberry. My favorite find was the orange heart-shaped leaf which I have pressed into my journal to remind me to love myself.
Nature struggles
Margaret Simon
each day–
a yellow leaf
dies
falls
feeds
the earth
into rebirth.
I find myself
behind all the others
holding on
to this solace
this song.
Our lunch was all vegan with a detox salad, sweet potatoes, and a lentil and rice dish I forgot the name of. Susan had soaked chia seeds in oat milk for a pudding-like dessert. We were all asking for recipes. I relaxed and rested and made new friends. At the end of the day, Susan washed us in a sound bath. I held one of her singing bowls. It felt heavy at first, but as I relaxed and let go, the bowl became lighter and part of me. I realized that burdens may seem heavy for a while, but they eventually become easier to hold and part of the well-loved person we are.
*For information on Susan and her sound bath therapy, go to Bayou Lotus Studio.
Reflections on the Teche 
So glad you took the time! Nature is restorative, and this morning I am uplifted by hearing the first red-winged blackbirds of the season.
I recall the sound from being on the lake at my parents’ home. I thought I would be forever able to go back there. I’m surprised I didn’t see or hear them yesterday.
This is a wonderful slice retelling an incredible experience. I love how you expressed the gradual change from frenetic decision making and stressors to peace and release. Your sentences went from this, “I was, as they say around here “Crawfishing my way out.”” to this, “I relaxed and rested and made new friends.” As a reader my pulse slowed along with your piece as I moved through it. Well done and I’m a little jealous of the retreat!
I’m jealous of myself and now wondering if I should have done the full retreat. Thanks for reading.
You will next time!
Margaret, what a beautiful post you’ve crafted here. You really took your reader along as you moved from trying to get out of the weekend (love that crawfishing expression!) to fully embracing each aspect of the event. Your poems were like a distillation, natural rising from the moment. So lovely! I do hope you carry that sense of rest and relaxation into the coming week and beyond.
I’m feeling it this morning. I’m coming to believe that we must restore our own souls to have strength to give to others.
This sounds like a remarkable and much-deserved weekend, crafted into a post that your readers find restorative to read! Such lovely photos and poems.
Thanks. I sometimes feel so self-centered when I post something like this. I’m glad you took it in the spirit I wrote it in, one vulnerable woman to another.
This sounds like such a lovely way to spend a Saturday. I love being in nature. Maybe I can find something like this near me. I am glad your husband encouraged you to go.
Margaret, what a beautiful reminder of taking care of oneself. I love the idea to “Rewild Yourself” and the nature rainbow, gorgeous. Yes, to this truth: “we must restore our own souls to have strength to give to others.” Peace to you, and I’m so glad Jeff encouraged you to just do it.
Like you, I often hedge when it comes to doing something just for me. I’m so glad you took advantage of this experience. Your pictures and writing tell a tale of serenity. So glad you enjoyed it.
This form of self care is so necessary – kind of a cleansing pampering healthy spa experience. That sounds divine.
Wow! Sounds like just what you needed…even though I get that attempt to “crawfish your way out.”
[…] a recent yoga Women’s Wellness Retreat, I collected things as I walked a forest trail. The instructor suggested collecting a rainbow. My […]
Margaret, I am backtracking to your slice after a soothing yoga class. Self-love is an important ingredient in life. The retreat seemed to be the just right element to bring clarity to a renewed spirit. This photo does need a poem and I am glad that you chose it for the Wednesday activity.