Benedictine monk, “is stepping back. When one steps back, one gets a bet- ter view of the world, others and our deepest self.” Iyer finds solace at New Camal- doli Heritage, a Benedictine com- munity amidst the rugged terrain of Big Sur, California (Contemplation. com). More than 2,000 monaster- ies and other spiritual communities throughout North America offer off- the-beaten-path retreats at reasonable prices and generally welcome guests of all religions and spiritual practices. The one requirement is that guests not disturb others.


At Ghost Ranch, in the high


desert of Abiquiu, New Mexico, “The scenery alone is spiritual and healing,” relates Nancy Early, a New York film producer. Under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, activities encour- age individual and social transforma- tion (NewMexico-GhostRanch.org). Early says the best part is, “There’s one pay phone, and cell phones don’t work here; no TV or radio. You walk away from everything that controls your life.”


Optimal Wellness:


Mind/Body Sometimes the healthy escape we seek can be found at a destination spa, which combines enough structure to slowly wean us from daily busyness with sufficient soothing, quiet spaces and physical nurturing. For Debbie Phillips—who spends


part of the year in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and the other part in Naples, Florida—one visit to a spa


was all it took. As an executive and life coach, Phillips founded Women on Fire in 2003 to connect her “on fire” clients with each other via regional meetings and a free online newsletter, and discovered that the condition sometimes crosses the line into overwork.


“My first visit to a spa more than


20 years ago was when I first learned about the life-changing benefits of tak- ing better care of myself. In addition to the soothing amenities, the peace, calm and quiet usually found at a spa—space to think, nap, read a book or gaze into the sky—often results in ‘less’ becoming ‘more’ in your life,” Phillips says. “I have returned home feeling lighter and brighter and even more excited for what is next. The experience gave me just the boost I needed to keep going.” Recently, Phillips discovered


simple techniques to nurture herself all year long by attending a breathing and meditation class at the Lake Aus- tin Spa, in Texas. “Now I start each day with long, deep breaths before I even get out of bed,” she says. “It is so simple, so calming and establishes my day with peace.” Virginia Nelson, a San Diego, California, attorney, likewise revels in her twice-yearly visits to Canyon Ranch, in Tucson, Arizona. “The pace in southern California is like running a marathon every day. My visits serve as respites that have allowed me to keep up with it this long.


“I first went in 1991 and saw a place to go and cocoon,” recounts Nelson, “but I also discovered incredi- ble fitness and education classes.” The spa is essentially a reset button for her. “It’s rest, rejuvenation and reinven- tion.” Canyon Ranch has several U.S. locations (CanyonRanch.com). Some facilities feature niche


mind/body experiences, such as the psychic massage or chakra balanc- ing at Mii Amo Spa, in Sedona, Arizona (EnchantmentResort.com). Others specialize in holistic wellness. Tucson’s Miraval Resort, in Arizona, offers an integrative wellness program guided by Dr. Andrew Weil (Tinyurl. com/6p2l237). Chill-out spa services


like a hot stone massage are often balanced by breath walking, qigong or desert tightrope walking.


Active Adventure:


The Body Finding a clear stillpoint of one’s soul can also occur while moving and challenging our bodies. Exercise helps us break through not only physical boundaries, but emotional and spiri- tual barriers, as well. Barbara Bartocci, a long-distance


cycler and author of Meditation in Motion, maintains that moving keeps both our brains and bodies healthier. “Research at The University of Arizona found that regular exercise appears to preserve key parts of the brain in- volved in attention and memory,” she notes. “It is well known that exercise helps to reduce anxiety, allay depres- sion and generally improve mood, by prompting our bodies to release more endorphins.”


Bartocci has experienced the


power of these connections firsthand. “Active vacations are truly transforma- tive,” she says emphatically. “When I bicycled across Iowa on RAGBRAI [The Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa], we cycled 76 miles one day on hills with a constant 20-mile-per-hour headwind. It was a tough day, but I made it! My divorce was becoming final that summer, and completing that day gave me the encouraging inner message: ‘If I can cycle Iowa on the toughest day, I can re-cycle my life after divorce.’” She’s still moving along. Recently, she joined 500 other cyclists doing 60 miles a day for a week in Wisconsin. Bill Murphy, of Annapolis, Maryland, made his breakthrough at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School (boss-inc.com). “While I wanted an adventure and to put myself out there, I also wanted to know that I was in good hands,” he says about why he chose a guided trip. Murphy was already in good shape, having competed in a local Ironman event. Following an initial fitness assessment that involved testing his heart rate


natural awakenings June 2012 17


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