I bumped into a friend of mine in town yesterday and she made the comment, “Hey, your posture is really better.  What have you been doing?”

It’s gotta be the yoga - ’cause cycling isn’t going to help in that department!

Sarah

“Pretty close to perfect,” I would say if asked about my weekend.  Yoga, twice a day.  In the morning 2 hours of dynamic yoga with Hildegard - practiced on an empty stomach (except for the exotically blue/green spirulina power drink she serves before class).  Evenings were 2 hours with Werner.  Although we were told his were more relaxing classes I, personally, found them challenging my limit as we had to hold muscle tissue and ligament stretches for what sometimes seemed like an eternity!  Such intense yoga sessions over a three day period really has an effect.  Hildegard and Werner are astounded at how stiff I am, especially in the hip area and we did a lot of work on that area over the weekend.  On Monday I swam and my legs felt totally different, much looser.  So, there must be hope for me yet!  And, all of a sudden,  I can really feel the development of my stomach muscles even though I never think we’re working much on stomach muscles.  But, actually, every movement we make involves core strength so I guess I am wrong about that! 

The food Hildegard served made all of us feel pampered.  A relaxed breakfast buffet with warm porridge and fresh rolls was attacked every morning directly after class.  Early afternoon a soup and pastry was served.  Warm apple strudel which would make any Austrian proud was a special treat, but then again so were her vegan brownies which were better than any brownie I ever ate in America….and I have tried many in my day!  But dinner: Ah! That was the highlight each day.  Hildegards’ vegan gourmet meals are not just delicious, they are works of art.  Starting with the unusual tableware she presents her creations on to the playful way she uses color and composition to please the eye and palate: Each dish brought on “ohhhs” and “ahhhs” from her guests. 

When we weren’t yoga’ing or eating, guests were being treated to Lomi Lomi massages by a therapist who was working at the center that weekend.  Everyone seemed thrilled with this ancient Hawaiian type of massage in which the entire arm, not just the hands, massage the body in a flowing, wave-like, motion. A perfect compliment to the yoga.

Hildegard also gave guests nutrition consultations, Werner took them for a 2 hour hike and many just used the time to relax, recharge and sleep.  I braved the icy north winds on my bike for a short ride, curious if I would see any improvement in my condition. What I did notice is that my pulse rate stayed lower, longer.  Could this be a by-product of the breathing exercises that we do in each Yoga class?  I must ask them. But, whatever the reason, I was thrilled to see low numbers on my bike computer.  Now, if I can get them even lower by the time I hit the streets of Mallorca I’ll be a happy camper!

I also got another treatment with Elfriede on the weekend.  She did the same “massage” and I must say that this time it didn’t hurt anywhere near as much as last time.  That must be proof that the last one worked.  ”You have got quite a lot build up still, but a few sessions more should get you into good shape,” she promised. This time I felt much freer and more open in the stomach area.  And, I was really hungry about an hour afterwards….humm?

I’m sorry I missed out on the Ginger Wraps, hot compresses applied to the back area are suppose to encourage detoxification and get the stomach fires going.  I hope I can experience that another time up at the Center. 

But, even without the Ginger Wraps, I have noticed incredible detox going on in my body since I started with the Yoga, the TCM herbal treatments and  the new diet.  It is as if my body is ridding itself of all my sins of the past to let in all the good stuff I am doing for it now!

On Monday the effects of the weekend were evident.  I had energy and just felt happy.  Being a mom with two kids, this weekend was a real luxury for me.  Just having time for “me”, not having to prepare meals, feel the pressure to tackle the ironing, clean - all those everyday things fell away.  My husband was sweet enough to take over for me enabling me to fully get the most out of the few days. It was a total recharge.

If the nasty north wind would die down, I could get on my bike and get some kilometers on my legs.  In the meantime, I will continue the two yoga classes in the week and swimming and hope that my condition will continue to improve.  Time is running out.  

SWS

Es war erholsam, anstrengend, informativ, gesellig, entspannend, reinigend,… und ich fühle mich wie nach einem 14-tägigen Urlaub. Dabei war ich nur 3 Tag an eurem wunderbaren Ort in Obermillstatt, mit einem grandiosen Blick, herrlicher Höhenluft und einem “Loch im Himmel”, das uns immer Sonne durchschickte!

Die Yoga-Stunden mit dem Blick auf die noch verschneite Bergwelt waren ein Genuß (auch wenn hart gearbeitet wurde) und das Essen war - nach anfänglicher Skepsis im Sinne von ”kann vegan und makrobiotisch überhaupt schmecken” - eine Genußtour für die Geschmacksnerven! Ich habe wirklich viel gegessen, mehr als sonst, habe mich aber überhaupt nicht belastet gefühlt und es ist mir auch beim Yoga gut damit gegangen.

Eure besondere Gastfreundschaft hat den Aufenthalt abgerundet! Ihr habt euch wirklich eine kleine Oase geschaffen, in der es einem leicht fällt, anzukommen, innezuhalten und auch zu genießen.

Vielen Dank für das besondere Wochenende, das mir wieder den Kick gegeben hat, etwas zu verändern!

When my cycling trainer Martin Birney, owner of SportActive Cycling Centre in Mallorca, sent me an e-mail an reading ” Eight weeks til training camp, how’s your condition after the winter months?” I panicked.  I had everything but condition! After a major operation in December, I had an aching lower back, little energy, an extremely weak core and little motivation to do anything about it.  I didn’t know where to start.  Then I thought on Hildegard and Werner.  I called and explained, “I’ve got 8 weeks to get in shape, please help me!”

That was a few weeks ago.  Hildegard got me back into yoga classes immediately, working in positions directed at loosening my lower back and strengthening my core.  In her dynamic classes with students of all levels, I immediately found my motivation. Over the past few weeks I can feel how my body has gotten stronger and increasingly supple (for cyclist standards!).  I’m not where I need to be so that I can ride easily with the pack, but I feel I am getting there.

Once Hildegard had me revved up on yoga, we sat down for a nutrition consultation.  She studied my skin, my eyes, my tongue asked me questions about my diet and, after some deep thought, came up with some changes I should make.  The changes aren’t totally drastic and I found them quite easy to integrate into my life style.  The Soami Corner Store, a small room at the Center stocked with the basics for healthy eating, was my first stop.  Cheaper and more convenient than the nearest health food store, I was able to get almost everything I needed to get me going on the right path.  I’m eating lots of vegetables, fish, whole grains, soya and nut products.  I’ve lost 3 kilos (which I didn’t really need to do, but it is a nice side effect!) and my energy levels have increased. Hildegard has also shared some great recipes with me which makes it easy to feed the entire family what I am eating without any moans and groans!

Hildegard and Werner have visiting therapists at their Center and I have been directed to a few of them over the past weeks.  Elfriede Schneider, who specializes in the digestive system is a master of Colon Hydro clensing.  Now, I still can’t get my mind around that yet so, even though the great pro cyclist David Zabriskie swears by it and has his own machine, I stuck to a consultation which was spot on.  An expert in foot reflexology, Elfriede took quite some time studying my feet, able to get information about my organs and general well being.  ”It is high time you change your diet, Hildegard will handle that perfectly for you.  And, cut out the black tea and coffee - they are drying you out.”  I was drinking over a liter of black tea a day and, it was true, my skin has been extremely dry and my feet were not anywhere near to being able to wear a pair of sandals!  She then did a massage over my stomach muscles, a procedure that was on the border of tolerable pain. “Hold in there.  I can free you up of a lot of buildup.  You suffer from Gastritis, don’t you?”  she asked. I thought: How on earth could she tell? “I can work on that, you won’t get it again in the near future.” and she continued to massage.  I figured the pain was worth it if I didn’t have to suffer through another bout of uncomfortable Gastritis.

A week later Hildegard called.  I have a TCM doctor here.  I have told her about you and she wants to see you.  Come at 6pm.  Surja studied western medicine before getting into TCM.  She offers her wisdom to clients at the Center a few times a year.  I was totally lucky that she was there when I was in need.  Asking questions about physical and mental health, reading my pulse as the Chinese do and looking at my tongue, she diagnosed several problems and prescribed herbal drops that would support healing as well as help with my endurance on the athletic side.  They have definitely helped on many levels. 

I have less than a month til I’m cranking the pedals on the roads of sunny (hopefully!) Mallorca.  My panic is gone.  I know I won’t be in perfect shape, but I am confident that I will manage. Through the support of the Soami Team, I have become less hectic and more peaceful and concentrated. I have energy to get through the day, don’t have that crash feeling after meals and can get out of bed each morning without that  feeling of permanent exhaustion.  I’ll be attending the Billers’ Yoga Seminar this weekend and am really interested in seeing what intensive yoga twice a day, Hildegard’s gourmet cooking and the treatments offered will do for me.  I’ll keep you posted!