Spring 2018 Gentle and Restorative Yoga Retreat

Join Amy Kweskin and Nancy Leigh Smith for a weekend of relaxation and personal attention at Weseterbeke Ranch in Sonoma County's Valley of the Moon. 

Around the structured schedule of yoga classes and meals you'll find ample time to enjoy hiking on the trails around the ranch, swimming in the pool, and soaking in the hot tub while enjoying the ranch's serene beauty.

Schedule of Events 

Friday, April 6

3:00pm: Guests may begin to arrive at Westerbeke 

4:00pm: Guests check -in 

5:00pm: Yoga "Post-Drive" Movement and Relaxation Session

6:30pm: Dinner

8:00pm: Evening Program-Chanting, Meditation and Salamba (supported) Savasana Session

Saturday, April 7

8:00am: Breakfast

9:30-11:00am: Morning Yoga

12:30pm: Lunch

Following lunch is unscheduled time on your own for hiking, swimming, hot tubbing, writing, napping, and massage appointments

4:30pm Yoga Session

6:30pm: Dinner

Sunday, April 8 

8:00am: Breakfast

Please pack and vacate your rooms before class, or by 10:00am

9:30-11:30 Morning Yoga & Closing Circle

12:30: Lunch

Departure following lunch

Meals at Westerbeke Ranch are famously delicious, and include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Your shared accomodations will be in the Red and Blue Cabins, each with four bedrooms. The cabins sleep a total of 24, accommodating 3-4 people in each bedroom. Each of the 8 bedrooms has a separate bathroom. The Blue Cabin is wheel chair accessible.

Registration includes the total fee for the retreat, inclusive of yoga classes, meals, lodging and use of the extensive grounds. Massage appointments are also available for an additional fee.

The retreat has limited space with a total of up to 24 attendees.

Registration 

via Eventbrite

Signs of Spring

You know Spring has arrived when you can...

• Smell the flowers, even at night
• Sleep with far fewer blankets
• Keep the windows open during the day
• Go with bare legs
• Hear the birds chirping
• Days are longer
• Legitimately use suntan lotion!

April Showers

This morning the sun was shining and I was fooled into thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could go outside with my spring jacket and no hat. Nature must have been paying attention to my daring clothing choices and decided to open up the heavens and let rain and hail remind me that Spring has not yet Sprung.

I went out to watch the London Marathon and was not the only person caught in the downpour. Everyone was soaked making this already challenging race even more of a challenge. Here are images of the elite runners and wheelchair racers. I had my zoom lens and was able to get some

intense shots.

Spring and Fold

So you've heard that London is grey, foggy, wet? I am witnessing otherwise. Global warming or urban legend we're not sure but why second guess great weather?

As I was taking this photo of the community garden outside our flat I was lucky enough to see a woman on her folding bike. This is huge in London - the folding bike craze. I've been scoping out options which range from 150-600 ($300-$1200). The most popular being the Brompton Folding Bike which springs into fold position as soon as its lifted. What happens when you hit a bump, I keep wondering.

If I get a folding bike it will fit in our flat and I can carry it upstairs to my office at work. Riding to work would be 80% along canals which is beautiful. I tried walking to work - took two hours. Monday I tried a different route from work to home and it again took me two hours. The time isn't of concern because I love walking but arriving at work tired before you start is not an easy way to start the day.

Our Head of Finance at work was telling me that the government allows employers a tax break if they provide breakfast to their employees who ride bikes to work. I can just imagine my eating frenzy - Eggs Benedict, Pancakes, French Toast (all in caps because they are so yummy) resulting in a sugar crash. Now that does sound appealing.

Illustration from Brompton Bikes website.

Dazzle them with your accent

Stephen told me that it is my turn to be exotic. Back in the States people loved his Scottish accent. Simone had the same experience with her London tones in San Francisco. I never really understood what they meant about peole's reactions...until now.

For some reason this past week (Spring?) people have been really bedazzled by my American accent. At work it is customers, board members and vendors. I answer the phone and they stumble with their words. In person they go googly eyed.

Yesterday I was working the registration table at one of our organisation’s seminars for legal professionals. These are mostly senior level folks who make a living being aggressive. At least three of the men went weak in the knees and got all smiley when I spoke to them.

As Simone said in San Francisco – I’m a person, not an accent. Actually, let me be an accent for a while. ...or is it the spectacular hair highlights?