I started getting into the rhythm of the retreat by day 3. The early morning yoga felt a little easier each day. It wasn’t easy, but it felt pretty good. Martha introduced new poses and chants each morning. There were a handful of folks that never came to the early morning optional sessions so Martha generally recapped what we did in the early morning and elaborated more during our regular class.

In each session, we did some yoga flow, some small group work, and some personal reflections. Martha shared a reading based on the poem “Lift You like a prayer to the Sky” by Rumi, a 13th century poet and asked us to write a letter to ourselves after we heard it. Here is the Rumi poem:

I have come to drag you out of your self

and take you into my heart.

I have come to bring out the beauty

you never knew you had

and lift you like a prayer to the sky.

If no one recognizes you, I do

because you are my life and soul.

Don't run away, accept your wounds and

let bravery be your shield.

It takes a thousand stages

for the perfect being to evolve.

Every step of the way I will walk with you

and never leave you stranded.

Be patient, do not open the lid too soon

simmer away until you are ready.

In this game I make the rules.

I roll you like a ball and chase you

when I choose.

Here is what I wrote:

Dear Susan,
Remember your imperfections make you perfect. My self doubt and self deprecation only enhance/strengthen those characteristics. Use your thoughts to enhance and strengthen yourself, not to weaken yourself. There really are so many wonderful characteristics I have within me: kindness, intelligence, thoughtfulness, objectivity, gratitude…continue to cultivate and explore those characteristics through your meditation and yoga practice to grow as a person that you can continue to love. 

In case I failed to mention this sooner, it rained practically the entire time I was in North Carolina. I honestly was unsure that I would ever see the sun again. There must have been a break in the weather because I was able to take these pictures at lunch on Tuesday.