Nourish the inner Sun 10/11 December 2 days Winter Retreat
2 days Winter Retreat - Sat 12pm-7pm / Sun 10am-6pm
With Dr Isabella Guerrini de Claire (Vegan Nutritionist) and Marta Koszo (TCM practitioner) - Clubroom Altyre Estate - Forres, Scotland
The medicine of the winter solstice offers us a time to go within. Many of us hear the call of our inner desires and dreams, though it is often difficult to find the path forward to our true self. In winter everything lies dormant in the silent earth, it is a sacred time of rest and reflection before the awakening and the slow build toward brighter days.
Winter Solstice ~it should be time for hibernation, rest, rejuvenation, rebirth and renewal.
Join us in this exceptional opportunity to combine the way of 'Plant-based Non-Diet' with TCM.
This daytime retreat combines the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the healthiest, most beneficial and most compassionate lifestyle: the plant-based nutrition.
The energy of winter is that of going within. It's the fruitful darkness and silence out of which our soul's yearnings and new inspirations can eventually emerge. As we consciously link our awareness to Nature's cycles, our understanding of our own personal growth cycles begin to deepen. Learning to explore deeply is opening to the ultimate possibility of our life. In Latin, solstice is made of two words: sol– meaning “the sun” and sistere meaning “to make stand.” Winter Solstice is one the most powerful points of the year as the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts and moves in the opposite direction. For three days around the solstice points we experience the power of the standstill point and the shift of direction. The sun standing still is a powerful metaphor for the energy available to us at the Winter Solstice, by allowing ourselves to connect with our inner self, our way of rest and restore can become the spiritual cradle into which our inner light and new life is born: our inner Sun.
Winter Solstice is one of the most important turning points in our yearly cycle – once identified as the true new year in ancient times. In this time of potential for deeply rejuvenating our energy – this retreat will guide us inwards to foster greater balance in our body, energy, and mind. This is a special invitation to pause and connect with the stillness within ourselves through nourishment and emotional release. We will explore the intimate connections between the outer world and our inner experience, learn to understand our own unique food orientation, and work to empower more authentic and dynamic balance in our own lives. In particular, while we will focus on the poignancy of the winter threshold, you will receive practical guidance for our health and our way of food, for keeping relaxed and happy during this time and beyond.
Nutrition health coach and regenerative specialist Isabella will guide us with her creative non-diet and self-acceptance approach through the retreat, in which she’ll share her knowledge and experience for wholesome plant-based food and self-care practices to heal yourself.
Next to essential ideas of the plant-based cuisine, Isabella will introduce to you a variety of recipes which are designed for experienced cooks as well as curious-minded people that are new to the world of plant-based cooking. Self-care should be considered a ‘best medicine discipline’ for everyone, because it shouldn’t be something to do once in a while, when the inner and outer worlds get dysfunctional or crazy. Taking care of ourselves is a necessity, in a way that doesn’t require to be called “indulging”, in order to restore balance. On this retreat, you’ll level up your cooking skills and confidence in the kitchen, while also getting a fantastic hand-out of holistic health and wellbeing self-care practices.
Chinese medicine practitioner Marta, will show how through TCM you can boost your energy and immunity through food practices, relieve pain, rebalance your inner system, improve vital organ health, minimise stress and anxiety, promote youthful-looking skin, and even keep many disorders from appearing or progressing. Using Chinese Medicine’s principles of a holistic approach to healing, Marta designs each treatment to meet the individual needs of clients by combining therapies such as vocal sound healing, acupuncture and tui na, and ancillary techniques such as moxibustion, electro-acupuncture, cupping and guasha, as well as by providing dietary and lifestyle advice.
TCM nutrition is not traditionally plant-based only… although, as the work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell showed in The China Study, rural China has historically been almost 100% plant-based. Moreover, dairy is not a part of the traditional diet in most Asian countries, although globalisation is unfortunately bringing these countries up to speed with our unhealthy Western ways, with the effect of animal farming creating climate change disruption, together with heavy chemicals and pharmaceuticals in animal-based foods and in our environment, fast food chains and processed foods making their way into cities and bigger towns at an alarming rate.
During this special retreat we will have the opportunity to:
Discover our unique elemental typology according to TCM.
5 elements.
Energetic properties of food.
Relation between emotions and foods
The power of plant-based nutrition and combinations to keep our body healthy with correct protein, minerals and vitamins intake.
Easy self-testing and self-healing techniques, such as systemic body tuning, kinesiology and Emotional Freedom Techniques.
6 Healing sounds qigong as self-practice to activate our parasympathetic nervous system (rest &digest) and thus bringing the body into a state of deep relaxation.
Learn how to integrate with the elemental and energetic shifts of the seasons in order to achieve more dynamic wellness.
Explore accessible nutritional, somatic and behavioural techniques for stress release and for bringing the body and mind into a state of balance, including for calming the physical and mental winds and supporting deep relaxation.
Receive mindfulness meditation and deep relaxation.
Welcome the Winter Solstice threshold with a special ritual.
Nutritional cleansing.
Daily homemade vegan/organic lunches and dinners and detox drinks
Physical and emotional alignment with nature through specific techniques.
Mindfulness walks and outdoor activities to tune with the unique beauty and amazing energy of this blessed land
Cost
£180 (meals and food breaks included)
We offer bursaries, concessions and deferred payment plans as resources for anyone with financial limitations.
Who Should Attend?
This retreat is open to everyone.
Booking is essential
Please, connect through info@lovinglivingfood.com. Tickets are limited. Deadline for booking is the 9th of December. All the tickets will be refunded in case of cancellation.
