Silver Island

A beautiful working vaca at a gorgeous Greek yoga retreat centre with the fabola Brenda Rock of Ananda Centre in Slane, County Meath, Ireland.

Every now and then it is good to do something out of one’s comfort zone. So with that mantra in mind this year I did just that. My sister had mentioned going to pick olives on Silver Island in Greece. Helena, our Acupuncturist here in Ananda Centre, is good friends with the owners. So it was out of my comfort zone but not totally scary!

On Silver Island, sisters Lissa and Claire, Lissa’s husband Corne and Ernest the island’s caretaker  facilitate a weekly yoga retreat for 7 months of the year. I must mention it is the world’s only private island yoga retreat centre. Amazing, yes? And not forgetting Lulu the dog. She was a real star, great dancer and an awful distraction with her cuteness!
Off we went, arriving in Athens at a decent time of 7.30pm, booking into our hotel close to where the airport bus dropped us at Syntagma Square. We stayed that night in the Athens Diamond Plus Hotel. Clean and very reasonable but you have to say it in the accent of that fancy lady voice on the TV commercials. Everything in the hotel was white gloss, I felt like I was in an 80’s Wham video!

Up early next morning to catch the 8.45am bus to Oreoi on Evia island. 3 hour journey — doable. Got the first Spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie in filo crust, yum) of the trip in the bakery by the port and waited for our lift to Silver Island. Very quiet in Oreoi as it was November but judging by all the cute restaurants on the waterfront you could imagine that it would get busy in high season.

Corne kindly met us at the dock. Our mode of transport to the island was a very cool speedboat, very James Bond or something! The water was like glass and the sun shone as the island lighthouse came into view.

After intros and, the start of what was to b,e many cups of tea later the guys had lunch and headed back out to work. This gave myself and Vicki a chance to have a quick dip in the sea and a walk to warm up. The sisters thought we were mad to be getting into the water but we assured them, being Irish, it was a temperature akin to Salthill on Ireland’s best summer’s day.

Up the next morning at 7.30am — big bowl of porridge and cup of coffee and we were ready for the day. All the olives had been picked the week previous so there now was the job of pruning the olive trees. There is a skill to this so our job was to remove the fallen branches and make into piles to be burned later on. Easy enough you say until you factor in an angle of 45 degrees on the slopes where the trees grow. OK so I might exaggerate a little but it was hilly! Lets just say the muscles in my legs were getting a great workout. We broke for lunch at 1pm and there is nothing like a hunger built up from a bit of labour. Back out for 2 and then finished at 4.30. I have to admit I got a shock! I like to think I work hard manually with the massage but this was very new. Strangely though there was always a great sense of satisfaction when each day was finished during our stay.

 Our jobs, over the next 10 days, included gully clearing, shed clearing, shelf making (thanks to Claire’s guidance we became proficient in scaffold shelf making — hipster up cycling eat your heart out!), bush clearing and I even managed to swop a couple of afternoons off in exchange for giving massages! Ernest reckoned we made a good team, the whole lot of us. I also learned how to prune an olive tree.

 Our evenings were spent deciding whether to go for a cold shower (no running hot water on the island) or have a bucket bath. I had forgotten how I can take things for granted! End result always good though. Clean, warm and hungry. Each night we had an amazing meal prepared by the guys along with a glass of local wine. Yum! It was so good to sit around a table and be social. No internet, no distractions. We discussed so much and discovered we had a lot in common too. There were many belly laughs and tears from both laughing and crying. Amazing when you keep things simple what can happen.

Even in November the water was beautiful.

I got to wash my hair in the sea. On the island no products containing nasty chemicals are allowed as the water is recycled. A wonderful organic Greek range called Korres is available to those who visit Silver Island. I felt very wild-woman washing the hair with all natural stuff. Silver Island will have their own range of products soon, made by a friend on the mainland.

Vicki and I were in charge of dishwashing each evening. We were in bed each night by 9pm. I couldn’t even read my book as I was wiped.

We said our farewells after 10 days, joked about coming back to work on the island though you never know, we could surprise them next year! We stopped off in Edipsos on the way to Athens — they have amazing thermal baths there. Just what the weary bodies needed. Then, two days in Athens where the sun shone to provide perfect tourist conditions. I had been to Athens before and was only too happy to see the Acropolis again. I really like Athens, it’s buzzing and understatedly cool.

Agora in Athens

I am not sure how to describe our trip away. A working holiday? A meditation of work? It was interesting to allow the mind to switch off and only have one’s focus on the task at hand. I was very happy with how my body didn’t let me down under the pressure and I came away unscathed but for the mosi bites! I dunno, maybe I would go back to help out but for a shorter length of time. I would, however, really love to go back as a guest someday. Seeing how the island is set up, it’s location and how beautiful it is, definitely sells it to me. And not forgetting our wonderful hosts —  without them the island would be nothing. They work very hard so that people can come and enjoy what they have enjoyed for years and that is the beauty and magic of Silver Island.

For more on the island and the retreats check out www.silverislandyoga.com
Crossposted at Brenda's Yoga and Massage Blog.

December 1st World AIDs Day – a message from Brenda and Ananda Centre

World AIDs Day was yesterday.

What is World AIDS Day?
World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988.

This guest post is by the most awesome Brenda Rock. *****************************************************
We’ve come such a long way since the early ‘80s, when AIDS came onto the scene, killing many and frightening more. There was so little known at that time. Scary times for those who had the disease and those who loved them. It was through the hard work and advocacy of many people that we discovered HIV, learned how to prevent its transmission, and how to hold it in check.
Today, HIV is a chronic illness, but some of the fear still remains. There are still people, thankfully, working tirelessly to eliminate stigma just as there are those working to find a vaccine and a cure. Still more are working to make the lives of people living with HIV better in whatever ways they can. Some of these are massage therapists like me.
Massage therapy is not a cure. It’s not even a treatment. But it can help HIV+ individuals live happier, healthier lives:

● Massage can help alleviate peripheral neuropathy (tingling, numbness, and pain in the feet and legs), a side effect of antiretroviral therapy. Staying on a regular treatment regimen is paramount if you have HIV, so whatever makes that process easier is worthwhile.
● Massage can help with anxiety and depression, both common in people living with HIV. Mental illness is not to be taken lightly, and is one of the more common reasons that people find it difficult to take care of themselves.
● Massage can be a positive experience in your own body. When you have a chronic illness of any kind, it’s easy to feel constantly at war with yourself. A massage is a time when you and your body get to be on the same team for a little while.
● Massage is a time to connect through touch. For all the good information out there about HIV/AIDS, there are still plenty of ridiculous myths about how it is transmitted. This often manifests itself as a lack of everyday touch, which is especially devastating to people who have lost their intimate partners.

So let me state this very clearly:
You will never be turned away from my massage table due to your HIV status. When you have secondary issues that mean that massage would be harmful to either you or me, I will let you know specifically what they are, so that you are not left in the dark. If you find yourself with a condition I am not trained to work with, I will do my best to find you another massage therapist who is.

Your HIV status is private. I will not tell your partner, your mother, your employer, your doctor, or your best friend, unless you specifically ask me to, in writing. If you would like copies of any records or notes I keep about our sessions together, you are welcome to them. But they are not for others’ eyes.

How you contracted HIV is none of my business. Unless it’s something that affects your health in other ways (like current drug use), it has no impact on your massage. But if you do decide to share, I will not judge you.

December 1 is World AIDS Day.


This month, whoever you are, take a little time to learn about what’s been discovered about HIV since you first heard of it all those years ago. We now know about different strains of HIV, and how our bodies react differently to each. We know how to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and how serodiscordant couples (couples in which only one partner is HIV+) can safely conceive children together. And we know that the support of friends, neighbors, family, and loved ones is one of the key factors in the health and wellbeing of people with HIV.


This post is just one small action I’m taking to help everyone with HIV feel more welcome in Ananda Centre.

Crossposted at Ananda Center Blog
*****************************************

Brenda Rock’s a massage therapist, Hatha yoga teacher. wonderful friend of mine AND she’s the founder of Ananda Centre, Massage and Yoga Therapy in Slane Co. Meath, Ireland just 47 kilometers north of Dublin.

Brenda is trained and experienced in the following modalities; Deep Tissue Massage, Holistic Massage, Pregnancy Massage and On-Site Chair Massage. Brenda has also qualified in ‘Massage for People Living with Cancer’ with renowned Oncology Massage Therapist, Gayle MacDonald. This, she says, adds an even richer element to her already rewarding work.

Read more about Brenda and Ananda Centre here.

Caturday in Valhalla

poor beleaguered, yet slightly devilish appearing, Gus

It’s unanimous -- no one likes Gus (nee Greta).

The heat’s finally broken and, now that we can all breathe easier, one thing’s become clear. Even Coco, who doesn’t go outside, isn’t keen on our tiny boy. She fetches me when Gaston and Rocco come around, herds me to the front door -- ‘my friends are here and they’re hungry!’ When Gus arrives she just sits in her window seat staring daggers.

An obviously stoned Gaston

Sargent Rocco

steely eyed Coco

  Rocco and Gaston, who’ve had an uneasy but evolving truce since last summer when Rocco put our fluffy Maine Coon cat in his place, seem to have banded together in their Let’s-Get-Rid-of-Gus campaign.

Gaston goes with his strength -- Industrial Caterwauling. Rocco employs the Glare of Certain Doom and, if that, oddly and unaccountably, fails he goes into angry panther mode and chases our small grey boy off.

Now, I was feeling all sorry for Gus until:

1) The Amazing Bob told me that he witnessed Gus doing the cat version of picking a fight. What’s that look like? Gus crouched down, swiftly moving into Gaston’s personal space, saying 'What'd you say? Why you lookin' at me cross eyed?' and the ever popular 'So you think you're a tough guy, do ya?'. 

Jen said she saw him, possibly, being the instigating intimidator once too.

Is Gus just defending himself? Standing his ground? I’m happy as fuck that my herd isn’t armed!

2) I witnessed Gus attempting to eat out of Gaston’s bowl while our fluffy boy was RIGHT THERE! 

An act of aggression? Naked hunger? Poor social skills? Dunno.

OK, clearly I still feel sympathy for Gus, though he’s a terribly messy eater -- half his food ends up on the ground around his bowl. He’s so small and relatively thin. He needs to eat, eat (see, this is where my Italian American heritage comes out in spades).

Whether or not Gus is a stealth, asshole beast is, as yet, unclear -- to me anyway. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. All I know is that, in my role of peacemaker, I will continue dispensing copious amounts of kitty weed (AKA catnip), Whisker Lickin's and Temptations cat treats, tuna and pats.

And kitty yoga breathing.

Rock and a Yoga Place

This story is by the tremendous Brenda Rock, bon vivant, world traveler and friend 'o' mine!

My earliest yoga memory is with my mum and siblings sitting in the attic space we kids had made into a play area. We were doing a candle meditation with her. I must have been about 10 or so. Mum started her yoga journey when she was pregnant with my sister who is now 30. I remember liking the candle and closing my eyes and still seeing it in my mind’s eye.

It was 2 years after this that I fell out of love with yoga! We lived close to the wonderful Anne Marie McGlinchy and I suffered from asthma so my mum thought it would be good for me to go to Anne Marie for some therapy. However this clashed with a gym class my friends had taken up after school. I couldn't go to the gym class and so resented the yoga/breathing exercises. It is funny when I think of it now, my poor parents trying to get me to do the postures and give me the space to do it. Not easy when there were 5 siblings below me.

I cannot remember Yoga featuring in my life after that until I was in my twenties but I am sure it was always there in some aspect or another in my thinking etc. I was vegetarian for many years much to the amusement of friends. I have always been against violence and injustice. Very much a pacifist. I always believed in treating others as I would like to be treated.

In my late teens I started to have trouble with my back. I went to chiropractors, mainly, for many years. I had my first massage from my mum when I was 24. I also went to a few of her yoga classes. It was around this time I did an evening course in Herbalism, something I always had an interest in. This led me to working in a Health shop when I moved to Galway and then onto working with Dr. Dilis Clare, medical herbalist. It was here I met other therapists who rented rooms from the clinic. I got to experience some wonderful, varied body work. I was however still having problems with my back. I did little or no exercise. The most I did was walk but I was working hard with a part-time job waitressing. My lifestyle probably was not the best but I was aware when I was "good" to eat well and sleep.

It was around my world trip and visit to a great chiropractor in Sydney, Australia when the penny finally dropped. She told me in a roundabout way that I had to take up yoga if I wanted to save my back. She put it in such a way that it all made sense. I am forever grateful for my chat with her that day. How progressive she was too as up till then my experience with chiros had been very much based on repeat visits to them. I called my mum and she told me some basics to get me started until I got back home. Forward bend, cat pose and lying down/knees bent twist. I remembered doing all these with her in her classes. When I got home, mum did a programme for me and let’s just say I have never looked back. The level of pain I used to experience with my back was enough for me to not work some days. Now I felt as if I was in control. I took many classes and workshops during my time living in Galway too. I was always interested in the other aspects of yoga. Mum had done pranayama with us over the years and I loved learning about the neti pots in a workshop. I especially loved the relaxation. Whenever I was stressed and couldn’t sleep I would practice the techniques I learned in class. I went onto become a massage therapist, something that I would have laughed at years before because of my back trouble.

As I write this I almost forgot to mention my asthma which is now totally under control. A little help from modern medicine but a lot of how strong my lungs are now comes down to the breathing exercises. I fully believe Yoga has helped my breathing.

I want people to know that they can take back control of their bodies and stop pain. I understand now of course that pain has emotional attachment too but again yoga comes up trumps on that aspect by helping the person come to terms with their bodies and minds better. I want to massage people and help alleviate the pain but I want them to take responsibility too for their bodies by giving them the tools to do exactly that.

I am in a good space in my life now and I know much of this has to do with yoga - physically, mentally and spiritually.
======================================================
Brenda now lives in Slane, Baile Shláine --  Homestead of Fullness, just north of Dublin but has traveled the world living in such disparate places as Goa, San Francisco, Germany and Galway.