After spending a rejuvenating weekend in Pichilemu for the yoga retreat in March, I knew one thing for sure: I needed to get back there ASAP.

In April, I joined an eight-week mindfulness course led by one of our high school counselors, Lina. Right away, I knew this program was going to have a powerful impact on my life, and I realized Lina was the ticket back to Pichilemu. I selfishly pitched the idea of organizing a mindfulness retreat, and to my surprise, she agreed.

Our partnership paid off in an incredible weekend, May 11-13, back at the retreat center, Conviento de Lobos in Pichilemu. Lina poured her heart into an itinerary rich with mindful activities, and I was the “logistics coordinator.” For our first attempt at this, we advertised only to school staff, and we couldn’t believe how quickly we reached capacity – 23 women, including us.

Lina encouraged us to consider mindfulness through the “lens of gratitude,” reminding us how much sweeter life is when we pause to appreciate it.

One of our assignments was the 10-finger gratitude exercise: Name 10 things you are grateful for in the here and now. Although I was grateful for a million things at this retreat, here are my top 10, in no particular order:

(1) Spectacular Sky.
On the evening of our arrival, the setting sun set the sky aflame with shades of orange, fuchsia, and purple, slowly transitioning in the next few hours to a blanket of stars so bright, they nearly blotted out the blackness.

(2) Temazcal Ceremony.
Not knowing exactly what was in store, about 14 of us lined up for a temazcal ceremony on Saturday afternoon. Prepared to sweat, we wore swimsuits and cover-ups and left our shoes outside. First, one of the organizers purified us with herbal smoke. We silently set an intention for the ceremony and tossed a handful of tobacco on the fire, where large volcanic stones had been heating up all morning. We stood in line at the entrance to the structure, a round low-ceilinged wooden frame draped in blankets. The leader waited inside next to a hole dug in the center that symbolized the naval of the earth. After bowing and receiving permission to enter, we crawled in to find a spot along the perimeter. Helpers, known as “eagles” used pitch forks to transfer the hot rocks to the structure. Each time one was brought inside, the leader rubbed a resin on it, which flared and smoked for a moment. Once the rocks were in the pit, the eagles closed the door to leave us in steamy darkness. The ceremony was split into four “doors” – the great spirit, family, friends and enemies, and ourselves. For each part, leaders told stories, chanted, banged on drums, tossed herbs in the pit, invited the rest of us to offer up wishes, and splashed water on the rocks, releasing more steam. At the end of each section, we shouted “puerta,” and the eagles would lift back the blanket at the entrance to add more rocks. By the end, I was soaked with sweat from head to toe, my body was limp as a noodle, and I felt blissful – bolstered by the joy and camaraderie in the tent.
One chant especially resonated with me, “Todo lo que toca cambiar.”
Everything you touch changes.

(3) Mindful Movement.
Isn’t it crazy how we can stand and run and dance without really paying attention to what we’re doing? Our retreat included a few opportunities to move mindfully, focusing on the sensations that arise the mind and body and consciously expressing appreciation for the ability to move, stretch, dance, and laugh.

Dragging my body to the chilly yurt at the crack of dawn was no small feat. However, Renu led us through sun salutations and other asanas to warm up our bodies and prepare for the sitting meditation practice.

While most of our group time in the yurt focused on slowing down, Nancy taught a Zumba class that got our hearts pumping … and our bellies aching from laughter. Dancing is not my strong suit, so occasionally I just stopped and grinned at the mix of women willing to put themselves out there. Nancy knows exactly how to keep it real so nobody feels embarrassed or frustrated. Some ladies rocked the moves, while others (like me) found themselves cha-cha-cha-ing right when everyone else was mambo-ing left. Regardless, it was a solid workout and a ridiculous amount of fun.

Another mindful movement activity took us down to the beach, where Lina led us through a walking practice. We kept our shoes on first and walked slowly and intentionally across the soft sand and then the hard wet sand. Next, we took off our shoes and repeated the exercise barefoot. I was struck by how hard it was to keep my balance in my shoes on the soft sand. I realized how easily I take it for granted that I will be able to propel myself forward without falling down!

We also offered mindful horseback riding, which I missed because of a horse shortage. Next time! (Photo courtesy of Amy Z.)

(4) Mindful Eating.
Do you ever shovel food into your mouth without even tasting it? I know I do, especially at school when my lunch “hour” is more like 20 minutes. Lina reminded us to pay attention to what we eat. We tried a “mindful mouthful,” taking time to experience a bite with all our senses. She even used food to help us practice confronting difficulty. She passed around a plate of hot peppers, garlic, and ginger. Everyone took a pinch of one item. I chose ginger, thinking it would be the least awful. Then Lina guided us through the process: I looked at the ginger for awhile, noticing its texture and color. I inhaled its delicious scent, observing the memories it generated. I touched the ginger to my lip to experience the feel of it. And that’s when the pain started. I can now say with authority that touching ginger to your lip is about equivalent to sticking your lip in molten lava. Next, I put the ginger between my cheek and gums, where it proceeded to virtually burn a hole through my face. Finally, I chewed the ginger slowly and swallowed it, which just sent the fire sensation down my gullet. As instructed, I tried to breathe through the pain, confronting the discomfort while preventing a panicky reaction. It was a good reminder to apply those skills in other settings … and it was also a good reminder not to eat raw ginger.

(5) The Meals.
Speaking of food, every meal at Conviento de Lobos was a joyful experience. The chef, Lucho, prepared delicious vegetarian dishes that generated oohs and ahhs around the table. There’s something truly special about bonding with people over great food, so I sat with different ladies at each meal to combine the delicious flavors with interesting conversation. Such a treat.

(6) Mindful Sunset and Noble Silence.
We practiced a variety of mindfulness exercises, but my favorite took place on our second evening in Pichilemu. Lina encouraged us to find a quiet spot at the beach to watch the sunset and then maintain noble silence – no phones, no interactions with others – until the sky went black. Unfortunately, clouds had rolled in, so we didn’t get the same gorgeous sky as the previous night. I wandered far from the tourists and settled on a smooth rock to watch the sun set. Although most of the sky remained gray, a sliver of brilliant gold appeared at the horizon and slowly transformed into shimmery pink before going dark. Only the crashing waves and squawking sea birds broke the silence. I actually felt myself go into a bit of a trance, and I would swear my mind slowed down the tide matrix-style. Anyway, I snapped out of it and found another spot, a rock sheltered from the wind and perfectly weathered into the shape of a recliner. I snuggled down and let my breath match the rhythm of the waves, feeling so deeply grateful for this time. I am so rarely alone. I share an office. I share a home. I commute with Tony. I think I forgot how important that quiet solitude is for peace of mind. What a gift.

(7) Dancing on the Beach.
Of course, we have to balance quiet solitude with cutting loose occasionally! After our beach walk, Lina encouraged us to plug in to a favorite song and go crazy. She suggested the song “Saltwater Gospel,” so I quickly found it on iTunes. It was the perfect song for the moment. At first, I felt a little self-conscious, but it didn’t take long for me to climb high on a boulder and rock out. At one point a wave blasted my rock and shot salty spray into my face just when the song blared, “I’m in heaven watchin’ all these waves roll in.” Magical.

(8) Conviento de Lobos.
Our venue was perfect, simply perfect. Nancy said it might be her second favorite place on earth (after Cappedocia, Turkey). The owners, Maca and Gonzalo, have such big hearts; there’s a special vibe that permeates the whole place. It wasn’t fancy, but who needs fancy when you have that big sky and rolling sea to lift your spirits?

(9) Mindfulness Through the Lens of Gratitude.
This was Lina’s theme for the weekend, but it has also taken root in my heart. I try to meditate daily, using apps with guided meditations. However, even more powerful are the little informal practices that keep me mindful about the world around me, the food I eat, my interactions with people, and the ups and downs of daily life. I’m still new to this, but noticing and naming what makes me grateful throughout each day feels pretty transformative.

(10) Lina!
Most of all, I am full of gratitude for my retreat partner and friend, Lina. Obviously, none of the above would have been possible without her. I can’t wait to see what we do next!