The BANAHAW YOGA RETREAT: A Gift to your Mind, Body & Soul

"...When the body feels good, one’s whole being start to feel good. This well-being may strengthen one’s resolve to pursue spiritual activities. If one is fortunate it could lead to the discovery of the soul! The discovery returns one to God..."

Mother Earth. Their were fifty or more steps leading to, Jeannie Javelosa’s welcoming abode. Three more floors to the balcony, my physically unfit body quieted as I was greeted by a view of Mt. Banahaw and a surrounding lush forest. It was so mesmerizing that it made my senses spin. "Indeed, Mother Earth I sincerely thank you for my time here on earth." The short prayer came alive as I beheld the natural beauty before me. The tranquility of the place moved me to internalize the asanas, meditation, kriyas(cleansing of internal passageway) and pranayama.(yogic breathing) I could feel my lungs thanking me as I breath in the cool and unpolluted air.

The Silence . On our first day, after asanas and meditation, Bela asked us to observe silence as we go down to the community hall to have our lunch. She asked us to focus our attention on the food and continue being silent all throughout the meal. We all failed at this simple task. When we weren’t using our tongues we would use our eyes as observed by Bela. I found her observation hilarious. Imagine telling a bunch of Filipinos to keep quiet. Silence is important. Bela explains, because when you are silent, you go within. In that instant, perhaps I was ready to absorb that particular wisdom, my whole being did keep silent as I reflected on those words. Here was a quick method that would take me to my inner self. Note, I said quick not easy. Here was something I can understand in my human level. Why do I want to go within? Because all the masters in different times and places repeatedly teach, the Kingdom of God is within. They must know what they’re talking about.  

The Meditations . The toughest for this human, but so very beneficial for my soul. One particular method had us sitting lotus position, backs straight with the instuctions to keep still. Bela guides us through the meditation. " Keep still. Whatever it is that you experience wether it is joy, numbness, itchiness or pain. Let it come and go. For that is the nature of this world. Everything comes and passes." Wow! That was a particular powerful meditation. It gave me a physical experience of detachment. The masters say that when there is detachment there is inner peace.

The Santa Lucia Falls . Jeannie accompanied us to the river, where its water is famous for its healing abilities. Foreigners on a spiritual pilgrimage make it a point to visit Banahaw’s Sta. Lucia Falls and caves. Jeannie instructed us to bathe under the two falls. Tubig ng Ama and Buhok ng Birhen. It was to balance our feminine and masculine side. It wasn’t easy getting to the falls. With the 558 steps going to and from the river, I considered it an early holy-week pilgrimage. Jeannie also asked us to drink from the falls. The water was icy and sweet! It can be compared to the water of Lourdes. You can tell by its taste, the Banahaw residents are passionate in preserving and protecting their environment.