Page 113 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2019 PORTUGAL

by the support, you could fly straight out like
Superman or stand on your head without fear
of falling. By using gravity, the straps helped
achieve a much deeper stretch. It sounds
scary, but the instructor helped us if we felt in
the least bit uneasy.
I always wanted to try pickleball, and they
had a beginner’s class. A perfect place to see if
I’d become addicted like a few of my friends. I
quickly learned that pickleball is not my thing,
I much prefer tennis. Next, a pool class called
W.A.V.E. used trampolines placed under the
water. More bouncing and lots of laughter.
And at sunset, I kayaked on the lake with four
other adventurers. We paddled through the
reeds looking for the ubiquitous beaver dam –
but never found it. It didn’t really matter.
Probably my most favorite activity was the
massage I’d chosen, “Blues be Gone.” It was a
90-minute deep tissue massage, so relaxing
and therapeutic that afterwards, I went back to
my room and sat mesmerized on my verandah,
watching the deer.
It was my last day – I planned to start the
day with the Nordic Walk using walking poles,
so I was surprised when the instructor showed
up with no poles. We started up the trail. “This
is the Nordic walk, right?” I asked after a few
minutes. She said it was the Labyrinth Walk-
ing Meditation. Oh no. I’d joined the wrong
class. Too late to back out now.
As we walked, she explained that the
labyrinth is a sacred place for you to reflect,
look within, and negotiate new behavior. “Re-
member,” she said, “Before walking the
rustling leaves in the trees, asking myself
labyrinth, be thankful for your life. This is the
what I needed to do to feel this peace more of-
time to quiet the mind and release your trou-
ten in my life. I arrived in the center and
bles. When you get to the center, pause and
stood there. And then I realized that I was the
stay as long as you like, then walk out the
one who could make the choice to race
same path you followed in. Experience the
through every day or pause and take the time
sense of well-being, healing and calm.”
to reflect, like now. And as I walked back out
I started out on the path, thinking about how around the path, I didn’t cut through. I gave
I’d cut straight through to the center a few myself permission to take my time. Not just at
days ago. Now I walked slowly, listening to the that moment, but hopefully from now on.

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