QIGONG WOMEN IN THE WILDERNESS RETREATS News and Notes / Summer 2015 Wildwood Springs Lodge nd
2 annual Retreat If we had to leave ELY… Moving the retreat from the magical energy of northern Minnesota was both difficult and easy. While the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” adage works… so too does the premise of the QWW retreat; ANY place in a natural setting is a great place to hold a retreat. We have found a wonderful retreat location in Steelville, Missouri. www.wildwoodspringslodge.com Take a look at the photos on the website. The great room [lobby] is truly a great space to meet for class times. The dining room is exquisite. The menus fulfill the dietary needs of our ladies, are delicious and made with love. The bedrooms are quaint. And while it isn’t fair to compare the retreat experiences of the previous 8 retreats at Timbertrails Lodge in Ely to our new home, I do know that the returning alumna are very pleased with their single room accommodations with shared baths. This is a historic, family owned lodge with staff who are genuinely friendly and caring. Did I mention that our retreat group has the lodge ALL to ourselves?
Recipes For health / healing / and pure culinary enjoyment As promised… Here are a few recipes for you from this year’s retreat. Daily, we served a specially brewed tea for all, giving Rebecca and I (tea lovers) an opportuni –tea to share some marvelously different types of tea with you. Several of the retreat alumnae also brought tea to share with all at the “tea station” set up by the lodge staff for our all day use. We served “Super sleepy tea” one evening… 1 Tbl Valerian root [ keeping in mind that for 510% of the population it has an opposite effect] 2-3 Tbl. Chamomile [keeping in mind that people with an allergy to ragweed may be sensitive] 2-3 Tbl. Lavender flowers 2-3 Tbl. Lemongrass Hops … to taste (optional) Put herbs in a teapot. Segregate out the lavender flowers in a separate tea ball or herb bag so that you can remove it after 5 minutes. If left too long it becomes bitter. Bring good, spring water to a boil and pour over the herbs. Infuse for 20 minutes (except for the lavender) and enjoy before bedtime. ‘Taoist Coffee’ Those of us who study with my Taoist Master, Yun Xiang Tseng (Chen), have affectionately named this “toxin-flushing, colon-stimulating, asthma-inhibiting, biological clock setting, seasonal-affective disorder eliminator” elixir continued on page 3
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