Trees and Twerking – Health Lessons from Civana
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona for a retreat that ProInspire facilitated. One beautiful aspect of this retreat was that we had ample time for self-care and to try the many wellness activities at Civana.
I love wellness resorts where I can try new activities and expand my perspectives. During my first visit to Kripalu in 2018, I experienced forest bathing, a Japanese practice focused on the therapeutic benefits of nature, and it made me much more attuned when hiking at home. I learned that the Japanese developed Shinrin Yokum (forest bathing) in the 1980s when they noticed major increases in health issues as the population shifted from agricultural work to office work. Forest bathing supports many health benefits including mindfulness, immune system function, mood and attention, and creativity.
Civana offers a “desert bathing” excursion, which is based on the concept of forest bathing adapted for the Sonoran Desert. The goal is to immerse ourselves in nature using all five senses. During our hike, the guide had us stop at one point, sit, close our eyes, and just listen to the sounds around us. In another area, we paused to smell some of the bushes. And, of course, we stopped to take in the views. When our guide invited us to touch some of the leaves on the ground, I realized I rarely touch things in nature when I am hiking. The final sense-focused activity of the hike was stopping to hug a tree. While tree hugging often has negative connotations, our guide explained the health benefits of tree hugging. When you hug a tree, you release the oxytocin hormone which leads to positive feelings. It was so calming to give a big hug to this giant tree. I have a tree right in my yard, so tree hugging is an easy activity I can bring into my daily practice.
In addition to desert bathing, I did a dance class at Civana where our instructor taught us multiple dance moves, including twerking. I had previously thought twerking is for young girls at the dance club, but she explained why twerking is beneficial for women of all ages. The instructor believes that women hold emotions in their hips so its a great way to release emotions. Other medical benefits of twerking include toning, stress relief, and reducing the risk of dementia. Twerking is another easy activity I can bring into my daily practice, and it will also give something for my kids to laugh about.
What new practices will you be trying in 2023?