For the rest of the stay, our mornings began around 730am to meet in the cooking atelier for tea, coffee, water, and dried fruits followed by a morning GYROKINESIS® class.
After a good introduction and recap of the Gyrokinesis movement principles, we were ready for a fuller class complete with the self-massage, ‘awakening of the senses’, sequence. Awakening of the senses provides stimulation to the organs, nervous system, muscles, joints, and ligaments – an excellent resource for a morning routine.
The ‘theme’ of the class was opposition and why this is important for movement and reducing injury, plus how to apply to all movements. I put theme in quotations because we’re actually doing it all the time, however choosing something to turn hone our focus can be a key for learning. I often reiterate Newton’s Third Law: Action & Reaction –
His third law states that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction. If object A exerts a force on object B, object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on object A. In other words, forces result from interactions.
Glenn Research Center, NASA (2022)
Around 9am, we made our way back to the cooking atelier for a full breakfast which started with fresh tea infusions, juice, and water. Breakfast usually included low gluten bread with raw butter, and freshly made jams followed by the chia and flax seed porridge topped with fresh fruits.
Even after only a day, the body immediately begins to feel the benefits of not only eating well but moving and stretching properly in between. With the saying, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” in my head, we must remember that so is movement.
Around 1030am, we have some time to relax, recoup from the class, and enjoy the spa and gym. This is usually the first time guests try treatments such as a holistic massage and the Iyashi Dôme infrared device for the first time.
While everyone went about their schedules, I found a place to take notes and recap our morning class. It’s really great to have a mix of movers in class. It allows me let go of ideas that have become ‘normal’ in my experience and to continue to explore ways in a different light. After I jotted a few things that we could emphasize for the evening class, as well other additions that came up, it was time for a little workout.
I opted for the stationary spin bike (an old school favorite, actually) – no frills, no personal trainers on screens, just resistance and speed. Once I build a complete sweat up after about 30 minutes, I slow down to cool down. Now it’s time for a stretch, and what better why than using the GYROTONIC® Pulley Tower. Guests also have the option to book 1 to 1 GYROTONIC® classes.
Around 130pm, I returned back to my room to shower, drink lots of water, and get ready for lunch, which was followed by a walk around the immediate surroundings. Lunch, which was in one of the outside dining areas, began with the now ‘usual’ aperitif with low gluten bread with home made dips (which we would never get tired of).
We were then pleasantly surprised by a pasta dish. Being that all of Babsie’s meals are low or no gluten, organic, and low or no dairy, I knew I could enjoy this dish with ease. The pasta was made from rice, but from a very particular brand that Babsie trusted. The meal finished with a fruit compote with a very light whip, packed with nutrients and no sugars added, of course.
Around 3pm, we took a few minutes to retrieve our jackets, walking shoes, and rain gear. Even though we just had lunch outside in the sun, let’s face it, it was the middle of Fall, so we were very fortunate to have moments of bathing in the sun altogether.
We started the trail right out the driveway, followed the road all along the way, and cut through the vineyards. We could see the hamlet in all of its entirety now, surrounded nothing but nature. It began to rain so we picked up the pace. We also came across few other hamlets around the neighborhood, a large deer, and the foothills leading into the Pyreenes.
I hope you’re starting to get the theme here – wake up, hydrate, move, eat, rest, leisure activity of your choice, explore the surroundings, move, eat, and rest. We couldn’t have wanted more. This is why we came.
Stay tuned for Day 3 to 5 where I’ll share more of what we did in our morning and evening classes, the activities, sauna and massage experiences, and more delicious meals.
