Reflections on Morocco
If you had told me last year that I’d be leading a yoga retreat in Morocco I would have laughed. At that point in my life, like so many others, my focus was on social distancing and staying put. Most of my attention was on building a house, working remotely, and continuing my studies in Ayurveda.
When I received the invite to lead the retreat I noted that it was a full moon. A time of plenty, fullness, illumination. The universe was telling me to step up, to say yes, to take note, to shine. So I agreed and momentarily broke from other responsibilities (thanks for being flexible Alpinehikers, Run the Alps and Zach!) to fly to Morocco.
Travel is something I’m familiar with. You might even say I’m a professional at it. It’s what I spend my days advising people on. I’ve been fortunate to explore far flung stretches of our planet, as a young adult, student, educator, and as a career.
Here are my
Impression of Morocco
No matter how directionally competent you are, the old city of Marrakech take a bit of time to figure out. Narrow winding streets seem to lead in curlicues. Visual stimulation radiates from every shop as colors, smells, textures and conversation pulsate out at you. Retreat to your ryad (guest house) to pause, relax and recuperate before going back out for another round.
Let you skin luxuriate in a traditional hammam. Locals go weekly to steam, scrub down and deep clean. Upon arrival I was thrilled to see this offered at my ryad alongside a massage. What a marvelous way to settle back into your body and combat jet lag. Simmer in the steam room, lather up with black soap made from the leftover skins of olives post olive oil production, then exfoliate with a mixture of sugar and honey. Oil massage to follow, scented with orange blossom and kept on overnight, elicited an amazed reaction upon waking. What lush vibrant skin!
The entire trip we ate freshly prepared foods that were heavily spiced and well cooked. Chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives. Couscous and vegetables. Sardine tagine with spiced rice. Sesame cookies. Oranes fresh off the tree. So good! And of course lots and lots of traditional mint tea. Experiencing local cuisine is one of my favorite parts about travel as is sharing meals with others. Eating spiced, local and seasonal foods in good company is a balancing attribute to living an ayurvedic life.
For yoga practice we got creative come class time. Our first morning the weather was damp and cool so we squeezed into a cozy room divided by arched doorways with a fire crackling in the fireplace and copious rugs on the floor. Everywhere we practiced had a plethora of rugs. In Morocco they don’t just lay one rug on the ground but overlap countless textures, thicknesses, and colors. The result is a vibrant focal point as you move through poses, extra padding for the knees, and inspiration to potentially buy one to accent your own home.
Other places we practiced were a ryad rooftop with birds chirping and a cool breeze wafting the sweet smell of orange blossoms. Sounds of palm fronds elicited the illusion of rain. In the desert our studio became a large Bedouin tent, carpeted in rugs with round leather cushions that we utilized for restorative poses. Our last stop was a spectacular adobe style retreat center constructed out of clay, with local wood and tiles used throughout. It was located in the Ourika valley, a lush contrast to the desert. Our view overlooked green hillsides in the foreground with tall snow-covered peaks in the distance that resembled the Alps.
Morocco is a dreamland for interior design. Booming with local crafts and artisans. Rich for all senses: tastes, smells, sights, and sounds. I can’t wait to go back!
