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Read a recent Irish
Times article about us (Jan 10, 2010. Scroll down to bottom of
page) http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/travel/2010/0109/1224261936692.html
Renovation
We have
just embarked on our renovation program as of
Jan 13th! Finally! This means of course that our opening date this season
is slightly later than usual... March 7th. As with most building
projects, problems arose after stripping the first floor
which
will require some extra time. Hence a delay of three weeks.
These works in no way signify a change in our program or
in the spirit of simplicity which prevails in Cloona.
They are undertaken with a view to simply upgrading our
accommodation. We will from
now
on be able to offer some rooms with showers en-suite. In
the meantime we have already purchased the cottage next door which
gives us much more space in the immediate vicinity
of the Retreat Centre itself.
Always looking to
the beyond, we regularly introduce new variations to our program
range...
Wheatgrass
We now provide fresh wheatgrass juice daily
to all our guests. This consists of a shot of wheatgrass first
thing before breakfast each morning. You will be amazed at the results!
Wheatgrass is the young grass shoots of the wheat seed. The wheatgrass
plant contains high concentrations of chlorophyll which helps carry
oxygen to every cell in your body, active enzymes, amino acids,
vitamins, and other nutrients. Wheatgrass is one of the richest sources
of vitamin A and vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium,
phosphorus, sodium, sulphur, zinc, cobalt, and protein. It is a blood
purifier, cleanser, and detoxifier. People with wheat allergies need
not be concerned when consuming wheatgrass juice. Wheatgrass is a leafy
green and is different altogether from the grain and refined grain
products to which people often develop allergies. Wheatgrass does
not contain the gluten found in the grain, which is the component of
wheat often causing people problems.
Wheatgrass juice is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. After
the water is extracted it contains over 70% chlorophyll, which is said
to be Nature’s Greatest Healer.
Wheatgrass juice helps…
Energize and reduce fatigue.
Improve metabolism and digestion
Enrich the blood, remove blood disorders, & lower blood pressure
As antibacterial
Cleanse the liver
Prevent tooth decay
Improve the complexion, treat acne, and remove acne scars.
Keep hair from greying & helps remove dandruff
Boost the immune system
Calm the nervous system
Promote regularity & helps fight constipation
Juice-fast.
We now
incorporate a one-day juice fast on Wednesday during the five-day
program. Contrary to what you might expect, not only will you not feel
hungry but you will feel a new level of energy and a lightness of
spirit you had never dreamed possible.
Cloona Green Program
We are now offering a fruit-free
alternative to our standard program. This is to
accommodate people who have special dietary requirements
precluding the consumption of fruit, or indeed anyone who would like
to try this high-vitality, extra-thorough detox regime. It consists
of a green juice for breakfast (usually cucumber) and a further
green juice for the evening meal (usually a combination of cucumber
and other green vegetables). This program is not for the
faintly-committed and requires particular preparation beforehand and
also advance notice for us
so that we can have the
produce in our store, as organic fare cannot be presumed always
available at short notice... (Costs same as standard program)
Creative Writing (Available
March 14-19 program)
This is a new workshop which will be available on some of our programs as an
optional extra. Led by Bettina Peterseil, she says...'it will draw you deeper into the pool of your own
creativity and allow your soul to open up and express itself. The
writing workshop will encourage and support you in the process of
observing more attentively your mind's journey throughout the
retreat and help you find greater clarity. You will also learn about
the art of journaling, so as to continue the work during the days
following the workshop.
No previous writing experience is
required and it might be helpful if you brought a writing
pad.'
(Costs
€15).
Chanting (Available March
9, 16 and 24, April
7and 27)
Chanting,
often described as ‘vocal yoga’, has been used for thousands of years as a means to connect
withthe divine or your own personal
spirit, using the harmonious
vocalization of key words, names and phrases that are used in ritual to attune oneself, and
become centred. It is also a means of
preserving health and well-being.
When we chant, we cleanse the mind like
water cleanses the body. Psychologists believe that chanting and meditating
enhance our sense of well-being and
help the mind to focus.
Chanting mantras helps us relax and has a considerable effect on
our mental health as it helps to alleviate stress and gives rise to a “feel good” factor.
A relaxed state of mind is a sign of good mental and physical health.
(Costs €10)
Laghoo Shankhar
Prakshalana
This is an
important Hatha Yoga practise that uses warm, slightly saline water
to cleanse and tone the entire digestive tract. Probably more
effective than colonic irrigation and much less invasive. Done
Wednesday mornings on 5-day program only. (Costs
€20)
Men Only program, Advanced program, Ten-day
program, Seniors, Raw-food Program, Astrology
program ,and Liver and gall-bladder
Flush program.
Now at
Cloona we are introducing a few variations
that may appeal to those of you who know our existing program inside
out, and those of you who might be attracted to something beyond the
ordinary reality of a good physical and mental detox!
These distinct programs will be run on the
following dates:
Aug 15-20, 2010. Men Only. This will be our standard program but
what makes it unusual is that it will be an all male
cast!
May
23-28,
2010; Aug 8-13,2010.
Advanced Programs
which will
be for guests who have done our program before or have an
above-average level of fitness. These programs will entail the following extras:
an early 8am walk, a more boundary-stretching yoga class, a
longer and more challenging walk in the afternoon, and a guided
meditation in the evening. The program will have all the normal
features also, such as wheatgrass, sauna, massage, optional
treatments and juice-day...
Mar
21-26, May
16-21, July 11-16, Sept 19-24, 2010. Seniors. This program will be for the
over 60s and will have the standard format. A special concession
rate of €590 will apply.
Please note that this program requires a reasonable level of
fitness!
July 18-23, 2010
. Astrology
with professional author, editor and
astrologer Bill Shearon. This program will entail some changes to
the usual daily routine... The evening
time, 7-8.30pm, will be an astrology
workshop. Guests will be able to use the sauna in
the afternoon, in the free time between 4 and 6pm. Optional
treatments (massage, reflexology, shiatsu, facial) will still be
available in afternoon. Bill says...
"I see astrology as a tool which
can be used to illuminate the client's
life. Astrology can be used to reveal more than is directly evident
from using common sense and reason, and as such is a complement to
rather than a substitute for rational analysis. It simply allows one
to see more and further, which is why astrologers in the past were
sometimes called 'seers'. " Check out his website
at
http://www.radical-astrology.com This promises to be a fascinating week, and a rare
opportunity to work with Bill exploring the arcana of life. Also an
unparallelled opportunity to have private consultations at a special
Cloona rate. No prior knowledge of astrology is essential, but this
program will take you deep into the rich and meaningful world
of symbols...and can be an invaluable tool for fuller
relationships.
Date to be determined,
2010. A Raw-food Weekend
Program. This will be our first culinary adventure out
of our classic detox diet and into the extraordinary and
creative world of raw -food chef Marcus McMahon. You can expect such
sunny delights as Stuffed 'Roasted' Tomatoes with Pinenut Terrine,
Raw Pizza with Cashew 'Cheese', vegetable sushi... and desserts too
(!) such as Lavender Ice Cream, Cranberry and Apple Pie... And
in case you were wondering... yes, this is also a Detox program. The
incredible energy and power of raw living food is a phenomenon that
is currently sweeping the world. The principle behind it is that nothing is
cooked, so as to preserve the enzymes and life-force of the food
which is also vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free. Hard to believe,
but true! You can read a little more about raw food at this very
good website
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/enzymes.htm
Date yet to be determined, 2010. Liver
and glall-bladder Flush. This will be a very
specific five-day program, and ideal for anybody who wants a good
clear-out of their liver. You don't have to have known-about liver
problems to have gall-stones congesting it. Most of us do. They
don't show up on scans because they are too soft, but nevertheless
they can obstruct the flow of bile which causes digestion problems
(and countless knock-on effects) and inhibit the absorption of
toxins which causes blood toxification. Of course if you have
gall-stones in your gall-bladder that you know about this is an
invaluable process and could save the need for surgery. You could
pass up to a huindred gall-stones the size of peas, and completely
painlessly. You will be truly amazed! This program has some
pre-requisite preparation. Please let us know if you are interested
in this program and we will firm up a date as early as
possible...
Volunteering
Special thanks to Teresa from Longford who was
the first volunteer in what will hopefully be a successful volunteer
program.... Also thanks to Marcus who did great work, and turned out
to be multi-talented and supportive in lots of different
ways. Most
recently
we have Lynda McFarland to be grateful to, who did a
weekend of volunteer work in the kitchen just when we needed
it! Volunteering allows people to spend time in the special environment of
Cloona and be a fantastic support to us in our enhancement of
the buildings, grounds and environment around Cloona. It is available
to all past guests
of Cloona, and details can be had on request.
Blog
Our blog has some further reading...
“I have never come back from a break feeling
so good and ready to take on anything.”
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