Weekend workshops

I simply love the mountains. I went to boarding school in the Himalayas where we went for a week of camps and hikes every year, which has instilled the love of taking nature retreats in me forever. There is something very special about being in nature not just as a tourist, but taking part in the growth of the environmnet and ecology. Through tree planting sessions we ensured that the process of deforestation be slowed down, and through our anti-littering drives we ensured that stray forest fires be reduced. It's just a way of life in the hills, one has to be more aware of one's surroundings and specifically on our impact on our surroundings.

My weekend surfing took me to The Lotus Path, an organization that organizes spiritual journeys at its mountain home in the Sierra foothills between Yosemite and Fresno in California. Going on one of these spiritual journeys is a great experience and to do it in beautiful surroundings is even better. The workshops include spirituality and lessons in self awareness. I really liked the idea, because there really is no better place to start your spiritual journey than in nature. Single sessions can be just for the day or one can take one for a longer duration. Costs range from $24-40 per session, which is a great incentive to get started on a spiritual path. Using a mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism from Hawaii and Africa, The Lotus Path Workshops create a way for an individual to connect with something greater than one's physical being.