The Opposite of Weakness isn’t Strength, it is Community.
A Journal Share by Humble Haven Teacher and Director of Operations, Rachel Berry
Sometime in the month of January, I was standing in the kitchen when I got a phone call from Suzanne that started off with "I have an idea." I replied, "hang on, let me walk back to my desk." Any time Suzanne has an idea, there are sure to be 100 more details that will be rattled off within a mere minute. I needed a pen and paper for this.
Flash forward to just a few weeks ago when that idea became a reality. The Richmond Mini Retreat. We hosted 11 strangers who came together to experience wellness through various modalities and ways to care for self, in just 48 hours. In those two days, we got to experience five different styles of classes that ranged from high intensity to low impact and strength focused to deep release. There were heavy weights and running, some rhythmic indoor cycling, Yin yoga with a little unintentional but necessary nap time. A Hatha practice that asked us to check in with ourselves, and a deeply intense, yet rewarding, myofascial workshop where participants used therapy balls (tennis balls work just the same) to massage their muscles. In this case, I know it provided some major relief to their sore sit bones from the cycle class.
In those same 48 hours, participants were provided with wellness products like a lavender steam eye mask, energizing and recovery supplements, electrolytes, cbd cream, body oil, muscle soak bath salts, tea, and acupuncture! Oh, and a cute new pair of socks :)
For me, food is a love language. I would also argue that food falls on the spectrum of wellness as well. We had the privilege of being fed by so many talented chefs that weekend. Urban Hang Suite held us down for breakfast. Nomad's Deli & Catering took care of us for lunch. Honestly, I'm still thinking about those cheddar biscuits and the roasted pineapple covered in toasted coconut from Nomad's. On Sunday, my sister Audrey made us a spread that was the perfect combination of sweet and savory. And for dinner on Sunday evening, we had an incredible four course dinner where each plate was served with intention and care and every bite made you tap into your senses to experience its flavors and textures.
Truth be told, I find that the best element of any Retreat is the fact that I don’t have to figure out what to eat. Knowing that someone else is cooking for me AND it’s both delicious and nutritious really seals the deal.
As weeks have passed and I’ve had a chance to reflect on all of the efforts that it took to plan these two days of fun, I have relished in the beauty of how after a mere hour together, we were no longer strangers and already learning so much about one another. The beauty of although varying in ages, body types, and preferred styles of movement, together, we enjoyed every single offering. The beauty of how food brings people together, even despite taste, allergies, or dietary restrictions. And just as a retreat does, it reminded me that our differences are the very thing that make us stronger and provide a sense of connection to each other.
While it's nice to highlight all of our providers on an individual basis, it is the collective of all of these/their communities that have allowed for events like this to even be possible. I saw a quote recently that said, ‘the opposite of weakness is not strength, it is community.’ By supporting an individual, there is often an entire community behind them that we end up supporting as well. I can’t thank ours enough.
To Erica Porter of Endorphasm and The Endorphasm Foundation, Jenn Gray of Hour Cycle, Ashley Williams of The Well Collective, Mercedes at Urban Hang Suite, Sydney at Nomad's Deli & Catering, Elizabeth Fuqua with Vital Qi, Mavenmade, Mamie’s Apothecary, The Beet Box, LoveeTeaHC, Audrey (@cookingusthroughit), Cyn, Vee, Camille, Isa (@southsideyogarva), and of course, THEE Suzanne Burns. You all made this idea come to life. Thank you for this gift. To the 11 participants who joined us in this retreat, thank you for sharing your world with me. It was a weekend that will be hard to forget!
xo,
Rachel B.
P.S. Soooo, should we do it again next year?
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