Breitenbush
Last weekend I went to Breitenbush Hot Springs in Oregon with my massage class.
Overall, I had a great time and can't wait to go back, but being there also stretched my resources on a couple different levels.
Cons:
Technically the camp was closed to all except the Brian Utting School of Massage party, and that would have been fine if that group had consisted only of my class and the instructors, but it didn't. There was one other class, a bunch of alumni, and spouses, so I had the whole "anxiety around strangers" thing happening.
The springs are all clothing optional, which I had problems with, initially, on two levels: first, I'm just too body-conscious of myself to relax in that kind of environment and second, seeing my instructors nude was just plain weird. I got over this, but it took me a full day to relax into it.
The food was excellent - all organic - but entirely vegetarian which means that my protein levels and therefore my energy was really low. It also means that almost everyone had bad gas the entire time we were there.
We had required class Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning as well as long drives (5-6 hours) getting to and fro on Friday and Monday. Essentially, this means having class for 10 days straight. Yesterday morning I was too burnt out and missed class completely.
Pros:
The weather was beautiful - completely clear and with a bright full moon in the evenings. It was cold (I think they said the elevation was 3000 ft) but the air was clean & clear - lovely.
Breitenbush is "off the grid" - they're sustained by the power of the river and heat from the springs. Some might see this as a con (hairdryers weren't allowed and cell phones wouldn't work there) but it felt good being so eco-conscious.
I surprised myself by finding it unbelievably soothing and strangely empowering to soak in the spring then sit naked in the moonlight atop the rocks overlooking the meadow below.
The onsite buildings were wonderful. The cabins were cozy and warm, the lodge was friendly, the sanctuary was peaceful & welcoming. The sanctuary was my favorite building - I probably spent a good five hours in there over the weekend reading, talking to friends, and teaching myself how to read rune stones and to a lesser extent, tarot cards.
I'm hoping to go back to Breitenbush in the spring. Next time I won't waste an entire day freaking out because of things that are out of my control. Thankfully, my classmates are also good friends and a handful of them really made Breitenbush a wonderful experience for me (you guys know who you are - TB, KF, CB, & LG particularly). Thanks guys! *hugs* to you all!