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Chiropractor's Staff Retreat

Nurtuting the Nurturers: 
A Sedona Yoga & Hiking Retreat
for a Leading-Edge Chiropractor and Staff

The phone message that greeted me was the upbeat voice of Dr. Dennis Harris, who announced he was bringing his staff to Sedona and had been told by friends that he must contact Maheshvari. I smiled at both his Texan pronunciation of the name "Ma-ha-shi-va-ree" and the recollection of the special time shared with the folks who had referred him. 

A few years earlier, I had led three of Dr. Harris' friends on two yoga hikes.  One of them had called me afterwards from Texas to tell me how happy she was that her friend Sandy's cancer had gone into remission following her Sedona visit.  About a year after our hikes, Sandy passed away and her dying wish was that her ashes be strewn in the spot where we had done yoga outdoors.

So I was asked to lead her family in a prayerful ash scattering in the red rocks where Sandy, her sister, close friend and I had done yoga. Saying goodbye to Sandy and celebrating her life with her loved ones was my first funeral and probably the most important thing I have ever been called to do.

This time the telephone brought a new challenge, the prospect of leading a weekend Sedona yoga & hiking retreat for a chiropractor and his staff.  The opportunity excited me, for I saw in it the chance to bring into play all of my experience with yoga retreats plus the organizational development strategies I had learned to use as a staff developer in my old life in New York City.

Designing Activities for a Staff Retreat
So first, while on the phone, I found out as much as I could about Dr. Harris and his staff and what they were seeking in a retreat.  Dr. Harris' intention was to take his staff on a spiritual journey for renewal in the red rock vortexes of Sedona.  He asked me to put together a package with lodging and activities, giving me pretty much carte blanche.

Of the options I gave him, Dr. Harris chose to include daily yoga hikes, a massage for each staff member, and a group astrology reading to shed light on the personality dynamics of his office staff. I arranged for lodging in a rustic inn by the creek and hired one of Sedona's best astrologers and a few great massage practitioners. Then, conferring with Dr. Harris, I created a nicely-paced schedule of activities.

The reflection sheet I drafted for the group had five topics.  First, I asked them to choose an Indian name that would call forth their highest selves. Then, I requested they look at what works best and least about their individual jobs and the operation of the office as a whole. Next, I asked them to launch a vision what Harris Chiropractic might look like in the new millennium, say 2022. And, lastly, I requested each draft a mission statement of a few sentences describing what Harris Chiropractic is committed to bringing into the world. 

My introduction to the Reflection topics set an easy tone:  "We are planning to have short, laser discussions with brilliant outcomes, so it's best to give topics some advance thought."  And I ended the sheet with the soothing comment:  "Relax! This is not a test.  It is simply brainstorming.  So let it rip!  Do it on the airplane if you are too busy. Enjoy!"

Gentle Yoga at Cathedral Rock Vortex by the Creek
Before long, I was greeting a car full of radiantly beaming, happy faces as they arrived at the inn. After saying our hellos and a bit of rest, we donned hiking boots and set off for a few hours in the red rocks.  I took them to a favorite creek side spot in view of Cathedral Rock vortex, where we spread out our purple sticky mats and began doing a beginners' Yoga class. Everyone was pretty new to Yoga so we began slow-and-easy with a little chakra clearing, centering on the breath, warm-ups and easy Yoga postures.

It was fun to watch the smiles and hear the sighs as I encouraged everyone to let go of anything they were holding and just breathe into the present moment.  By the end of class, they were no longer in their roles as Dr. Dennis Harris, Dr. Stacy Harris, Karla Allen, the office manager, Jamie Sanders, the insurance assistant, and Tanya Merritt, the therapy assistant. They were a family of five on a spiritual holiday having a picnic lunch by the creek.

A Group Astrology  Reading
That afternoon we returned to the inn for a group reading by one of Sedona's best astrologers, Gavin Carruthers.  Employing his intuitive expertise, Gavin had looked up everyone's birthdays in advance and sat with his lap top computer giving each member of the staff a summary of astrological tendencies. He ended with comments about likely interactions between the staff members, and everyone said he described their group dynamics to a tee. All were left with heightened compassion and a greater understanding of the astrological tendencies each one has to work with.  The feeling of the group seemed to be -- "No wonder we act the way we do!  It's in our astrological charts."

Reflecting On Office Roles 
Soon it was free time for massage and relaxation.  Then the group dined out at a restaurant we had selected.  Later we re-convened for a fireside gathering at the inn to do laser reflections about the chiropractic office.  Everyone sat  curled up in cozy chairs and couches by the fire as I called for volunteers to comment on what they thought worked best/least about each one's particular job.

We went around a second time to look at what each one thought worked best/least about the office operation as a whole.  Some of the staff members took out notes, and all seemed to have given the questions some thought.  We created a safe space for honest sharing by asking that no one interrupt anyone and that we allow each person to speak his or her truth, following Satya, one of the yogic principles. 

Some issues came up that were a little touchy turf-wise, and a bit of tension showed up when one staff member felt personally offended by what another was saying about her needs not being met.  We addressed the touchiness and stayed with it until it cleared, full affinity was restored, and all parties felt honored.  Ending the evening, we joined hands, chanted "om," focused on our hearts sending love to all, thought of new reasons to be grateful, and went off to bed.

Yoga and Hiking to Sedona's Indian Ruins
The next morning, I led the group in a two-hour chakra clearing, Yoga and meditation class.  I focused on teaching specific postures and had one person become responsible to learn to teach the correct form for each pose.  This way, we thought, the office staff could practice together in a self-led yoga class. They were a fun group -- willing to play at being Yoga teachers and students at the same time.  Our Yoga class ended all too quickly, and the group set out to have a buffet breakfast at the inn's red rock tables by the creek.

After breakfast, we set out for our hike into the Native American Indian ruins in the canyon.  On the hike into the ruins, we discussed the indian names everyone had been pondering and made suggestions.  We created a sacred ceremony, burned sage leaves and dubbed everyone with their new names when we arrived at the cliff dwellings. 

The group wanted to name Dr. Dennis  "chief something," but he said he'd rather be called "Bending Tree."  With a little help from group brainstorming, Dr. Stacy became "Mother Healing Heart;" Tanya Merritt became "Spirit Keeper;"  and Jamie Sanders became "Peaceful Dove."  Karla Allen, the office manager who had done her homework wholeheartedly, had decided with her Dad that she would be called "Savvy Squaw." 

With everyone happily taking on the energy of their new names, we sprawled about on the red rocks beside the cliff dwellings.  We lay basking in the sun, enjoying our picnic lunch.   Next, I took a few moments to teach the yamas and niyamas, the ten principles of a Yoga life, which I had printed succinctly on a bookmark.  Together we looked at how to apply these principles at the office and in relationships in general—for example, Ahimsa: non-harming, non-judging, non-criticizing; and Satya: truthfulness.

Before leaving the cliff dwellings, I asked the group to share about what Harris Chiropractic is committed to bringing about in the world.  Everyone spoke their hearts and contributed key phrases: "providing the the finest quality health care" ... "guided by our hearts with the help of God" ... "assist each person in our care to remove blocks and attain optimal health" ... "offer affordable health care to as many people as we can reach" ... "devoted to serving individual needs" ... "increasing the well-being of humankind."  And so the staff members were prepared to go home and write a mission statement to declare their commitment to healing.

Native American Sweat Lodge
We hiked leisurely back to the car and took time off for massage and relaxation.  That evening I took the newly-named indians to a Native American sweat lodge ceremony led by Iron Pipe.  I had prepared the group by telling them that the sweat lodge is sacred cleansing ceremony in which they would have a chance to release the past and pray to the Great Spirit and their ancestors for the good they wish to have for themselves, their families and the universe.  Before entering the canvas-covered igloo with the rock pit inside, each of us looked inward and reverently began making a string of prayer ties.  Guided by the sweat lodge leaders, we wrapped tobacco into little swatches of colored cloth with a special prayer tied into each little bundle of tobacco.  Then we hung our strings of prayer ties inside the sweat lodge as we held the prayers in our hearts.

We entered and left the lodge saying -- "All my relations"-- celebrating our oneness with all creatures, rocks, trees, and every aspect of life.  We expressed our gratitude to the  rocks that had given up their lives to bring the sacred lodge to us.  Iron Pipe led us in four rounds of prayer, as his assistant brought in burning lava rocks that Iron Pipe splashed with water as he drummed and sang Native American songs.  Throughout the ceremony, Iron Pipe checked on how we were doing and guided us to release the past and call forth our highest good in prayer.

We walked out of  the lodge a lot lighter, pausing to bow to the earth and say -- "All of my relations."  Each of us was a little pinker and feeling brand new as if stepping out for the first time on toddler's feet.  Following the lodge, we gathered around Iron Pipe for a dinner feast, the traditional "breaking of bread" together.  That night we all slept very well.

Yoga Farewell to Sedona
The next morning was the day of departure.  I led the group in a Yoga class starting out on the balcony with Breaths of Joy, a triple breath in which we wave our arms joyously as if we are leading an orchestra.  We did centering on the breath, warm-ups, and reviewed the poses I had taught the group to teach each other -- simple ones like the bridge, the shoulder stand, the fish, the seated forward bend and the cobra. "oms" as if we were the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We exchanged farewell hugs and loving goodbyes as my guests started their journey home.

When the retreat had ended and I was no longer holding the energy for the group,  I felt a part of me go with them and a part of each of them stay with me.  I still treasure the thank you letter and the Harris Chiropractic t-shirt they sent me that says 'Chiropractic ... It's Only Natural.'   Whenever I mention the chiropractor who brought his staff to Sedona, the listener always passionately exclaims -- "Where is he?  I want to work for him!" 

This custom yoga and hiking retreat was such a very special experience that I wanted to share it with others.  It seems to me that Dr. Harris has created a new model for us, a nurturing Sedona retreat for the folks who do the nurturing.  His generosity and the openness and receptivity that he, his wife and each staff member displayed were remarkable.  It was an honor to be called to work with them and choreograph experiences to help them further their intentions. 

When I asked the Harris Chiropractic team to write about their Sedona yoga and hiking retreat experience, they were happy to send their recollections.   Their comments show what is possible when a staff takes time for a retreat to reflect, renew, release, receive and nurture themselves and each other in the spirit of yoga. 

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