From the moment I met all the participants at the airport the feeling of WE or ONE was instantaneous.

One Love

We landed in La Ceiba,Honduras; skies were gray and rain was falling, just what we wanted for the perfect conditions on the river.  Greeted by our friendly bus driver Mario we began on our journey.  For some us, already stepping out of our “comfort zone”, entering an unfamiliar country with a different language. and a completely different lifestyle.

Thirty minutes down the highway to the river road, felt has if we had gone back in time.  Once we were outside of the city there were no 2 million dollar condominiums to be found or Gucci purses, but little fruit stands along the road and homes made up of multi colored wood and tin roofs where a few families nestled together to create their home.   The simple life but very difficult, reminded me how easy we have it in the first world, complaining about the heat, or the traffic seemed so wrong.

We finally arrived to the river road, then another twenty minutes bouncing from left to right, one pot hole after another. The road followed the river, up the mountain, passing humble abodes, kids running in the mud with no shoes and girls selling local fruit from the front of a small lean-tos.  None of this looked like home, as Dorothy would of put it “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”.

We arrived at our destination and had some lunch and then headed out on our first adventure.  Up to the 18 line canopy and hot springs it rained the entire way there. Local people riding their bikes on the road, not worrying about getting wet, just letting it be.  Once we arrived we piled in the back of a pick up and drove up the steepest driveway you could imagine, some of us didn’t think it was possible to drive up something like this.

Top of Canopy

Eighteen cables of flying high over the canopy, like a bird, soaring high above any worries, beginning to let our fear flow through us like the water we passed in the river on our drive. Zip line, after zip line, they became longer and faster.  By the time we made it half way through none of us wanted to use our breaks and continue to soar, soar into new possibilities, into a new path in our life! Finally made it to the bottom and rested in a few hammocks which were surrounded by orange trees.  The sun was beginning to set and the rain began to fall again, perfect timing to soak in the natural hot springs in the middle of  the lush canopy we just flew through.

Our yoga practices were in a gorgeous home, one of our accommodations,  in an open-aired living room over looking the river and beautiful views of the mountains.  Flowers surrounding us and birds flying high above. Incorporating the five elements; Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space into our practice and experiencing them off of the mat on our adventures.  The practices were a combination of vinyasa, restorative, flow and stretch.  Finding a balance couldn’t of been more important reminding us to do the same on our adventures.

Rafting Rio Cangrejal

The conditions for white-water rafting on the Rio Cangrejal, couldn’t of been better.  Our guides were safe, fun and experienced.  After our briefing and a short walk down to the river bed we entered the fresh, clean, cool water.  Practiced our commands and then we were flowing. There were a few spills out of the rafts and some faces of fear but with no expectations we were ready for “what is”, in that moment. All coming together as ONE, helping each other out. Half way down the river we pulled off to the side and did some boulder jumping, started off small and then larger. Every time the river water hit my face, I felt cleansed, renewed, like a child again. The excitement continued, when I would feel the fire build inside and the rapids get stronger, I would take a breath, a peaceful breath, opening up to a new space and then the on calm waters again.  Our guide, Darwin, showed us the natural soap, in form of a flower, lining the river that the locals use to wash clothes and for sunblock. We spotted a toucan flying high above and then played a bit in the lower eddy’s.  My stomach hurt so much from all the laughter. Once we got to the bottom, I wanted to do it all over again, after a siesta and a very warm shower, that is.  This is how I new I embraced my fear!

Our hiking trek the next day was no walk in the woods, however our 75-yr old guide made it look that way.

Guide up to waterfall- Alejandro

Five minutes into the trip we had already experienced the five elements.  Our guide lead us across the river, which is normally waist deep water, however, with all the rain, something must have shifted in the river allowing the water to be neck deep.  The flow was too strong for us to walk, we had to swim up stream whilst the flow pushed us downstream avoiding the next eddy and then a rapid. Everyone managed to cross safely and the guides kept everything dry for us.  A small yoga session was in order, centering ourselves into the calm and opening up the body for the journey up to the waterfall.

Refreshing Swim

We headed off on a 20 minute walking meditation in silence, observing nature and listening very closely to our inner voice, scanning our internal landscape and allowing a personal mantra to guide us each footstep we took. This led us up to the first section of the waterfall where we could swim in a refreshing natural pool and experience going underneath the waterfall itself.

Trees of Strength

As we continued up the mountain the terrain continued to become challenging both physically and mentally.  Nature made us slow down, feel our footsteps and breath. The trees were magnificent, 200 year old massive trunks shooting up to the sky, reminding us how small we really are and encouraging us to continue on our way.

After carefully walking and climbing, one foot in front of the other, we finally made it to the 300 foot waterfall.  Made it over the final climb and found our first sight of a man made object, a metal pole, which lead to some stairs upward and then opened  onto this gravel path which overlooked the river, the sea and Ultila (one of the Bay Islands).

We decided to rest here and have some lunch before heading back down on a different path to the hanging foot bridge. Once the hike was over there was time for some hammock enlightenment. The day ended with a well needed restorative yoga practice.

A weekend away doesn’t seem like much, but when you are taken away from your comfort zone, the norms of everyday life and are able to connect with the people around you and the real things that are important in your life; you feel as if  the journey has been a week long of relaxation and rejuvenation. Allowing yourself to embrace your fears brings growth and perhaps a new path on your adventure in your life!

If you weren’t able to join us on this past adventure, we invite you to join us on one in the near future in Honduras.