Page 52 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2025

P O W E R T R I P
Soothing Sorrow
How an island
wellness retreat
helped wash away grief
BY WAHEEDA HARRIS
ARRIVING AT ZOËTRY AGUA PUNTA CANA
on the Dominican Republic’s popular
eastern side, an icy welcome fruit juice is on
offer as an employee gently reduces my ten-
sion with a hand, arm and neck massage.
This all-inclusive wellness resort, bordered
by lush Dominican jungle and white sand
beach, is hosting the Mind, Body + Sol
Retreat where I’ll follow a wellness schedule
meant to help me recharge, release stress
and sadness, and ultimately to find peace.
I have recently become a member of a club
no one wants to join—those whose parents
have passed away.
SUN SALUTATIONS
We start with sunrise yoga on the beach.
Palm fronds cast shadows on our yoga mats,
and instructor Koya Webb invites my small
group to set an intention for the day. As we
ease into the poses, suddenly my calm state
has fled and I’m feeling shaky. Tears flow
unexpectedly. I quickly swipe them away,
but the waterworks keep coming, as if a tap
has been opened. Koya catches my eye,
offering a supportive smile that helps
ground me. I stare at the lapping waves until
the jittery moment passes, focusing on the
rhythm of the vinyasa movements instead.
SOUND BATHING TO SERENITY
In the spa’s open-air lounge, surrounded by
tropical plants, Andrew Francis from Van-
couver’s ZENDEN Meditation arranges crystal
bowls as Carrie Bailey, ZENDEN Meditation’s
co-founder, hands out pillows and bolsters
used to help us get comfortable as we lie
down for this sound bath experience.
Andrew asks us to close our eyes and
focus on the moment, releasing the tension
in our limbs from head to toes as we slowly
inhale and exhale. At one point, I feel a
weight on my shoulder that then melts
away, leaving me feeling lighter. The mellow
sounds of the crystal bowls float and fade
until Andrew’s voice returns. As I sit up, I
check my phone, surprised an hour has
lapsed when it felt like mere moments.
BREATHING INTO BALANCE
In a breathwork class, facilitator Margaret
Townsend has us sitting in chairs as she
demonstrates breathing techniques. Long
deep breaths alternate with shorter ones as I
monitor my body’s reactions. I feel my energy
ebb and flow into a state of relaxation.
Margaret invites us to move around the
room, instructing us to use our abdominal
muscles to push and pull the air from our
lungs. And yes, ending the class lying on the
floor, I do feel joy.
LESSON LEARNED
This four-day retreat has helped me release
emotions I’d locked inside, and I’ve gained
tools to navigate my grief with a renewed
sense of balance. While some days have
rocky roads, I feel stronger as I navigate the
future without my parents.
DS
PHOTOS: ZÖETRY AGUA PUNTA CANA
52
DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2025