"Hawaiin Healing" 
Written by Barbara Kritzer
For Yogi Times Magazine
January 5, 2004

Last April’s drumming and yoga retreat with Marla Leigh in Hawaii was a life- changing experience for me. I went simply to relax and have fun, but came away with much more. It wasn’t advertised as a healing retreat, but the experience was healing for my body and soul on many levels. I was able to get in touch with my physical body as well as my emotions, express myself openly in a safe environment, connect on a deep level with other women, become more aware of my own limiting thoughts and beliefs, and set new intentions for my life.

The retreat was held at Kalani resort on the Puna coast of Hawaii, a paradise on earth. Kalani is a feast for the senses. The beauty kept me focused on the present in every moment. I was enthralled with the sight of lush greenery everywhere, the sweet smell of flowers permeating the air, the touch of moist air hydrating my skin, and the taste of fresh fruit and deliciously healthy cuisine. Most awe inspiring of all were the sounds: waking to the richly-textured melodies of hundreds of song birds, and drifting to sleep to the lullaby of an insect orchestra, their rhythms echoing our own drum offerings from earlier in the day. In addition to the natural environment, Kalani has much to share, including many enriching classes and spa treatments. I opted for lei-making, African dance, and hula dance classes. As if all this were not enough, a two-hour lomi lomi massage put me right over the top into total bliss.

I have always wanted to be a drummer. I’m the kind of person you see drumming feverishly on her steering wheel at every stop light. I had never taken a drum class before this retreat, and I loved it even more than I expected to. Marla is an excellent teacher whose warmth and love of music make it a treat to learn. She keeps things light, fun and positive in class, while at the same time covering a lot of ground. I was surprised at what our group was able to achieve. We learned all the key hand-drum strokes, and many traditional world rhythms, practiced duets and rounds, and each took a turn improvising a solo while the group maintained a steady background rhythm. At the end of the week, we held a small performance that we could all be proud of. For the finale, Marla Leigh dazzled us all with some brilliant solos of her own.

Dana Rae ParÈ, the retreat’s yoga instructor, was incredible. I am relatively new to yoga, and her ability to clearly explain each posture made it much easier for me to achieve. I loved how she paid attention to each person in the class, and was always happy to answer questions. My flexibility improved more than I thought possible. Under her guidance, my body opened up in completely new ways, and I felt myself releasing many long-held emotions. Dana also has a lovely singing voice and led us in some beautiful chants. It was a joy to be in her presence.

At the end of this wonderful retreat I felt more myself than ever before. And I believe it started me down a path of healing that has led to some radical changes, including overcoming my long history of muscular pain, severe allergies, and depression. It’s amazing what can happen with one week to listen to your body and your heart, in the beauty of nature, and surrounded by the support of caring people.