Category: Uncategorized
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the angry physio
I sought out a recommendation for a local physio by the end of my second tear-filled day of the yoga retreat. Desperate for a reprieve from pain, I reached out to a contact that was shared with me as “Ukraine Massage Physio Therapy.” When the mysterious physio responded confirming availability for 3pm the next day,…
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crying in yoga
I was certain that I had processed the car accident entirely. I wrote until I had nothing left to say, recognized the strength of my body as it healed in the months that followed, expressed deep gratitude daily. As far as traumatic experiences go, that was one I thought had already been dealt with. It…
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crying at the gym
reposted from March 2019 The very first item on my to-do list after the accident was to pause my gym membership. Determined to get it done, I dragged both of my parents out of the house for the ride. I remember the optimism like it was yesterday, “Hi, yes, i’d like to put my membership…
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learning to release expectations
The first time I visited Merzouga was entirely spontaneous. Not having booked accommodation in Fes in advance and finding that we needed a place to rest our head for the night, my friends and I agreed to travel out of the city toward a camp in the desert. It was, in many ways, the most…
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not all those wander
You mean to walk a straight path but, comme d’habitude, you’re distracted by the splendor of this magical city that you’re lucky enough to call home. The quiet, unassuming side streets call to you, one after another, until suddenly you notice that you’ve lost your way. Your eyes are open wide in an attempt to…
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deep shoulder healing
The main goal of my trip was to create a space that felt safe enough to explore the connection between my mind and body. There was a disconnect that I was desperate to resolve. All of the work I had done finally felt like it was starting to pay off when I made it to…
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finding alignment in community
Despite my best intentions to deal with my emotions in stillness, I explored Morocco with exhausting speed and determination. I spent as much time traveling between cities as I spent in them. There was an unrelenting pressure to see as much as possible in short windows of time, to show my mother the magic of…
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escaping the resort
I never liked the idea of resorts. I find charm and authenticity to be more appealing than opulence, and resorts have a tendency to reduce a spectacular place to one that can suit the highest number of people in the most general of ways. That’s not to take away from their value in the world.…
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the hammam after the breakup
The break up was brutal. We argued in Porto and left the relationship on unstable ground. I wept, tears stained his shirt, as we hugged goodbye while the taxi waited to take me to the airport. I was going to Morocco to meet my mother for the holiday. The flight was an hour and a…
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versions of selves
I am fascinated by the different versions of our selves that emerge in response to our environments or relationships. When I was 15, my family spent the summer in Israel. It was a beautiful time that came to be one of the most formative experiences of my life. I opened my heart fully to family…
nathalie shushan 