July (17 or) 18-20, 2008:
5Rhythms on the American River
Re-located to the American on July 4th due to ongoing fires and smoke in the Trinity Alps ...
The American River is happily half the distance, has twice the river flow, and two different river rafting runs available ;-)

Join us as we drop deeply into our personal and collective "flow” ... becoming embodied and fully present with ourselves, with our community AND with the river! Novice to experienced rafters (and dancers!) are welcome on this fun, beautiful Class III river. Non-rafters are welcome too, as there's plenty to do (or NOT do!) while others in the group go rafting!

What does this trip include?

~ 5Rhythms Dances, led by DJ Shawn Swanson of the Moving Center School ~ http://www.movingcenterschool.com ~
~ Daily Peacebody Yoga, led by Samantha Sweetwater
~ Meals catered by Cordon Bleu Chef, Elizabeth Rojas
~ Class III river rafting with Gail ~the RiverGuidess~ ... and a professional rafting company at the river
~ Nightly fire circles by the river ... Bring your voices, instruments, poems, stories & creative spirits !!!!
~ On 80 private acres of camping, you'll find the space to do or not do whatever you please!

PRIVATE CAMPING:
To make this switch possible, 80 acres of private riverfront property on the North Fork has been generously offered by Kristin (one of the trip participants), and her husband Craig. The property is spacious and spread out, with a clothing-optional riverfront area, and lots of shade and river access. At this time of year, the North Fork's waters are gentle, pristine and relatively warm, with two large, deep swimming holes and jumping rocks (BYO inner tubes, foam noodles, or other flotation devices, if you wish).

Amenities include permanent shade structures, an outdoor kitchen with running water (but BYO drinking water ~ one gallon pp/per day), an outhouse (this one even has art and other niceties inside ;-), solar lighting, picnic tables, and more ... While it may have some civilized amenities, your cell phone still won't work down here at the bottom of the canyon ... THANK GOODNESS YOU CAN LEAVE BOTH THAT AND YOUR COMPUTER BEHIND !!!!!

From there, it's just over an hour's drive to the rafting put-in, which is on the famous South Fork of the American River. The flow is considerably higher than it is at the Trinity right now, thanks to the dam releases upriver ... Which means you can expect to spend your time on the river squealing with delight ;-)

Our chef, Lizzie Rojas, has worked at Esalen Institute and with Charlie and Marion Cascio at NCDC Dance Camp the last few years, offering delectable food options that will appeal to varied appetites. YUM!

Evenings will be spent together in circle around the campfire, so don't leave home without your drums and instruments, poetry and stories ...

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What are the 5Rhythms?
Developed by Gabrielle Roth, the 5Rhythms are a simple, powerful moving meditation that anyone – of any age, size, or physical ability - can practice. There are no steps to follow, no choreography to learn, no way to do it wrong. The only requirement is a body that is still breathing, a heart that is still beating, and mind that is still curious!

Just like light, sound or ocean (or river) waves, a dancing body when moving freely passes through 5 distinct rhythmic patterns: flow, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness. These patterns continuously repeat themselves in a wave of motion. Click here for more from the Moving Center School .....

A few words from Shawn Swanson ... "River rafting and 5Rhythms dance – how do they go together? Perfectly! The 5Rhythms is a practice of being in the moment.  Practice at being aware of your body, your needs, your environment and how to weave all this together in the present moment.  This practice is based on dance, a very enjoyable way to practice life, if you ask me.   "Now picture yourself in a boat on a river (musical reference implied).  You guide the raft through the flow of the river with the staccato movements of your paddle.  At the same time you strive for control of the raft, you must also accept and work with the chaos of the swirling river.  Once through a patch of choppy water you will most assuredly feel the sweet high of lyrical ;-}  And in between all these water-borne waves of experience, there will be patches of smooth sailing were we can pause for the moment and savor the experience of stillness.  Sounds like another great way to practice life!" Shawn Swanson has spent much of his life exploring the present moment through movement and athletics. In 1993, he began his study of meditation, breath work and other forms of self-inquiry. Dance had been a love of his since his first middle school ball, and over the years Shawn could feel some greater possibility lurking just out of reach while dancing. This possibility became a rich reality when he discovered the 5Rhythms in the year 2000.

"Put the psyche in motion and it will heal itself." ~ Gabrielle Roth

Morning "Peacebody" Yoga with Samantha Sweetwater "Breathe at one-ment with your own cells, the beat of your heart, the pulse of your blood, as a sacred reflection of all that is.  Stretch into loving connection with the sinews, the muscles and the organs of your soft animal body.  Connect to the energy of the elements and the animals all around us.  Awaken to the simple possibility of self love and connectedness, one flowing movement at a time. In our practice at the river, we are invited into the grace that arrives when we let go and flow with life ... An AHHHH experience for bodies and beings of all abilities and experience levels." Samantha Sweetwater is the founder of the PeaceBody School of Embodied Awakening, synergizing yoga, Dancing Freedom, soul empowerment, sustainable lifestyle and light work in an integral offering for personal and planetary evolution.  She is a visionary leader, yogini, soul guide and dancer.  She facilitates workshops, events and trainings nationally and internationally, connecting with every day people at the source of our oneness - the embodied experience of connection - with each other, our bodies, our hearts, our laughter, our tears, the Earth and with ALL that IS.  She also loves her private healing, coaching and yoga practice where consciousness flowers in the intimate space of one to one reflection. Visit www.dancingfreedom.com

And the cost?

It's $275 for camping and all activities (and non-activities) on the North Fork from Friday through Sunday, with options to raft on Friday morning and/or Sunday afternoon on the South Fork at $75 each time. (By going at these times, we also avoid the Saturday crowds.)

If you want to raft on Friday, come up to the land on Thursday, and get Thursday dinner and Friday breakfast for just another $30. (Rafters will go out for lunch together after the river at one of the local restaurants, before returning to camp later in the afternoon. Non-rafters will have Friday's lunch at the campsite.)

In short, that's ...

$275 without rafting and 6 meals (Fri dinner to Sun lunch)
$325 without rafting and 9 meals (Thurs dinner to Sun lunch)
$350 with 1 day of rafting & 6 meals (Fri dinner to Sun lunch)
$455 w/ 2 days of rafting & 8 meals (Thurs dinner to Sun lunch)

A mininum $100 deposit will hold your space, with the balance due by July 9th.

Carpools from the Bay Area will be facilitated.

Enrollment is limited to 50 participants. Please register early, as this trip is sure to fill quickly.

Final registration and payments must be received no later than Monday, July 14th at 3pm.

Questions or concerns?
Call Gail at 415-312-3112 ...
Or email go@RiverGuidess.com (join the email list here too!)

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Click here for testimonials ...

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Please check the website one last time for any updates before signing up for this trip!
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