GLIMPSES FROM EGYPT
NOTES FROM A LIFE-CHANGING YOGA RETREAT FROM PHYLLIS
My godson, David Morris, has always been fascinated by all things Egypt. Since he was a child, he has wanted to visit this magical country, home to one of the earliest civilizations on earth! David’s wishes came true when I received an email from Christine Lewis, of Spoken Word Yoga, about an upcoming yoga retreat to Egypt. I signed up for the November trip immediately. Egypt was on my bucket list, too, and it was a blessing to have this opportunity to go with David and his brother, Ben, and sister, MaryRose.
We flew from JFK Airport to Cairo on November 8th. We were joined by a beautiful group of 24 conscious souls, all excited to be sharing in the mystical energy of Egypt and a spiritual journey led by our yoga instructor, Christine, and our meditation guru, Weslye Saunders. A yoga therapist for more than 20 years, Christine’s self-improvement programs and retreats have provided holistic mind, body and spiritual transformations for an array of clients, including sports figures, corporate executives, and countless others. An NFL tight end and holistic wellness advocate, Weslye (we called him “Wes”) is not only a popular motivational speaker but a gifted meditation instructor. We knew this would be a trip of a lifetime, filled with spectacular sights and extraordinary energy. But we had no idea just what we were about to experience!
Day 2: NOVEMBER 9th
Due to the time difference, we landed in Egypt on November 9th. Cairo International Airport was buzzing with global movers and shakers, prime ministers, and other international guests arriving for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh. We eventually reached our temporary accommodations, the Marriott & Omar El Khayyam Renovated Palace Hotel in Cairo, with magnificent views of the Nile River and six acres of palace gardens.
Once the opulent guest palace of Khedive Ismail, the ruler of Egypt, the Royal Palace Al Gezira on Zamalek Island was built in 1869, a year when it housed European monarchs that traveled to Cairo for Suez Canal inauguration celebrations. Built in the neoclassical architecture style, the palace features intricate golden latticework, massive formal ballrooms, impressive staircases, and gorgeous artwork.
Our welcome dinner at Abul Sid that evening featured stunning views of the Nile, and we could feel the vibrant energy of Egypt immediately. We could not believe we were really here!
Day 3: NOVEMBER 10th
Our days started early on the retreat with breakfast by 6am. Our first sunrise morning meditation, intention setting and breathwork session followed, connecting us with the energy of the universe and the energy that we each hold within.
By 7:30am, we were off for a day-long tour of the extraordinary sights around Cairo, including the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Both were truly astonishing to see up close! It was a life-changing experience to say the least. We had the opportunity to go inside one of the pyramids, but my claustrophobia got the better of me. After seeing the narrow tunnel in, I opted not to go inside, content with experiencing the pyramids from the outside. My nephews and niece did venture inside, though, and were amazed.
We stopped for a memorable lunch at Ezba, located in a village just outside Cairo. It was so cool to watch the women making the naan bread in the brick oven and to visit the nearby carpet shop and school where we learned how the silk and cotton were made. Our afternoon concluded with a visit to the magnificent Egyptian Museum, featuring recently unearthed tombs and ancient relics. Our tour guide there told us how, traditionally, women were considered equal to men, even illustrated by how a woman’s thumb was placed atop her male partner’s when holding hands.
During dinner that night at Alsaraya, we crashed a wedding and danced with the bridal party!
Day 4: NOVEMBER 11th
Following our morning meditation, we checked out of the Palace Hotel and returned to the area of the pyramids and Sphinx for an intention setting meditation at 11:11am. Afterward, we took a camel ride and got to see the spectacular ancient structures from a different perspective.
After a quick, one-hour flight to Aswan, we boarded our cruise ship for a four-day Nile River excursion, visiting temples and sacred sites along the way. What a welcome we received from the crew of the River Tosca, who greeted us with dancing and singing.
During our first stop on the cruise, we visited a perfumery, where we learned about the origins of different perfumes and oils and got to see how their bottles were made. We then headed to the Temple of Isis at Philae for an incredible nighttime sound and light show. We enjoyed dinner aboard the ship and stayed overnight in Aswan.
Day 5: NOVEMBER 12th
We returned via a narrow route down the Nile to Philae, where we got a chance to visit the temples by day before heading to Aswan for a leisurely walk through the city, stopping in a papyrus and cotton shop before our boat trip to Nubian Village to do some more browsing and shopping. Back on the River Tosca, we had lunch during a cruise down the Nile before stopping to tour the amazing double temple in the agricultural town of Kom Ombo.
The temple of Kom Ombo was built during the period from 205 to 180 BC. The Ptolemies built the sandstone temple for the worship of two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god and Horus, the falcon god. The amazing hieroglyphics inside told their stories.
Our evening yoga and meditation sessions bookended a delightful candlelight dinner aboard our ship. Wes taught us different breathing techniques and had us connect with the energy of the Nile while we individually danced between two lines of our fellow yoga retreaters.
Day 6: NOVEMBER 13th
After a morning-long cruise along the Nile, we visited the Esna Temple, a remarkably beautiful site with magnificent architecture and built with red sandstone. We then sailed to Luxor to visit the massive Karnak Temple, the largest religious site in Ancient Egypt. Inside, we saw a depiction of the Last Supper, which was painted in the 4th Century, among the ancient hieroglyphics. We were surprised to find out that we’d be among the first to see Egypt’s new Avenue of the Sphinxes, featuring about 1,350 sphinxes! After decades of excavation efforts, the 3,000-year-old road, once known as the Path of Gods, was just opened to the public. The experience was truly astounding.
Before enjoying an Arabian buffet for dinner, we were entertained with live music and dancing and an authentic whirling dervish.
Day 7: NOVEMBER 14th
Our seventh day began early, waking up at 4am for a hot air balloon ride over Luxor. After breakfast, we visited the Valley of the Kings, where we saw the tombs of King Tut and Ramesses the Great. We also got the chance to travel to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a mortuary temple in West Bank, with its many steps to the top. Later that day, on the grounds of Karnak Temple, we were granted special access to a separate ceremony room built to honor Sekmet, the lioness goddess and the goddess of power. We also enjoyed circling the scarab statue on the grounds, which we were told gives you good luck if you circle it the right way. After lunch, we began the next phase of our trip and headed via bus through the Sahara Desert to Hurghada for days of relaxation!
Day 8: NOVEMBER 15th
After non-stop action for the first several days of our trip, we were extremely excited to have an opportunity to sit back and chill along the beaches of the Red Sea in Hurghada. The Cleopatra Luxury Resort would be a sanctuary for our immersion into our yoga and meditation practice. After spending the day at the beach on Makadi Bay, Wes conducted a wellness workshop in the resort’s amphitheater. It was a very cool night, all of us cozy with pillows and blankets as we learned about the “winning” formula of techniques for nutritional, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Day 9: NOVEMBER 16th
A much-needed day of downtime, yoga, meditation and relaxation!
Day 10: NOVEMBER 17th
Got a chance to explore the nearby marina filled with little shops and restaurants and known for its luxury yachts, which are owned by folks from all over the region, including such countries as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Later, back at the resort, I experienced my first-ever chocolate massage. Called the “Chocolate Dream Massage,” this spa treatment involved laying down on hot stones and being covered in melted chocolate, which is rubbed into your skin, face, and even your hair. Then they hose you down!
Day 11: NOVEMBER 18th
Flew back to Cairo, checked in at the Hilton, and had one last group dinner outside at a restaurant called Egyptian Nights. The next day, we’d be heading back home.
Day 12: NOVEMBER 19th
I’ll always cherish and be grateful for the time I got to spend with David, Ben, MaryRose and all the other wonderful souls on this eye-opening trip to one of the earliest civilizations our planet has ever known. From the breathtaking structures of the pyramids, to the ancient tombs of the royals, to the healing energy of the Nile River, to our relaxing resort on the Red Sea, it was incredible to be immersed in the powerful, ancient energy of the deserts, rivers, and beaches of Egypt – and to be there, present in mind, body and spirit, with loved ones and new friends.
NOTES FROM A LIFE-CHANGING YOGA RETREAT FROM PHYLLIS
My godson, David Morris, has always been fascinated by all things Egypt. Since he was a child, he has wanted to visit this magical country, home to one of the earliest civilizations on earth!
David’s wishes came true when I received an email from Christine Lewis, of Spoken Word Yoga, about an upcoming yoga retreat to Egypt. I signed up for the November trip immediately. Egypt was on my bucket list, too, and it was a blessing to have this opportunity to go with David and his brother, Ben, and sister, MaryRose.
We flew from JFK Airport to Cairo on November 8th. We were joined by a beautiful group of 24 conscious souls, all excited to be sharing in the mystical energy of Egypt and a spiritual journey led by our yoga instructor, Christine, and our meditation guru, Weslye Saunders.
A yoga therapist for more than 20 years, Christine’s self-improvement programs and retreats have provided holistic mind, body and spiritual transformations for an array of clients, including sports figures, corporate executives, and countless others.
An NFL tight end and holistic wellness advocate, Weslye (we called him “Wes”) is not only a popular motivational speaker but a gifted meditation instructor. We knew this would be a trip of a lifetime, filled with spectacular sights and extraordinary energy. But we had no idea just what we were about to experience!
Day 2: NOVEMBER 9th
Due to the time difference, we landed in Egypt on November 9th. Cairo International Airport was buzzing with global movers and shakers, prime ministers, and other international guests arriving for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh. We eventually reached our temporary accommodations, the Marriott & Omar El Khayyam Renovated Palace Hotel in Cairo, with magnificent views of the Nile River and six acres of palace gardens.
Once the opulent guest palace of Khedive Ismail, the ruler of Egypt, the Royal Palace Al Gezira on Zamalek Island was built in 1869, a year when it housed European monarchs that traveled to Cairo for Suez Canal inauguration celebrations. Built in the neoclassical architecture style, the palace features intricate golden latticework, massive formal ballrooms, impressive staircases, and gorgeous artwork.
Our welcome dinner at Abul Sid that evening featured stunning views of the Nile, and we could feel the vibrant energy of Egypt immediately. We could not believe we were really here!
Day 3: NOVEMBER 10th
Our days started early on the retreat with breakfast by 6am. Our first sunrise morning meditation, intention setting and breathwork session followed, connecting us with the energy of the universe and the energy that we each hold within.
By 7:30am, we were off for a day-long tour of the extraordinary sights around Cairo, including the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Both were truly astonishing to see up close! It was a life-changing experience to say the least. We had the opportunity to go inside one of the pyramids, but my claustrophobia got the better of me. After seeing the narrow tunnel in, I opted not to go inside, content with experiencing the pyramids from the outside. My nephews and niece did venture inside, though, and were amazed.
We stopped for a memorable lunch at Ezba, located in a village just outside Cairo. It was so cool to watch the women making the naan bread in the brick oven and to visit the nearby carpet shop and school where we learned how the silk and cotton were made. Our afternoon concluded with a visit to the magnificent Egyptian Museum, featuring recently unearthed tombs and ancient relics. Our tour guide there told us how, traditionally, women were considered equal to men, even illustrated by how a woman’s thumb was placed atop her male partner’s when holding hands.
During dinner that night at Alsaraya, we crashed a wedding and danced with the bridal party!
Day 4: NOVEMBER 11th
Following our morning meditation, we checked out of the Palace Hotel and returned to the area of the pyramids and Sphinx for an intention setting meditation at 11:11am. Afterward, we took a camel ride and got to see the spectacular ancient structures from a different perspective.
After a quick, one-hour flight to Aswan, we boarded our cruise ship for a four-day Nile River excursion, visiting temples and sacred sites along the way. What a welcome we received from the crew of the River Tosca, who greeted us with dancing and singing.
During our first stop on the cruise, we visited a perfumery, where we learned about the origins of different perfumes and oils and got to see how their bottles were made. We then headed to the Temple of Isis at Philae for an incredible nighttime sound and light show. We enjoyed dinner aboard the ship and stayed overnight in Aswan.
Day 5: NOVEMBER 12th
We returned via a narrow route down the Nile to Philae, where we got a chance to visit the temples by day before heading to Aswan for a leisurely walk through the city, stopping in a papyrus and cotton shop before our boat trip to Nubian Village to do some more browsing and shopping. Back on the River Tosca, we had lunch during a cruise down the Nile before stopping to tour the amazing double temple in the agricultural town of Kom Ombo.
The temple of Kom Ombo was built during the period from 205 to 180 BC. The Ptolemies built the sandstone temple for the worship of two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god and Horus, the falcon god. The amazing hieroglyphics inside told their stories.
Our evening yoga and meditation sessions bookended a delightful candlelight dinner aboard our ship. Wes taught us different breathing techniques and had us connect with the energy of the Nile while we individually danced between two lines of our fellow yoga retreaters.
Day 6: NOVEMBER 13th
After a morning-long cruise along the Nile, we visited the Esna Temple, a remarkably beautiful site with magnificent architecture and built with red sandstone. We then sailed to Luxor to visit the massive Karnak Temple, the largest religious site in Ancient Egypt. Inside, we saw a depiction of the Last Supper, which was painted in the 4th Century, among the ancient hieroglyphics.
We were surprised to find out that we’d be among the first to see Egypt’s new Avenue of the Sphinxes, featuring about 1,350 sphinxes! After decades of excavation efforts, the 3,000-year-old road, once known as the Path of Gods, was just opened to the public. The experience was truly astounding.
Before enjoying an Arabian buffet for dinner, we were entertained with live music and dancing and an authentic whirling dervish.
Day 7: NOVEMBER 14th
Our seventh day began early, waking up at 4am for a hot air balloon ride over Luxor. After breakfast, we visited the Valley of the Kings, where we saw the tombs of King Tut and Ramesses the Great.
We also got the chance to travel to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a mortuary temple in West Bank, with its many steps to the top. Later that day, on the grounds of Karnak Temple, we were granted special access to a separate ceremony room built to honor Sekmet, the lioness goddess and the goddess of power.
We also enjoyed circling the scarab statue on the grounds, which we were told gives you good luck if you circle it the right way. After lunch, we began the next phase of our trip and headed via bus through the Sahara Desert to Hurghada for days of relaxation!
Day 8: NOVEMBER 15th
After non-stop action for the first several days of our trip, we were extremely excited to have an opportunity to sit back and chill along the beaches of the Red Sea in Hurghada. The Cleopatra Luxury Resort would be a sanctuary for our immersion into our yoga and meditation practice.
After spending the day at the beach on Makadi Bay, Wes conducted a wellness workshop in the resort’s amphitheater. It was a very cool night, all of us cozy with pillows and blankets as we learned about the “winning” formula of techniques for nutritional, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Day 9: NOVEMBER 16th
A much-needed day of downtime, yoga, meditation and relaxation!
Day 10: NOVEMBER 17th
Got a chance to explore the nearby marina filled with little shops and restaurants and known for its luxury yachts, which are owned by folks from all over the region, including such countries as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Later, back at the resort, I experienced my first-ever chocolate massage. Called the “Chocolate Dream Massage,” this spa treatment involved laying down on hot stones and being covered in melted chocolate, which is rubbed into your skin, face, and even your hair. Then they hose you down!
That night, ironically enough, we ate at an Italian restaurant during our last night at the Red Sea resort!
Day 11: NOVEMBER 18th
Flew back to Cairo, checked in at the Hilton, and had one last group dinner outside at a restaurant called Egyptian Nights. The next day, we’d be heading back home.
Day 12: NOVEMBER 19th
I’ll always cherish and be grateful for the time I got to spend with David, Ben, MaryRose and all the other wonderful souls on this eye-opening trip to one of the earliest civilizations our planet has ever known.
From the breathtaking structures of the pyramids, to the ancient tombs of the royals, to the healing energy of the Nile River, to our relaxing resort on the Red Sea, it was incredible to be immersed in the powerful, ancient energy of the deserts, rivers, and beaches of Egypt – and to be there, present in mind, body and spirit, with loved ones and new friends.
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