On Saturday 30th October, LaHoodyoga will be hosting a virtual sacred selfcare afternoon. This event will combine sipping ceremonial cacao and practising slow mindful yin yoga with meditation and journaling. It’s an opportunity to help tune out of the usual everyday distractions and give participants space to just be: be quiet, be still, listen in and enjoy this magical moment.

Cacao translates to ‘food of the gods’ and has been used for hundreds of years by indigenous tribes from all over the world. Ceremonial grade cacao (used here in LaHoodyoga ceremonies) is very different to commercial chocolate. Cacao is packed full of antioxidants and produces oxytocin and endorphins, allowing that loved up feeling to engulf the body and mind.

In this virtual ceremony prior to the assembly date, the participants will be sent by post a very special parcel containing the correct dose
of cacao and other magical surprise gifts inside. There will be detailed guides to help with setting up their wonderful home ritual spaces. On the day, participants join together online with their ready-made cacao potion to begin a sacred time together. Everyone will be using ceremonial cacao from Guatemala to enhance the heart space, blessing the cacao and setting intentions for themselves and their loved ones before slowly sipping the dark rich drink. Simple soft stirring movements in the body will be practised to help activate the cacao, then all will be gently guided into a deep heart chakra meditation. This meditation will literally melt away all stress and leave everyone feeling open and ready to receive the plant medicine from the cacao. In the most relaxed dreamy state, the group will unravel themselves in very slow deep yin poses. Now is the time to
give themselves permission to switch off and unwind.

To close the ceremony there will be the longest shavasana (everyone’s favourite part!) and journaling as an offer of reflection on this time together. Throughout the ceremony Lisa will be drawing tarot and/or oracle cards for the collective, allowing messages to flow to the group.

This ceremony is an opportunity for participants to open up to fresh perspectives and connect with their intuition. They will learn practices and tools that they can incorporate into their everyday life so that they can come back to these zen feelings again and again.

If lockdown has taught us anything, it is that slowing down and checking in with ourselves is vital for our mental health. This immersive afternoon of cacao and yin allows for just that to happen, it is the perfect selfcare afternoon.