“We rolled out our mats and settled into a meditation.”
by Chris Roberts
In its first community event since the Thomas fire, Jo Ann Wedding led a small group of yogis through the impressive new Ventura Botanical Garden gateway to the base of the trail.
The view was astonishing. The trail is fully restored between the trailhead and Summit Road, about half way to the top of the ridge. The rockwork takes me back to the hills in Greece or Portugal. Line upon line upon line of curved stone batter walls define he trail, the planters and those parts of the hillside that require additional stability reinforcement. The repetitive rhythm of the undulating walls is striking, and at a deeper level, my appreciation for the hours of handwork required to create this setting take me back to a time when manual labor, not machines, built structures. This is not like the stone walls that lined the edge of the trail before this fire. The stonework is so prevalent that it establishes an artwork array as far as the eye can see. The plants are in bloom, and the diversity of Mediterranean plants is breathtaking.
For those wanting a more vigorous ascent, curved stone steps, cross the low gradient switchbacks, offering a shorter, but more vigorous hillside ascent.
The group reached a patio overlook at the Summit Drive terminus. We rolled out our mats and settled into a meditation that include breathing in the fresh air, feasting on the ocean and mountains views, and the quiet natural setting. Attention to the breath, and a peaceful setting are prime yoga session components.
Master yogi LeeAnn McGuire led us through a series of relaxing but energetic poses and we all had gentle smiles as we rolled up the mats and made the refreshing decent back to the trailhead. Thanks to Yoga Jones and the Ventura Botanical Gardens for making this special event possible. Future gatherings are planned on June 13 and June 27.
The rebuilt trail and vastly improved gardens are gentle yet spectacular. I will return often.
