Introduction to retreat tours
01
~ Writer has experienced a retreat tour ~
News from nikohako vol.1
2023.10.1
Photo:Junichiro Morinaga
Text: Kayo Arita
aia has been an aromatherapist for more than a decade.
Since I participated in her humus distillation before, I have been fascinated by her sense of the world through the magical experience that the life force, healing and fragrance of plants and soil can instantly change the atmosphere of a place and one's mind.
The news that she is relocating her salon to Kamakura in the spring of 2023 and starting a new retreat tour in the rich nature of Kamakura is not to be missed. We immediately took part in a monitoring tour in October, when we could feel the beginning of autumn.
The location was surprisingly quiet and tranquil, even though it was situated close to the sightseeing area of Kamakura.
In the morning, we decided to walk around the Kamakura Hiromachi Green and get in touch with nature.
There, after a few minutes' walk through a quiet residential area, the fields and greenery gradually increase. You could almost whisper to yourself, "Is this really Kamakura?
As I walked with Maia-san, listening to her talk about plants, I found myself at the entrance to the mountain.
If we continued on, there was a steep path leading up the mountain, but I was already starting to feel faint from the lack of exercise I was getting.
Seeing me in such a state, Maia kindly suggested that we should have lunch soon.
After walking for a while, I was hungry.
For lunch, we went to a famous sushi restaurant that takes advantage of Kamakura's proximity to the sea and is well-known among locals.
There is a wide selection of menus using fresh fish.
The shirasu rice bowl also contains fresh shirasu, a Kamakura speciality, which unintentionally raises my spirits.
In the afternoon, we made aroma crafts at the salon using Shell ginger from Ishigaki Island.
We distil the beautiful, lustrous moonflower leaves in a glass distiller.
When you smell the distilled water,,
A spicy, spicy fragrance spreads out along with a refreshing sweetness.
I felt as if my feelings had unintentionally blossomed and even my vision had brightened.
'You can change your mind so instantly just by smelling a scent.'
I told Maia.
'Scenting goes directly to the unconscious area of the brain, which is responsible for instincts and memories.
Smelling different scents is actually an adventure for the body.
Observing plants, touching them with your hands and using your body's senses to smell them, you get the feeling that you can meet yourself again from a different perspective.
I think that scents that give you a sense of lightness are perfect for the coming season, when the daylight hours are getting shorter."
She told us.
Distilled water is
⚪︎ as a room spray to condition the room
(in corners such as doorways, toilets, bathrooms, etc.)
⚪︎ as a pillow mist for waking up and falling asleep
⚪︎ as an aura mist for cleansing
⚪︎ as an aroma bath in an aroma diffuser, etc.
They can also be used as.
I spent a day in Maia's beautiful white-based salon, the Shell ginger and the nature of Kamakura. It was a day when my body and mind were healed.
I am so happy that the beautiful memories of the retreat tour continue into my daily life through the fragrance.
We are modern people who spend our days busy and tend to use our thoughts a lot. This is exactly what we need to experience right now.
Introduction to retreat tours
02
~ Writer has experienced a retreat tour ~
News from nikohako vol.2
2023.10.12
Photo:Junichiro Morinaga
Text: Kayo Arita
In this issue, the author talks about the distillation of humus, which led to his association with Maia.
Do you know what humus is?
I only remember using it to breed beetles during the summer holidays when I was a child, but I was allowed to smell the distilled water of humus made by Maia-san at one of her bodywork salons in Kyoto.
I was struck by its clear fragrance, which was more pleasant, natural and vital than any perfume, and I immediately decided to go to a workshop organised by Maia.
The humus distilled by Maia san is of such high quality that it is used to grow chrysanthemums for exhibitions.
The soil is humus that has matured under the snow during the winter.
The humus has come to us through the life and death of nameless plants and animals, and is surprisingly soft and fluffy, with an indescribable, subtle fragrance.
The humus brought by Maia made many of the monitors want to rub their faces in it.
While distilling the humus, we continue to prepare a unique aroma craft.
We select and blend our own scents of interest from Maia's range of essential oils.
We then mix them with the finished humus distilled water to complete the process.
Each of the aromatic scents created by the monitored participants is completely different, yet all are so attractive that they cannot be described in words.
As Maia told us, "Scent reaches directly to the unconscious part of the brain that controls instincts and memories", I felt that it had reached the centre of my mind and body.
No words can describe the charm of humus.
It is a feeling that can only be understood by actually experiencing it.
It is said that many people who have tried humus distillation become addicted to its charms and keep coming back for more.
If you are at all curious about humus distillation, please come to one of the distillation events held in various locations, or to Maia's distillation events in Kamakura.
If you are at all interested, please visit Maia's Kamakura Salon or the distillation workshops held at various locations.
Introduction to retreat tours
03
~ Writer has experienced a retreat tour ~
News from nikohako vol.3
2023.10.24
Photo:Junichiro Morinaga
Text: Kayo Arita
In November, a retreat tour was held to explore the Kenchoji Tenen Course and create lavender aroma crafts.
As we climbed the Kenchoji Temple and entered the mountains, the plants were already dressed for autumn.
Enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves in the historic city of Kamakura, the walk naturally deepened the breath of the participants.
The steps leading up to the mountain were hard and demanding (LOL) but we managed to climb them and were able to see the city of Kamakura and even the sea.
After enjoying nature on a mountain hike, lunch was served at 'Raitei'.
The delicious soba noodles, served in a stately Japanese-style building surrounded by a historic gate and garden, brought smiles to everyone's faces.
Now, in the afternoon, we are going to have a lavender distillation in the salon.
To my surprise, the herb that kicked off aromatherapy was lavender.
Maia says that lavender has a richer fragrance at this time of year because it is harvested in early summer and left to ripen until autumn.
Lavender's main function is not only to relax, but also to restore the body and mind by maintaining a balance between activation and relaxation.
Many healers speak of it as an herb that restores biological rhythms over which we have no control.
This is exactly what the aromatherapy work she does on our retreats is all about.
This course was not only about lavender distillation, but also lavender facial steam, an imagery work experience to connect with lavender, making lavender aromatic distilled water lotion and facial cream, and lots of aroma craft souvenirs!
It was a very luxurious event.
Lavender, from the root word 'wash', has long been used to cleanse the body and mind, and as an herb for 'cleansing the soul' and 'maintaining purity' it has been used for bathing, washing and scenting linen and has been synonymous with cleanliness.
The lavender aroma crafts are full of memories of the Kamakura retreat.
We want to incorporate lavender into our daily lives, increasing our time spent comfortably.
