Finding My Aura in Sedona

A week ago, I had no aura. I placed my hands, as directed, on the aura-reading machine at the Sedona Mago retreat center, and my vibes did not register at all. After several failed attempts, excitement rippled through the room. “Oh wow!” said one of the mindfulness trainers from Body & Brain Wellness, a global organization that teaches holistic wellness. “This only happens to about one in 1,000 people.” Finally, group leader Dami Kim, director of Body & Brain Wellness, placed her hands over mine to share enough of her aura to kick-start my own energy. (Lost? Here’s a relatively objective explanation of auras from Healthline.)

The visual depiction of my aura reading was entirely blue, purple and white. Translation: My chakras are way out of whack. These colors indicate intuitiveness, curiosity, wisdom and independence. The complete lack of red, orange, yellow and green means I need to be more grounded in my body, adventurous, social and emotional. Of the seven participants in this Body & Brain Corporate Wellness Retreat, I was going to be a tough case for enlightenment.

A crash course in mindfulness

I went to the 173-acre Sedona Mago center at the invitation of Reina Hershendorfer, director of marketing and PR for Caesars Entertainment Meetings & Events, who has championed the expansion of nontraditional wellness options for meetings held at Caesars properties.

Over the course of three days at the retreat center, a state-owned nonprofit, our small group experienced an outdoor barefoot walking meditation, learned stress management and brain boosting techniques, unearthed our buried emotions, learned a few qigong moves (similar to tai chi), experienced sound healing, bonded during outdoor team building, and absorbed positive energy at two red rock vortex sites.

The mission and message of Sedona Mago

Just getting to Sedona Mago is an experience. The closet airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor, about 2 hours away by car. Set off from civilization by an 11-mile dirt road, the sprawling property was purchased and repurposed in 1997 by Ilchi Lee, a Korean mind-body trainer who followed a mystical call to the abandoned Arizona retreat site, as described in one of his 40 books, The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart. The site is now a nonprofit owned and operated by the Tao Fellowship (also founded by Lee), with its design and programs inspired by the Taoist principles of living in simplicity and harmony with nature. Mago is an ancient Korean word that means “Mother Earth.”

In keeping with that mission, the 103 casita-style guest rooms are minimalist yet comfortable, each accommodating two or more people. The property is alcohol-free and serves thoughtfully prepared vegetarian and pescatarian meals. Programs and activities seek to connect guests with their true and natural selves, stripping away the clutter caused by our own thoughts and the influences of the man-made world.

Yes, it worked for me

I’m a New Yorker, which explains why I “live in my head,” among other revelations about my unbalanced chakras. With a true New Yorker’s skepticism, I had little to no faith in auras, vortexes and even meditation. I’m all in now. I feel lighter, energized, relaxed and focused.

Here’s a non-Taoist analogy for the experience: When your computer gets glitchy and slow, you shut it down, wait a minute or two, and restart. In retrospect, I realize I needed the reset. Don’t we all?

Caesars resorts are all in, too

Wellness programs are hardly new, but few North American properties are embracing Eastern practices. Caesars is a standout, offering a new menu of group wellness activities, from traditional yoga and nutrition classes to some of the Tao-inspired concepts we experienced at Sedona Mago. A few examples:

• Vibration classes
  This form of exercise, which mostly involves standing and holding poses, is said to support neuromuscular performance, muscle strength, balance, gait mechanics and quality of life. Achieving and maintaining high levels of vibrational energy unblocks the body’s seven chakras, say practitioners, supporting physical and emotional health and happiness.
• EFT tapping
  Emotion Freedom Technique is a mind-body method of tapping acupuncture points with your fingertips while focusing on an issue or feeling you’re hoping to resolve. The practice can reduce stress and anxiety, improve performance and help resolve fears.
• Somatic breathwork + tea ceremony
  Through intentional breathwork practices, participants embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner peace. This practice fosters a conscious and purpose-driven connection between mind, body and nature.

The extensive Caesars Forum catering menu includes wellness activities and speakers, beginning on page 61.