In all the world, no waters like these...

newsletter

January 2011

Guest Chef Weekend with Marion Cascio January 28-30
Please join us in January for a Guest Chef Weekend with five meals of fresh and delicious food prepared by chef Marion Cascio.
	Marion comes from a family of cooks and has been involved with restaurants since childhood. She studied classical culinary arts in Germany for five years and has cooked in many famous restaurants and spas. Marion was a staff cook at Esalen for five years where she learned ethnic cooking techniques and fell in love with cooking from the garden.

Please visit our website's Chef Weekend page (click here) for more details.

January Special

Thrival Living JoyShops with Shannon Sheridan January 21-23, 2011 & April 1-3, 2011 Experience a blending of APPRECIATION OPENNESS SHARING LAUGHTER and the LUSCIOUSNESS of WILBUR HOT SPRINGS! This JoyShop combines tools and techniques to support couples in learning more about themselves and each other in a collaborative and loving environment blended with the beautiful surrounding of Wilbur Hot Springs. There will be opportunities for experiential process, thereby providing immediate practice of new ways of thinking and behaving. It is blended with laughter, openness and the normalization of couples' experiences with that of other couples. Much of the work is based on the new book "The Couples Thrival Guide," which will be available for the workshop. Testimonial: "I loved the hominess and comfort provided; freedom to move, sit comfortably; good food and good people, and no pressure. I felt right at home." - DR JoyShop Fees: $300 if paid two weeks in advance $350 if paid less than two weeks ahead of date Sorry, couples only Includes breakfast JoyShop fees only--does not include lodging Contact Wilbur Hot Springs to reserve your lodging. For more information and registration contact Cheryl Shinn at 530-345-7875, or email mailto:cherylynn50@att.net.

Sarana Miller Yoga Retreat April 8-10 Please join us for a weekend of breathing, chanting, asana and soaking in the healing mineral waters of Wilbur. Come strengthen your practice while relaxing and rejuvenating your body and mind. We'll step back from our daily routines and retreat to this sacred land, home to healing waters that have been used for renewal for centuries. Students will practice yoga on Wilbur's beautiful yoga deck, cradled in nature with the sounds of the breeze and the creek. We will begin each day with chanting and pranayama, followed by breakfast and then an active morning session. In the afternoon there will be time for bathing, hiking, massage and personal time. We will gather in the late afternoon for a restorative session followed by a delicious dinner. Read more about Sarana here. Come and join us for a retreat that will invigorate your body, renew your spirits, and quiet your mind. Weekend includes: • 5 organic meals • yoga sessions • 2 nights accommodations (including use of baths, sauna and grounds) Cost: Private room $525 per person Bunk $485 per person Camping $425 per person Enrollment is limited. Please sign up as soon as possible to reserve your space. Contact Sarana Miller at 510-502-9642, or by email at sarana@mac.com. Visit her website at www.saranayoga.com.   Couples/Partners Yoga Retreat with Rex Stromness and Michele Miller April 15-17 Couples/partner yoga is a wonderful way to connect with your partner or spouse using traditional yoga poses, breathing exercises and massage. It is suitable for all levels of experience and expertise. In our workshop, we begin with connecting exercises and build on this foundation, moving into assisted and partner poses. Most couples find it a great way to practice yoga in a new way, connect deeply with the one you love, meet new people and have fun. Wilbur Hot Springs, with its quiet, serene environment and healing waters, is the ideal place to experience this unique way of practicing yoga. Rex Stromness has practiced yoga for 30 years and taught for the past 15 years. He currently teaches yoga at Cal State University Chico, Chico Sports Club and at retreats internationally. Michele Miller has practiced yoga for the past 15 years and is a long-time member of the Wilbur family, as is Rex. Together they have led couples workshops for the past 8 years. For more information, please contact Rex Stromness at 530-892-8583, or email him at stromness@comcast.net. Retreat Fee: $975 per couple (includes 5 organic meals, all classes and use of facilities).

Complementary Alternative Medicine

Chiropractic, Impulse and OMT

I have has been practicing chiropractic since 1994. However, before completing my chiropracter training, I was a student of massage and its many styles and benefits. I also taught the certified basic styles of Esalen, Swedish and Deep Tissue techniques.

Chiropractic adjustment is defined as maximizing mobility using both manual and electromechanical (Impulse) adjusting techniques. The research-based Impulse adjusting technique, a low-force and painless delivery of multiple impulse thrusts, was found to be twice as fast as other electromechanical activation devices and about 100 times faster than manual spinal manipulation.* I use the Impulse technique for individuals who prefer low-force adjustments, for individuals suffering from acute and chronic injuries, for children and for the elderly.

Orthopedic Manual Therapy (OMT) is designed to target nerve, muscle and joint immobility. When I use OMT, I am bringing together a combination of techniques: massage, mobilization, neuromuscular re-education, many years of clinical training, and diagnostic skills. My goal when using OMT is to offer treatment sessions that provide pain relief and functional rehabilitation. I recommend OMT because it is precise and extremely effective, especially when combined with soaking in Wilbur's mineral-laden waters.

Massage has always been very positive regarding health benefits, and a single session of massage therapy is known to have positive biological health changes. Currently, I am offering 90 minute, 2-hour, 4-hour, and 6-hour sessions at Wilbur Hot Springs.

Please schedule your chiropractic and massage sessions when reserving your room reservation.

Warmly and in health!

-Shalamah Yahchove, DC

*Colloca CJ, DC, Keller T, PhD et al., JMPT 2005:28:414-22. Keller T, PhD, Colloca CJ, DC, et al Chiropractic and Osteopathy 2006;14:(6), 29(6):425-36.0

Artist in Residence

Over the years, Wilbur has provided the perfect environement to foster a number of artists in pursuit of their passions, whether through painting, writing or some other creative endeavor. Wilbur's Resident Artist program has seen the likes of visual and graphic artist Nobel Richardson and author Anne Lamott, and is currently hosting Joanihna. As a culinary artist and dietary coach, Joaninha came to Wilbur Hot Springs to be in a supportive environment with a community of people dedicated to the well-being of others. She describes Wilbur as a sanctuary of serenity, the ideal atmosphere in which to work on her self-help cookbook.

Previously Joaninha lived in the South of France, where she worked as a private dietary consultant, gave cooking classes, lectured and wrote articles for local English publications. Her clients loved her food and the vitality they experienced from following her recommendations. They kept telling her, "You must write a cookbook."

In 2009 Joaninha returned to the Bay Area to make her dream a reality. "This is more than an ordinary cookbook--it is the sharing of a lifetime of experience in healthy living and searching for natural pathways to wellness, from the Amazon to the Far East to the Mediterranean," says Joaninha.

Joaninha believes that with the current state of the environment we must make every effort to keep our immune systems strong, our attitudes positive and our minds peaceful. In her self-help cookbook you will find simple solutions to guide you, along with well-balanced menus and tasty recipes to make these transformative changes fun and enjoyable for the entire family.

Joaninha feels mealtime is one of our finest rituals. She says, "It fills our hearts with gladness, lifts our spirits, and brings people together. It is a time when we can relax and truly celebrate life!"

If you'd like to have a copy of Joanhina's cookbook when published, please contact Wilbur Hot Springs.

Letters from Guests

Dear Wilbur One and All:

I was just there for two nights of bliss, quiet and relaxation and wanted to tell you how good the place feels, looks and is. I have been coming to Wilbur for 36 years and I can honestly say I was really impressed by how clean and well managed it all is these days. Of all the hot springs in California, and other states as well, Wilbur is still my favorite. Thank you for taking such good care of this treasure--I shall return.

Susan K., Felton, CA

Notes From the Caretaker

Dear Friends of Wilbur:

About 25 years ago I began an occasional collegial dialogue with cardiologist Kent Gerschengorn. Kent has also been a guest on my radio program, Mind Body Health & Politics.

One topic under discussion is the potentially positive cardiovascular effect of immersion in the supersaturated, naturally heated, waters of Wilbur Hot Springs.

My hypothesis has been that the temperature of the water creates an aerobic effect that is similar to, if not the same as, the effect created by jogging, running, fast walking, swimming and other physical activities done at the aerobic level, defined by Dr. Ken Cooper as being a heart rate that measures at least 60 percent of maximum.

If my hypothesis is correct, immersing oneself in water of a certain temperature is an easy way of maintaining and improving cardiovascular conditioning. One could thus achieve the aerobic effect while reading, conversing or meditating. Taken to the extreme, one could even take a nap while maintaining aerobic conditioning levels via the immersion method.

Stay tuned in while we continue to research this fascinating topic. And, if you decide to take a nap while conditioning, your heart and soul, in the luxuriously comforting waters at Wilbur, please be 100 percent certain to have someone watching carefully over you.

Looking forward to conversing with you during 2011 and wishing you excellent health,

Richard

Richard Louis Miller, M.A., Ph.D.
Wilbur Caretaker since 1972

Country Store Online

See our online store for Larry Wagner's photo book and Wilbur's bath crystals.