December Events, Lessons in Longevity, and an essay by Colin Kirts
Real Wellness Roundup | 12.5.21
The Real Wellness Roundup is Koru’s sneak peak into the shared reality of movement!
Thanks for reading.
Table of Contents
Cacao Ceremony on December 11th
Tasty Grooves on December 18th
Memberships and Booking Koru
Lessons in Longevity from Costa Rica from James Seykot
“You Are A Gift,” an essay by Colin Kirts as featured in the most recent copy of The Doylestown Cardinal
Cacao Ceremony, December 11th at Koru
This event is priced at $55/person. Email us for booking! info@wearekoru.com
As ancestral medicine becomes more of a cliche these days, having a clear understanding of what it entitles is what makes a difference between just having a good time and truly experiencing healing and transformation through these practices.
We invite you to join us as we explore the ancestral tradition of the Andes in this Cacao circle.
We will give an introduction to ancestral plant medicine and how it differs from modern medicine.
How we can counteract anger, stress, anxiety, and depression caused by the fast-paced and isolated ways of modern life using ancestral practices.
We will recognize the Universe as the Divine living within us. Peace, love and happiness are not merely words or wishes they are the essence of human beings.
What is cacao?
Cacao is one of the ancient plant medicines used by natives in Central and part of South America. It is known as a heart opener because it stimulates blood circulation which increases activity in the brain and nervous system. As it does this, it energetically connects the mind with the heart allowing us to be in tune with ourselves and those around us.
Cacao also promotes joy, acceptance and excitement for life and yet it keeps us grounded and aware.
Who are we?
Kinti Illya was born out of the idea of sharing our personal and communal experience with ancestral traditions. One of the commitments of Inca culture is to share what we learned and experienced with others or as we say in the North - pay it forward.
Carolina has been working and training with natives in Peru for over ten years where she received the title of Paqo or Inca mesa carrier. She has been part of and has hosted multiple national and international plant medicine and self-discovering retreats. Certified Yoga instructor since 2015, she practices Tibetan Buddhism and is recognized as a holistic massage therapist.
Shane is a world traveler, hiking guide and certified Tai Chi instructor. He has been working with ancestral plant medicines for over six years.
One of the common things about plant medicines is that participants have a hard time putting into words what they have experienced. Many of them agree that it is only when you are sitting in the circle that you can understand what happens to your body, mind and soul. We hope you can join us and live the experience yourself.Love/Munay,
Carolina & Shane
Tasty Grooves, December 18th at Koru
Set your calendars!
On December 18th, 2021, we will be hosting our annual gathering at Koru. This event is a fundraiser for Pine2Pink, a Doylestown non-profit. If interested in attending, please email info@wearekoru.com
We are thankful for all of your support as we’ve fully reopened this year and look forward to seeing you.
This event is catered by local chefs Nic Servis and Steve Servis with music by singer-songwriter Joshua Howard – all of whom are Koru members.
Servis Events is a private dinner service that brings everything you would expect from your favorite restaurant into the comfort of your home. Using a holistic approach to cooking, sourcing all ingredients locally and seasonally.
For Philadelphia born singer songwriter Joshua Howard, making music is about much more than the number of people listening. At the core of every project is a journey of self discovery and a desire to see people connecting with a meaning far deeper than flashy lyrics and engaging hooks. Joshua’s music thrives on raw content, reflective of the thoughtfulness and unapologetic honesty of a musician searching for purpose in the process of creating, rather than self promotion.
Gym Membership Updates:
We’re expanding our gym for members, making the space more accessible and versatile for the new year. Now’s the time to check out what’s new at Koru!
Lessons in Longevity from Costa Rica
This year I’ve spent a few months living in Costa Rica near the Nicoya Peninsula, an area home to some of the world’s longest living people. A friend was telling us how a family member of theirs had recently passed at 123 years old. No kidding.
The spirit of Pura Vida is super welcoming and the culture has a natural longevity. I want to share the original “Power 9” factors that create a Blue Zone, with a Costa Rican twist, and that you can apply these lessons to your own life.
Move Naturally
The world’s longest living people aren’t power lifters or running ultra marathons. They live in environments that create movement in their daily lifestyle. Simple lesson here is that when walking is an option, go for it!
People in Costa Rica often frequent their local Feria, or farmers market. They’re not sitting around waiting for Door Dash to deliver them food or for Instacart to ship them groceries. They’re walking around exchanging conversations, making friends, and returning home with fresh food.
Purpose
Nicoyans of Costa Rica call this plan de vida, or “why I wake up in the morning.” Research shows that knowing your sense of purpose is worth around 7 years of extra life expectancy.
Downshift
People in Costa Rica have routines that shed stress. It can be whatever you make it; taking a few moments to meditate, journal, take a nap, go for happy hour, or have a brief hora de café, AKA a coffee hour. People in blue zones are also known to drink moderately and regularly, usually having one to two glasses of wine with friends or family.
The 80 Percent Rule
There’s a golden rule observed in blue zones that many people are not overeating. This mindfulness can be applied by only eating 80% of what’s on your plate, or eating your smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening.
Gallo Pinto
Beans are a cornerstone of most blue zones diet, and they certainly are in Nicoya. If you’d like to get a taste of traditional Costa Rican breakfast, look no further than Gallo Pinto: a simple and delicious mixture of rice and beans.
Embrace Generosity
There’s a Costa Rican phrase, Dios se lo paga, which means that what you give in this life, god will pay back in the next. Lesson here is to be the first to pick up the check at meals, give to charity, and to overtip. Studies show that generosity can pay off for you no matter where you live.
Belong
Costa Ricans are experts in the art of gathering. They’re keen to live close to their friends and make friends with their neighbors, organizing potlucks and impromptu happy hours.
Also, centenarians are more likely to belong to a faith-based community. Which denomination isn’t important, because research shows that attending faith-based services can add 4 to 14 years of life expectancy. If you have a religion, practice it regularly. If not, see if there is one that resonates with you.
Loved Ones First
People I’ve shared a lot of time with are keen to put their family first. They keep their parents and grandparents nearby and invest in quality time with their kids. Lesson here is to establish a weekly family ritual, like having a lively dinner night to strengthen your bond.
Right Tribe
Our social circles can support our healthy behavior when we can find or choose the right tribe. Smoking is contagious, but so is happiness. So our choosing our network can favorably shape healthy behavior. One thing I’ve found enjoyable is to gather with the people you’re living with, create a weekly menu, and then pick out the produce and groceries needed for the week.
You can apply any of these ideas to you own life where it’s appropriate. Pura Vida!
– James Seykot
You Are A Gift
In late 2009, I had this youthful idea to start a movement called youarethegift. Naturally, I expected it to be a big hit and for everyone to just seamlessly get on board. As such, I launched this project around Christmas. The intention was to inspire people to see themselves—as opposed to stuff—as the gift most worth giving.
Suffice it to say, it did not take off in the way that I had hoped it would. It didn’t really take off at all, in fact. Looking back at the somewhat naive 23 year old I was at the time, this actually makes a lot of sense. As well-intentioned a project as it was, I clearly did not have have the real world experience to validate and to substantiate such a concept.
Honestly, today I kind of view the whole endeavor as overly hippie dippie. It was even a bit narcissistic. I was only 23, though. Cut me some slack.
And then, 2020 happened. Yah, there were some events in between, but I think recent issues have put a lot of this in perspective. Without a doubt, we have seen the absolute need for, well, stuff. From hand sanitizer and PPE, to medicine, and, of course, food, there is no denying our shared need for certain things.
Throughout the last 18 months or so, though, we have heard quite a bit about an equally significant tale, that of loneliness, and of the literal danger of isolation. We don’t need to compare stats here; the bottom line is, we all need real material items—and we always will—and we also need connection.
If we can hone in on just this one lesson for now, I sincerely believe 2022 could be a year like no other. Both/And. It’s a phrase I hear more and more these days, and, I couldn’t be happier about. It’s a fairly straightforward concept. Both this And that can have value. They both can—and probably do—matter. It’s a way of thinking which serves more to integrate than to alienate.
Implicit to its message, of course, is the need to embrace all. When you really dig into it, in fact, funny enough, it even allows you to sometimes embrace what we call an either/or attitude. Yes, sometimes, we need to go with either this or that. It always depends on the context. Generally, though, for our normal day-to-day existence, you can see the value in both one and the other…
Case in point, there is a need for both toilet paper and, well, eye contact. Let’s consider a few relatable examples. How about George Bailey. Yes, George Bailey of the obviously relevant classic Christmas tale It’s a Wonderful Life. First off, if you haven’t seen it, why the heck not? Regardless, maybe this is your lucky year. Second, this won’t be a spoiler; it’s a fairly well known plot.
There’s a very specific reason George’s story—and Mary’s, for that matter, and Zuzu’s, etc. etc.—is so heartbreakingly beautiful. Yes, George gets the money he needs. He’s not going to jail, to say the least, and that’s important. The money matters. Arguably, though, the reason I am tearing up even as I write this—and why I am wanting to play Auld Lang Syne right now—is because of how he gets the money.
Connection. The quality of George’s RELATIONSHIPS. This is why George succeeds in the end. Without even knowing it, he literally spent his entire life showing everyone around him that they mattered. That’s it. That’s why, in the end, he became the richest man in town, and why his life was wonderful.
Even more importantly, though, is the fact that everyone in Bedford Falls felt the effect. The entire community was nourished by this feedback of presence.
How about two additional real life examples? Bill Murray and Conan O’Brien. In a recent podcast, Lisa Kudrow said that the lesser known secret to O’Brien’s success is the work he puts into maintaining and strengthening his relationships. He cares. A lot. Even more poignant, though, is the reality that Murray may literally show up anywhere, anytime, unannounced, simply because he needs to connect. Yes, anywhere, like in your kitchen, washing your dishes, during your frat party. He may just appear, because, for him, it helps him feel connected.
Yes, let’s not ignore the relationship between talent and success for these two men, but let’s also not gloss over the obvious: no amount of success frees you from your basic human need for genuine—and ideally loving—interaction.
Heck, we can even begrudgingly tease out this essential theme from Squid Game, if we must…
On that note, yes, poverty is real. Money is important. Starvation is dangerous, and unfortunately, food insecurity is not likely to go away anytime soon. Both this hard fact and the reality that loneliness kills are true.
This year, I propose we take the so called spirit of giving and extend it as long as we can. There’s no reason for it not to be the new norm, quite frankly. In a recent interview, in fact, I was asked about charity. “Why”, the host wondered, “do we feel so good when we give?” If you need a reason, I’d like you to try to boil it down to this one simple fact: everything is connected. When you give, for real, you get. It’s not magic, it’s just how it works. The trick is, quite simply, to make it real…
As we begin anew, consider making it your norm to see connections. Wave. Smile. Even honk your horn. Bug your neighbor, for crying out loud. They’ll eventually appreciate it. Probably. Whatever the case, whether you’re regifting toilet paper or lysol wipes from your private stash, or you are going the route of just being more present with everyone in your life, really give. Mean it. The stuff is a gift. Time is a gift. And, why not… you are a gift…
– Colin Kirts
Note: We are continuing to operate as we have for the last few months at Koru Real Wellness in Doylestown. We are prioritizing being a community that thrives to accommodate everyones needs. We are monitoring the new situation with regards to COVID-19, and we encourage mask wearing at your discretion. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please reach out to our email: info@wearekoru.com.
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