Living, and living well are two entirely different concepts. I find myself very blessed, in that I am not only living, but living well. I live well because I am surrounded and inspired by love… my beautiful daughter, my sexy farmer, this fertile and lush space that we are privileged to call home. Life is pretty idyllic, and I get to share all this with likeminded adventurers so that they can take a little of the STUSH lifestyle home with them. Living well.
On January 16th, Marta Lamolla, a friend and local pilates instructor, held our very first STUSH Pilates session and champagne breakfast. Marta, like myself, has a vested interest, in not only living, but living well. Marta is a veteran visitor—she’s been up to ZionItes many times, and apparently had us earmarked for a pilates session long before we were ready.
“I found this gem just a few months back, actually just a friend of ours took us here. We found STUSH in the BUSH and fell in love with the place. You guys didn’t have the deck yet, so I recently spoke [again] with Lisa, I came, and fell even more in love with this place.”
Marta and her partner Nick had us pegged from the get go. “STUSH in the BUSH represents precisely that, off the beaten track, and together with pilates, it gives you that control, that strength, that flexibility. And I think that it’s the perfect match.” Clearly they aren’t the only ones who think so, as our deck filled up with yoga mats, and people ready for a good morning exercise. To live well, we have to not only feed our bodies, but our minds, our hearts, our souls. Good experiences, good relationships with good people, and especially good food, are what we as human beings need in order to live, and live well. And watching our guests do pilates on the deck, surrounded by lush green fruit trees, vegetables, and the occasional doctor bird, I’d have to say they agreed.
After about an hour long workout, everyone tucked in to the table for breakfast. After all, how can you say you’ve been to STUSH in the BUSH if you haven’t eaten anything? An eggless Ackee quiche, cheddar and scallion biscuits, ZionItes greens… stushed up with some roasted beets, papaya and toasted pumpkin seeds, vegan chocolate chip cookies and champagne mimosas (okay it was Prosecco but it was very delicious) topped with a homemade sorrel syrup were just a few of the things to grace our table.
Surrounded by laughter, life, and friends, is there any other way to live well? Nick agreed. “We’ve lost that idea of working together. When Marta said it would be great to do something here, I was like ‘we get to work with people who we know we have a kinship with,’ and that’s the only way we individually and as a country are going to ever improve and make this country what it can truly be.” Community is something that has been sacrificed in today’s modern world, often for convenience and ease of access. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If we can inspire each other to live well, to foster positive and meaningful relationships with each other, our environment, and especially our food, we can change that course.
“We put together those strengths, because that’s what it’s all about,” said Marta. “Sharing the love.” And all that is certainly, living well. Although this is only the beginning of our partnership, I already know we have begun something very special—something we know will inspire others to participate in fitness in the Bush!
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU, AND KEEP LIVING WELL. IT NEVER HURTS TO LIVE A LITTLE STUSH, TOO!
Our upcoming fitness sessions are...
- May 29th, Pilates and Chocolate, hosted again by Marta Lamolla
- June 12TH, Yoga Brunch with the talented Kayla Hough.