Breakthrough💥

On By Heather Wiest

Springtime is the season of reNEWal — abundant life awakens and is displayed all around us — the warm sun, blooming flowers, birds chirping in song, change in the air. It is the perfect time to BREAK THROUGH OUR BLOCKS. “Sometimes we’re so blocked in a particular area we don’t even consider a breakthrough a possibility. We’re so blocked we don’t even see our blocks. Stay open. Don’t limit yourself. Something that yesterday seemed entirely unfeasible and forever beyond your grasp may tomorrow, next month, next year — or today — become something you can do naturally, something that’s available to you. It can come as a total surprise, in an area you hadn’t considered. Your breakthrough may happen in an area you’ve been struggling with and working on.” ~ Melody Beattie

How are you reNEWing? What breakthrough are you looking for?

Life is more than setbacks, and it’s not static. Appreciate and respect where you are now. But let yourself move to the next level when it’s time. Celebrate your breakthroughs when they come. Listen to that quiet voice, that fleeting thought that says, Why don’t you________? — even if it’s something you’ve never done before. ~ Melody Beattie

Who or what is pulling on you?

What do you think you should do?

Now take it to the next step, the next level. What does your heart & soul lead you to do?

Bhavana Meditation:

Bhavana is a Sanskrit word meaning reflection, contemplation, infusion.

To practice a bhavana meditation, think of a quality you would love to be permeated by, and soak in it.

  1. Think of one, two, or three qualities you would love to be infused with. Ask within yourself, “What would I love to be filled with? What kind of energy? What quality of being?” You could write these words in your journal. Your words might be quite different from one another, such as power, peace, love, excitement, stability, clarity.
  2. Give yourself a chance to love each word, leisurely. Bond with the word; let your body be at home with it.
  3. Develop a rhythm of leisurely thinking of each word and then pausing to feel it resonating in you. Like when you drop a pebble into a pond, watch the ripples. You might think one of your words every ten or twenty seconds, so it takes a full minute to think all three. Get used to this rhythm: the word, the feeling of the word, the sensations and imagery, the silence after the word, then the next word.

You can meditate in this way for five, ten, or twenty minutes a day. You can do this with any quality you love, or are devoted to, or have faith in. ~ Lorin Roche, The Radiance Sutras

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. ~ Romans 12:1-2, The Message

May you be reNEWed in this season of your life. Stay open. Don’t limit yourself. A breakthrough is happening.💥

Vibrant Vietnam 🇻🇳

On By Heather Wiest

Venture — A Daring Journey — our Southern Vietnam Retreat theme (inspired last year) lived up to its name! Many of us traveled on the day the Iranian strikes began, and some participants even had to cancel due to disrupted itineraries. We embraced our guiding verse, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV

During a quiet time in Ho Chi Minh City, I was personally encouraged by Psalm 143:8 NLT, “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” God is always with us and guiding us, one breath at a time. 

“The breath is the metronome of now.”

Jillian Pransky

Enjoy my trip takeaways…

  • Each international travel journey grows us. Everything we encounter is new and unfamiliar, strengthening our brain’s neuroplasticity.
  • Coconut water and watermelon juice are a must for hydration in hot and humid environments.
  • When in Vietnam, take advantage of all the “massa” [massage] opportunities. $39 = 1,000,000 Vietnamese Dong, which is the cost of a 90-minute high-end resort massa!
  • Our yoga practices help us ground and center in any unusual situation — and we take this stability off of the mat and out into the world — thank you Lord for these regulation tools!
  • The Vietnamese people are content with what they have [the average yearly salary is $4000], are joy-filled, embody a collective mindset, and are extremely proud of their country.
  • Ask for boiling water and/or limes to sanitize utensils in eateries. 
  • Good luck finding soap in bathrooms (bring sanitizing wipes).
  • Egg yolk coffee and coconut coffee are delicious—a must try!
  • Eat all of the flavorful, fresh fruit and seafood.
  • The horn chili pepper has a wonderful bite.
  • The sound, the feel, the smell, and the sight of the ocean relax the body, mind, and soul.
  • The Phu Quac Island sunsets are stunning.
  • Add crystalized ginger to hot tea—yum!
  • Beer is the alcohol of choice in Vietnam. The Saigon Special was a favorite among retreaters.
  • Vietnam is known for its ground pepper and cinnamon.
  • Most of the mature Vietnamese men leave their pinkie finger nails extra-long for?!
  • The Vietnam War historical sites were beyond emotionally moving…
  • Who knew we would ride a roller coaster on Pineapple Island?
  • Daily meals together foster beautiful conversation and connection.
  • When visiting abroad, learn how to say “Hello” and “Thank You” in the country’s language.
  • Expect delays when you travel and you will not be disappointed.
  • When applying for visas, always extend your exit date in case of travel delays.
  • Go with the flow and let go of what you cannot control.
  • Yoga is a universal practice and unites humanity. We met a Korean woman who may join us on our next retreat to Budapest, Hungary!
  • During and after travel adventures, I invite us to pause and reflect, asking ourselves:

When did I experience moments of…

JOY

PEACE

COMFORT or REST

BEAUTY

A sweet friend shared with us that in Chinese the characters “HH” symbolize double happiness. May Hanan & Heather Retreats promote and provide experiences of double happiness! Will you be joining us for the Breathe In Budapest Yoga Retreat & Vacation, September 17-24, 2026?

Speak Life 💗

On By Heather Wiest

What’s the best thing someone could say to you right now?

All too often, we take the people we love the most for granted: our lovers, family members, and close friends. We forget the enormous power of our presence and words. Make a conscience choice to nurture your relationships with verbal communications of love. Be kind and sincere. Ask open-ended questions with an open heart. Listen empathically and non-defensively. Remember, there are no conditions, no strings, no expectations, and no manipulation. Simply, love to love. ~ Joyce Marter

Give the gift of your full presence. Speak words that build up, edify, encourage, and heal. Love big. Love more. Embrace these 50 Loving Sentiments. Remember the expressions that resonate with you, and share abundantly with those around you. SPEAK LIFE. 

1. I am here for you.

2. Thank you. Thanks for all you do for me, and all the ways in which you add value to my life.

3. You are beautiful. What I find most beautiful about you, inside and out, is: _____.

4. How are you? Truthfully, fully and completely—how are you, really?

5. Tell me about your dreams.

6. Tell me about your fears.

7. Tell me your beliefs about life, love, the world, etc..

8. I am thinking about you.

9. I appreciate you.

10. I care about your feelings.

11. You are important to me.

12. I made a mistake and I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize. Please forgive me.

13. I value our relationship.

14. I am grateful and fortunate to have you in my life.

15. What can I do to support you?

16. How are you feeling about our relationship?

17. How are you feeling about me?

18. The qualities I love about you most are: _____.

19. I notice and really appreciate your efforts and growth in these areas: _____.

20. What’s most meaningful to me about our connection is: ______.

21. Great job! Nice work! Well done.

22. These are the ways in which you have touched my life and made me better: _____.

23. It’s an honor to know you and be close to you.

24. I want the very best for you.

25. I cherish the following experiences we’ve shared: _______.

26. I trust you. I trust in our relationship.

27. I forgive you. I let go of my resentments.

28. These are all of the wonderful, positive qualities I see in you: _____.

29. Your greatest gifts and strengths are: _____.

30. I respect you.

31. I respect your decisions even though they’re different from mine, or what I’ve recommended. You’re free to make your own choices.

32. I support you in any and every way that I can.

33. I believe in you.

34. I lovingly and trustingly give you the time and space you need.

35. You can achieve anything you want in life.

36. You are special. You are divinely and uniquely YOU.

37. You are free to be your authentic self in the context of our relationship.

38. I welcome you to be honest and truthful with me.

39. I desire to have/maintain an intimate and loving relationship with you.

40. You elicit the following positive emotions and feelings in me: _______.

41. You are not responsible for me, for my negative behaviors, or my poor choices.

42. What would you like from me or from our relationship?

43. It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you.

44. I support you in taking care of yourself.

45. Your feelings are understandable and normal responses to everything you have been through.

46. I do not expect you to be perfect. I absolutely understand you are a human being and that none of us are perfect.

47. I acknowledge my areas of needed improvement including ABC, and am working on them by doing XYZ.

48. It’s important to me to know and understand you.

49. I come to you with an open heart and an open mind.

50. I love you fully, completely, and exactly as you are.

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What’s the best thing you could say to someone right now?

Lift your head a little higher, spread the love like fire, hope will fall like rain, when you speak life with the words you say. Raise your thoughts a little higher, use your words to inspire, joy will fall like rain, when you speak life with the things you say. ~ Toby Mac

You Are Limitless…

On By Heather Wiest

It’s time to give yourself some space to explore. When’s the last time you were quiet and undistracted—maybe outside in nature or in a cozy spot in your home with devices off—and allowed yourself to JUST BE, daydream and wander? Allowing thoughts and ideas to arise and travel from one to another without hesitation. Feeling nudges and Spirit-longings come to the surface to be exposed and nourished? We need time and space to hear promptings, to receive insights, direction and inspiration. We have to gift ourselves this time. You are worth it. Yes, the laundry and notifications will still be there, that’s OK. You need this dreamy space to receive, adjust, change, grow—and become the best version of YOU!

Absorb these song lyrics from Limitless by Colton Dixon:

Oh wake up you dreamers
Become make-believers
This is who we are

We are limitless, limitless
Limitless, limitless
The power of love
Alive in us
Is limitless, limitless
Unstoppable and nothing less
No nothing can hold us down
We are limitless

Doubt sees a mountain, no way around it
Faith sees a victory, no doubt about it
Fear sees a ceiling, hope sees the stars
Love be the light inside of our hearts

“Awaken to the storyteller within and share your story with the world. Tell it with joy and flair. Commit to telling it with love and passion. Tell it through living your life fully, doing your work well, and creating the best life you can. Be who you are and love being that. Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people’s souls.” ~ Melody Beattie

“… ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets.” ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 

Hear the deep secrets. Awaken to the storyteller within. Remember you are LIMITLESS = without end or boundary.

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I Found You. ❤️

On By Heather Wiest 
Quest by Susan Frybort
Take me past
the guarded place
in you
where confusion
covers itself
in unrelenting confidence
then marches on
In lively steps
Take off the facade
let it fall away
into nowhere
Turn around and face me
I search the infinite depth
where beyond all entrenchments
I find your thirst
to be met 
and understood
the sadness in your bones,
the want of your silent cries
to be heard
and be known—
abiding within those 
unseen landscapes
is a world of precious
dreams
Let me touch where
the battle wounds
lie quietly healing—
Buried beneath
an armored sheath
rests a lifetime of love
and loneliness,
blame and triumph, 
honor and defeat
Within this blended web
of scars and treasures,
glistening with honesty,
there you are—
I FOUND YOU,
beneath the soldier’s plated heart
So loosen the knots around my own
see all its agony bared and mending
and in between each open space
we’ll breathe upon the frailty
All the wishful longings to be had
bring to me yours
as I meet you there with mine.

This week we focus on TRUTH and INTEGRITY — aligning our thoughts, words and actions. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, SATYA, or truthfulness, is identified as the second yama (observance, social behavior) on the path of yoga. The guiding principle in adhering to satya is removing what the yogis refer to as the “veil of self deception.” When body, mind, and spirit are in sync, truth rises to the top. In Hebrew, integrity means whole or complete. Be motivated by the truth in your innermost being. Create the space and time to listen for inner truth, heeding any wisdom received. “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” ~ Psalm 51:6

❤︎  I connect to the truth deep within. 
❤︎  I listen with an open heart.
❤︎  I am safe to make changes and move forward.

Value your connection to truth…We often know the truth long before we let ourselves see and believe it, long before we’re ready to acknowledge it. For many reasons — fear, timing, and a myriad of issues too long to list — we ignore and discount what we know in our heart. But the truth doesn’t go away. And even if we try to run from that truth, our experiences will ultimately lead us back to it.”

 Melody Beattie, Journey to the Heart

Remember a time when you listened to the voice of your own conscience and experienced the power of embracing your truth. What did it feel like in your body and inner being?

Now be open to any ways you are not acting with integrity at this time in your life — not living your truth. When is your behavior clouded by desire or aversion, or influenced by someone else’s expectations? How does this feel in your body and mental self? Experience without judgement, observe and just be aware.

Observation and awareness are the first steps toward change. 

Quest to find the true you. You are safe to make changes and move forward. Integrity is your legacy.

“No more running, no more hiding, no more hurting, no more crying,
no more trouble, no more sighing, no more falling, no more striving,
no more heartache, no more fighting, no more fears, only FLYING!”
~ Lifehouse, lyrics from Flight

What truth do you need to hear or speak this week? ❤️