Loftie and Soul Restoration Create Healing Magic
Photography: Maxine Albert
When I heard that Loftie was partnering with Soul Restoration for a healing retreat called Soul Summer focusing on slowing down, tuning in, and resetting, I was all in. Loftie, a wellness company known for their sleep inducing lamp and clock, aligned with Soul Restoration - healing practitioners leading restorative retreats - sounded like a match made in heaven. And the nature rich Hudson Valley New York, Black Creek Estate with lovely lake, miles of lush grounds and verdant forest with magnificent manor house and private cottages, secluded in the countryside, was stunning.
Photography: Maxine Albert
12 Perfect Strangers
The group of 12 of varying ages was comprised of a mother and daughter, 3 couples, 2 friends and 2 single ladies. Most came from New York City, one couple had driven in from Virginia, one came from Kansas City, the other from Long Island. What did they have in common? They had all experienced the Loftie Effect. More about that later.
Photography: Maxine Albert
Sitting around the large dining table for the meet and greet dinner, savoring the delicious cuisine and fine wine (spirits welcome at this retreat) I did wonder what I had gotten myself into. Everyone seemed very congenial (as did the folks gathered the first night in the Agatha Christie Murder Mysteries I mused). Should I have told someone my exact whereabouts before going to this tucked away country estate with 12 perfect strangers? But here I was, having a genuinely good time and eager to see what would unfold.
Photography: Loftie
First Night
Later that evening, after exchanging pleasantries with my retreat mates, I drifted off to dreamland accompanied by the Loftie soft light lamp and clock on my nightstand. No iPhone, no blue light, no technology in sight! So, what is this Loftie ‘magic’ that everyone was raving about? Truth be told, that night I fell asleep uncharacteristically effortlessly, did not have my usual restless night, and woke up with the Loftie alarm, feeling refreshed and energized.
Photography: Maxine Albert
Digital Detox
I must confess that I often use my computer late at night and before setting my alarm on my iPhone I look at new messages. Doesn’t everyone? And I do have some issues going to sleep. But there is hope with this digital detox, I am told. Loftie founder, Matt Hassett explained how these sleep wonders work.
Photography: Loftie
Bedtime, the Loftie Lamp has a warm, red light that helps the brain produce melatonin. This light gradually fades as you drift off, and signals your brain that it’s time to rest. In the morning, the lamp brightens from bottom to top like a sunrise, which has been shown to enhance wellbeing, mood and cognitive performance.
The Loftie Lamp paired with the Loftie Clock offers light-guided breathwork, coordinated wind-downs, and multi-sensory wake-ups. The alarm mimics our body’s circadian rhythm inducing a natural wake-up and features white noise and nature sounds like rain, ocean and waterfall. It gently lulls you out of sleep with these soft sounds that fade after 30 seconds. With all the latest research on sleep, actually quality sleep – as vitally important for our emotional, mental and physical health and well-being, I found this very impressive.
Photography: Loftie
Channeling With Alexina
The retreat included a channeling session on zoom before I arrived with hugely gifted Alexina Graham. Alexina, a top model at Elite, hails from England where she started channeling spontaneously as a child, and has decided to focus on this powerful spiritual healing which she feels is ‘ her calling. ’ Channeling Sessions, booked through Alexina’s company, Heal Your Inner Child uncover blockages to release what no longer serves us so we connect to our authentic selves. My session was mind blowing. It brought things to the forefront that I was not consciously aware of and healing starts with awareness.
Photography: Maxine Albert
Soul Restoration
The team of top practitioners at Soul Restoration, each excellent in their respective areas, was led by Alexina Graham and Jen Rubinetti. Jen, a Spiritual Life Coach, Reiki master, and Sound Meditation Practitioner, founder of The Mystical Connection, took us on sound bath healings with soothing soundscapes using crystal bowls, chimes, gongs, ocean drums and rain sticks to balance body, mind and spirit. Many use sound bath soundscapes to fall asleep.
Photography: MaxineAlbert
Some of the other sessions included: a powerful heart opening cacao ceremony led by Alexina and Jen; Somatic Body Movement with Kirsten Smits whose superb class helped to release trauma and unprocessed wounds held in the body; as well as meditation; breathwork; and yoga sessions; along with reflect and release journaling. We were well taken care of every moment by the amazing Janelle Olsen who runs Soul Restoration.
Photography: Loftie
Healing Power of Nature
In addition to our sessions held outdoors amid glorious nature: there were guided nature walks, fun games, plenty of scenic spots to sit, read, relax and my favorite – lake activities such as swimming, kayaking, two person paddleboat or just lazing in a waterfront lounger and taking in the gorgeousness.
Photography: Maxine Albert
Photography: Maxine Albert
The Magic
Photography: Loftie
The final journaling session we wrote a letter to our inner child, then tore the pages from the book and cast them into the fire - releasing what no longer serves us. Next, comments from the group about their experiences. What had started as 12 perfect strangers became a close supportive healing community with people sharing openly, vulnerably about new awareness, self- love, letting go, grief and gratitude.
Photography: Maxine Albert
Loftie facilitated the all-important restorative sleep and Soul Restoration provided deep healing modalities with excellent practitioners in a safe space. Now I too have joined the ranks of the many who sing Loftie’s praises, sleeping well with my Loftie lamp and clock on my nightstand.
Photography: Loftie
Contact Loftie, Soul Restoration and the practitioner’s websites for more information and to know when they do this again at a different locale. I can’t wait for the next one.