Latiq Qureshi, Toronto
I am a 70-year-old retired IT entrepreneur and executive. I signed up for a Bodhi Meditation 8.5-Day Health and Happiness Retreat in 2019 upon the recommendation of a relative.
Thirty-three years ago, I was involved in a traumatic car accident which fractured my neck and which left me in a coma for five days. Despite undergoing bone graft surgery, my neck never fully recovered. Years of medication brought little relief to the intense, debilitating pain I suffered.
Prior to joining the retreat, I woke up every morning feeling so weak and tired I could hardly muster enough energy to brush my teeth. I had to first take my pills, then wait two to three hours lying in bed before I could gradually rise up to wash myself.
To my pleasant surprise, the morning after the first day of the meditation retreat, I felt different. I felt energetic and could immediately brush my teeth and shave upon waking up. Skeptical that this was the result of the Day 1 retreat, I decided to make a log of my changes.
The following are my observations at the end of the 8.5-Day Health and Happiness Retreat:
- My high energy level persisted throughout the entire period of the retreat.
- I slept very well each night, much better than usual.
- When practicing meditation during the retreat, I sweated profusely, which was unusual as I rarely perspired. This was a very good sign of detoxification.
- The more I perspired, the more relief I felt in my neck area.
- On Day 8, I woke up with a headache and my neck hurt more than usual. By the end of the day, my headache and neck pain were completely gone.
- I could turn my head easily to the left, which was not possible prior to the retreat.
My objective in joining the retreat was to become healthy and happy so that I can enjoy my golden years with my children and grandchildren – this Health and Happiness Retreat has given me exactly that!
Grateful to Grandmaster JinBodhi for making these health-enhancing meditation practices available and accessible to all, I summarize this retreat with one word: “Amazing!”
Note: Effects of meditation may vary by individual.