Mysthaven Spa & Retreat

Testimonials

What some of our happy guests have to say about their experience at Mysthaven

What some of our happy guests have to say about their experience at Mysthaven

Finding the Centre of Middle Earth

I'm sure we all feel the ache, I think it's a part of being human, at least a Human of Conscious Mind and Heart. 
 
Last weekend I had the opportunity to again host our national sales meeting (a very middle world event) at a resort just northeast of Toronto, a place called Mysthaven.  There's an obvious change in energy once leaving the highway entering their domain.  A long road leads to the house with overarching trees creating a tunnel for probably about 300 yards.  A 22 foot woman standing made of wire hangs from the trees with a baby in the birthing position, head down awaiting the entrance of this world. It's a 55 acre plot with two lakes, trails with a dragon theme, a special place only an hour from my home.
 
Mariel, the lady who operates the facility with her husband John, an engineer/inventor of medical equipment who specializes in alleviating pain for bed ridden patients.  Both people with humanity at the core of their beliefs.  One for the pain of heart and the other of body.
 
My last group email I had mentioned I had been in the most middle of the middle world.  I was wrong as I have found the centre of the middle of the middle world.  Obviously life and our world continually reinvents itself and in my case seems to become more and more complex, kind of a self perpetuating madness.  I guess the middle world is a place where one continually divides thought into deeper and deeper realms of nothingness, in the grand scheme of it all.  Madness can be self inflicted.
 
Thank the goodness of Mariel, her magic hands and heart.  She has the ability to let one's mind release through the refocus of thought to feeling with her hands and heart.  She's a fantastic massage therapist with an open mind and an emotional calmness that resonates within the sanctuary she has provided to those who have happened to find her secret hideaway. 
 
I experienced for the first time deep massage with the addition of hot stones and oil.  Her massage table is something else too.  Retrofitted by her husband John it has an electrical mechanism within it that emits an electrical wave that rolls slowly from head to toe the entire width of the table.  The concept used in hospital beds to alleviate bedsores through increased circulation as a result from the waves. 
 
Naked, chest down, face supported by horseshoe shaped cushion holding my forehead and cheek bones for the breathing hole cut into the table engineered for comfort considering this position, you gotta breathe.  Arms draped to my sides I can feel the electric wave moving up and down my body, as the wave rolls across my face I see colours like a child twisting the lens of a kaleidoscope.  Pretty wild!
 
Mariel filled the room with what I would call World music, a hybrid of instruments and rhythms of many diverse cultures previous to commencing the massage.  As I think about it now having a session with Mariel a year previous there was much more conversation one year ago.  Her hands and warm stones in the presence of soothing and loving music allowed me to speak to myself, with little direction from my own thoughts.  I let myself come forth, again myself come forth without the controls of my conscious mind trying to contain and rationalize every concept and every feeling.  I felt without thinking.  There's much truth in doing so, guiding truths at the purest form.
 
I let my mind flow from thought to thought without control, or very little as I believe all people have a compulsive need for control at some level.  I delved into painful experiences of very recent, since the Quest.  I let myself re-experience painful situations as completely as possible.  I felt myself becoming ill, being on the verge of becoming sick I had to raise my head off the table to gasp for air.  Once refreshed I would then lower my head again and continued from where I was last in thought.  This occurred a number of times during the session. 
 
The overall experience was quite amazing.  Realizing that my stress and tension have again returned in some form or another I have to slow down to a pace that is manageable while still productive.  I need to react slower to situations, take a step back and above to view from more perspectives than I have been.  I have to look, see, feel and then think.  Being able to master such a skill would be beneficial to all who are immediate and resonate outwards from there. Heartfelt decisions enveloped and delivered with care will make my world and those around me a better place.  MB, business owner
 
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Dear Mariel,
 
Just a note to say thank-you and to tell how enchanting an environment you have created.  Also thought you would like to know that Kathy tied for 15th in the Province on the Thursday.  Isn't she great????
 
We found out that the tournament next year is to be held at ...  Where would that be in relation to Mysthaven?  How long for us to drive over there each day?  We truly loved the setting and would be delighted to return next year if possible.  JM
 
Dear Mariel and John. We arrived safely and tired. I slept for a week off and on. I want to thank you again for the great hospitality, you are now friends, and I appreciate that. I am feeling much better  ... Your place is lovely. I particularly like the dragon. Does he have a name? or is it a she? LW

I wanted to write thank you for such a wonderful stay at your amazing retreat.  It was a very special experience for me.  EL

... writing to say a great big thank you for providing P and myself with a delightful stay. It was really a treat to visit your beautiful, healing lodge. It was everything I had imagined and more. if I had the wherewithal to do what you are doing, it would be exactly along the same lines as Mysthaven. My Mother would definitely approve!!  I so look forward to saving up and doing it all again some time -  hopefully sooner rather than later! Wishing yourself and John well, UC

Marketing Consultant, Cameron Freeman