‘We bought a house in East Cork... and built a wellness retreat’

When semi-retired Michael Furlong signed up for the Ballymaloe Cookery School course in 2023, he also signed up to join a new community, for a slower pace of life, and to gain a new lease of life.

From Wexford, Michael had been living in Berkley, USA.

“I discovered East Cork in 2022. I fell in love with the place,” said Michael.

His wife, Myra Paci, was checking out UCC to do a chaplaincy course at the time and subsequently continued her studies in the USA.

“When I saw the fabulous house in Shanagarry for sale, that is in a beautiful location with enough space to add on a yoga studio to facilitate yoga classes and workshops, as well as other creative activities, I had to have it,” said Michael.

From a vantage point in his neighbour’s outhouse, Michael was sure his and his wife’s destiny lay in the house next door, Ballingarrane Cottage.

“I’ve never been so sure of anything before in my life,” he said.

Michael wanted to put his own stamp on the new dwelling.

“The house renovations started in January, 2024, and seven months later Myra, who is a qualified therapeutic yoga teacher, and I, were living in our dream house,” he explained. “Our joint idea was to create a wellness retreat offering yoga and workshops as well as nutritional advice. It was our big plan. Things took off.”

Michael has been practising yoga for 30 years and had joined ‘Dads and Lads’ soccer group in Shanagarry.

“I wanted to stay fit for soccer,” he said.

“Dads and Lads are a local friendship group who enjoy playing soccer together every week,” Michael added.

The players were impressed with his prowess on the field of play.

“I was asked how to stay fit at 60,” says Michael.

“One of the guys asked me would I teach the group more about stretching properly and general fitness. I said, ‘yes of course’.

“And so it began. I invited the guys to come and watch a video to see the stretches and I advised them on a list of exercises to do. Soon, weekly classes started up and I assist the guys on good diet and nutrition food plans. I began teaching them yoga every Tuesday. It’s great! They hang out here for a bit after and I make them a nutritional shake.”

Myra found a like-minded group of her own.

“Hardy Ducks and Drakes are a local swim group who are firm friends of ours now,” says Myra.

“Some of the Ducks were interested in practising yoga on a regular basis. I offered three weekly classes, and we are still continuing for everybody in the area, even though I have to return to the USA at intervals during the year to continue my chaplaincy studies.”

Why is Myra, a trained yoga teacher and somebody who practices yoga every day, and who is a firm believer in spiritual care, a firm believer in the benefits of the practice whose origins can be traced back over 5,000 years ago?

“I used yoga during both my pregnancies pre-natal and post-partum,” says Myra, who is the mother of two grown-up daughters.

“Yoga helped me through my cancer journey, the good, the bad, the hard.”

It also helped her through the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, I thought about shifting career,” says Myra, who worked as a film writer and a film director.

“I looked towards wellness to support others using my own knowledge and learning. I apply various proven tools to tailor the individual needs of people with medical/anxiety issues. For instance, the correct breathing exercises can help people with an asthma condition.”

Myra has worked with people suffering from anxiety, people with Parkinson’s and people with eating disorders.

“I collaborate with medical teams regarding the individual treatment plan,” she says.

“I work with cancer patients, people with Alzheimer’s, and people with scoliosis. I’ve visited care homes in Cobh, Kilkenny, and Kinsale,” says Myra.

“Yoga can benefit everybody and all ages.”

Myra finds music beneficial for everybody.

“At the care homes, the residents, some confined to wheelchairs, love the old familiar songs from Vera Lynn and Tom Jones.”

Michael and Myra feel more alive than ever in the beautiful surrounds of East Cork surrounded by beautiful nature.

Others feel the same way.

“Men don’t often get the chance for emotional attention,” says Michael.

“They might not often talk about worries or concerns among themselves. Here, they have the opportunity for an hour to let their defences down. They can be more available to themselves now that they have carved out an hour for self-care. That is not selfish. It is beneficial.”

It is never too late to slowly work up care and attention to modify the whole body.

“Yoga calms the mind, the poses requiring concentration boost energy levels,” says Myra.

“With its attention to breathing techniques and meditation practices, yoga has been shown to boost memory, cognitive skills, as well as mood, emotional equanimity and resilience.

“Numerous studies show yoga’s benefits in arthritis, osteopenia, balance issues, oncology, women’s health, chronic pain and other specialities.”

Is it true that finding the right yoga teacher for you is like finding the right counsellor for you, that you gel with, connect with and trust?

“Absolutely true,” says Myra. “It’s like a shared type of chemistry. You feel the vibe.”

Yoga can be fun too.

“It can be silly and playful,” says Myra.

It can be empowering.

“Doing yoga poses, we can all be warriors and Amazonian women!”

Myra incorporates yoga practice into her life every day.

“Yoga is an ancient and powerful form of exercise that benefits not just the body, but the mind, emotions and spirit,” she says.

The enthusiastic couple resettled, revitalised, in love with life, want to share their joie de vivre in their beautiful home with others.

“It’s like offering the sanctuary mentality to embrace a calmer, healthier life,” says Michael.

“We’ll be offering numerous creative/lifestyle residency workshops to our friends and to our guests.”

Michael and Myra have other invitations on their doorstep too. Like sampling Michael’s delicious orange and almond cake.

“I’m a dab hand in the kitchen!” says Micheal, laughing. “After all, I trained at Ballymaloe!”