Susan Dawson-Cook's Blog

In the past few years, I’ve taken up cold swimming and cold plunging. And it’s been an amazing experience. Cold dips boost my energy, make me feel joyous, melt away body discomfort, boost libido, and help me focus. When it’s pushing 105 degrees and higher during the summer in Tucson, it’s wonderful to chill my body down so I don’t feel hot the rest of the day!

I recently discovered HAVN, a contrast therapy center on the southeast corner of Thornydale and Cortaro. The facility has two Michael Phelps Chilly Goat cold plunges, a barrel cold plunge, two red light therapy spaces, a salt room, 3 infra red saunas, and 3 stations for compression therapy. There’s also a shower, changing room, and bathroom.

I go there three times a week now when I’m in Tucson and am often greeted by the owner, Paige. I love the benefits I get from going on a regular basis. Before, I only swam in cold water in the winter when the sea temperatures drop at our Mexico home. And occasionally, I would swim in other cold lakes on vacations. I tried setting up a cold plunge in our Tucson backyard, but the weather is usually too warm for me to get it very cold beyond a month or two in the dead of winter.

Now, I can cold dip anytime! I get home feeling happy and overflowing with writing ideas. I also have great success with my DuoLingo lessons afterward. That mental sharpness is such a welcome blessing!

During my visits, I usually do 10 minutes of red light therapy (great for clear, smooth skin), 10 minutes in the salt room (relieves sinus pressure and dryness), 2 3-5 minute cold plunges (so many Wow benefits) and spend about 15-20 minutes in the sauna (good for relaxing muscles). HAVN offers a very comfortable environment and I always look forward to my sessions.

Join me for a two-hour workshop, Saturday, August 29 from 9-11 AM (Arizona time). Cost $36. The Great Work of Your Life serves as a guide to help you find your life’s purpose and is based on teachings from a two-thousand-year-old sacred text known as the Bhagavad Gita. This text discusses finding the path to dharma, or ethical path to life.

Even if you’re an older adult, you still have many opportunities to give your special gifts in unique ways. The New York Times bestselling novel, Theo of Golden, features an 86-year-old man who transforms the lives of dozens of people through from-the-heart kindness. I read this book recently and highly recommend it. It truly is never too late to follow your path and to bring uplift and healing to the world.

I will share wisdom that I have derived from Cope’s book and then open up the workshop for discussion, questions, and personal sharing.

Please send a Zelle or Paypal payment to susan@corazondeloro.com to register. It is recommended that you purchase and read the book in advance of the workshop.

I will offer a series of two 75-minute Neck and Shoulder workshops on June 23 and 30 8-9:15 AM, Tucson time. This workshop is ideal for anyone experiencing neck and shoulder pain and tightness, headaches, and postural imbalances.

This interactive workshop on June 4 will help you to balance your chakras and will lead you on a path to more joy, more vitality and more connection with others.

Don’t miss this interactive book discussion with author Susan Dawson-Cook, M.S. where you will get all of your questions answered.

On September 14, I competed in a 2 K race in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. This was the third time I competed in a swim in Miramar. The race started at 6:30 at the Pearl Farm in Guaymas. The race directors decided to start the 5K and 2K men first and then the women a couple of minutes later. I was a bit disappointed about this because I am a fast swimmer and I wanted to be able to race with the men.

I was able to do a warm-up swim before the race. It was a beautiful morning. Puffy clouds filled the sky and they were illuminated every shade of pink and orange as the sun began to rise. In the sea, which was a too-warm 86-88 degrees, I saw triggerfish and puffers and a variety of other colorful fish swimming along the reef of volcanic rocks.

Once the race started, I vowed to keep a slow, steady pace as to not get overheated. But I was excited and so my pace quickened and I felt super happy. I kept passing people and felt in a meditative state the whole way. Occasionally, I swam breaststroke for a moment to clear my goggles or site ahead on the buoys.

Before I knew it, the race was ending and I ran heavy-legged up the beach, rewarded with a smile and a person handing me my participation medal and Chris waiting with a cold bottle of water and the report that I was one of the first to come out of the water!

The results were posted before the awards ceremony. I learned that I had not only won first place in my age group but that I was also the fastest overall woman in the 2K. I’ve never achieved this goal before and to do it at age 62 feels like a real accomplishment. There was a long wait for the ceremony but it was worth it to sweat and be hot for a while. Mi Amigo Fit knows how to put on a good event. There were lots of sponsors and there was energetic music and plenty of excitement for the awards. I ran into Jose, a man in Chris’s age group who I had met at another swimming race in Miramar 3 years ago. He had been the winner of their age group and Chris had raced, getting second place that time. This year, Jose won his age group again, 13 minutes ahead of the second place finisher!

It was fun and exciting, stepping up on the number 1 podium for the age group and later the overall awards. I went home with three medals and a wood carving and a big smile on my face.

Renewal by the Sea Ayurveda Yoga Retreat

Bahia Delfin, San Carlos, MX

May 16-20, 2025

Daily Schedule

Friday, May 16

5:30 PM Welcome Dinner at Karen Delaney’s Condo #233

7:00 PM Sunset Meditation at the Sea Wall

Saturday, May 17

7:45-9:00 AM Yoga Practice (Under Pool Palapa) – Susan

9:00 AM Breakfast at Karen Delaney’s Condo #233

10:30-12:30 Lecture in Sonora Room – Introduction to Ayurveda, Gunas of Taste, and Test to Find Out Your Dosha Type – Susan & Cindy

2:45-4:00 PM Yoga Nidra (Deep relaxation) Session – Susan

Sunday, May 18

7:45-9:00 AM Yoga Practice (Under Pool Palapa) – Cindy

9:00 AM Breakfast at Karen Delaney’s Condo #233

10:30-12:30 Lecture in Sonora Room – The Dosha Diet, Adopting a Sattvic Diet, Pacifying the Doshas with Diet and Lifestyle – Susan & Cindy

2:45-4:00 PM Restorative Yoga with Crystal Singing Bowls – Cindy/ Susan

Monday, May 19

7:45-9:00 AM Yoga Practice (Under Pool Palapa) – Susan

9:00 AM Breakfast at Karen Delaney’s Condo #233

10:30-12:30 Lecture in Sonora Room – Agni, Establishing a Daily Routine, Adjusting for Seasons, Environment, Life Stage  – Susan & Cindy

2:45-4:00 PM Yoga Nidra with Crystal Singing Bowls – Susan

Tuesday, May 20

7:45-9:00 AM Yoga Practice (Under Pool Palapa) – Cindy

9:00 AM Breakfast at Karen Delaney’s Condo #233

Photos and Goodbyes

Zoom Ayurveda Retreat Options with Susan & Cindy

May 9-10, 2025

Cost $150 for 3, 2-hour lectures on Ayurveda

Cost $190 for 3, 2-hour lectures on Ayurveda, one morning Yoga practice, one afternoon Yoga Nidra session, one afternoon Restorative Yoga session 

Attendees will receive recordings of all sessions that they are registered for.

ARIZONA/SAN CARLOS TIME

May 9

8-9 Zoom Yoga with Susan (free for all registrants)

10-12 Ayurveda session with Susan (introduction to Ayurveda, test to find out your dosha type and then discussion)

3-4 – Yoga Nidra session with Susan – this is a very deep relaxation session

May 10

9-11 Ayurvedic Session with Susan (get recipes and specific information on what to eat for your Dosha type(s), Talk about Lifestyle Habits that serve your Dosha

12-2 Ayurveda Session with Cindy (Agni and digestion, cultivating Ojas for enhanced immunity and vitality)

3-4 Restorative Yoga with Cindy – poses will be held for a long time and you will use props to relax deeply

Healthy Food Can Be Delicious!

A whole host of illnesses are caused by inflammation in the body. Tweaking or in some cases making a dramatic shift in diet can improve your health, energy level and mood. The easiest way to eat healthy is to buy real food – fruits, vegetables, nuts (dry roasted), meat, and dairy – instead of eating fast food or fake food in packages. Its easy to whip up an omelette with veggies in the morning, toss a salad for lunch and make a stir fry for dinner (use olive oil instead of inflammatory vegetable oils).

One way to discover how much nourishment you’re getting from your diet is to download the Chronometer App. I use it all the time. That way I can see if I’m eating a good balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates and getting the vitamins and minerals I need in my daily diet.

Many snack foods rich in sugar, fat and salt cause an addictive craving for more, enslaving you to “food” that can steal away your quality of life. Research has shown that food companies spend millions of dollars getting people to taste test products until they get it right and the eater can’t say no to more and more.

When I was in college, I was addicted to M & Ms and chips. I could eat a whole large bag of candy in one sitting! But I ended up with a weight problem and a chronic fatigue condition and – once the price I was paying became too great to continue on with my bad habits- I borrowed some nutrition books from the library and transitioned gradually toward a healthier lifestyle. Not only did I lose 25 pounds, I also had much more energy and most of my digestive issues resolved.

With nutrition apps widely available today, its easier than ever to make shifts toward healthier eating. Aim to reduce hyperpalative (addictive) foods slowly until you feel comfortable eliminating them completely.

Below are some foods that reduce inflammation in the body:

Fatty fish including salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerelOlive oil (rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fat)Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds)Fruits and Vegetables should be the foundation of your diet (broccoli, asparagus, berries, spinach)Whole Grains (quinoa, brown rice, oats)Avocados (rich in antioxidants and healthy fats)Turmeric (contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound)Ginger (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory)Garlic (antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory)Green tea (polyphenols are anti-inflammatory)

Foods to Reduce

Foods high in saturated fatVegetable oilFoods high in sugarSodas and colasFoods with preservatives

If you just eat real food (JERF) you will be well on your way to reducing inflammation in your body, moving and living with more freedom and vitality and living your best life. Consult with your doctor before making major changes to your diet.