Relax in the feminine yin power
a retreat with yoga, qi gong and daily practise to live in harmony with the rhythms of the moon
6 day retreat from sunday 2 october to saturday 8 oct 2022 in the pure wild of south crete
A week to rejuvenate in the arms of the island Crete. A retreat to better understand, feel and experience the rhythm of the moon in your own body. A moment te recover the balance by nourishing the feminine yin (also men have a yin aspect).
During this retreat the moon will be rising to a full moon.
The moon is an ancient symbol for the the cycles in nature that offer a time for rest, healing, rebirth and growth. In the 28 day cycle of the moon there is an active building fase (from the new moon until the full moon) and a passive releasing fase a (after the full moon, to the new moon). Both are equally important. By following this rhythm of the moon, it becomes easier to create a life that is more balanced. This balance is the key to living fully a life that is harmonious, happy and healthy on all levels, from the soul to the physical.
In this retreat you will receive a yoga session for each of the 8 phases of the moon: with reflection questions, poses, meditations that are relevant to that phase of the moon cycle. These moving meditations can become a practical-down-to-earth-guide for you to step into the rhythm of nature and feel it in your body and heart. You will also learn a unique qi gong form that embodies the 28 lunar manions, with 28 movements, one for each day the moon cycles around the earth.
The Triopetra beach where we will walk and swim.
THE PLACE
This retreat takes place on the southern beaches of Crete, away from mass tourism. It is a place where you can still find peace on wide beaches, with magical rock formations, caves and ancient temples in nature. Where you can see the sun set in the sea and the moon and stars in the vast sky.
The yogastudio with daily yoga and qi gong
THE ACCOMMODATION
We have our own yoga studio with sea view. Breakfast is on the terrace of the hotel next door. For lunch we explore local authentic dishes in surrounding restaurants. You can sleep in a “room with a view” because all rooms have a sea view and a private balcony.
A golden late summer to let all tensions dissolve in the warm seawater.
THE RHYTHM OF THE RETREAT
Essential for a retreat is no busy agendas and lots of time to experience and enjoy the moment.
8u Yoga
9u30 Breakfast
Activity or free time
Lunch
Free time or activity
17u Qi gong
We will vary a bit on this rhythm depending on the activities and hours of the moonrise.
The Temple of Phaistos is still a remain of the Minoan period, where women were priests and the buildings were attuned to the heavenly bodies.
ACTIVITIES
Besides yoga and qi gong you can participate in the following activities:
Introduction session about living and moving to the rhythm of the moon,
Hike to Triopetra rocks with stops on the way for a meditation in a cave & a walk on the labyrinth of rebirth,
Qi gong session in Phaistos temple,
Hike to Ligres Beach with waterfall and rock formations along the way,
We may also do another activity such as ceramics. You can register for that later if you feel like it.
How do you experience the balance in your life right now? Are your yin and yang in balance?
why a retreat for your feminine power?
We still live in a culture where “yang” is overly appraised and “yin” is not valued highly enough: action > rest, doing > not doing, productivity > recovery, thinking > feeling, … This imbalance takes its toll in our living environment, in our body, our psyche, our relationships. Climate change, water pollution, reduced air quality, inferior food, increase in epidemics, burn out, diseases of affluence, aggression, are all a result of this imbalance. The moon cycle values both the yang and yin forces in nature, as the yin nourishes the yang and the yang feeds the yin. It is a continuous cycle, that can keep going when there is balance between yin and yang.
Men are also welcome on the retreat to connect with the moon and restorative powers in nature.
ONLY FOR WOMEN?
This retreat is not only for women, but also for men who want to strengthen the yin side in themselves. Men also need a strong yin power to feed their yang. So this retreat is also open to men who want to be nourished and supported by the yin restorative power in nature and want to create balance in their body and life.
WHY NOW?
The autumn and spring equinoxes mark a moment of balance, in which the yin and yang force in nature are in harmony and day and night are about the same length. These are special moments in the year to strengthen your balance between yin and yang. In autumn, the yin power in nature increases and you can start to lay the foundation for the new cycle that is coming. Just as the earth feeds on the leaves that fall off the trees in autumn and build the capacity for plants to grow in the next spring, you can build your yin capacity for the coming spring. The stronger your yin, the stronger your yang. The stronger your yin is, the more yang your yin can carry.
The stronger your yin base, the more yang you can carry.
PRICES KAVOS MELISSA
a studio with sea view Simple, authentic and pure nature
Kavos Melissa Rock
Kavos Melissa is named after the famous rock formation. The studios have two separate beds. The yoga studio is in the same building.
price options
Price per person for a shared room: 936 euros.
Price per person for a room only: 1136 euros.
Best price “bring a friend”: register for two and share a room for 900 euros each. This is possible until September 10.
included in the price
Retreat in small group of maximum 8 participants
6 nights: from Sunday to Saturday
8 yoga sessions, 6 Qi gong sessions
6 x breakfast in restaurant with sea view
Every day buffet or dinner
All Activities: coastal Walk with meditation in cave and labyrinth of rebirth, trip to phaistos tempel
Unique qi gong series of movements that connects you with moon
Lunar calendar that indicates how you can attune your life rhythm to the rhythm of the moon.
not included in the price
Your plane ticket
One meal a day: you can prepare something in your kitchen or eat your choice in surrounding beach bars
Transport: we can rent a car together or share a taxi at affordable prices
payment
Payment to complete your registration= 300 euros for a shared room or 500 euros for a room alone
The rest of the payment can be done on the retreat itself.
ENROLMENT
Places are limited so register as soon as you know you want to come.
Signing up is super easy. Simply send an email to nathalie@puras-vidas.com with “I'm coming to Crete” in the subject line. Please tell me if you want to share your room or have a single room. I will reply and ask some more questions to complete your registration.
“Being both soft and strong is a combination very few have mastered.”
IMPRESSIONS FROM PREVIOUS RETREATS in crete
The elements of nature helped me on my way in my search for balance; the peace and space brought me back in touch with myself; the sun, the good food, the nice group and the caring attention of Nathalie for each of us, brought me very close to my inner bliss.
Nathalie has the special gift to let the good bubble up out of you and to let you reflect on who you really are and what you really want and to find the key to your own heart.
I am so grateful that I was able to experience such a thing! Found the right path again.
Stones grind into sand, waves rock the sea, pure water feeds the source.
Nathalie teaches qi gong in 2022 Crete Kavos Melissa
WHO WILL BE TEACHING?
I am Nathalie. More than 20 years ago I found yoga by a coincidence. I was really impressed by the positive healing effects of yoga on my body and mind, and haven’t stopped practising since that day. In 2012, I started teaching yoga and a few years later I started to study Chinese Medicine and Qi gong. I travelled many times to Crete because I fell in love with the unspoiled nature, the culture, the authenticity of the people, the pure tasteful local foods, …. On this retreat I offer yoga and qi gong that naturally aligns you with the natural rhythms in nature and in your body in an environment where you can deeply reconnect with this natural rhythm, which is so healing for the body, mind and heart. If you have any questions or would like to call to meet before this retreat, please do not hesitate to contact me: nathalie.desnijder@gmail.com.
“As she rises in the sky night after night, the moon supports the continuous cycle of becoming and releasing. Becoming who we are born the be and shedding layers of who we are not. A cycle that never ends. ”