Retreat
yoga, walking and qi gong retreat
CRETE- agios pavlos beach- April 30 to May 7 2023
7 days of pure blissful moving meditation in untouched nature together with open-hearted people. You will go home recharged with fresh energy and a deeper understanding of your unique life path or dharma, as that is the focus of this Crete retreat.
Feet in the sand. A blue sea that turns into an even bluer sky. Space for yourself in an environment where you can experience the power of nature and let it flow through you.
Crete is at its best in spring, with blissful mild temperatures and wild flowers that happily shoot out of the ground.
With yoga, qi gong, pure food, and this pristine environment, you can only feel blissful and watch the best in yourself naturally emerge.
We will purify and open all senses one by one, so that you can fully enjoy the moment and recharge yourself with the power of the elements of nature. Water. Wood. Fire. Earth. Sky. Until you bloom open from your natural energy and can't help but smile and open to who you really are and for what you came here to experience in this life.Welcome to the Crete Retreat.
THE PROGRAM
At the beginning and end of the day there is a yoga or qi gong session.
During the day we explore remote beaches, meditate in caves, find our true selves in the labyrinth of rebirth, look for remnants of an ancient culture, enjoy wild flower fields, taste local tapas, live fully in the moment and completely relax in the flow of life.
morning
Yoga or qi gong
Time for Ayurvedic self massage (you will learn how on the first day) and shower
Breakfast
LUNCH & afternoon
Free lunch in a beach bar nearby, in your kitchen, or sometimes we eat together in a restaurant when we are on a trip.
evening
Qi gong or yoga
Watching the sunset
Dinner
the place
The retreat takes place on the southern beaches of Crete, away from mass tourism, where you can see the stars shine at nigh, enjoy a beautiful seaview and hear the sound of birds. At the cozy family hotel of Agios Pavlos, we will have breakfast, dinner and enjoy the local Greek cuisine. A few minutes walk from the restaurant you will find "Kavos Melissa" with the yoga studio and sleeping accommodation. The yoga studio has an indoor and outdoor area overlooking the sea. All bedrooms have a terrace with sea view, kitchen and bathroom. And for those who want even more luxury, there are a few luxury studios with a swimming pool on the other side of the hotel. You can find more about the different accommodation options further on.
Kavos Melissa with the yogastudio and sleeping accomodation
writing session in he outdoor space of the yogastudio
at the restaurant of agios pavlos
what will your learn on the retreat?
On the retreat you will learn a qi gong form, called the 5 dragons, where you can experience the 5 phases of energy with specific movements. These 5 phases exist in your energy and in the growth cycle in nature. The 5 phases are the corner stone of Chinese medicine and are connected to the 5 natural elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal), the 5 senses and the 5 seasons. By practicing this qi gong form you get a deeper insight into the energy flow in your body and in everything that grows. This wisdom alone can change the course of your life in the most positive way.
With specific questions during the yoga sessions, meditations and reflection sessions, we will focus on dis-covering your dharma. Your dharma is your life purpose and your happiness. It's the reason why you were born, your gift, your talent. It is that which makes you deeply fulfilled and with which you can best serve others. For some, this path leads to finding a new job that really suits them, or starting their own business (on the side), for others it is a way to find a deeper fulfillment within the current life situation.
“Dharma is generally understood as one’s purpose in life, Dharma is much more than a career, it is the ever-changing alignment of your body, mind, heart and spirit to what feels right for you in the present moment.
”
corner stones of the retreat
Yoga
Yoga is a meditative form of movement in which you consciously move your body through different yoga poses, with the aim of improving your health and happiness, on a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual level.
walking in pristine nature
Walking is super healthy and fun. The beaches around the yoga studio are the perfect startpoint for shorter and longer walks. On the beaches there is space to meditate, experience the elements of nature and do qi gong exercises. We will also go on a road trip to find flower fields in the mountains.
Qi Gong
Qi gong is connected to the Taoist view of life in which our body is part of the surrounding nature. Energy (or qi) is the building block of your body and nature. With qi gong you connect to this energy through movement, vizualization and breathing.
In addition to daily yoga, qi gong and walks, you can participate in the following activities on this retreat.
Reflection sessions to gain a deeper understanding of how to build and maintain vitality to fully enjoy your “dharma” or your unique life path,
Excursion to ruins of Minoan era temple,
Workshop Cretan dances or pottery,
Full moon dance
““As we embrace our passions and delve into the mystery of life, we unite with the majestic complexity of nature; and if we follow the signs, this can help us understand who we really are.””
some impressions of the previous retreat there
PRICING
included
7 nights from Sunday to Sunday
Daily yoga and qi gong
7 x breakfast in restaurant with sea view
daily buffet or dinner
all walks
Qi gong form of the 5 dragons
session about vitality and a session about your dharma or life purpose
Full moon dance session
EXclusif
air plane ticket and local transport
one meal a day
workshops such as the pottery workshop or Cretan dance, these workshops will only take place if there is sufficient interest
The price for the retreat depends on the sleeping place you choose. There are several options.
kavos melissa
A studio with A view
Simple, pure and authentic
The studios at Kavos Melissa are in the same building as the yogastudio. So you literrally wake up, step out of the bed and within a few steps you are on your yogamat. The studio’s each have their own kitchen and terrace with sea view
Your options:
The studio has 2 separate beds. You can share the shower and kitchen with another yogi on the retreat. You also have the option to rent the whole studio just for you.
The maisonette has a double bed on a mezzanine and there is a sofa that can be converted into a bed downstairs. You can share these or rent them all for yourself.
The double studio has two rooms, so you each have your own bedroom and share the bathroom and kitchen.
The retreat package and a studio just for you in Kavos Melissa is 1250 euros. If you share the studio, the price is 1050 euros per person. The double studio is 1150 euros per person.
Varkotopi
a villa with a view and a pool
Pure nature and a touch of luxury
The "Varkotopi" villas are lare luxury villas, that follow the shape of the rock. They each have a private pool and offer an unrestricted view of the Libyan Sea.
Your options:
You can share the two-room villa (35 m2) with a shared bedroom, kitchen and living room for 1450 euros per person.
If you prefer to share a three-room villa (60 m2) with two bedrooms, it will cost 1375 euros per person if you rent it with 4 people.
You can of course also rent the whole two-room villa just for you, for 1999 euro.
how to book the retreat
sent a mail: nathalie@puras-vidas.com
Let me know which room you choose, wait for my reply to confirm your room of choice.
payments
135 euro after you receive my confirmation mail
500 euro at the spring equinox
the rest of the amount you can pay at the retreat
payment plans available, request a plan upon your enrollment
SOME TESTIMONIALS OF THE PREVIOUS RETREAT
The elements (earth, water, wood, fire and metal) helped me on my quest 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.
athalie heeft de bijzondere gave om het goede uit jezelf te laten opborrelen en je te laten stilstaan bij wie je echt bent en wat je echt wil en zo de sleutel tot je eigen hart te laten terugvinden.
Nathalie has the special gift to bring out the best in me and to let me uncover who I truly am and what I truly desire. I found back the key to my own heart.
I am so grateful that I was able to experience something like this! Found the right path. Stones grind into sand, waves rock the sea, pure water feeds the source.
Paint box, paint brush, speak with images, discover yourself again. A yoga retreat with people, with nature, the sun, the sea, in short all elements to cherish for a lifetime.
your yoga and qi gong teacher
Nathalie has been teaching yoga for over 10 years. She is trained by the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica and Shiva Rea. In 2022 she is certified to teach the Dragon Qi gong by Master Zhongxian Wu. She is a Master in NLP and a certified soul art facilitator. She likes to move, meditate, dance and works with conscious body movement to guide people into their unique Pura Vida. This is the third retreat she gives in Crete. She teaches weekly yoga in the Merchtem area.
FAQ
Which flight should I take? > Ryan air flights are from Saturday or Saturday. Tui and Brussels airlines also fly on Sundays. Once you are part of the retreat, you will be informed of who is taking which flights and we will offer carpools for those who want it.
What if I can't come along? > With your registration you commit yourself to pay the retreat price of your choice. This payment can be spread over several months. Contact us to arrange a payment plan. Travel insurance can protect you against unexpected events.
I already know the Qi gong dragon form. Is that still interesting to do this retreat? > There are different layers of wisdom in the movements, so you can go deeper and deeper into the form and extract what you need at that moment. There is a saying that you cannot bathe in the same river twice because you keep changing and the river changes too “No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” (Heraclitus) From April 7 to May 7 is the period when the dragon energy is alive in nature, so it is very useful to practice the dragon form during this period.
I have an allergy, illness, injury, can I join?> Of course! A retreat will improve your health and recovery. Be sure to let us know when you register if there is anything we should take into account and we will provide adapted exercises and food. You do not have to participate in all walks or activities, you can follow your path and practise at your pace. We will help to provide adjustments.
What is the dance session about?> The dance is an integration of the movements and the process we experienced on the retreat. We go through the 5 phases of your energy. No dance experience or skill is required.
I already know what my dharma is or I have no idea what my dharma is? > You don't need any prior knowledge about dharma. And there is no end point in finding your dharma either. It is a process that you can always delve into, grow and it is never too late nor too early to start. The retreat can be the perfect start to becoming more aware of your dharma or life purpose, or it can be a deepening and refinement of what you already know.