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Retreats

LEFKADA SPRING IMMERSION WITH KAREN

April 27th - May 4th 2025

Please email Karen to register your interest

Reset, recharge, renew and embrace your inner vibrancy. 

A Springtime yoga immersion with Karen 

The retreat will be an intimate retreat with a maximum of 12 guests

What will be offered?

Take a deep dive and immerse yourself in your yoga practice with Karen for a week. Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for some time this retreat will be suitable for you. Alongside daily yoga there will also be plenty of time to be in nature, to relax and recharge, to hike, to swim, to dance, to draw, to read, to journal, to sleep and to rest deeply.

Over the course of the week, we will look at practises to support the body and mind as it transitions into the lighter and warmer months of spring and summer. We will experience practices and methods in which we can balance the body as it is now over this period. We will do this both in our yoga, pranayama, meditation, and movement practices; these practices will be infused with the work of somatics, embodied yoga, TCM and Ayurvedic principles alongside intelligent alignment focused flow yoga and restorative yoga. We will also see with the advice of our herbalist Aris how the use of herbs can assist us at this time and through the guidance of our chef how our nutritional choices can further support our well-being. 

Spring is a great time to shed the layers that we no longer need. To create, move, cleanse, grow and renew. To set, embody and nurture intentions for the coming months that will help you to flourish and bloom. Just as nature shows us, this is really the time to step into our own, to blossom and show our vibrancy, to dance in the light, before we head back into the darker nourishing autumn and winter months where we can restore and replenish. At this time of the year Lefkada really is flourishing, it is green and lush, full of flowers, herbs, and dancing fireflies. It really is the perfect time to visit and take time for you.

Our general daily schedule. The mornings will consist of a substantial morning flow yoga practice with meditation and pranayama. We will then have a big brunch. After this the time is your own to relax, explore or perhaps receive your massage or read that book you have been wanting to get to for months. After a light afternoon snack, you then have the option to join a workshop based yoga class where we will look at a theme or element from that day's classes in more detail. This will then be followed directly by a restorative practice and yoga nidra. We will then all come together for dinner in our unique dining area for a delicious 2-course meal.

Two of the days we will take an excursion, on those days there will not be the afternoon workshop, but the evening restorative practice will be offered. One of the days we will travel into the centre of the Island to the mountains to take a hike and to meet Aris, a local traditional herbalist, who will take us on an informative walk explaining the medicinal, mythological and cooking purposes of the plants, flowers and herbs. We will then stop at a unique local taverna for an amazing traditional lunch cooked by the local celebrity that is Maria. Our second excursion will be a private boat trip to the stunning nearby Island of Meganissi where we will stop at a couple of beautiful snorkel and swim sites, some famous caves and the beautiful fishing village of Vathi for lunch. 

On one other day there will be the option to take a guided hike locally to a beautiful secluded beach or take an option to go on a guided e-bike ride. So there will be plenty to do but there will be no pressure to do any of it. You can drop in and out as you like and feel on a day-to-day basis, and don't forget you have a one-hour massage included to help you on that day when you just want to take things a bit easier or feel the need for it. More massages can also be booked locally should you wish.

The villas are beautiful, and each is unique. Each has a fully equipped kitchen and dining space and its own pool. Wifi and air-conditioning are standard in each space. They are set amongst nature with sea views and are a short walk to the local beach and very accessible for hiking or cycling around the nearby olive groves (bikes are available to hire locally).

The yoga platform and dining space are both outdoors, a hop, skip and a jump from your villa. This space can be fully covered should we have a May shower, and has an overhead ceiling to keep us cool. The dining space also has a log burner for the evenings so we can stay warm and cosy.

Our food will be vegetarian and vegan and cooked by our wonderful professional chef using local and organic ingredients wherever possible.

The accommodation options for the retreat

SPRINGTIME YOGA IMMERSION 27th April-4th May2025

Prices for our Spring Retreat:
Shared Occupancy £1249pp

Single Occupancy £1749

Included:

Accommodation - food - transfers

• 7 nights accommodation 

• Brunch / Snack / Evening meal daily - sumptuous vegan and vegetarian food lovingly cooked by our

• Private chef

• Transfers from PVK to the Villas and return - one group transfer. 

• Recommended flight details to follow - please do not book any flights yet.

Yoga

• Twice daily yoga practices with Karen, including flow, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, somatic/Qi

Gong/Tapping practices and more. 

• Daily Pranayama and meditation practices 

• Two yoga workshops with Karen during the week to further explore our theme

Excursions

• A guided herbal walk with Aris and lunch at Maria's Taverna a traditional taverna in the mountains

• A boat trip to the neighbouring Island Meganisi for lunch, with snorkelling & swimming and a stop for coffee and shopping.

• A guided hike to the waterfalls

Other

• Either a 1-1 or a treatment with Karen,

• Teas and coffees

• Welcome basket of fruit and snacks in the villa

• Yoga mats, blocks, bricks, belts, bolsters, and blankets

• Hair dryers

• WiFi 

Not included:

• Flights

• Insurances

• Transfers outside of group transfers

• Extra excursions outside of those offered 

• Further 1-1 or massages outside of the one included 

• Paddle-boards, kayaks, mountain bikes, e-bikes. All are available to hire locally

• Alcohol 

• Soft/fizzy drinks

• Laundry/Ironing

• Staff Tips – all tips go directly to Mariella who works hard to keep the villas, pools and gardens well kept.  

_____

Please contact Karen at karenbennettyoga@gmail.com to register your interest and discuss recommended flights for included transfer. 

We ask for a non-refundable deposit of £500 to secure your spot at the time of booking. Balances will be requested by the end of February 2025. If government-based travel restrictions mean the retreat is unable to go ahead all monies will be refunded, aside from flights, unfortunately I cannot take any responsibility for flight losses or costs, please know all flight, travel and covid testing costs are entirely your own and bookings for these are taken at your own risk.

Full Terms and Conditions will be provided at the time of booking. 

Yoga Immersion Retreat

ITHACA RETREAT WITH KAREN

4-11th May 2024 - FULL

Reset, recharge, renew and embrace your inner vibrancy. 

A Springtime yoga immersion with Karen 

The retreat is FULL

What will be offered?

Take a deep dive and immerse yourself in your yoga practice with Karen for a week. Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for some time this retreat will be suitable for you. Alongside daily yoga there will also be plenty of time to be in nature, to relax and recharge, to hike, to swim, to take a bike ride, to dance, to draw, to read, to journal, to sleep, to nourish your Self and to rest deeply.

 

Throughout this week, we will look at practises to support the body and mind as it transitions into the lighter and warmer months of spring and summer. We will experience practices and methods in which we can balance the body as it is now over this period. We will do this both in our yoga, pranayama, meditation, and movement practices; these practices will be infused with the work of somatics, embodied yoga, TCM and Ayurvedic principles alongside intelligent alignment focused flow yoga and restorative yoga.

 

Spring is a great time to shed the layers that we no longer need. To create, move, cleanse, grow and renew. To set, embody and nurture intentions for the coming months that will help you to flourish and bloom. Just as nature shows us, this is really the time to step into our own, to blossom and show our vibrancy, to dance in the light, before we head back into the darker nourishing autumn and winter months where we can restore and replenish. At this time of the year the Ionian Islands are flourishing,  they are green and lush, full of flowers, herbs, and dancing fireflies. It really is the perfect time to visit and take time for you.

Our general daily schedule. The mornings will consist of a substantial morning flow yoga practice with meditation and pranayama. We will then have a big brunch. After this the time is your own to relax, explore or perhaps receive a massage or read that book you have been wanting to get to for months. After a light afternoon snack,  on three of the afternoons you then have the option to join a workshop based yoga class where we will look at a theme or element from that day's classes in more detail. This will then be followed directly by a restorative practice and yoga nidra. We will then all come together for dinner served under a canapé of stars.

Two of the days we will take an excursion, on those days there will not be the afternoon workshop, but the evening restorative practice will be offered. One of the days we will take a hike to one of the many historical places of interest on Ithaca, perhaps to Homers house, the birthplace of Odysseus. En-route we will take in some of the stunning views of the surrounding Islands. Our second excursion will be a trip to a beautiful fishing village for lunch where there will be time to browse the shops, have a coffee and take a dip at one of the local secluded beaches.

The accommodation comprises of a stunning six bedroom main house, one unique cave house and two luxury Mongolian yurts. 

All bedrooms in the house can be either single or double occupancy. All are en-suite and air-conditioned, with coco-mat mattresses, wood panelled ceilings and views across the Ionian sea towards Kefalonia. Each bedroom has a unique identity. The two luxury Mongolian rooms are light and airy inside, sleeping between one to two people. They contain comfortable beds with mosquito nets, coco-mat mattresses, stand up fan and en-suite bathrooms. Pathways and steps provide access to the yurt platforms, each with outdoor seating, positioned high among rocks and trees with beautiful sea views.

The Practice Spaces, there are different Yoga Shala options on this retreat which we will rotate depending on day and time to get the best views and experiences, there are both indoor and outdoor options. All Yoga props are provided.

Dining Spaces, all are overlooking the sea with beautiful views. You can take your brunch buffet in the morning sun, shaded by trees, or under the pergola. Snack under a pergola in the afternoon or in a cool sitting area between rocks. Dinner is served on a terrace under a canapé of stars, or should it be required due to the elements there is an indoor dining room/library to take our supper.

Our food will be vegetarian and vegan and cooked by the wonderful professional chefs of Ith108.  Food at Itha108 is fresh, sumptuous and made up of local produce. All vegetables are organic and sourced from the best of what Ithaca and neighbouring Kefalonia has to offer. Plentiful, home-cooked menus blend traditional Greek cuisine with a contemporary style. 

Beaches and Activities; two beaches are less than four minutes walk below the retreat, there is also a tree shaded beach about 10 minutes’ walk from our retreat centre. Kayaks and other water sports are available for rent nearby, scuba diving, and renting a boat for your own private cruise can also be organised. Car, scooter, mountain bikes and e-bikes can also be organised for your rental.

Aside from our included hike other walks and activities are in our information pack available at the retreat. The retreat also houses a well-stocked library, a backgammon table, cards, and other games 

The accommodation options for the retreat

ITHACA RETREAT 4th-11th May 2024

Prices for our Ithaca Retreat:

From £1299pp shared occupancy

Included:

Accommodation - food - transfers

• 7 nights accommodation

• Brunch / Snack / Evening meal daily - sumptuous vegan and vegetarian food made from local produce. All vegetables are organic and sourced from the best of what Ithaca and neighbouring Kefalonia has to offer. Plentiful and home-cooked by our private chef, blending traditional Mediterranean food with a contemporary style. (Allergies can be catered for by the professional chefs - please note however food is prepared in one kitchen)7 nights accommodation 

• Transfers from EFL to Ith108 and return - one group transfer. 

• Recommended flight details to follow - please do not book any flights yet.

Yoga

• Twice daily yoga practices with Karen, including flow, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, somatic/Qi

Gong/Tapping practices and more. 

• Daily Pranayama and meditation practices 

• Two yoga workshops with Karen during the week to further explore our theme

Excursions

• A guided hike incorporating some of the mythology of the Island

• A trip to the the pretty fishing village of Kioni for a Harbourside lunch

Other

• Filtered water

• Fresh herbs for infusions, tea bags and coffee

• Biscuits (gluten free and vegan) 

• Breadsticks      

• Beach towels

• Yoga mats, blocks, bricks, belts, bolsters, and blankets

• Infused organic olive soap, Basil or Sage

• Calendula face balm with 7 essential oils, organic

• Hair dryers

• Internet high speed wireless reception all through the retreat

Not included:

• Flights

• Insurances

• Transfers outside of group

• Extra boat trips - the venue has a boat you can organise to take you on a private tour aside from the one offered as you wish during your stay.

• Further guided hikes outside of the one offered above.

• Massages - offered by on-site therapist Elizabeth

• 1-1s with Karen

• Paddleboards, kayaks, bikes / e-bikes - available to hire separately

• Water Bottles

• Alcohol (cork charge for bottles brought)

• Soft fizzy drinks

• Laundry

• Ironing

Staff Tips – all tips go directly to 4 Women who work hard to make your retreat clean, enjoyable and offer any help neededTransfers outside of group transfers

We ask for a non-refundable deposit of £500 to secure your spot at the time of booking. Balances will be requested by the end of March 4th 2024. If government-based travel restrictions mean the retreat is unable to go ahead all monies will be refunded, aside from flights, unfortunately I cannot take any responsibility for flight losses or costs, please know all flight, travel and covid testing costs are entirely your own and bookings for these are taken at your own risk.

Full Terms and Conditions will be provided at the time of booking. 

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