Balance: the process of holding something steady during change. The yoga mat is an ideal place to practice Strength, Relaxation and Resilience. These three qualities help in that process of holding steady during change. Strength: Expending energy to gain strength isn't always the answer. A harder, faster, better attitude can sometimes drain us. Looking at the familiar through a different lens can be challenging but can also lead to change. Sometimes it's the tiniest tweak that makes a difference. Strength focussed practices that help gather strength back into ourselves offer a way to recharge depleted energy levels. Relaxation: “Trust your gut” is a common saying and most of the time our instincts are usually right. We spend our a lot of our day in our outer world and don’t have enough time for our inner world. That inner world holds information learned, experienced and gathered constantly throughout our life. When we act on these insights the term 'acting on instincts' is used. Being instinctive is a quality that increases or decreases depending on how much we practice doing it well. Relaxation practices give us that much needed time away from the outside world, time to relax and create space to connect and listen to that inner world - that place of wisdom. Resilience: the ability to respond appropriately to life’s challenges, problems and set-backs and come back stronger for them. “Bounce Back Ability” can be learned, asana practices, breath work, meditation, relaxation techniques can help build our resilience levels and the ability to come back stronger but also to come back to balance. Treat yourself to 4 nights at my Find Balance retreat in Mykonos 18th- 22nd May and try out the practices of Strength, Relaxation and Resilience for yourself. click here for details "Balance- the Process of Holding Something steady during Change" On my first visit to Mykonos last year I found it an island full of contrasts.The glitz and glam shops, buzzing vibrant bars and nightlife then the traditional picture postcard whitewashed houses, iconic windmills, narrow pedestrian streets bedecked with bougainvillea and stunning scenery. Add a sky that glows with a fiery intensity as the sun sinks from heaven to meet a sea which during the day sparkles like it’s made of thousands of stars. Mykonos is something else! However it was the beautiful way Mykonos has managed to retain it’s cultural history yet embrace the need for change that ignited my imagination and sparked the idea to hold my first Find Balance Yoga Retreat on this stunning island. Once a poor island in the Aegean, now known for its glitz and glam Mykonos has managed to find that thing most of us lack in this hectic world we live in - Balance. In this high speed, high pressure and high stress world, we can find our lives get out of balance. We work so hard that work and family life can suffer, we can struggle to find down time, time to exercise, read, relax or time to simply enjoy a long hot shower. These modern day lifestyle demands can drain us physically, emotionally and mentally and make us ill. As a yoga teacher I see the affect of these stresses regularly and as a yoga teacher I know yoga has a magical way of helping address these imbalances. This age old practice helps calm the restless mind and bring balance to the body. This Retreat in Mykonos will introduce you to Yoga for mind-body well-being and my way of integrating traditional yoga, mindful movement and contemplative practices to help balance the stresses created by our modern lifestyles. The aim of the energising morning practices and relaxing sunset practices : to help boost energy, improve flexibility & strength, activate the relaxation response, reduce anxiety & stress, stimulate restful sleep and enhance immunity. I want you to go home with a selection of simple practices you can blend into your daily routine, practices that will help you manage times of change, transition, stress whenever they arise in your life. To offer a 4 night Yoga Retreat in Mykonos, seemed to be the perfect short term break to help escape the demands of daily routines, find a place to relax, practice yoga, be pampered, eat well, meet people and especially find space to slow down, renew, review, re-connect - Find Balance. Imagine my excitement when the Semeli luxury hotel agreed to my holding the retreat at this amazing sophisticated 5 star hotel, which nestles perfectly amongst the distinct Aegean style small white houses of Mykonos town Chora. Semeli, a name from Greek mythology and a hotel that offers that unique blend I was looking for, sitting in perfect harmony with the surrounding architecture and environment but with contemporary modern luxury. Another example of - Balance The Semeli shares many things in common my vision of a Find Balance Retreat. As you explore this luxury hotel you will notice how the hotel colours, stone, trees blend in perfect harmony with the sea and sky. The luxury accommodation together with unique personal customer services provides the ideal environment to treat yourself to that break from the demands of daily routines. Truly a space to slow down and re-connect. Then there’s Aquaspa with is vast array of therapies and treatments for complete mind and body rejuvenation and the stunning pool with a fabulous decking area. Ideal for relaxing and that much needed pampering. The food? Local suppliers provide the freshest locally sourced ingredients, with an aim to use local products with a certificate of quality. The breakfast offers a huge selection of dishes to set you up for the day. The Thioni Restaurant provides a place to enjoy a range of mouth watering traditional Greek cuisine in truly stunning surroundings. To me finding balance is a lifetime project, it’s ongoing and actually not a finite goal. I once read this definition - “Balance - the process of holding something steady during change.” I think those words reflect Mykonos, perfectly. Warmest wishes Gail |
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