Affordable Luxury Yoga Holidays and Retreats
8 Days Yoga, Meditation and Culinary Beach Holiday in Crete
7th May to 2nd October 2022
@Crete, Greece
Join us for an all-inclusive week of yoga, eating great food, relaxing on the beach and experiencing the famous Greek hospitality and love of life!
It is said that Crete's greatest treasure is to be found in its cuisine. It is also blessed with breath-taking nature and gorgeous beaches. This magical island was also home to Europe's oldest civilization, a 4000-year-old cultural path that weaves its way to the present. This yoga holiday has been thoughtfully created to celebrate these great riches, and allow you to experience them first-hand. Combined with refreshing yoga classes and meditation sessions, you will leave feeling enriched, rejuvenated, and inspired.
HIGHLIGHTS
7 Nights Accommodation by the Beach
Daily Breakfast
5 Dinners Showcasing the Mediterranean Diet
Daily Energizing Yoga Classes
Pranayama and Meditation Workshops
Walking Meditation
Mediterranean Diet Recipes
YOGA & MEDITATION
You will start each day with a morning yoga class and there is a second yoga or meditation class every evening. Most classes will take place in the garden although some classes may be held in beautiful locations during excursions, such as the beach or in the olive groves. The style is predominately Hatha and Vinyasa, and the classes are suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced. Pranayama and meditation will also be practiced.
FOOD AND DRINK
The Cretan diet is renowned for being significantly beneficial to human health and for contributing to the famous longevity of the Cretan people. Our resident chef will be preparing meals from the Cretan and Mediterranean diets using fresh, locally produced ingredients and organic wherever possible.
Meals are served outdoors on the veranda. A picnic-style brunch may also be provided during some excursions. Snacks and drinks will be available outside meal times.
We offer a vegetarian menu during the retreat with vegan alternatives for those who request them. Since the Mediterranean diet also consists of small servings of meat, fish and poultry, these may also be offered if there is demand from the guests. Separate utensils and equipment are used for the preparation of non-veg food. If you have any food restrictions or allergies then please let us know in advance.
You will have many opportunities to taste and learn about the delicious and healthy Cretan and Greek diets and the Mediterranean diet in general. The meals provided in the villa will showcase traditional recipes from the region. Furthermore, we offer a recipe booklet so you can enjoy some of these tasty and healthy dishes when you are back home.
LOCATION
This season the retreat moves to a new location by the beach. Agia Marina is a beautiful coastal resort in northwest Crete with a long sandy beach and plenty of restaurants, shops and bars. It is strategically situated just a 15 minute drive or bus ride to Chania town.
The villa is located in a quiet neighbourhood, with panoramic sea views to the north and views of the spectacular White Mountains to the south. The area is well serviced by public transport and there is ample free parking outside the villa if you decide to hire a car.
If you would like to explore the island during your stay, the accommodation provides convenient access by road to the beaches and villages of the west and south coasts, as well as the town of Chania and other towns and beaches on the north coast.
The beach is just a 3 minute walk away as are a wide variety of restaurants, supermarkets, shops and bars. If you are looking for traditional flavours, handmade, local cheese and wine are available to buy in the area as well as olive oil and olives, honey and wild herbs. There is even a local farmer's market once a week.
Everything you might need or desire is literally just a short walk away!
ACCOMMODATION
The villa is a two-storey building, with stunning views of the sea and the mountains. On the top floor is a large two bedroom apartment which is where the retreat guests will stay. A garden surrounds the property.
The apartment has its own entrance and includes two double bedrooms, a large living room, a spacious balcony with panoramic sea views, a kitchen, a private bathroom, and two WCs. The kitchen is fully equipped and all bedding and towels are provided. The refrigerator is stocked with snacks, and coffee and tea are always available.
The intention is to convey a hospitable home-stay environment while enjoying the privacy of your own accommodation. Your hosts will always be at hand to assist you with your needs and provide useful and interesting information for your stay. To keep the retreat cosy and intimate, and to ensure that full individual attention can be given during classes, there is a limit of 4 guests at any time.
INSTRUCTORS
Atalya is the co-founder of Blue Planet Retreats. She is fully certified and originally trained under Shakti Mhi, the founder of Prana Yoga College. She is constantly adding to her knowledge by studying with respected teachers on her numerous trips to India and around the world.
She predominantly teaches Hatha yoga with a strong focus on safety, proper alignment, breath control and the intuitive flow of the asanas. She teaches all levels from beginner to advanced with hands-on guidance and no pressure on her students to do anything they are not comfortable with.
This season Patricia will guide you through gentle yet energizing yoga flows. She has practiced yoga for 20 years and the last 7 years teaches as a certified yoga teacher around the world. Her training in India, Germany, and the US include Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow, traditional Ashtanga Mysore Style, Yin Yoga, trauma-informed Yoga and Meridian Yoga Therapy.
Patricia shares with you Hatha based Vinyasa flows that are safe, varied, empowering and accessible. You will experience classes that combine pranayama (breath control), asanas and meditation. She offers variations of the postures and alternatives to encourage you to truly connect with the wisdom of your own mind-body-soul system
Angelo has spent years travelling around the world, from Cape Verde to Papua New Guinea. His first contact with the disciplines of fasting and meditation were in a Buddhist monastery in Thailand, followed by inspiring encounters with teachers in China and Nepal. In Mysore, India, Angelo met his master Ajay Kumar and attended his traditional 300-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga teacher training course.
Angelo’s teachings are open to all students, respecting their different needs and experiences, from absolute beginner to experienced practitioner. The focus lies on correct use of breath, merged with movement, visual attention and internal attention, with the aim of achieving concentration and a meditative mind as a result. He uses different tools such as Yoga Nidra, sound bath using healing/singing bowls, breath exercise and control, sound meditation using internal vibration and other techniques according to experience and curiosity.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Please contact us if you would like to stay for more or less than 8 days so that we can discuss your options. On your arrival day, there will be an afternoon yoga or meditation class followed by dinner, apart from Saturdays and Wednesdays when you are free to you try one of the many excellent restaurants in the area. On your departure day, there will be a morning yoga class (apart from Saturday) followed by breakfast. Guests are free to participate in as many or as few activities as they like. We appreciate that this is a holiday and that sometimes you might just want to skip an activity or meal and chill on the beach! We only ask that you let us know in advance.
ARRIVAL INFORMATION
The villa is easily reached by both Chania International Airport (CHQ) and Heraklion International Airport (HER), although Chania Airport is much closer being only 25 minutes away, whereas Heraklion airport is around a two hour drive away or 3-4 hours by bus. A ferry from Athens to the Port of Souda in Chania is another option. If you decide to rent a car to explore the island, you can arrange to collect it at the airport when you arrive and drop it off at the airport when you leave. We can help you organize this if you require it. If any guests are interested in sharing a car with other guests then just let us know and we can connect you.
If you decide not to hire a car then the best way to arrive to the villa would be by taxi. We can help to connect guests arriving at the same airport who would like to share a taxi. If you need help arranging a taxi then please let us know.
Alternatively there is a bus stop very near the villa which is well serviced by buses coming from Chania town.
BOOKING & FEES
The total cost of the package is €879 per person based on two people sharing and includes accommodation, all breakfasts and most meals, and all classes and activities. The retreat is limited to a maximum of 4 places so book early to avoid disappointment. If you are a couple, or pair of friends, who would like to share you should indicate so at the time of booking. Should you require sole occupancy of a room then there is a surcharge for a total of €999
You can book by writing to us at blueplanetretreats@gmail.com
We look forward to meeting you soon!
BOOK NOW
For more information or
to reserve your place please contact us at: blueplanetretreats@gmail.com