STONE THERAPY RETREAT and the FLOW OF CHI RETREAT : Unique Holidays on the Croatian Coast !
Two unique one-week holidays on the amazing island of Iz in Croatia.
Yoga sessions are held twice daily. Also: morning/evening bodywork classes (leading to certification in Hot Stone Therapy - 20 CEU’s and Movement of Chi -10 CEU’s), meditations and field trips.
Plenty of time to walk, swim or sightsee. Well-balanced vegetarian menu based on locally grown produce and herbs.
Accommodation is available in a small, privately owned, yoga-friendly hotel, in single or shared rooms with private baths and balconies surrounded by pine woods and pebble beaches.
We believe in programs that are not only nourishing for body and soul but are also based in local communities (using locally grown food and relying on the local economy in terms of the work and services supplied).
As a company we believe in giving back, and we have made a commitment to contribute 1% of our profits to the prevention of deforestation of the area and preservation of natural resources (Adriatic Dolphin Project) at the local level instead of purchasing your carbon neutral credits. We also have been encouraging our guests to participate in activities that help support the local economy: sustainable farming workshops, organic gardening and cooking, and working with locals at free massage therapy clinics. By combining yoga, bodywork and spiritual development programs, we will be able to provide you with a more well-rounded insight into the movement of Chi/Prana that can be used in therapy and in your everyday life. We also understand that it is your vacation time too. If you would like to refrain from participating in some of the activities, please feel free to do so. Also, if there is something else that you would like to do during your retreat, let us know. We and our hosts would be happy to help you arrange an activity.
OUR PACKAGES INCLUDE:
Seven nights accommodation in private or shared rooms with private bath (most of them with balcony)
Transfers from Zadar to Iz and from Iz to Zadar (by ferry)
On some nights, evening lectures
A SAMPLE DAY
6:30-8:00am – Hot, Hatha or Nidra Yoga 8:15-9:15am -- Breakfast 9:30-11:30am-- 1st Program Session (hot stone therapy, Asian bodywork etc.) with some outdoor classes and whole-day or half-day trips, weather permitting 11:45am-12:45pm -- Midday break (Siesta) 1:00-2:00pm -- Lunch 2:30-4:30pm -- 2nd Program Session, with one afternoon devoted to an excursion and some free time 4:30-5:00pm -- Free time for journaling, meditation, reading or sun bathing 5:00-6:30pm -- Yoga Class 7:15-8:15pm -- Dinner 8:30pm --Evening bodywork/healing sessions, consultations, entertainment
TREATMENTS Bodywork and massage exchange is done daily so there is no need for extensive bodywork.
HOT STONE THERAPY RETREAT September / 2010 Our teachers teach creatively, providing not only cross-training for professionals but also intuitive insight for anyone interested in exploring heat in yoga, therapy and healing. Drawing from the traditions of Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Iyengar, Yin, Anusara and Moksha Yoga on one side, from Asian bodywork (especially Zen Shiatsu), Hara centering and elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the other, as well as Huna (Hawaiian Healing Art) and NLP, our teachers have created a unique cross-referencing point that will challenge students to explore and expand their potential for compassion and body awareness through heat. more
Some Benefits of Hot Yoga
Your body burns fat more effectively, fat may be redistributed and burned as energy during the class. It is common to lose centimetres of shape in a very short time
The heat produces a fluid-like stretch allowing for greater range of movement in joints, muscles, ligaments and other supporting structures of the body; your muscles and connective tissue become more elastic and allow for greater flexibility with less chance of injury and improved resolution of injury
Capillaries dilate in the heat; more effectively oxygenating the tissues, muscles, glands and organs and helping in the removal of waste products
Your peripheral circulation improves due to enhanced perfusion of your extremities and your metabolism speeds up the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids
Sweating promotes detoxification and elimination through the skin - which is the body's largest eliminating organ
Just as when your body raises its temperature to fight infection, the raised temperature in the room will assist in improving T-cell function and the proper functioning of your immune system
Your nervous system function is greatly improved and messages are carried more efficiently to and from your brain
Metabolism improves in your digestive system and in the body's cells (that is food in the gut and nutrients in the cells)
You benefit from a strengthening of willpower, self control, concentration and determination in this challenging environment
Yoga and Flow of Chi
The FLOWOF CHI RETREAT, next Retreat date: September, 2010 According to Japanese tradition, Hara is the vital centre of the human being. Combining the teachings of Asian bodywork with the traditions of Huna, NLP and Time Line Therapy ™, Shahnaz will guide participants through an exploration of Hara as a centre of their own healing/ revitalizing power. This retreat is intended for beginners and it also provides a good preparation for the Hot Yoga & Stone Therapy week which follows.
Physiological, Psychological and Spiritual Benefits of Meditation
Deep rest-as measured by decreased metabolic rate, lower heart rate, and reduced work load of the heart.
Lowered levels of cortisol and lactate-two chemicals associated with stress.
Reduction of free radicals- unstable oxygen molecules that can cause tissue damage.
Decreased high blood pressure.
Higher skin resistance. Low skin resistance is correlated with higher stress and anxiety levels.
Drop in cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease.
Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing. This has been very helpful to asthma patients.
Decreases the aging process and increases levels of DHEAS in the elderly. An additional sign of youthfulness.
Increased brain wave coherence.
Decreased anxiety, depression, irritability and moodiness .
Decreased depression
Improved learning ability and memory.
Increased self-actualization, feelings of vitality and rejuvenation, happiness and emotional stability.
The longer an individual practices meditation, the greater the likelihood that his or her goals and efforts will shift toward personal and spiritual growth. Many individuals who initially learn meditation for its self-regulatory aspects find that as their practice deepens they are drawn more and more into the realm of the "spiritual." Meditation helps you to become more attuned to the spiritual dimension of life, and assists in cultivating a state of compassionate self-awareness and self-acceptance.
