Yoga and walking holiday in the stunning region of the Mani in the Peloponnese with Lisan and Lisa

NEW DATE: 1/5 2021

Please contact Lisan for booking or any question www.hooyoga.com  -  lisanbremmers@gmail.com

Please visit www.thespiritoflife.co.uk for more info on the centre, accomodation and surroundings.

After having fallen in love with this amazing region in Greece we’ll go back for already the 6th year. Our yoga and walking week is a perfect combination of physical activity and leisure time. We combine delicious gentle hatha yoga with 2 guided walks and 2 visits to authentic mountain villages where we’ll meet the locals, dine out and enjoy the best home cooked traditional dishes. These little villages are hidden jewels and far from any tourist trap.

The guided walks are from half a day on the monday to one whole day on wednesday and will lead us along the gorges, mountains and ancient kalderimi (dry stone footpaths). Here you can discover the real Greece, explore the surrounding foothills and the ancient Byzantine sites. During this week there is also plenty of time to visit the lovely fishing village; listen to the waves, enjoy a coffee or a glass of wine in one of the local tavernas, stroll along the beach, swim in the crystal clear blue sea,  simply read your book or spoil yourself with a massage. Both Lisa and Kerry are experienced therapists and healers and offer wonderful treatments.

Through years of practice, Lisan has developed her own style and her yoga has become a slowing down, a process of undoing, an invitation to connect.

With the simple joy of our being. The invitation is to focus on opening, strengthening and softening the balance and flexibility through a meditative and playful approach. The classes are suited for both beginners and more experienced practitioners.

Morning sessions begin with taking some time to quiet the mind by focusing on the present moment, becoming aware of the breath and creating space between the breaths. Then we will move into somatic movements to wake up the body,  followed by a well rounded mix of gentle hatha yoga poses. Each person is encouraged to honor what serves their body in the present moment and the focus is more on exploring the energetic subtleties of yoga then on challenging our physical practice. At the end of the class we return to the same quiet meditative state again, which ofcourse we never really left.

Evening sessions are more yin and restorative orientated to nourish and stimulate our organs and balance the flow of energy in the body. It targets the deeper connective tissues, the ligaments and the joints. Because the practise is slow, it helps develop our inner listening. The restorative poses, with the help of bolsters, pillows, blankets and belts, offer the body relief from tension and stiffness and allow for the experience of deep relaxation.

We will also practice Yoga Nidra and learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep so that our body can find its natural state of balance.

Fabulous food

Each day, except for wednesday when we have our long walking day, we’ll have a yummie brunch at the centre after our morning yoga session. On both the evening of our arrival and on departure day, Kerry, (the owner of the centre), our host, restaurateur for twenty years and experienced vegetarian cook) serves us fabulous Greek (organic) cuisine with plenty of mezes and organic wine. On the other evenings we wander down to the local village to enjoy a meal by the harbourside. The family run tavernas offer fresh fish and a good selection of vegetarian dishes. On two nights we'll dine out in the beautiful mountainvillages.

Accomodation

Depending on availability accomodation is either at, or across the road from the Spirit of life centre, or in comfortable traditional apartments in the village within 15 min walking distance from the yogacentre.

Time schedule 

(can be subject to change depending on the weather and our spontaneity)

Saturday

Time to settle in after your arrival and at 7 pm a lovely welcome dinner at the centre

Sunday

Yoga 8.30 –10.00

Brunch 10.15

Free time (walking, beach, resting, massage)

Yoga 17.30 -18.45

Dinner in the village/ or stay at your own apartment

Monday

Yoga 8.30 -10.00

Brunch 10.15

Guided walk

Yoga 17.30 -18.45 Dinner in mountain village

Tuesday

Yoga 8.30 –10.00

Brunch 10.15

Free time (walking, beach, resting, massage)

Yoga 17.30 -18.45

Dinner in the village/ or stay at your own apartment

Wednesday

Guided hike with Lisa. We have a day off from yoga at the center.

Thursday

Yoga 8.30 –10.00

Brunch 10.15

Free time (walking, beach, resting, massage)

Yoga 17.30 -18.45

Dinner in a Mountain Village.

(if the teacher is available we have a greek dance in the oliveyard instead of the yin yoga).

Friday

Yoga 8.30 –10.00

Brunch 10.15

Free time (walking, beach, resting, massage)

Yoga 17.30 -18.45

Farewell dinner at the entre

Saturday

Breakfast and fond farewells

This package includes:

7 nights in a shared room or apartment in a traditional apartment

9-10 Yoga classes / 1 dance in the oliveyard ( if it is available)

2 dinners at the yoga-centre

5 brunches, 1 breakfast

2 guided walks

Not included:

Flight to Kalamata

5 dinners á 10-15 euro in the villages

Around 5-10 euro pp for transport on days of shared outings

Massages

Transport from the airport Kalamata to the yogacentre: return ticket around

20-50 euro depending on the amount of people sharing a taxi.

excellent deals for car rental : https://www.servinkalamatas.gr/en/

 

Rates per person: 695 Brittish pound /  8700 sek/ 810 euro / single occupancy 150 pound extra

Your reservaton is made as soon as you pay a deposit of 300 Euro or 3000 SEK. The remaining amount should be payed before the 15th of April and no refund is possible after that. Contact Lisan if you like to make a booking or need more details: lisanbremmers@gmail.com

Bookings can also be made directly through the Spirit of life Centre with a seven-day money back guarantee. If you cancel within seven days of booking, they will give you a full refund.

Our retreat is limited to 12 people, we tend to get fully booked each year so don't wait to long with your booking if you want to be sure of your space.

 

I've enjoyed several yoga holidays in different places but spirit of life is now my favourite. Kerry & Wendy have created a place with a magical quality based on a combination of ancient land and customs, deep love of Nature and respect for yoga and healing. Lisan is a wise and generous yoga teacher and gave us a wonderful week of practice and inspiration. Thank you to everyone involved.  Amber S (UK)

Lisa took us on two gorgeous walks, she knows a lot about the area and obviously enjoyes sharing her love for this region with others. Lisan has a wonderful ability to lead us into deep relaxation and to let us proceed at our own pace during the week. Altough quite stressed upon arrival, after one week I feel both rested and strong again.  Annica E (Sweden)

Lisan Bremmers

is from the Netherlands, currently living in  Sweden where she has her own yogastudio. Together with her partner Jan she offers privat yoga and meditation retreats from their lovely old renovated farmhouse. Lisan is a certified Hatha yoga teacher, trained at the Yandara Yoga institute in Mexico, she is also certified in Medical Yoga through IMY MediYoga® in Stockholm and did a Restorative Yoga teaching training with Marla Meenakshi Joy. She loves to travel and continues to explore and learn through taking courses and workshops with inspiring teachers in Sweden and abroad.

Lisa Jeppesen

has her roots in Denmark but grew up in Sweden where she has been running her own massage company for the past fifteen years. The last five years she has spent a lot of time in Greece as a walking-guide and health inspirator. She will be your walking/tour guide and massage therapist during your stay. Lisa is certified in Swedish Classic massage, Facial Reflexology By Lone Sorensensistem, a touch of TCM and Shiatsu. Her biggest interest is our connection to mother nature and how we can learn to take better care of oureselves and the earth that we live on.

We hope to see you and spent some magic time together in the beautiful Mani.