Ioannina Lake Retreat

4 days / Ioannina, Epirus

Incredible view of the lake Pamvotis and surrounding mountains is the scenery of this concept. The Ioannina Lake Retreat is taking place in Epirus in the region of Ioannina. Guests can enjoy hatha yoga, pilates, capoeira, Rejuvance, Reiki, yin yoga, gong therapy, music therapy, meditation and an open air buffet.

A unique moment of an ultimate uplift, an memorable energy boost that will last for long in participants’ mind and body. In addition to this affluent experience, an excursion in River Voidomatis combined with a cleansing and detoxifying meditation will complete a 3-day dream! Warm Hospitality and delicious regional gastronomy is an extra asset.

Includes

Program

• 4 night accommodation in 4 star hotel (in standard double room – half board)
• Transport from/to airport
• Discovering Ioannina city
• 1 session Holistic Rejuvenation Technique
• 1session Hatha Yoga for Beginners
• 1 session Hatha Yoga by the lake
• 1 session Yin Yoga by the lake(organ stretching & massaging)
• 1 session Pilates by the lake
• 1 session Capoeira by the Lake

• 1 session Guided Meditation by river Voidomatis
• 1 session Gong & Sound Therapy
• 1 session Dynamic Meditation
• Open air buffet with vegetarian and local gastronomy
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
• Visit the clearest river of Europe “Voidomatis” (meditation – Ioannina)

Spoken Language: English and others upon Request

THERAPIES

Holistique Rejuvenation Technique

Unique Massage of face-neck-cervus that rejuvenates, lift and nourishes the skin in depth. It gives full-body rest, relieves from stress, headaches, insomnia, migrains, cervical pain. The therapy is completed in 6 different sessions. Fascinating rejuvenation with only one session for a special look in an event and deep relaxation.

Capoeira

Capoeira is a martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. It was developed in Brazil at the beginning of the 16th century. It is known for its quick and complex maneuvers, predominantly using power, speed, and leverage across a wide variety of kicks, spins, and other techniques.

Pilates

Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, after whom it was named. Pilates called his method “Contrology”. It is practiced worldwide, especially in Western countries such as Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States.

There is evidence to support the use of Pilates to alleviate low back pain, or improve balance in elderly people. Evidence from studies show that while Pilates improves balance, limited data exists on whether this impacts on falls by the elderly.

Reiki

It is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.

During a meditation several years after developing Reiki, Mikao Usui decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki. The Ideals came in part from the five prinicples of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Mikao Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki. Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha is a general category that includes most yoga styles. It is an old system that includes the practice of asanas (yoga postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), which help bring peace to the mind and body, preparing the body for deeper spiritual practices such as meditation and life in harmony.

In most cases, however, it will be relatively gentle, slow and great for beginners or students who prefer a more relaxed style where they hold poses longer in order to go deeper and get better benefits.

YOGA BENEFITS

•  increase your flexibility
• increase muscle tone and strength
• improve your circulatory and cardio health
• helps you sleep better
• it improves your mood
• improve athletic performance
• reduce injuries
• detoxify your organs
• improve your posture
• improves anxiety and depression
• helps with chronic pain
• release endorphins
• increase your energy levels

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga is a slow-paced style in which poses are held for five minutes or longer. Even though it is passive, yin yoga can be quite challenging due to the long holds, particularly if your body is not used to it. The purpose is to apply moderate stress to the connective tissue – the tendons, fascia and ligaments – with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility.

It was founded and first taught in the U.S. in the late 1970s by martial arts expert and Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zink. Yin-style is now begin taught across North America and in Europe, due in large part to two of the more prominent instructors, Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers.

Guided Meditation

Guided meditation is a process by which one or more participants meditate in response to the guidance provided by a trained practitioner or teacher in person. The term “guided meditation” is most commonly used in clinical practice, scholarly research, and scientific investigation to signify an aggregate of integrated techniques.

The most common and frequently used combination or synthesis comprises meditation music and receptive music therapy, guided imagery, relaxation, some form of meditative practice and mindfulness, and journaling. Hypnosis or hypnotherapeutic procedures may be included as part of an intervention. Psychotherapist Michael D. Yapko has shown the remarkable similarity between hypnotic procedures and guided meditation procedure

Gong Sound Therapy

Gong sound therapy has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, enthusiasts believe that gong baths can help reduce stress and liberate emotional blockages. Scientific evidence suggests that certain forms of sound therapy prompt damaged human DNA strands to repair themselves. Some tones are thought to promote vitality and healing, and also to enhance happiness. Many alternative healthcare clinics offer sound therapies such as gong meditation to help manage various ailments.

Other forms of sound therapy include tuning forks, Tibetan singing bowls, chanting and drumming therapy. Music therapy is arguably the most mainstream form of sound therapy, and many music therapists are board certified. Music has been shown to relieve a number of problems, including pain, loneliness and depression. Music therapy is now frequently offered in clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics, and hospice.

Dynamic Music Meditation

Dynamic meditation is a form of meditation in which physical actions are involved. The term appears in the early 1970s when Osho’s descriptions of his “Rajneesh Dhyan Yoga,” developed at meditation camps in the Indian mountains, were translated into English. His prototypical method is still named “Dynamic Meditation.”

The term has come into more general use to describe any approach to meditation that includes movement.

Sights’ Description and Highlights

Pamvotis Lake – Ioannina

Lake of Ioannina is the largest lake of Epirus, located in the central part of the Ioannina regional unit in northern Greece. The regional capital Ioannina to the west and the town of Perama to the north are urban settlements fringing the lake while the remaining of its periphery is composed of farmland. The lake features small fishing ports and a boating port. There is a regular boat service to the Ioannina Island. The Greek National Road 6 surrounds the northern half of the lake.

Highlights

• Beautiful scenery en route
• Views of the surrounding mountains
• Rejuvenating Breeze when resting near the huge plane trees
• Great scenery on the spot and sounds of water

VOIDOMATIS Crystal Clear River

IOANNINA, EPIRUS

Voidomatis River rises in Vikos gorge and follows an impressive waterway wreathed with age-long plane trees that border its bed and traditional stone bridges over the waters. Voidomatis River joins its crystal clear waters with those of Aoos River, in Konitsa’s plain. Aristi bridge is the meeting and departure point for rafting and kayak fans, near Aristi village – one of Zagorochoria (a group of traditional villages) right in the heart of the Vikos-Aoos National Park.

The 5 km route presents no particular difficulties and requires no special technical skills. You will enjoy the lovely greenery, the springs, the small cascades of water and the stone bridges. It is near Ioannina and Zagorochoria. Ideal for rafting. You will hear the final directions from the boatman who will skilfully guide the boat past the artificial waterfall. One thing is certain; by the time you reach the end you’ll wish you could start all over again!

Highlights

• Beautiful scenery en route
• Great scenery on the spot and sounds of water
• Views of crystal clear water
• Rejuvenating Freshness if you dive