ALIA - EMBODIED ISLAND FLOW
With Christina Exarchou
5% of retreat profits will be donated to non-profit organisations aiding in making our planet a little greener.
In case Covid-19 travel restrictions apply at the time of the retreat, prohibiting guests from travelling to Greece, any amounts paid will be fully refundable.
THE EXPERIENCE
Welcome to our ‘Embodied Island Flow’ yoga retreat with Christina Exarchou in Koufonisia. This yoga journey is a combination of quality yoga classes, a Cycladic beachfront villa, and the island freedom. Christina will be guiding you through dynamic yet soft Vinyasa Flows, meditations and targeted practices with an emphasis on the importance of using movement as a tool for embodiment and self-expression. This retreat is designed to offer its guests the perfect amount of activity time and quietness one needs. An opportunity to reflect onto the self and reconnect on the tiny paradise of Koufonisia.
“From morning yoga classes and family-style brunches to careless dives and island hopping; this is probably the perfect wellness gift to yourself. A time for you to reconnect and simply be”
To book your spot or to learn more click here.
KOUFONISIA + OUR BEACHFRONT VILLA
Right in the heart of the Cyclades, Koufonisia is a place away from mass tourism, where island life tends to be more slow and authentic. The raw landscape of Koufonisia and the astonishing view of the Aegean Sea blend harmoniously with our white washed private villa; a villa built with bits of Cycladic tradition, minimalism and in absolute harmony with nature. Found just a few minutes’ walk from the dreamiest beach of the island, our beachfront villa has been created with respect to the island’s roots. The large white spaces and patios, the floor to ceiling windows and the sunlit interiors make the perfect zen atmosphere. The location is ideal to walk everywhere you want to explore! The nearby beach is only a 10 minutes’ walk away from the villa, whilst the little town of the island is a beautiful 30 minutes coastal walk. Just a few steps away from the villa, you will find our semi-covered outdoor yogashala and a thai-style massage room.
THE YOGASHALA
Scattered between olive trees, orange blossoms and lavender, our semi-covered outdoor yogashala is made with natural materials and a large shade of bamboo protecting the room from the wind. It is a quiet and sunlit space surrounded by airy white curtains making it the perfect space for you to let go and immerse into your practice.
Covid-19 Note | The number of participants of this retreat is kept low for better social distancing. The retreat is also designed to be spent mostly outdoors and in nature. View our ‘Retreating with Safety’ measures and guidelines here.
FOOD WITH A GREEK TWIST
Our family-style food gatherings consist of vegetarian recipes with a few Greek twists. Carefully chosen brunch and dinner menus with gluten free, dairy free and vegan options will be catered by our food experts. All meals are prepared using the freshest daily produce sourced from Koufonisia and the nearby islands.
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Whilst we aim to increase this percentage through the next few years, 5% of the retreat profits will be donated to trusted non-profit organisations for tree planting. More information about this donation will be shared with our guests after the retreat takes place. We also choose to support mostly local suppliers as well as suppliers that use sustainable practices (e.g. eco-friendly goodie bags).
YOGA WITH CHRISTINA
Christina is a Level 2 Authorised teacher in Ashtanga Yoga (by R. Sharath Jois). She holds a 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification and guides her students through Ashtanga as well as Vinyasa yoga classes. Since 2015, when she began her studies at KPJAYI, she then continued to deepen her knowledge with annual trips to India. After 12 years of practicing strictly in a traditional format, she began exploring different movement modalities in seek of greater creative expression. This is where she developed her own free-style flows. These flows are an integrative blend of classical yoga and movements from several disciplines like contemporary dance, mixed martial arts and mobility. Christina’s objective is to inspire her students to tap into their intuition and own personal wisdom through movement and to safely experience the healing effects of the practice.
Morning Yoga: Morning practices with Christina will be dedicated to dynamic yet fluid Vinyasa Flows with creative sequences and space for self-reflection and journaling.
Afternoon Practice: During the afternoon classes expect more time for play, as Christina will be sharing some of her favourite exercises to help you elevate your practice.
A Flow Under The Stars: Our night yoga experience, which will only be held once throughout the retreat, will be a gentle flow with less focus on alignment and technique and more in the sensations that rise through movement.
All practices are open to all levels from beginners to more advanced yogis.
Covid-19 Note | The yoga will take place in an outdoor semi-covered yoga shala which is sunlit & easily aired. Each guest will be provided with a yoga mat which they will keep for the duration of the retreat. View our ‘Retreating with Safety’ measures and guidelines here.
RETREAT INCLUDES
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6 days/ 5 nights accommodation at our beachfront villa
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Daily morning yoga practice
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Afternoon targeted yoga classes
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A gentle flow under the stars
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Vegetarian menu with a Greek twist, including brunch and dinner with vegan & gluten free options available
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Retreat Activities:
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Island Hopping: A boat day spent visiting nearby abandoned islands and secluded beaches (subject to weather conditions)
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Coastal hiking & cliff diving with a stopover at one of our favourite spots on the island
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A visit to the main town of Koufonisi & dinner at a sea-view restaurant (dinner is extra cost)
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Optional Thai-style massages (extra cost)
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Group pickup from Koufonisia port upon arrival & drop off on departure
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Yoga equipment (mats, straps, blocks etc.)
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Greek style Goodie-bags
TRAVELLING TO KOUFONISIA
Koufonisia (code KOU) can be reached via ferry from Santorini (code JTR), Mykonos (code JMK) or from Piraeus port in Athens (code PIR). We suggest that you fly directly either to Mykonos or to Santorini airport. From there you can take the ferry to Koufonisia which is a much shorter ferry ride than taking the ferry from Athens.
We advise our guests to allow one day prior and after the retreat for their travelling and book flexible or refundable plane tickets.
All ferry tickets can be booked online at —> viva.gr
SUGGESTED ARRIVAL OPTIONS
Ferry itineraries for arrival options on Saturday 27th August 2022.
Mykonos Port to Koufonisia Port
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ferry name: SEAJET 2 | departure 11:00 - arrival 12:20
Santorini Port to Koufonisia Port
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ferry name: SUPERJET | departure 12:40 - arrival 14:40
Athens Port to Koufonisia Port
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ferry name: SUPERJET | departure 07:35 - arrival 14:40
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ferry name: HIGHSPEED 4 | departure 09:00 - arrival 14:00
SUGGESTED DEPARTURE OPTIONS
Ferry itineraries for departure options on Thursday 1st September 2022.
Koufonisia Port to Mykonos Port
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ferry name: SEAJET 2 | departure 14:50 - arrival 16:20
Koufonisia Port to Santorini Port
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ferry name: SUPERJET | departure 12:35 - arrival 14:30
Koufonisia Port to Athens Port
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ferry name: SUPERJET | departure 12:35 - arrival 20:40
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ferry name: HIGHSPEED 4 | departure 14:15 - arrival 19:30
Please note that all above mentioned ferry itineraries are subject to change anytime.
