online guide for your yoga community
Itha108 is a Greek island retreat set in a place of outstanding natural beauty, providing a space specifically for peace, relaxation and practice.
Ithaca, home of Itha108, is one of the smallest in the Ionian islands that is radiating with Grecian authenticity. It’s shores play host to a long Homeric and mythical history whose many mysteries are sensed amongst animated panorama and secretive coves. Itha108 overlooks the sea and the eastern coastline of neighbouring Kefalonia from an elevated wilderness of olive trees and exposed rocks that provide the elements around which it is built, allowing its natural beauty to speak for itself. An emphasis on indoor-outdoor living ensures full use of the land and its treasures that extend to sweeping and hidden beaches below.
I have joined forces with Emily Brett founder of Ourmala to raise awareness and funds to support UK registered refugees and asylum seekers. Emily & myself will be teaching a Breath-Centric Vinyasa Ourmala Class Saturday 4:30pm. To book, click here.
Emily Brett is a yoga teacher who’s dedicated herself to working with refugees and asylum-seekers, including survivors of war, torture and modern day slavery, since 2011 when she founded the non-profit Ourmala. Ourmala stands for compassion, interconnection and social justice and is lululemon’s UK national non-profit partner. Emily’s devoted to teaching yoga’s philosophical principles through her actions – whether teaching asana or running her organisation – and her style has its roots in the beauty and wilderness of life, Ashtanga Yoga, Vipassana Meditation, poetry and the teachings of classic yogis such as Ramana Maharshi. Emily’s practiced yoga and meditation since 1999 and her training includes multiple trips to Mysore, a 30 day silent meditation retreat, a Diploma in Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery with Harvard’s Refugee Trauma Programme, an MA in Creative Writing and a 500 Hour Yoga Teaching Diploma from the British Wheel of Yoga as a 500 Hour Yoga Teacher.
To support Ourmala in London you can attend my Monday 5:30pm Ourmala Yoga Class at The Life Centre Notting Hill or go to Ourmala for other classes and opportunities to participate in this amazing cause.
The Secret Yoga Club has welcomed me to add my Yoga Philosophy and Psychology training to one of their retreats in Northern Italy this summer. The retreat, in the lavender scented hills of Tuscany, will include creative workshops, sound baths, intuitive movement and mindful walks with other teachers. The idea is to create a reflective and renewing retreat for those who want to experience a deeper state of self-discovery.
Below are the details from the Secret Yoga Club:
Villa Lena is one of SYC’s favourites venues, there’s nowhere as peaceful and inspiring. Think Stealing Beauty: a yoga platform overlooking beautiful rolling Tuscan Hills, magical secret gardens, a mysterious deserted village, captivating views, figs, mist, olive groves, sky, sun and time out of life.
As usual, we’ll be be offering something unique and inspiring – working with the Villa Lena artists in residence to offer a thoughtful programme of creative explorations to compliment the daily yoga practises.
We decided to do something a little different this year and create a yoga offering for those who already have an established practise and are interested in developing their understanding of the yoga tradition, how this vast and ancient knowledge evolved and how we can use it to enhance our experience of ourselves and enrich our daily life.
This is very much what we love about Zephyr’s classes, how each class is themed with a carefully considered introduction to frame sessions, as she weaves yogic wisdom easily between asana and pranayama. It’s a real treat to dive so deep, playing with these intricate psychological maps that can reveal neurological pathways, expand the mind and the energy body and guide us into a brighter and more fluid way of being.
After an amazing holiday with family in Val d’Isere, France last summer, I was inspired to find a mountain retreat to offer a summer Yoga holiday for 2018. Sometimes a “vacation” with the family needs a follow-up holiday to recover, but the time I spent walking in the mountains with my family, practicing Yoga with majestic mountain back-drops and the clean, fresh mountain-air was such bliss. I wanted to find a spot where I could bring friends, students and clients and create the perfect summertime retreat. I think I have found the perfect place; Arosa, Switzerland is a stunning Alpine resort town in the heart of the Schanfigg Valley in the canton of Graubünden (2.5 hour train ride from Zurich). Known for its lakes, hiking trails and mountain-biking in the summer time, the resort town is becoming one of the more talked-about ski destinations for those looking for un-crowded, un-discovered ski destinations in the winter.
The most exciting thing about this trip is to be able to offer you a space at Arosa’s newest hotel. The Valsana is opening in mid-Decemeber of this year and the owner’s and management will host us to some of Switzerland’s most luxurious amenities including a purpose-built Yoga studio, spa, restaurants (including the Michelin starred La Vetta at the sister hotel Tschuggen Grand) and awe inspiring views from your room. This will be an active luxury holiday to remember.
A little twist with this retreat that I am excited about is I will be co-teaching with my very dear friend and colleague Alida O’Conner. She is a lovely yoga student and teacher in London who has invited me to Valsana to share this incredible venue with all of you. We study with some of the same teachers, so our styles and approach will compliment the experience. We hope to offer more retreats that either combine Yoga, Skiing and Hiking in the future!
The retreat is designed with simplicity and a touch of decadence in mind. Flights direct to Zurich from London are inexpensive and plentiful. Swiss trains depart hourly from the Zurich airport to Arosa and once you arrive the thought of busy life in London (or wherever you might be coming from) will be long gone. This is a trip for you and a friend or you and your partner to take a bit of time to indulge, energise and experience with the help of a bit of movement and pampering in the Swiss mountain air. I hope you can join us.
*50% non-refundable deposit to reserve your place and your room preference. The balance will then be due 8 weeks before retreat. Email ali@alidayoga.co.uk to receive details ask questions or anything else you might need.
Price Includes-
* access to Tschuggen Grand spa included for two days, before 2pm ** time permitting on arrival and departure days
Price Does Not Include-
What to expect-
Yoga with Zephyr Wildman & Alida O’Conner
8am- Each morning we will awake to tea and coffee, juice, fruit and small pastries to “awaken” for our Yoga practice.
8:30-10am Yoga practice followed by full breakfast.
11am- Free to explore the area on your own, relax at the spa at the Grand Tschuggen or join us for a hike in the foothills of the mountains surrounding the valley.
2:30pm- Spa treatment/massage at the Valsana Spa.
5:00- 6:30pm- Afternoon Yoga session as a group.
7:30pm- Dinner at one of the many restaurants.
*Depending on arrivals & departures. First day arrival there will be evening yoga. Last day there will be morning yoga & if time permits a hike.
Check out the press on Valsana
http://www.cntraveller.com/recommended/hotels/valsana-hotel-arosa-switzerland
https://www.metro.news/the-hot-list-eco-chic-in-switzerland-and-a-leafy-shanghai-retreat/843988/
To book contact: ali@alidayoga.co.uk
I am so excited to collaborate with Tresanton Hotel in offering a special week long get away with Yoga & beach walking around the Cornish Coast line. Have a look at this unique getaway click here to see photos and to book click here.
Dates: Monday 26th-Friday 30th November 2018
Single Occupancy: £1550
Double Room Occupancy: £2200
This includes:
2 hours of energising vinyasa yoga in the morning and 1.5 hours of restorative yoga every evening with Zephyr Wildman.
Four nights of accommodation in the Tresanton. There are 4 dog friendly rooms available at the hotel if you want to bring your dog, these will be subject to an additional charge of £25. Room 1 has a terrace and Room 31 has its own garden.
Delicious breakfast, vegetarian lunch and dinner with a focus on fish/chicken.
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I am so happy to announce a wonderful Yoga, Cycling and Hiking(!) retreat in Morocco. Azaren (just outside of Marrakech), as you may know, is one of my favourite locations to practice Yoga; amazing food, gorgeous private residence, soaking up the Moroccan sun all perfectly woven into the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. I am excited to be back there with a small group this spring and, for this trip, I wanted to add something a bit different. Cycling and Hiking!
Now maybe you are not necessarily training for the Tour de France and perhaps cycling isn’t your thing, but I have a hunch it might be appealing to someone you are close to. My husband, in another life, worked in Morocco as a bicycle guide and fell in love with the country just as I have. We thought (yes, he’s coming on this one too) this would be a great opportunity to see if we could put together a trip, not necessarily just for spouses of Yogis, but for people that want to stretch the legs with peddle power and hiking as well as a bit of asana. Be it your spouse, your friend, your next door neighbour, whoever you know that might dabble in yoga and spend a bit of time in the saddle or on the trail as well, this retreat is for him or her and you!
Yoga will be twice a day as normal with two-hour sessions in the morning and afternoon. Cycling will be in the morning and can vary from 25 miles of gentle cycling around the valley floor or for those keen there are routes around the base of Mt. Toubkal which offer breathtaking (literally) rides in the Atlas mountains. We will bespoke the cycling to all abilities as there are plenty of small roads with little to no traffic all over Morocco.
Azaren is located 30 kms south of Marrakesh in the beautiful Ourika valley. It’s airport benefits from excellent connections both with low cost and regular airlines. It is a luxurious private residence that is all ours for the five days of the retreat. Spring in Morocco is warm in the day-time and cool at night. It is the perfect time to be outside cycling or practicing Yoga. Cycling is as challenging or as easy as you wish and if you are not a cyclist but your friend/partner is we have priced the trip accordingly. Every effort will be expended to keep you comfortable and safe whilst out riding or practicing Yoga. Prepare to sleep well and rejuvenate, tapping in to the serenity and elation that comes with moving your body and being in good company.
Yoga- what to expect
Hiking-what to expect
Cycling- what to expect
To book, contact: zephyrbw@gmail.com
Accommodation
There is ample space for the bedrooms to be made for two separate single beds if not sharing a bed. Each Suite and Villa have generous ensuite bathrooms.
Rooms with Double Beds Only: The Master Suite Coral Suite Saffron Villa
Rooms with the option to turn Double Bed into Single Beds:
Blue Suite Lavender Villa Red Villa Orange Villa Purple Suite Turquoise Villa
Please send £400 non-refundable and non-transferable deposit to reserve your place and your room preference. The balance will then be due by the 14th of February 2018 via bank transfer. Email zephyrbw@gmail.com to receive details ask questions or anything else you might need.
Highly recommend that you invest in travel insurance for your trip to ensure peace of mind.
Look forward to another wonderful Holiday at Azaren.
Beaming you all blessing, laughter and future Yogic adventures!
Zephyr x
I am so happy to announce another wonderful Yoga retreat in Morocco at Azaren. For those of you that have heard me talk about it, this is one of my favourite places in the world for a Yoga retreat. Its exotic, luxurious, serene and welcoming and that just describes the bedroom suites. I love Azaren because it is on the doorstep of history where modern architecture and art meet the ancient footsteps wandering the souks of Marrakech. Time passes a bit slower at Azaren and the stillness of the morning with the call to prayer in the distance is only surpassed in beauty by the sun setting on the Atlas Mountains at the end of a desert evening. Practicing Yoga in one of the most beautifully serene and thoughtfully designed environments is for me one of the most fulfilling experiences and I am grateful to be able to invite you to come join me.
The Details- 6 Nights/7 Days
Yoga and Meditation twice a day, massage & hammam treatments, sun & pool, hikes & good food all resting in the most heavenly place. Pure bliss!
The food is outstanding. Always delicious, healthy authentic-Morrocan cooking. The chef uses vegetables from the garden, traditional bread is baked daily in a red clay, wood-fired oven. The food is fresh, and local with a wide variety of dishes with an emphasis on vegetarian, prepared daily. Dietaty requirements are catered for.
Azaren is located 30 kms south of Marrakesh in the famous Ourika valley. It’s airport benefits from excellent connections both with low cost and regular airlines.
Places are limited as the property only can accommodate a small group. This is a private residence which is ours for a week and while there are all kinds of amazing opportunities to explore Marrakech, Essaouira and the Atlas mountains with your free- time, not leaving the property is just as inviting as this is a 16 acre true desert oasis.
