Ashtanga Yoga Summer Retreat - Sardinia
24 June - 1 July 2023

8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS - ASHTANGA YOGA RETREAT
WITH BELA LIPAT

IN ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE
11- 18 JUNE, 2022

Zakynthos Retreat

If you wish to advance in any sphere, the best way is to take a retreat. -Pico Iyer

In the beautiful setting of the island of Zakynthos, in the Ionian islands of Greece, immerse yourself for a week of practice. Start each morning with meditation and pranayama, followed by Ashtanga Mysore style or led class. In the afternoons, you will have yoga workshops on alignment and technique or Yin Yoga with Philosophy talks/QandA discussion.

Your home away from home will be a private Tuscan style villa with a swimming pool set in a lush garden, surrounded by evergreens and olive groves. Comprised of three buildings - the House of Literature, the House of Poetry & the House of Prose- is located in the picturesque village of Agios Dimitrios. Daily vegetarian brunch buffet and dinners are included. Outside of practice, unplug and restore yourself, enjoy the stunning views, relax by the pool, go to the beach, and explore the island. There will be one full day of Noble Silence.

A group activity is included in your package - a boat trip to the famous Navagio or Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves. Pack your swimwear and yoga gear and come join us for a retreat like no other.
Treat yourself to an incredible week of Yoga, Meditation, Pranayama, sun, sand, and transformation!

Leave your worries behind, unwind & allow for magic to happen within. Explore your yoga practice with Bela Lipat, SYC Authorized Ashtanga Teacher for a week in a haven of rest, release and renewal.

Package Includes:

8 Days / 7 Nights Accommodation in a room of your choice:

Twin-Share (Masters bedroom) with En-suite bathroom and balcony,

Twin-Share with shared bathroom, or

Single Superior Room with shared bathroom

*2 vegetarian meals per day (brunch and dinner)

Dinner upon arrival/ Brunch before departure

1 group boat trip to Navagio/Shipwreck beach and the Blue Caves

The boat trip is a full day tour, there will be no class on this day

All yoga/meditation sessions: 

Daily Asana practice

Daily Pranayama and Meditation 

2 Yin Yoga afternoon sessions 

2 Technique/Alignment class 

2 Philosophy/Q&A sessions

1 full day of Noble Silence

 *Meals are lacto-ovo vegetarian (not vegan). It means we serve cheese, eggs and milk products. 

The dairy products are with lactose. 

Special Non-gluten/Vegan menu/non-lactose or other diets are also available upon request,
with an extra charge +10e/person/day.  Please inform us in advance upon registration.   

 The Practice 

Enjoy a week of Ashtanga Yoga, Mysore Style and led class!
The focus of this retreat is the practice of the Ashtanga Yoga method as taught in Mysore, South India by R. Sharath Jois. Each morning we will start the day with meditation and pranayama followed by the Ashtanga Yoga practice, Mysore style Ashtanga (self-practice), which is the traditional way of learning Ashtanga (teacher to student). Mysore classes mean the student practices at their own pace and progress through the asanas as and when they are ready. The teacher will go around the class offering one-on-one attention to each student and adjust when necessary. You need to know and practice Mysore-style at least the Sun Salutations and the standing postures of Primary Series before coming to the retreat.  

We will end the retreat with a "led class" of the Primary Series where the teacher guides all students through the Primary Series of Ashtanga following the proper Sanskrit Vinyasa count. The classes are suitable for all levels, focusing on both practice and philosophy.  Classes are taught in English.   Please bring your own Yoga Mats and practice towels/rugs, and yoga blocks if you use them in your practice.  

Mouna, or Silence, will be practiced daily until Brunch.

In the the afternoons you will have technique/alignment class/or Yin Yoga.
 

Sample Daily schedule

• 7-10am Meditation, Breathwork, Asana practice
• 10:30 Breakfast and free time

• 16:30- 18:30 Yoga Workshop/Philosophy/Yin Yoga
• 19:00 Dinner time

Activitiy included in the package
Included in your retreat is a group boat trip to the famous Navagio Beach and the Blue Caves.

Location and Accommodations

With it's breathtaking landscapes, exotic beaches with sugar-fine sand, turquoise waters, and towering white cliffs, Zakynthos is located in the heart of the mesmerizing Ionian Sea. The island of Zakynthos is named after the son of the Trojan king Dardanos, who founded the first city on the island circa 1500 B.C. Under Venetian rule Zakynthos was referred to as Zante, meaning "fiore di levante" or "flower of the East".

It is the birthplace of Greece's national poet, Dionysios Solomos and home to the endangered Caretta- Caretta sea-tortoise. Zante is a rhapsody of blues and greens. Boasting Greece’s legendary beach – the Shipwreck or Navagio beach – Zante also has picturesque hilltop villages, traditional monasteries, and dreamy natural landscapes with gorgeous trails.

Accommodation choices are either Twin Sharing or Single Superior Rooms with shared bathrooms. Or opt for the luxury of the Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and private balcony. All are Superior rooms with antique beds, with air-conditioner or fans, Wifi access, and free parking. A washing machine is also available for free use.

Please arrive on time, by 3pm for check-in on the 11th of June, so as not to miss the Welcome - Opening Circle.
First session begins on 11th June at 4pm.  

Class times from 12th June, 7:00 -10am and 16:00 - 18:00.

No class  on the day of the Group Boat Trip.

Last session ends on 18th June, at 8:30am then brunch at 9:00
Departure after brunch and check-out by 11am.

Secure your spot with a 500euros deposit
-Twin-Share Superior Room with shared bathroom 1200euros/person - just booked!
-Single Superior Room with shared bathroom 1350euros - just booked!

- Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and private balcony

1350euros/person - booked

Limited room arrangements, only 7 rooms available.

Please sign-up early to book your desired room.
Confirmation of booking depends on receipt of your deposit.  

 Deposit to hold space (non-refundable) = 500euros

Refundable only for travel restrictions due to Corona Pandemic.
- Final balance due 60 days before retreat start. Due date April 11, 2022.
- Please read our cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions page.
- Rooms are given in order of booking with deposit. 

  To book your spot, send us an email requesting which room you would like to book.
We will let you know if the room is available. Once the room is reserved with us,
to confirm your reservation, a 500euro deposit is required.

We will email you the details once your room is confirmed.

 After sending your deposit, please send us an email to inform us,

and we will send you your invoice.
For those who would like to bring their family or non-yoga practicing partner/friend,

most welcome! Please contact us for rates and availability.

Not Included in Retreat Package: Airfare, Additional Activities & Excursions, Baggage Fees, Trip Insurance, Tips & Gratuities, and Airport Transfers.

Our Cancellation Policy in the Terms & Conditions page can be found here

To Register for the Retreat:
1. Send us an email to register
2. Wait for our e-mail confirmation with all payment instructions.
3. Submit your non-refundable deposit of 500€ to reserve your space.
4. Full payment must be completed no later than April 11, 2022. 
Please note: Consumption of alcohol and drugs are not allowed during the retreat.

Cigarette smoking is allowed only in the parking lot, not in view of other students.

Getting here

By air

There are direct flights, several times a day, from most European cities to Athens and fly direct to Zakynthos’ newly refurbished international airport, Dionysios Solomos with Aegean Air or SkyExpress airlines.

By sea
It’s a 1hr 15min ferry ride, several times a day, from the Port of Kyllini (Peloponese). There are also small boats that cross over from Kefalonia several times a week during the summer.

By road
It’s a 3hr 30 min car ride from Athens to Kyllini Port plus the 1hr 15 min ferry ride from Kyllini to Zakynthos. It’s a 4hr bus ride (with KTEL buses) from Athens to Kyllini plus the 1hr 15min ferry ride to Zakynthos.

The villa is in the best location for easy road-access to all parts of the island, including the port of Agios Nikolaos, the starting point for the fascinating Blue Caves and Shipwreck. Car rental is strongly advised on the island as public transport is inconvenient due to infrequent schedules and delays.

Going on retreat can be a powerful way to process what is happening in your life.
Giving ourselves time to reflect and heal can be a powerful way to process the things that are happening in our lives, and one of the best approaches to do this is by going on a retreat. Going on a retreat means that we have set the intention to heal and learn more about our mind-body-and spirit, and doing this is a decision that we make for ourselves.

Since everyone sees and experiences the world differently, it is important to choose a type of retreat that works best for us. Even though a friend or loved one may recommend something, we have to trust our intuition and select a path that really connects with what our soul needs most at the time. The most essential thing is to be willing to respect our unique stage of development and to be patient with ourselves since any thoughts or issues that arise are simply part of the process of healing and transformation. Just remembering that a retreat is an intense period of time where serious soul searching takes place can help us allow whatever may happen to us to fully unfold. Going on retreat may sound like a vacation, but most retreat experiences ask you to look deep inside of yourself, and sometimes this can be uncomfortable or stir the pot of our soul.

Putting our trust in the retreat process will make space for the necessary work we have to do, making it easier for our hearts and minds to explore wholly the innermost reaches of our soul. By paying attention to these messages, we pave the way for greater healing and transformation, since spending time in contemplation at a retreat will give us the gift of insight and understanding that we can use in all aspects of our daily lives.