Sensit Yoga™ Retreat on Southern Crete

22-29 July 2018 

  Sensit Yoga 

The Sensit Yoga Retreat with Maja Zilih

Sensit Yoga Retreat is a unique experience of reaching new depths of awareness through a sensitive yoga practice. Surrounded by a mesmerizing natural environment and feeling our body on a deeper level, we start to feel truly at home with ourselves.

The Sensit Yoga practice and movement 

The program consists of twice daily practice of asana, pranayama and meditation. Each session guides us into our inner sources of strength, creativity and freedom, by journeying us through different tissues and inner spaces like fascia, bones, organs, fluids, and diaphragms. We cultivate whole-body awareness by experiencing how every single part of the body is weaved into a greater whole. We become conscious of different connections of our inner spaces and structures, which brings forth an optimally supported inner alignment, to be expressed in the outer motion and yoga postures.

We do not impose or manipulate the body into postures, but rather use the asana practice as a platform for listening to the signals that the body communicates. The movement is mainly slow, with relaxed presence and increased sensitivity. This enables us to recognize the places in the body that accumulate unnecessary tension. We learn how to release this tension by initiating movement from different points, by directing our attention and breath, and by relying on gravity in particular ways. When the energy that was holding the accumulated tension gets unleashed, the result is an energized, joyful and effortless way of moving and being.

Listening to and sensing our body

The state of listening to our inner body called interocepetion (or Pratyahara in yogic terms) makes our practice physically more simple, yet awareness-wise a much deeper experience. Meditation comes easily as a natural continuation in stillness of the meditative state that was already present in the movement.

Sensit Yoga contributes immensely to our process of healing and growth. We begin to create a new habit of honoring the body and listening to its guidance. It becomes much easier to tune into its signals, develop our intuition, recognise when we are falling into the habitual unhealthy patterns and automatic reactions, and start to build new patterns of more conscious living.

 

 

Maja Zilih | The Teacher 

 

Maja Zilih

Maja teaches yoga since 2007. Her method Sensit® Yoga is a slow, mindful and interoceptive movement practice that aims at expanding the awareness of all the levels of our being. It combines elements of yoga, body-mind-centering, natural/primal movement, tension release techniques and movements that arise for each individual in their own way. The sessions always complete with meditation and a long relaxation. Expect to be continuously invited to feel, sense and move from and through your inner body. Sometimes you follow the instructions, other times you inquire into the needs of your unique body and let it take the lead. You explore and utilize your relationship with space and gravity. You play with different ways in which you can awaken fluidity and ease not only in the body and breath but also in the mind. By becoming conscious of your deep primal inner connections you find new source of support. Your body begins to release the unnecessary tension and each movement becomes an opportunity for a total body-mind-spirit integration.

 

  Location  

Our retreat base is located at Agios Pavlos, an area at the Southern Edge of Crete, with a majestic 180° view of the Libyan sea.

The family run hotel can be found on the southern coast of Crete, in a region of exceptional natural beauty. Rugged and unspoilt, the area offers breathtaking scenery and glorious beaches making this a very special place to visit. Overlooking the stunning bay the hotel has a fine restaurant, a relaxed café/bar and a mini market so you don't have to leave for any of your holiday essentials!

in addition under the caffe' situated on the high rock above the sea, there is a bar in a cave formed naturally in the rock. Dance, partys or music concert nights, with Cretan and modern music, at the cave bar with a magnificent view of the mooon reflecting on the sea, offer another option for a wonderful stay. Thanks to the configuration of the cave bar acoustics and the rock, there is no noise outside the complex and sleep in the the hotel rooms is not affected

  Retreat Schedule

Daily schedule *:

8:00-10:00 Morning yoga practice
10:00-11:30 Breakfast/brunch
free time for excursions, swimming etc
18:30-20:00 Evening yoga practice
20:00-22:00 Dinner

* Free days (no practice): July 26th
On July 22nd there will be only evening practice and on July 29th only morning practice

Experience the magical and transformative energy of Southern Crete

  Cretan Cuisine 

The worldwide famous Cretan Cuisine.

- Delicious breakfast with local products, fresh juice, fruit, yoghurt, cheese, eggs, bread and honey.

- Homemade dinner with mediterranean recipes, many choices for vegetarians or vegans and fresh fish.

Grilled seabreams, sardines, Grilled Squids, Moussaka, Tzatziki, roast goat meat, dakos, spinach-pie, cheese-pie, stuffed tomatoes, pepperoni, zucchini and many more!

Below you can see the dinner menu of a week of our Crete Yoga Retreat:

 

  Things to do | Excursions and activities 

Once you have reached this Southern edge the continent you can dive to a mesmerizing and reinvigorating landscape.

-Swim in the warm inviting waters of the beach neighbouring the hotel which is also ideal for families.

- Descend to one of the most amazing beaches of Crete, called St. Pavlos Sandhills, offering spectacular sunsets.

Take a tour of the area and rest your gaze on the long oceanic-type Triopetra beach for a swim, a walk, coffee, lunch or dinner at the fantastic taverns with a breathtaking sea view.

- Enjoy the sunset view from the comfort of your room or at the yoga veranda.

- Hike the beautiful gorges of Rethymno. Kourtaliotis (length: 3 km) is one of the most spectacular natural attractions of Rethymnon.The huge cliffs of the canyon reach a height of - 600 meters and are full of caves, where significant fauna species live.

Or go further to the west, to the worldwide known Samariá Gorge. A National Park of Greece and a World's Biosphere Reserve. It will take 6 hours to cross it so plan wisely. There is a boat departing from Agios Pavlos to Samaria’s sea mouth (Agia Roumeli) and you can always visit without walking the gorge to its North exist.

- Visit Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli or Phoenix. During the 60s and 70s, it was a favorite destination for hippies. On the banks of the Grand River there is a large colony of Theophrastus palm trees, which give the region a sense of an African landscape. The river, forming a large lake, 1.5km long, before emptying into the sea, has water all year round. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and start ascending in the beautiful canyon

For more information on the area and the sightseeing choices you can check: http://www.cretanbeaches.com/

Click here to see the Hotel
  

  How to get there 

Heraklion is the Crete’s region capital city and there are direct flights to and from all major cities in Europe and the world.

Flights Vienna – Heraklion 15-22 July

Flights Vienna – Heraklion 22-29 July

Flights Vienna – Heraklion 15-29 July

You can reach the retreat location by car, taxi (appx 100 Euros) or a mini-van (40 Euros).

You are encouraged to rent a car – eventually together with other participants – as it will help you greatly enjoy at the maximum the gorgeous and wild paradise of Southern Crete.

Car rentals from Heraklion 15-22 July

Car rentals from Heraklion 22-29 July

Car rentals from Heraklion 15-29 July

Car rentals from Chania 15-22 July

Car rentals from Chania 22-29 July

Car rentals from Chania 15-29 July

Driving by car from Heraklion or the Chania airport it takes about 2 hours to reach Agios Pavlos Hotel. Itinerary from Heraklion airport here |  Itinerary from Chania airport here

- There is a taxi or bus service you can contact prior to the trip with Ms Maria the local taxi driver who will bring you - and take you back - safely and comfortably with her Mercedes to and from this paradise.

More information here: www.taxiagpaulos.gr

  Accommodation 

The Agios Pavlos hotel provides accommodation in two complexes, one on the rock right above the sea and near the restaurant and another one on the Cavos Meliss rock on a higher panoramic spot and near the yoga platform. Usually retreat participants stay at Cavos Melissa, although depending on availability other options in the area are also considered

Almost all rooms offer a breathtaking view of the beach or the panorama of the Libyan sea

  Cost 

Early bird price for 1 week, until May 1st                     Price for 1 week, after May 1st

Single room occupancy: 1170,00                                 Single room occupancy: 1250,00

Double room occupancy: 950,00                                  Double room occupancy: 1050,00

Triple room occupancy: 850,00                                    Triple room occupancy: 950,00

 

Special discount 5% is valid on all prices for very early payments before February 1st

Price includes accommodation, all yoga classes, and rich breakfast and dinner daily.

Prices include VAT

Contact details in Vienna
+4369918365788
info@mayayoga.at

Contact details in Athens
Athens Yoga Center
Louissis Riankour 65-67
+302130383611
center@athensyoga.gr