Practice yoga in one of the most beautiful, well-kept yoga shalas in Europe. Milelja retreat center has been hosting retreats for nearly 30 years in a homely and intimate atmosphere, plunged right in between the deep blue Mediterranean and the rough volcanic mountains. We welcome students of all levels and branches of the yoga family tree. You will be given a carefully sequenced somatic education that takes you straight to the subtle heart of yoga posture practice.
In light of the refugee situation in Southern Europe we will donate 50% of the yoga teaching revenue from this retreat to local charity work. We have experienced an overwhelming desire from our previous retreat participants to help and support the local support projects with donations or practical work. You are most welcome to do karma yoga practice in the middle of the day on this retreat if you have the impulse, but this is in no way a requirement or even an expectation. If you wish to help out with little practical jobs or donate money to local groups (there are still no professional care organizations present in Molyvos and Eftalou where most refugees arrive) we offer to help coordinate between you and the groups who are working with refugees in the nearby villages. If you want to bring clothes, blankets and the like for donation please check in with us the week up to departure as the resource situation change all the time.
Flights: Aegean Airlines often have good connections to Mytilene, Lesvos in the early season. See their low fare calendar here
A typical day:
Each day will begin at 8 with a pranayama session in our wooden yoga hall. From sitting in silence we then rool directly on to the yoga mat for a slow-flowing, dynamic posture practice landing in relaxation and seated meditation. Over the week Birgitte will guide you through 6 progressive practices allowing you to sensitize, recalibrate, mobilize and strengthen your body without struggle or pain. After the morning practice our hosts will serve a full vegetarian brunch buffet (fresh local produce is used whenever possible). Morning yoga is nice to do on an empty stomach. However, if you do need to eat a little breakfast before the morning classes we have fruit, nuts or müsli available in the dining room early in the morning and during the day if you need a snack.
The afternoon sessions will alternate between longer workshops or shorter gentle yoga classes. The workshops will help you clarify the Dynamic Yoga Training Method to make sure it works for the body you have today. Here we will do little explorations together through dialogue and partner work ending with a gentle floor-practice and preparing you to dive deeper the next day. The shorter yoga classes are to nourish and relax you by tuning in to the subtle presence of body and breath. On days with shorter sessions you have some free time between brunch and afternoon class where you can rest, chill at the pool, hike or explore the beautiful nature of the north island. One day we take the afternoon off for you to explore the beach or mountain hikes. One evening the retreat center arranges a hot pool for muscle relaxation. You can also book a massage or treatment in the in-house wellness clinic.
Most nights we will gather for an early home cooked dinner at the retrerat center. For the first and last evening of the retreat we will eat out. The old village of Molyvos is just 20 minutes away by foot and kept in its original narrow streets and stone cottages with lots of lovely tavernas and cafes.
Evenings you will be given the space to sit in silent meditation with the rest of the group before going off to bed. We sit in intervals ranging from 15 to 60 minutes depending on your experience and training. Everyone is free to drop quietly in or out of the yoga hall. Instructions will be given on how to sit comfortably either on a cushion or a chair if needed.
We offer practical silence periods between 21.30 and 7.30 each day (meaning we go quiet, but of course can ask questions or give practical messages). Meditation and silence periods are optional. They are offered as an opportunity to deepen your practice if you have the interest. If you want to take an offline detox from your electronic communication we can fully support that. For those who need to use email, intenret or skype their loved ones during the retreat we have a free wifi zone near the pool deck.
see the video from the retreat center here
Program:
May 1st Arrival day, check in open from 15.00. Open yoga hall for self-practice from 5 PM. depending on flight connections we may or may not do an evening class on this day. Formal introductions will be done on may 2nd at brunch to ensure everyone has arrived.
May 2th-8th:
Self-serving breakfast (optional)
Sunrise pranayama, dynamic yoga class, relaxation, meditation (appr. 2,5 hour)
Vegetarian Brunch
Afternoon workshop or gentle yoga class (between 1,5 and 2 hours)
Home cooked vegetarian meal (first and last night we will go out for dinner in one of the village taverns)
Bedtime meditation (optional)
May 9th Departure day, open yoga hall for supported self-practice, check out 10.30
Prices and Booking:
The teaching fee is 399 EUR covering all yoga and meditation sessions (minimum 30 contact hours). Everything else is paid separately and directly to our hosts. Your room reservation is refundable up to 8 weeks before the retreat. after that date you will be charged for 80% of the room cost in case of cancellation. Please ensure your travel insurance covers these expenses in case you have to cancel last minute.
Board and lodging is payable directly to Milelja Retreat Center on arrival. Treatments, dinners outside the retreat center, local transport and flight are not included in the prices. We will do our best to help you organize airport taxis so you can share if anyone arrives around the same time.
Send an email to info@dynamicyoga.dk to book your space.
Food: For 1 arrival meal, 1 departure breakfast, 5 brunch buffets, 5 dinners, complementary fruit, müsli, tea and water the price is 185 EUR.
Airport taxi: 70-80 EUR When we have your floight info we will do our best to organize shared airport taxis to lower the cost is possible.
Room prices per person for the whole retreat (7 nights):
Category A
Room with terrace and bathroom, spacious balcomy with ocean peek or
Room with Spacious balcony, sharing bathroom with room next door
Double pr. person: 320 EUR
Single: 445 EUR
Category B
Room without balcony or apartment. Sharing bathroom with room next door.
Double per person: 285 EUR
Single: 395 EUR
Category C
23 m2 apartment with terrace, bath & Kitchen
Double per person 360 EUR
Single: 490 EUR
Category D
40 m2 luxurious apartment, Terace, bath & Kitchen
Double pr. person: 400 EUR
Single 590 EUR
Category E
40 m2 luxurious apartment, Terace, bath & Kitchen
Triple per person 330 EUR
