Cyclical Femininity Women's Yoga retreat with Julie and Stella - Level II

Retreat Highlights

• Daily morning 1.5-hour hatha yoga class, including asana, pranayama and chanting, with Stella who brings her clarity, authenticity and deep devotion to her teachings
• Morning Cyclical Living mini-workshops with Julie to deepen your menstrual cycle awareness
• Afternoon Women’s circles with Julie to experience each of the archetypes through beauty medicine, intuitive movement, singing, drawing, soul sharing, ritual and much more
• Amazing nourishment with all the real goodness of Cretan food - vegan and gluten-free options available (7 brunches and 5 dinners included)
• Time off to explore the wild Sfakian coast, its solitary gorges and beaches on the turquoise Libyan Sea
• Possibility to tailor and deepen your journey further by booking an extra 1:1 Somatic Coaching for Women session with Julie or yoga session with Stella (not included in course cost)
• A round trip to the beautiful Sweet Water beach
• 7 nights' accommodation in traditional guesthouse located near beach
• Linen and towels provided

Retreat Program

The week begins with an opening Women's Circle and introductory, grounding movement session at 6.00 p.m. on the day of arrival, in order to meet and allow women to fully arrive to the retreat, followed by a delicious vegetarian dinner cooked by our wonderful intuitive cook.

All other days will begin with a 1-1.5 hour morning yoga and meditation class with Stella, based on Hatha yoga and Free Flow Vinyasa (usually 8.30-9.30 a.m.), each day focusing on one of the phases of our menstrual and/or moon cycle. This is followed by a Women's Circle led by Julie (9.45-10.45 a.m.), that will introduce the theme of each of the phases. After brunch guests are free to relax and enjoy the beach and sunshine, receive a massage treatment (with a visiting therapist) or somatic coaching for women session (with Julie), or explore the village and region. In the late afternoon, there is the Intuitive Movement Women's Circle (usually 17.00-19.00), which focuses on diving deeper into the exploration of the phase of the day, and the day's programme closes with dinner.

All sessions are held on the yoga deck under the olive trees so you can enjoy your connection with the sea, the trees, and the hills. 

The fourth day of the week is a rest day from classes, with no yoga or women's circle; an optional excursion can be arranged, including a guided hike through a gorge of the region (usually the magnificent Aradaina gorge) or other season-appropriate hike, ending at the beach (approx. €25 depending on number of participants going).

All brunches and 5 dinners are offered at the house, while on two of the nights guests are free to dine out in the village restaurants (not included in the course cost; approx. €15 for a full meal including drinks). Individual excursions (e.g., hikes, boat trips) can also be arranged at an extra cost.

On the last day, departure can be arranged after brunch.

The number of women participating is limited to 14, to create a warm and friendly atmosphere, to ascertain that individual attention is given in the sessions and to create a safe and supportive group dynamic.

Women's yoga

The morning yoga practice with Stella will start with a short breathing meditation and mantra chanting, and end with deep relaxation and breathing techniques. The practice is based on Hatha Yoga incorporating elements of free flow and vinyasa. We will look at how the body can feel free and open, when allowed to experiment, flow, and be breathed into. Through the practice we create a more bright, centred, spacious awareness of our being so we enter everyday life more confident, true to oneself, and happy. We will uncover the vitality and joy that is present in the body when we slow down, listen to its needs and make space to receive its wisdom, while we will also look at the body's natural potential for physical and emotional healing.

For women in particular leg- and hip-work is important to ground and connect to mother earth, and set the base for a dynamic pelvic floor, which is an essential condition for the spine to unfold, extend and grow, symbolically also creating the ground for this unfolding and growth to happen in less tangible parts of our lives. Another area we will be focusing on is the wonderful potential of an alive belly (the centre of our womb, our life-force and energy), where the forces of earth and sky meet and can be balanced.

A heart-opening session, including chest opening and gentle back-bending, will also be part of the retreat, to help us absorb the knowledge of our feminine bodies more deeply into our hearts.

Lastly, Stella will also offer particular practices for the four phases of the hormonal and/or moon cycle (follicular/waxing moon; ovulation/full moon; luteal/waning moon; menstruation/new moon), for menstruation and menopause to balance and contain hormonal and emotional fluctuations.

Women’s Circles 

Each late morning and then also in the afternoon, we will gather for a women’s circle exploring deep connection to yourself, other women and our cyclical nature.

Julie, life coach, menstrual and creative movement therapist, as well as Awakening Women Circle facilitator, will hold space for us to dive deep into exploring the feminine cycle through movement, art and rituals. The sessions will start with a womb relaxation, then enter into a healing journey and we will complete with more relaxation and sharing.

In each circle, we'll experience initiation into another phase of womanhood, another way of entering pleasure and creating oxytocin (the love hormone!), another phase of our cycle, of the moon, of the sun:
** Inner Girl: Finding Peace and safety for our little girls (follicular phase / spring / waxing moon)**
**Creative Woman: Healing the mother-daughter relationship (ovulation / summer / full moon) **
** Alchemical Woman: Fully embracing our sensuality (luteal phase / autumn / waning moon) **
** Lineage Woman: Taking our place in our ancestral lineage (menstruation / winter / new moon) **

Whether you have a menstrual cycle, are going through or have passed menopause, these phases apply to the subtle energies that affect a woman and her creative potential throughout life. If you're experiencing (pre-)menstrual pain, menopausal, fertility or sexuality issues, you're likely to find release, opening and a way forward.

Women's circles are a beautiful safe and supportive space to share, practice listening with compassion, allow yourself to follow your heart and be held by a group of like-minded women.

Facilitators

Julie Mosmuller

In 2012 Julie decided to make a drastic change and re-align her life to her values. She left her strategy consulting career in London to study yoga in India and become a certified co-active life coach. Her life purpose is to be the heart beat that attunes you to your inner frequency. Julie combines her extensive coaching, yoga, dance and business consulting experience to help clients find their calling and unique voice. She specialises in ikigai (life purpose) and feminine empowerment coaching. 

Stella Kremmyda

Prices

(all inclusive) per person per week

• €670 shared accommodation in twin non-ensuite room (with use of communal bathroom).
• €770 shared en suite accommodation (3 in a room) or single non-ensuite (with use of communal bathroom).
• €820 shared en suite twin or double room.
• €1110 single en suite accommodation (please note that single room availability is limited).
• €520 non-participating partner sharing a room.
• €660 (or €560**) work-exchange option (only one place per week): about 2-3 hours’ help per day with light household tasks (e.g., washing dishes, cleaning yoga studio) that does not interfere with the attendance of all classes. Accommodation in triple room.                                             ** The €560 fee applies only if staying in the small twin non-ensuite room (just for friends sharing)