Iyengar Yoga Workshop with Kristina
Join us at YogaOnCrete and experience lightness of body and spirit and the joy of honouring and nurturing the needs of your body, mind and spirit through the practice of Iyengar yoga, daily encounters with the cool, turquoise Mediterranean waters at quiet beaches, idyllic unspoilt surroundings, and wholesome local food, excursions, a warm and welcoming group of people and much more!
During this week we will use the precision of the postures (asanas) to visit and focus on different areas of our bodies. The practice of asana is not about doing the perfect posture. It’s about using postures to understand and transform ourselves. By starting to observe where we feel tension and where we experience flexibility, we can use the body’s knowledge to understand our limits, physiological and psychological. Sometimes it is the body saying yes and the mind saying no, or vice versa. The purpose of this workshop is to have the body and mind work together while executing a posture. To actually be in an asana and not trying to reach it. To enjoy yoga no matter how flexible we are!
Course Highlights
- Twice daily Iyengar yoga classes
- Professional and experienced yoga instructor
- 7 nights' accommodation in traditional guesthouse located near beach
- 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners included
- A round trip to the beautiful Sweet Water beach
- Linen and towels provided
Course Program
Each week begins with an introductory yoga session at 6.00 p.m. on the day of arrival, followed by dinner. All other days will begin at 8 a.m. with a 1.5 hour Iyengar yoga class. After breakfast guests are free to relax and enjoy the beach and sunshine, receive a massage treatment, or explore the village and region. In the late afternoon there is a second 1.5 hour class, and the day's programme closes with dinner.
The fourth day of the week is a rest day from classes; guests can join in an optional excursion, 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). All breakfasts 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 breakfast.
The number of guests is limited to 14, to create a warm and friendly atmosphere, and to ascertain that individual attention is given in the classes.
Iyengar yoga
The classes comprise of a series of asanas (physical postures), usually sustained for some time so that the body and its necessary actions can be observed within the posture, pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditative techniques (sitting in silence, concentration techniques), through which the development of awareness of the body and mind in the present moment and deep relaxation are practiced.
Iyengar yoga was developed through the pioneering work of B.K.S. Iyengar, who freed the classical yoga postures (asanas) from their Indian mystique and with the use of props made them suitable for Westerners, who want to have a clear understanding of what happens in a yoga posture. A typical Iyengar yoga class focuses on precision of movement, correct alignment, and the study of the ‘muscle and mind’ actions and resistance necessary to enter a state of concentration. Breathing awareness is emphasized in every asana in order to deepen the experience. Through consistent practice the student overcomes physical and mental/emotional limits and develops a deep awareness of the body, power, control, patience and physical and mental harmony.Instructor
Kristina Assimakopoulou-Scondra
Kristina is Greek, born in London, raised between Athens and Paris, and currently living in Brussels. She has been practicing and studying Iyengar yoga since discovering it for its therapeutic qualities. Kristina is passionate about yoga and believes practicing it transcends the physical benefits. Her teaching is based on the Iyengar approach, and focuses on the precision of the yoga postures (asanas). This allows the body and mind to align, while discovering oneself in the process. By focusing on the details of postures, students gain a deep experience and insight into the benefits of yoga, which apply equally to physical and mental health and well-being. Kristina is also an assistant for therapeutic yoga classes at the BKS Iyengar Centre in Brussels, is also a Reiki practitioner and has completed Mindfulness training. She has followed classes and workshops with Willy Bok, Alexis Simon, Suryans Thakur, Christian Pisano, Constantinos Giannetakis and Martine Le Chenic. She continues to follow workshops and conventions in Belgium, France, India and Greece.Prices
(all inclusive) per person per week
- €620 shared accommodation in twin non-ensuite room (with use of the communal bathroom).
- €730 shared en suite accommodation (3 in a room) or single non-ensuite (with use of communal bathroom).
- €790 shared en suite twin or double room.
- €990 single en suite accommodation (please note that single room availability is limited).
- €550 non-participating partner sharing a room.
- €610 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.
