The Teachers
“"A most refreshing and inspiring experience to be reminded of the things that make me feel truly joyful and empowered. There were times when my usual negative mental/emotional patterns emerged, and it was extremely helpful to have the tools there and then at hand to work with these patterns with awareness and love :-)”Eugenia Sivitou
Eugenia began practicing yoga in 2004, as a student of contemporary dance in Scotland.
She gained a Yoga Teacher qualification from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres in Spain and soon after began organizing yoga holidays in Sfakia, Crete.
In 2012 she gained the Iyengar yoga teaching certification and is currently living, teaching, and continuing her own training between Athens, Crete and Rhodes.
Eugenia attends workshops and classes with teachers who continue to inspire her, namely Constantinos Giannetakis, Donna Farhi, Angela Farmer and Martine Le Chenic. Her classes strive to create a safe and nurturing environment.
The focus on the breath and alignment, as powerful tools for gaining awareness of the body and mind, is integral in her teaching, while also incorporating elements of her Vipassana meditation practice.
Ultimately, her interest lies in finding links between psychology, artistic expression through various media and yoga, in light of a holistic approach to well being. Eugenia is also an authorized psychologist.Constantinos Giannetakis
Constantinos Giannetakis is an enthusiastic and dedicated practitioner of Iyengar Yoga since 1992.
In 1996, he moved to France where he also obtained his certification as a clinical psychologist from the University of Picardie. During that time, he studied extensively psychoanalysis both in the freudian and the lacanian vein and became particularly interested in the possible role of the immune system as an interface between body and mind.
In the course of time, it became apparent to him that health is not simply the absence of disease but also concerns a state beyond that, which relates to the plasticity and lightness of the energy body.
In 1999, he moved to London where he continued his study of psychoanalysis at a postgraduate level while also studying yoga at the South London Iyengar Yoga Institute, where he stayed for 3 years. In 2002, he gained his Iyengar Yoga teaching certification and became a member of the UK association.
After his return to Greece in 2003, he opened the first official Iyengar Yoga Centre in Athens, where the first teacher training in the country took place.
His teaching is alignment-based and aims at clarifying the biomechanics of asanas and pranayamas in a very precise way. It is also informed by the belief that the study of the body, nature and breath gives one the opportunity to understand the mind.Antonella Cusimano
Antonella is a Junior Intermediate Level I certified Iyengar Yoga teacher at Iyengar Yoga Vereniging Nederland and associated with BIYAB (Belgium Iyengar Yoga Association).
She has been teaching Iyengar Yoga since 2004 at public dance institutions such as P.A.R.T.S.(Performing Arts Research and Training Studios Brussels) and KBA (Royal School of Dance Antwerpen) as well as in private yoga studios, cultural institutions and private companies.
She is certified as well in Traditional Thai Massage at 'Wat Pho' in Bangkok and in Energy Healing lev I. She treated many people with Thai Massage for about 6 years. Interested in other forms of spiritual practices and shamanism, she followed Tibetan Buddhist Meditation retreats at 'Yeunten Ling Center' in Huy Belgium and ten days Vipassana Meditation retreat at Northern California 'Vipassana Center Dhamma Manda' San Francisco.
Iyengar Yoga practitioner since 2000, she studied with several senior teachers and keeps deepening her knowledge following every year workshops and conventions. In 2019 with Christian Pisano, Carrie Owerko's dynamic approach and Firooza Ali Razvi. In India she followed Rajiv and Swati Chianchiani's teachings at 'Yog-Ganga Center for Yoga Studies' and attended classes at RIMYI (Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute) in Pune, India. She loves to help yoga practitioners to find their own expression and freedom in the limited space of an asana, in order to experience the healing effect of Iyengar yoga method, helping with personal verbal and hands on adjustments if necessary.
Continuing her personal artistic practice (drawing), she developed a drawing method, that she teaches in workshops to support free expression in drawing. She is interested in exploring the peaceful state of mind that yoga and meditation bring allowing the creative state of mind to emerge and express itself. She teaches her drawing technique in workshops at West Dean College (UK) and Belgium.
During YogaOnCrete she will offer one afternoon session to the participants interested in exploring guided drawing for free expression!
Languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish Antonella Cusimano Avenue Brugmann, 144 1190 Bruxelles +32 (0)478 339 456
www.antonellacusimano.com
http://www.iyengaryoga.be/en/leraren/antonella-cusimano
Federica Clemente
Federica is a Yoga Alliance certified instructor who has practiced and studied Mysore Asthanga, Iyengar and other forms of yoga. With a background in professional dance, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy and shamanic healing, Federica brings to her classes and workshops a wealth of background information in the mechanics of dynamic movement, energy flow and effective healing techniques. Yet, she teaches with an attitude of playfulness, acceptance and gratitude. Federica is based in South Italy where she runs Maya Yoga. https://federicaclemente.comKristina 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.
https://www.hygiayoga.comJulie 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. Having recently settled on Crete, she spent the last six years travelling and giving workshops and sessions across India and Europe, and going deep into spiritual practise in her spiritual home Auroville in South India. She is certified as a Unesco creative movement therapist, an Awakening Women’s Temple leader and is a Madretierra menstrual therapist. Julie coaches a wide variety of clients internationally, online and face to face. In addition to (online and live) 1:1 sessions, she facilitates retreats, workshops and coaching training as well as monthly online gatherings and women’s circles. Her own experience has given her a keen understanding of what it takes to switch careers successfully. Transitioning from academia to corporate life to starting her own coaching and dance therapy practice taught her the importance of loving what you do and being authentic. Julie loves her work which gives her the freedom to combine personal, professional and spiritual growth. A common theme in client feedback is that Julie´s style is natural, warm and impactful. It is a natural extension of what she enjoys doing – creating a safe space, creating clarity and transformation. She loves her dance, yoga, art and meditation practice, and is passionate about conscious femininity and spreading cyclical awareness which she shares about on her Facebook group and Instagram account New Moon Sisters.
Find out more on www.maitreecoaching.com.
Testimonials
“You have changed my life and given me the confidence to open up and live with joy and ease. You’re an amazing coach who opens people’s hearts. Thank you!"
"Julie taught me to acknowledge my values in my decision making which has made such a difference to my life. She is a joy to work with and I would recommend her to anyone.”
“Julie helped me a lot to accept myself the way I am right now. She has such a good energy and a very gentle and good soul. Her wisdom has a special grace that has an immediate effect when she speaks.”Maria Nouvaki
Maria has been the cook at YogaOnCrete since 2017, and her presence felt so organic as part of the team from day one! Plus, the enthusiastic comments regarding her fantastic food do not seize to surprise us: "The best food I have ever eaten, and I am not even vegetarian" was a recent one :-)
Maria's traditional Greek home made dishes with a healthy twist owe their heart opening taste as much to her culinary as well as to her meditation experience and of course the locally sourced organic ingredients. Maria grew up in Thessaloniki with her father being the cook in the family’s coffee shop. Later, she had a small taverna in Heraklion serving home cooked traditional Cretan dishes. She has also worked as a chef in many restaurants and tavernas across the island. After she started practising Vipasana meditation 11 years ago she experienced how, when cooking, her energy moves through her hands into the food she’s preparing and into the people eating it. She says: “Through my extensive experience on how food affects us, I saw that the way we express ourselves and the awareness of what we offer when cooking is more important than just putting ingredients together. When cooking with love, compassion and attention I could get a result far more fulfilling and nourishing. Preparing food is a sacred ritual that has the power to transform you, and food prepared this way really nourishes you and takes care of your mind, body, heart and soul.”
The quality of the ingredients is also an important factor, because it shows how you care about yourself, the quality of food you put inside which becomes part of your body. The majority of ingredients in Maria’s food are organic and where possible sourced from Maria and her husband Giorgos’ permaculture farm near Chania, or from friends’ organic farms nearby. This way we’re helping small local farmers to produce more organic crops and be able to support themselves. Maria is also trained as physiotherapist and kinesiotherapist and offers massages and spiritual guidance. She spends 1 month a year in silent Vipassana meditation retreat.Nikos Tsoukalas
Nikos, YogaOnCrete's co-director, is the latest member to join the YogaOnCrete family in 2018, with his warm, friendly nature adding a real asset to the YogaOnCrete experience. He is the solution, payroll and human resources manager and responsible for keeping the house and garden looking their absolute best. Having studied Greek literature and teaching, he shares his passion for Greek culture, language and tradition with guests. He is also currently studying person-centred Focusing psychotherapy, which will be offered during Yoga On Crete retreats in the future. Furthermore, his vision is to create therapy teams working with the feminine and masculine archetypes. He is married to Eugenia, and they live between Crete and Rhodes, where he comes from.Victoria Karipidou
On the path to fulfillment and happiness, Victoria has been led to various courses and research on self-development on all levels. She began practicing yoga in 2005 and decided to further advance her knowledge by training as a Hatha yoga teacher at the Hatha Yoga and Budo Academy in Athens. Constantly evolving her studies in Self Realization and Spiritual Development through deferent paths and methodologies, she was inspired by Yoga systems such as Kundalini and Prana Vinyasa Flow. Her approach to yoga is rooted on freeing the body on the path towards letting go and raising the vibrational energy field for a more Unified – Radiant Self. Having experienced tremendous transformation in her personal life, she is passionate about sharing and teaching the techniques and principles that assisted her in the path to fulfillment and joy. She empowers people to express, create and enjoy through flowing body sequences, breathing and spontaneous dance, allowing the natural process of union of spirit, body and mind to occur. A graduate of the Kryon Merlight Academy in Greece, a graduate and a representative of the Macro-Consciousness Academy of Russia in Greece, Victoria is an intuitive consultant and Yoga teacher, conducting Self-Development and Awakening the Awareness seminars, webinars and retreats. She inspires people to approach the soul, mind and body with the same love and truth, for they all contribute to the happiness of the person who wants to live in thriving joy.Dion Dragas
diondragas.com
Dion began practicing capoeira in 1997 with Jimi McAvoy, a martial arts Master in North East England.
In 1998 he moved to Edinburgh, where he trained and became a helper to Catriona Tocher, the founder of capoeira in Scotland.
By 1999 he was put in charge of capoeira in Scotland. Mestre Chamine’s visit prompted his first trip to Brasil for four months’ dedicated training under the guidance of Mestre Gato and Mestre Marrom.
Two other study trips to Brasil in 2001 and 2003 followed. 2002 marked the birth of the Capoeira Angola group mão no chão, running classes mainly in Edinburgh.
Nowadays, Dion supports capoeira Angola in Scotland running workshops, training tutors and overseeing kids and special needs' classes.
He has also been involved in theatre productions, has led personal training as well as instrument making sessions, alongside classes and workshops in Barcelona, Athens, the US, Rio de Janeiro, and Australia.
His passion for humanity, music, dance and community has led him to special studies in Greece for the past 2 years in psychology and therapies with reference to all aspects of his work.
Dion draws upon elements of dance and music therapy, kinesiology, psychodrama, and role-playing, as he facilitates the playground on which we open up, play and express. He is currently teaching regular classes in Rethymnon, Greece.
