Self-discovery session itinerary:
Each day (except for Day 6) we start with yoga on the beach (across the road to our beachside accommodation). We then continue with the self-discovery sessions listed below. In the evening we meet at different local tavernas to celebrate our time together. Each day you will have time available to explore the island or sit by the beach under a beach umbrella.
Day 1 - Welcome
You arrive at our purpose-built retreat venue at 4pm, unpack and familiarise yourself with the beautiful setting. Today we review the days ahead, reflect on what we are here to achieve and connect with other participants. Dinner at a local taverna as we all get to know each other a little more as we retire to some informal discussions around the beach.
Day 2 - The art of self discovery
Today we start with a short story that assists us to reflect on how we often suppress our ability to live in a more connected way. Exploring our natural abilities, our core values, and the intuitive self, will remind us on how to live with integrity. The outcome today is to begin the journey of tapping into that authentic self which is embodied in our meditation at the end of the session.
Day 3 - Embody the work
In this session we get to know our nervous system. How does it work? Why does it behave in the way it does? How does our environment and external activities affect it? We experiment with different poses and breathing exercises to gain a sense of stillness and what it feels like to embody that person you discovered yesterday. Tonight we experience a ‘Greek night’ dinner and dance to let go of inhibitions, break some plates and feel alive.
Day 4 - [IM]Perfection
On day 4 we explore the inner critic and the wise self. But let’s examine our imperfections with humour. Research tells us that rewriting a narrative with humour can change our perception quite profoundly. Let’s tell stories with self-compassion and accept the parts of our lives that make up our human experience. As Carl Rogers (humanistic psychologist, 1961) states: “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change”.
Day 5 - Lifestyle medicine
Lifestyle medicine applies diet, self-care, behavioural and social principles to support health, resilience and well-being. Today we review our association with food and what it means to be healthy. We then explore social connection and its important role in healthy ageing and living a ‘connected’ life. Our afternoon is spent sight-seeing before we come together at a local taverna.
Day 6 - An unforgetable sailing experience
Today we spend the day on a beautiful 45 ft sailing boat to Balos lagoon. This full-day private trip gives us an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful mediterranean waters while appreciating life and our new friendships. We experience the benefits of exposing ourselves to awe inspiring scenery as we swim in private locations. Lunch is included.
Day 7 - Mapping
How do we perceive the next chapter of our life? We dedicate time today reviewing everything we have experienced and learnt in the last six days and consider how we apply it to the next 12 months. We workshop the barriers to success as well as our enablers - the parts of us that instinctively knows best. In building our step-by-step process, this workshop will address the potential fears and concerns that hold us back. A dream without a plan, is just a wish …
Day 8 - The beginning
Today we sit together for the last time and connect with our learnings and our new friendships, and we remind ourselves that this is only the beginning. Breakfast is served … See you all on social media, or maybe back on this island next year…
Please note: events (or order of events) may change due to weather - this is highly unlikely in the summer season.
For our Greek residence attending our retreat, Despina speaks fluent Greek, however, the retreat and workshops will be conducted in English.
Your retreat facilitators
Despina Kamper
Despina has over 20 years clinical experience in nutritional medicine, specialising in stress and anxiety disorders, and has helped patients implement positive lifestyle habits using education and nutritional guidance. She has attained post graduate education in Nutrition, Counselling and Education and she currently lectures at Western Sydney University and Torrens University in the Health Science faculty.
Despina has combined her passions for health, mental health and education, and has developed the award winning ‘Self Discovery Lab’ to support individuals in dealing with the emotional challenges of today.
She has also partnered with AnxietyAwareness.com to apply their evidenced based workshops and residential retreats for those looking for further direction and meaning in their life.
Nathalie Fenwick
Having taught yoga for nearly a decade, Nathalie’s classes are individually themed and address real life issues such a perfectionism, adaptability, and balance, through yogic philosophy. Nathalie has taught in gyms, yoga studios, schools and offices both internationally and locally and found that no matter who we are or where we are we all struggle to varying degrees with the modern day pressures of being human. Nathalie therefore attempts to weave yogic philosophy throughout her sequences inviting her students to draw comparisons between the physical stress they experience on the mat and the emotional stresses of everyday life. In this way, as we learn skills to manage the physical stress, such as breath work and visualisation, so too are we learning skills to manage our emotional stresses, skills that can be taken off the mat and into our everyday lives.
In addition to qualifying as a yoga teacher Nathalie also has a bachelor degree in Philosophy and Gender Studies, and a diploma in Theatre which she uses to influence her classes, resulting in a well rounded and grounded perspective and classes that may appeal to a wide variety of people with various life experiences. Remember, yoga is a practice, not a perfect!