Kefalonia Retreat - May 2023
Join us next May for 5 days of bliss on the beautiful Ionian island of Kefalonia, Greece. Lead by our founders Kate O'Neill & Jeni England. As with everything we do at Neighbourhood, this retreat will be community focused. It will be a chance for you to disconnect from daily life, work and screens so that you can connect on a deeper level with yourself and those around you. You will be able to spend 5 days focussing on moving your body, resting your mind, and resetting. Everybody is welcome, the week will be an open and safe space for all.
Both Kate & Jeni will be leading daily yoga classes in a variety of styles including Vinyasa, Rocket and Yin. There will be optional daily meditations, workshops, walks and other activities, and you can choose to do as much or as little as possible. 3 delicious, nutritious plant based meals will be provided daily. All meals, teas, coffees and snacks are included.
A retreat is the perfect opportunity to focus on your yoga practice away from the distractions and stresses of every day life. With 2 practices a day, plus the option to participate in workshops, whether you're a beginner or more experienced you will come away having learned something new and feeling stronger and more confident.
The Venue
This time we are jetting of to spend a week under the under with glorious views over the Ionian sea on the stunning greek island Kefalonia. Set within olive groves and with magnificient views of the majestic Mount Aenos and the Ionian sea, simply savouring the surroundings and connecting with nature is meditation in and of itself. There is a dedicated yoga deck, which is covered to keep you cool, so you can enjoy your practice outdoors in the olive grove.
Around the estate are plenty of quiet spots for visitors to take time out and explore, including the organic vegetable gardens, the fruit tree grove with traditional well. The grounds are spacious enough for guests to enjoy plenty of solitary moments, yet conveniently laid out to provide easy access to all the shared facilities. Just 300 metres from Spartia beach, you can choose between taking advantage of the beach access or stay on site and lounge around the pool.
Just a short stroll down hill offers you the choice of our two nearest beaches, both with trademark Kefalonian crystal-clear shallow waters. The rocky headland provides plenty to explore with a snorkel and mask, as well as some rocks to leap from for the more adventurous types. Spartia beach offers the advantage of the local facilities for those who want to grab a drink or snack, and Thermanti offers the advantage of being secluded from the crowds as it is only accesible by foot.
Kefalonia itself is a lush green island in the Ionian, famous for it’s turquoise seas and clean sandy beaches. One of the largest Greek islands, it also boasts the impressive Mount Aenos with thick fir forests as well as underground caves and ample countryside. It is very well connected to the UK with daily direct flights to numerous cities as well as many other European countries.
Example Schedule
Full Day
7am - Optional Meditation
7.30am - Morning Practice (90mins)
9.30am - Breakfast
1pm - Lunch
3pm - Workshop/Excursion
5pm - Evening Practice
7pm - Dinner
Arrival on the first day will be from 2pm, departure on last day will be at 1pm
Pricing
Option 1 - Luxury Shared Twin Room
£800pp
Option 2 - Luxury Single Occupancy
£900
Option 3 - Standard Shared Twin Room
£750pp
Option 4 - Standard Single Occupancy
£850
Option 5 - Single Occupancy w/ Shared Bathroom
£780
Option 3 - Shared Triple w/ Shared Bathroom
£680
*we have 2 low income places availble on every retreat at a reduced cost, please email us to discuss if you would like this option
If you do not wish to pay the full amount up front, a £150 deposit will be required to secure your spot and then a payment plan can be arranged. Full payment must have been made 1 week prior to the retreat start date.
Food
All meals are included in the cost of the retreat. Not only will you have main meals provided, but there will also be drinks and snacks available throughout the day should you fancy a bite to eat or a hot drink.
We will be offering a plant based menu designed to provide you with all the nutrients you need to fuel for and recover from your yoga practices.
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies please let us know on the booking form and we will be happy to discuss different options with you.
Retreat FAQs
2 classes a day sounds intense, what if I can't/don't want to do it all?
All classes are optional! We recommend you attend them all to get the most out of the retreat, but first and foremost this retreat is about you relaxing and feeling good so if you don't fancy it one day that is absolutely fine.
The morning classes will be 90mins and more dynamic, whereas the evening classes will be much more restorative and designed to release and counteract the work of the morning sessions.
I'm a beginner/new to yoga, will I find it too hard?
All of the sessions on our retreat are open level and accessible to practitioners of all levels of experience! The immersive nature of a retreat makes it the perfect place to start your journey into yoga. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and break down poses or different aspects of the practice. We aim to be fully inclusive, absolutely everyone is welcome!
What style of yoga will we be practicing?
Kate & Jeni will be offering a variety of styles on throughout the week, including Vinyasa, Rocket, Restorative & Yin. It could be the perfect opportunity to try something new!
How many people will be on the retreat?
Our maximum capacity on this retreat is 16 guests.
Is equipment provided?
There are mats, bolsters, blocks & straps available to use at the venue. However we suggest bringing your own if you have them.
I want to come but am nervous of sharing a room with someone I don't know...
In our experience, sharing a room on retreats can lead to life long friendships and is a wonderful way to meet like minded people you may normally have never crossed paths with! The fact that you are all booked onto a yoga retreat automatically gives you something in common with the other guests, and in such a family like environment you will be surprised at how quickly you bond with your fellow yogis.
Will there be any extra costs involved?
Travel to the venue is not included in the price, however we will set up a whatsapp group prior to the retreat so you may be able to organise travelling with others to cut costs.
If you have any other questions prior to booking feel free to email us info@neighbourhoodyoga.co.uk