Below you will find details of our Yoga and Art programme running this year at Karapanou House. It will run from Saturday May 31st to Tuesday 3rd June 2008. Wednesday 4th June and Thursday 5th will be left free for relaxation, time to yourself and for exploring the island. However, if the group wants to continue with the art class, it may be possible to organise that. The yoga teacher will be finished on Tuesday but you will have full use of the yoga room to practice after that. For those who are keen to do as much yoga as possible, there is a second session in the afternoon. We will leave Karapanou House on the morning of Friday 6th June.

We hope that you will avail of everything in the morning sessions. Breakfast and lunch are included and will be served outside at the dining area. Meals are prepared from the freshest of ingredients. Please let us know if you are vegetarian or have any particular requirements.

All ages welcome! If you have any physical difficulties which you feel might prevent you from doing yoga, please contact us. Most difficulties can be worked around and Olga would be happy to discuss this with you.

The price of the course is €690.00.

This includes:

7 nights accommodation (based on sharing) & including breakfast and lunch (Flights are not included in this price)

All yoga classes and art classes

Art materials supplied

There are two single rooms available at an additional cost.

If you would like to stay on for additional time after the programme is finished, we can organise accommodation in Aegina town for you.

INSURANCE

Please make sure that you have insurance cover

KAREN CRYAN

Karen has an honours degree in Psychology, a postgraduate in Education and is a member of the P.S.I. (Psychological Society of Ireland). When she finished her degree she left Ireland, as many others did in the 1980s. Over the next years, she lived in the States, Greece, London and Paris. Karen lived on the island of Aegina in Greece for 5 years. In Aegina, she experienced a different type of life and a different way of thinking. Since coming back to live in Ireland in 1991, she has worked for the Rehab Group (the largest organisation in Ireland dealing with mental and physical disability). She works primarily with people who have mental health difficulties - depression would be the most common - and it is through this work that Karen developed a strong interest in the development of the self and in the question of what constitutes happiness and peace.

A note from Karen

In this day and age, where lives are rushed and busy and often focused on the acquisition of material things, many people are beginning to question the direction of their lives. Some feel drained or unfulfilled, despite outward signs of success. Others simply feel that they want to deepen their lives in some way. Over the years I had brought a number of groups on cultural trips to Budapest, Prague, Lisbon and Barcelona. I began to think about the idea of bringing a group away to a beautiful, peaceful, sunny haven (Aegina) where each person would have time to themselves to relax and reflect, discover the benefits of yoga and meditation, dabble and/or develop in art and mix with people of a like mind. I, myself, had been away on similar weeks, both in Ireland and abroad, and had found them to be life-changing experiences. Once I began to seriously think about putting the idea into action, many things started to fall into place. The biggest challenge was to find a suitable location and after much searching around, I finally came across the Karapanou Centre. Next I was introduced to Olga, pulled Caoimhghin aboard and the team was complete!

YOGA (www.yogastudio.gr)

Olga Alexiou has been practicing yoga for twenty years and runs a successful yoga studio in Athens. In her classes she concentrates on three types of yoga: Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Relaxation/Meditation

Olga's focus is on the integration and inclusion of the breath, the body and the mind. She will be teaching the physical postures of yoga (asanas), breathing (pranayama), relaxation and meditation. 

This class will suit anyone from complete beginner to those with an intermediate level of yoga. If you have a particular physical difficulty, for example back problems, this class is also suitable for you, but please let us know about any pain or difficulties you might have beforehand. Our aim is to give you the best possible experience, so please ask us any questions or give us any information that will aid us in doing this. "view relaxation"

ART (www.gaelart.net)

The true work of art continues to unfold and create within the personality of the spectator. It is a continuous coming into being (Mervyn Levy)

Caoimhghin O' Croidheain is an Irish artist who has exhibited widely around Ireland. His work consists of drawings and paintings and feature local scenes as well as images from his travels to the west of Ireland and abroad. You can view his work on his website.

Caoimhghin studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin where he obtained a BA (Hons.) degree in Fine Art. He holds a Masters degree in Communications and Cultural Studies and a PhD in Language and Politics. Caoimhghin taught all aspects of art for seven years at an all-Irish secondary school and continues to give private classes. He now works as a fulltime artist in his studio at Donabate.

The programme

Caoimhghin's aim is to develop the participants' abilities, skills and imagination through art. He will teach all the basics of art - perspective, tone, depth, design and landscapes/seascapes. The beautiful surroundings of Karapanou House - the gardens, plants and seaviews - will be used for inspiration in all the artwork. Caoimhghin will discuss the programme with the group at the beginning of the week so as to encompass the individual desires and wishes of the class. If you are already proficient in the basics of art, Caoimhgin can work with you to develop your art further.

OTHER

We hope to have a qualified masseuse with us at the centre. This will be confirmed at a later date.

If you like non-contact massage, Yvette Nahmia is a Reiki Master and does Reiki healing sessions. Yvette starts with a foot analysis and then treats you according to the results. Her clinic is situated in Aegina town and we can book an appointment for you.

Other treatments are available at the Spa in the Argos Hotel in Aghia Marina, on the other side of Aegina. They offer a wide variety of relaxation and beauty treatments and also do one-day spa programs. Afterwards you can go outside, sit on their terrace, have a cooling drink and take in the magnificent sea view. For more information see www.argohotel.com